AQHA Ranch Horse Pleasure World Titles Go to Craig Johnson and Mozaun McKibben

By: Brittany Bevis

Riders put some very handy ranch horses through their paces this evening during the Ranch Horse Pleasure finals at the 2014 AQHA World Championship Show. To kick off the evening, the top 15 qualifiers returned from a 45 entry preliminary to battle for the top title in Junior Ranch Horse Pleasure. In the end, Craig Johnson with Smart and Angelic, a bay mare by Smart Like Juice and out of Cielo Seven, claimed the top spot with a score of 230.

Judges for the class this evening were Sam Rose, Chris Benedict, Bobby Hunt, Laurel Walker-Denton, and Mike Carter.

The Reserve World Champion was Gary Roberts with the palomino mare Whizen Big Chex for owner Kimberly Laser of Alabama. The pair scored a 228.5. The third place team was Dustin Rogers with the grullo mare Sum Sterling Whiskey for owner Daniel Garcia of New Mexico. Fourth place was Levi Grimes with Robert Patten’s bay stallion named Roosters Big Diamond. Rounding out the top five was Jacinda Hinkson with Von Pistolero for Andrea Dynek of New Mexico.

In the Senior Ranch Horse Pleasure, the original Ranch Horse Pleasure World Champion, Mozaun McKibben, returned to claim the top spot yet again, this time with Rey Jay Boonsmal out of 113 entries. McKibben thrilled the crowd by taking a bridleless victory lap following his big win.

Mike Major claimed both the Reserve World Champion position and third place aboard Chica Shine and Smart Whiskey Doc, respectively. Fourth place was Cody Crow with BR Winning Rey. Rounding out the top five was Tom Neel with Zackly Right Time.

Junior Ranch Horse Pleasure-

1-Smart and Angelic/Craig Johnson (230)

2-Whizen Big Chex/Gary Roberts (228.5)

3-Sum Sterling Whiskey/Dustin Rogers (228)

4-Roosters Big Diamond/Levi Grimes

5-Von Pistelero/Jacinda Hinkson

6-CD Lights Cat/Mozaun McKibben

7-Smart Nu Shiner/JD Yates

8-Wimparette/Shane Allen Brown

9-DT Sugar Shine Whiz/CR Bradley

10-Classic Crome/Steve Meadows

Senior Ranch Horse Pleasure-

1-Rey Jay Boonsmal/Mozaun McKibben

2-Chica Shine/Mike Major

3-Smart Whiskey Doc/Mike Major

4-BR Winning Rey/Cody Crow

5-Zackly Right Time/Tom Neel

6-Judys Ten/Kim Lindsey

7-Little Bunny Fou Fou/Brad Lund

8-Cowboy Real/Kelley Engel

9-Woody Be A Chic/Morgan Lybbert

10- Son Shining Rooster/Kevin Oliver

Scroll below to view more fun photos from the Ranch Horse Pleasure this evening.