Ranching-Heritage Horses Win Big at AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse Championships

AQHA Publicity

From the earliest days of western cattle ranches, cowboys needed a horse that could handle the strain and pressures of working cattle each day. While the West has long since been settled, American Quarter Horses are still the preferred partner for working cattle ranches. At the 2015 Zoetis AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse World Championships, these horses proved they can also clean up, go to town and bring home a haul of prizes.

The 2015 Zoetis VRH World was March 17-20, 2016, in conjunction with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. This year’s event is referred to as the 2015 Zoetis VRH World because the qualifying period was January 1 – December 31, 2015.

Ranching Heritage-bred horses earning finalist placings and top-10 finishes at the 2015 Zoetis VRH World include:

OPEN

• Cowpony Express, bred by Kimberly Wilson (Wilson Ranch) of Las Animas, Colorado, and shown by Mike A. Major of Bowie, Texas – open all-around reserve world champion; reserve champion in open ranch conformation and ranch reining; fifth in open ranch cow work, ranch riding and ranch trail; and 10th in open ranch cutting
• Kuki Sioux, bred by Wagonhound Land and Livestock LLC. of Douglas, Wyoming, and shown by Jordan Wade Williams of Rhome, Texas – champion in open ranch reining, third in open ranch trail, fourth in open ranch cow work, fifth in open ranch conformation, sixth in open ranch riding and seventh in open ranch cutting
• Paddys Prince, bred by Burnett Ranches LLC of Fort Worth, Texas, and shown by Dusty J. Burson of Guthrie, Texas – reserve champion in open ranch cow work, sixth in open ranch conformation, and eighth in open ranch reining and ranch riding
• Reata B Rejoicing, bred by Kimberly Wilson (Wilson Ranch) and shown by Mike A. Major of Bowie, Texas – champion in open ranch cow work
• Western Sequel, bred by Burnett Ranches LTD and shown by Baru Forell Spiller of Wingate, Texas – fourth in open ranch trail
• Black Hope Stik, bred and shown by AQHA Professional Horseman Mike A. Major (Major Cattle Co.) of Bowie, Texas– sixth in open ranch trail

AMATEUR

• Black Hope Stik, bred by AQHA Professional Horseman Mike A. Major (Major Cattle Co.) of Bowie, Texas, and shown by Holly J. Major – amateur all-around world champion; champion in amateur ranch conformation, ranch cutting and reining; third in amateur ranch cow work, sixth in amateur ranch riding and ninth in amateur ranch trail

• Do It Classy, bred by W.T. Waggoner Estate and shown by Brooke M. Wharton of Wichita Falls, Texas – reserve champion in amateur ranch conformation, third in amateur limited cow work, ninth in amateur ranch cutting and 10th in  amateur ranch riding
• Little Bell Pepper, bred by Frank or Jerri Lynn Kenzy of Iona, South Dakota, and shown by Jennifer Sadler of Lakeview, Arkansas – fifth in amateur ranch conformation and seventh in amateur ranch cow work
• Seven S Limelight, bred by Terry Stuart Forst of Waurika, Oklahoma, and shown by Jay Clements of Dale, Texas – eighth in amateur ranch trail and 10th in amateur ranch conformation
• Snip O Sunrise Lobo, bred by Bryan Lee of North Platte, Nebraska and shown by Christine Lee of North Platte, Nebraska – 10th in amateur limited cow work and amateur ranch cow work
• Western Sequel, bred by Burnett Ranches LTD and shown by Baru Forrel Spiller of Wingate, Texas – champion in amateur ranch cow work champion and ranch trail
• Lees Doc O Sunrise, bred and shown by Bryan Lee – reserve champion in amateur ranch cow work and eighth in amateur ranch cutting

COWBOY

• SS Hey One Eye, bred by Silver Spur Operating Co. LLC of Wayne, Oklahoma, and shown by Elwyn McCleskey of Solano, New Mexico – cowboy all-around world champion; champion in cowboy ranch cutting, ranch reining and ranch riding; reserve champion in cowboy ranch trail and ranch cow work; and fourth in cowboy ranch conformation
• RAB Go Pep Hancock, bred by R.A. Brown Ranch of Throckmorton, Texas, and shown by Lanham Brown of Throckmorton, Texas – cowboy all-around reserve world champion; champion in cowboy ranch cow work; reserve champion in cowboy ranch conformation and ranch riding; third in cowboy ranch cutting and ranch trail; and fourth in cowboy ranch reining
• Lil Bit Bar Pep, bred by Atwood Quarter Horses Inc. of Kenwood, California. and shown by Trevor D. Carter of Clovis, New Mexico – champion in cowboy ranch conformation and ranch trail; reserve champion in cowboy ranch reining; third in cowboy ranch cow work; fourth in cowboy ranch riding; and fifth in cowboy ranch cutting
• Colonel Skyline, bred by Atwood Quarter Horses Inc. and shown by Trevor D. Carter– reserve champion in cowboy ranch cutting; third in cowboy ranch conformation, ranch reining and ranch riding; and fourth in cowboy ranch cow work and ranch trail
• SS One Eyed Dualer, bred by Silver Spur Operating Co. and shown by Elwyn McCleskey– fourth in cowboy ranch cutting

YOUTH

• Bobbie Can Do, bred by W.T. Waggoner Estate and shown by Sidney Dunkel of Archer City, Texas – youth all-around world champion; champion in youth ranch conformation and ranch cow work; reserve champion in youth ranch cutting, ranch reining and ranch trail; and fifth in youth ranch riding
• Boots Be Tuff, bred by W.T. Waggoner Estate and shown by Sidney Dunkel – youth all-around reserve world champion; champion in youth ranch reining, ranch riding and ranch trail; third in youth ranch cow work; and fifth in youth ranch conformation

For more results and coverage from the 2015 Zoetis VRH World, visit www.aqha.com/versatility.

About the AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeders Program

In 2011, AQHA and the AQHA Ranching Council developed the AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeders program to recognize the ranches and individuals who continue to uphold the ranching tradition.

To become an AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeder, ranches must be members of AQHA and their ranch remudas must consist of American Quarter Horses, used primarily to work ranch cattle. The ranch must also own at least five American Quarter Horse mares that are used to produce the remuda and the ranch must have received at least an AQHA 10-year breeder award.

Ranching Heritage-bred horses are also eligible to be nominated to and shown at Zoetis AQHA Ranching Heritage Challenges, where they can earn thousands of dollars in working ranch horse, boxing and ranch riding classes.

To learn more or to apply, visit www.aqha.com/ranchingheritage.

AQHA News and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more news and information, follow @AQHAnews on Twitter and visit www.aqha.com/news.