Journal on the Road

NRCHA Open Bridle

February 6, 2010

Results from the National Reined Cow Horse Association open bridle world finals.

Carol Rose and Jay McLaughlin at the NRCHA World Finals.

Carol Rose and Jay McLaughlin at the NRCHA world finals.

The dirt was flying and cattle were neatly handled this weekend during the National Reined Cow Horse Association world finals, and some riders were wearing purple.

On February 6, the last finals were contested, including the highly anticipated open bridle championship. The winner might – or might not – have been determined by who was wearing purple. At least that’s the story for Carol Rose, Read the rest of this entry »

NRCHA World Non Pro

February 5, 2010

The National Reined Cow Horse Association crowns a non-pro two-rein world champion.

Kim Bailey adjusts her hat after winning the non-pro two-rein world championship at the NRCHA world finals February 5, 2010, in San Angelo, Texas.

Kim Bailey adjusts her hat after winning the non-pro two-rein world championship at the NRCHA world finals February 5, 2010, in San Angelo, Texas.

Kim Bailey of Sparta, Tennessee, had one thought on her mind.

In the cow work, she needed to make it past the middle marker during her non-pro two-rein finals run at the National Reined Cow Horse Association world finals.

Patience had been a problem for her in the preliminaries, and she was determined to overcome that problem February 5 on SS Scat Cat.

Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Sun Country Circuit

January 29, 2010

The Sun Country Circuit in Scottsdale, Arizona, is one of the biggest winter AQHA show circuits.

The Sun Country Circuit in Scottsdale, Arizona, is one of the biggest winter AQHA show circuits (Journal photo).

The state of the show

.It’s been fickle weather for the Arizona Quarter Horse Association’s Sun Country Circuit – a few days of odd downpours followed by days of bright sunshine. But the show has been a blast.

Mark Harrell and his crew are keeping the rings running smoothly. Circle S Ranch sponsored an Italian feast for all competitors. Longtime exhibitor Joni Hegel has covered half the cost of a daily hot lunch for everyone at the show, from exhibitors to spectators.

And like the weather, so goes the average horseman’s opinion here as to the state of our horse show industry these days. President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address on January 26 certainly made fodder for thought in the minds of those showing in Scottsdale.

Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Versatility Ranch Champ

January 28, 2010

Mike Major and Smart Whiskey Doc are the 2010 open versatility ranch horse world champions.

Mike Major and Smart Whiskey Doc are the 2010 open versatility ranch horse world champions. (Journal photo)

Back-to-back champs.

Mike Major and Smart Whiskey Doc took the versatility ranch horse world championship to the cheers of a crowd of almost 2,000 in the equine events center at the National Western Stock Show.

Read the entire story and all the show coverage online, brought to you by The American Quarter Horse Journal.

Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Amateur Ranch Horse Champ

January 17, 2010

It came down to a tie.

The amateur competition at the 2010 Fort Dodge AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse World Championship Show wrapped up on January 14.

The amateur competition at the 2010 Fort Dodge AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse World Championship Show wrapped up on January 14.

When Colton Daniel’s gray stallion Circle Bar Pistol was called to the head of the lineup in amateur ranch horse conformation – the final amateur class at the 2010 Fort Dodge AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse World Championship Show – it seemed like he had the amateur title sewn up. The two had already won amateur ranch cutting and amateur working ranch horse.

But the word spread that it was a tie, and show officials – including Charlie Hemphill, AQHA senior director of shows, and Alex Ross, AQHA Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Ranch Horse World Ramps Up

January 14, 2010

The titles are still up for grabs at the AQHA Fort Dodge Versatility Ranch Horse World Championship Show.

The 2010 AQHA Fort Dodge Versatility Ranch Horse World Championship Show continues. (Journal photo)

The 2010 AQHA Fort Dodge Versatility Ranch Horse World Championship Show continues. (Journal photo)

By the end of day Wednesday, January 13, at the 2010 AQHA Fort Dodge Versatility Ranch Horse World Championship Show, Laurie Shelton and Areal Chic Magnet had taken a strong lead in the amateur with wins in amateur ranch trail and amateur ranch riding.

Mike Major and Smart Whiskey Doc had the lead in the open, Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Ranch Horse World Begins

January 13, 2010

“Y’all smile!”

Colton Daniel and Circle Bar Pistol in the open ranch trail portion of the 2010 AQHA Fort Dodge Versatility Ranch Horse World Championship Show. (Journal photo)

Colton Daniel and Circle Bar Pistol in the open ranch trail portion of the 2010 AQHA Fort Dodge Versatility Ranch Horse World Championship Show. (Journal photo)

And with that, the riders gathered in the arena, looked up at the photographer over the alleyway and smiled their best. It was a group shot of the open and amateur exhibitors gathered to compete at the 2010 AQHA Fort Dodge Versatility Ranch Horse World Championship Show.

It’s the third rendition of the show, begun in 2008, and the historic National Western Stock Show in Denver has played host Read the rest of this entry »

Something Is Working

January 8, 2010

Paige Farr of Sarasota, Florida, is 64.

Paige Farr of Sarasota, Florida, rides Colonel Rey Lynx CT during amateur working cow horse February 7, 2010.

Paige Farr of Sarasota, Florida, rides Colonel Rey Lynx CT during amateur working cow horse February 7, 2010.

That’s why she picked 64 for her number in the Gulf Coast Circuit cattle classes January 7 at Triple J Ranch.

Paige, who lives five miles down the road from the Triple J, got started in working cow horse about two years ago. She rides some with the Florida Reined Cow Horse Association and is still a novice amateur in working cow horse, but she spent about 15 years riding in western pleasure and has been riding horses since she was 5.

Read the rest of this entry »

NCHA 2009 Non Pro Futurity

December 14, 2009

The weekend was pretty terrific for Kelle Earnheart and her father, Pat.

Pat Earnhart and Jeff Hooper

A four-horse team pulled a wagon carrying the men and women who were honored by induction into NCHA's Hall of Fame. NCHA Executive Director Jeff Hooper, left, gives Pat Earnheart his plaque.

On December 11, Kelle Earnheart and her mare, Badgers Perscription, won the National Cutting Horse Association Futurity non-pro competition with a 219.

“She’s a very smart mare,” Kelle said after the win in Fort Worth, Texas. “I purchased her from Darren Simpkins about a month ago. She has a lot of cow to her and she’s very athletic. I couldn’t ask for any more. She always gives her best.”

Most Futurity-bound 3-year-olds have been with their riders for a year or more, but Kelle had only a few weeks to get to know “Missy.”

Read the rest of this entry »

World Show: November 21

November 22, 2009

Rita Crundwell is the OKC Leading Owner for the 2009 AQHA World Championship Show.

Rita Crundwell is the 2009 Oklahoma City Leading Owner at the AQHA World Championship Show. (Journal photo)

Rita Crundwell is the 2009 Oklahoma City Leading Owner at the AQHA World Championship Show. (Journal photo)

A total of 20 horses entered in 38 amateur and open classes earned seven 2009 AQHA world championships and five reserves, all owned by Rita Crundwell of Dixon, Illinois, the 2009 Oklahoma City Leading Owner award winner at the 2009 World Show. A 20-year cumulative breeder of American Quarter Horses, Rita has won this award six times.

Her 2009 world champions were:

  • Acoolestopen and amateur world champion aged stallion
  • I Execute Classopen and amateur world champion yearling mare
  • Good I Will Beamateur world champion performance halter stallion
  • Pizzazzy Ladyopen and amateur world champion aged mare

Check out the photos below from Day 16 of the 2009 AQHA World Championship Show (click on the photo to see the captions). For more coverage of the World Show, go to www.aqha.com.

World Show: November 20

November 20, 2009

Check out the photos below from Day 15 of the 2009 AQHA World Championship Show (click on the photo to see the captions). For more coverage of the World Show, go to www.aqha.com.

Team Wrangler rides again!

The 2009 Team Wrangler members toss T-shirts to the crowd during the evening finals November 19 at the AQHA World Championship Show. (Journal photo)

The 2009 Team Wrangler members toss T-shirts to the crowd during the evening finals November 19 at the AQHA World Championship Show. (Journal photo)

The 2009 Team Wrangler competition wrapped up with Team Cowboy Cut on top. The exhibitors on that team bagged 800 credits during the 2009 show and racing season. Team Riata came in second and Team 20X finished third.

Team Wrangler is a year-long competition featuring the leading point-earning AQHA Professional Horsemen from racing and Read the rest of this entry »

World Show: November 19

November 19, 2009

Check out the photos below from Day 14 of the 2009 AQHA World Championship Show (click on the photo to see the captions). For more coverage of the World Show, go to www.aqha.com.

Say what? The world champion T-shirts say something different for each class.

AQHA Professional Horseman Rusty Green tosses his signed world champion T-shirts to the crowd during his victory lap on Certainly Inspired - they won the 2009 2-year-old western pleasure world championship (Journal photo)

AQHA Professional Horseman Rusty Green tosses his signed world champion T-shirts to the crowd during his victory lap on Certainly Inspired - they won the 2009 2-year-old western pleasure world championship (Journal photo)

As part of the awards presentation, each new world champion signs four T-shirts and throws them to the crowd during the victory lap. Who catches them depends on the champ’s throwing arm and how loud the crowd cheers and waves to get the thrower’s attention. They are unique: The only place you get them is after an AQHA world championship.

They also have sayings that change with the class. Here are a few of them:

Hunt seat equitation – “Best seat in the house”

Working hunter – “Glad I’m working”

Trail – “Put your left hoof in; take your left hoof out” or “Don’t tick this”

Jumping – “Just get over it”

Tie-down roping – “I followed that cow on Twitter”

Ranch sorting – “It takes all sorts”

Pole bending – “No, Officer, I haven’t been drinking”

Working cow horse – “Will work for cow”

Western pleasure – “If you can read this, you’re too close”

Halter – “Stud muffin” or “As the hot walker turns”

Performance halter – “I’m not really a halter horse, I just play one on T.V.”

Reining – “Dirt surfing”

Pleasure driving – “I’m just here for the hats”

Featherlite All-Around Amateur and Featherlite Superhorse – “One horse to rule them ALL”