In 2001, Country Classic joined a handful of geldings that have been inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame on their own merit.
Country Classic, foaled in 1969, was by Rey Jay and out of Christy Carol. His breeder was Marion Flynt of Midland, Texas. Flynt sold the sorrel gelding to Linda Marie Mills of Guffey, Colorado, in 1973. In 1975, Mills’ father, Jerry, sold the horse to Stacey Allyn Strain of Black Forest, Colorado. Country Classic became a top-notch performer for Strain and her brother, Randy.
“After I had a horse like that, I knew I could never have another one,” said Stacey (Strain) Warren. “Our whole family benefited (from showing). We are the closest family and it kept us on track.”
Stacey showed the gelding in 13 events: halter, showmanship, cutting, working cow horse, barrel racing, pole bending, stake race, reining, western riding, trail, horsemanship, western pleasure, hunter under saddle and hunt seat equitation. Her brother showed Country Classic in heading, heeling and cutting, but he also took the horse in halter, showmanship, working cow horse, breakaway roping, barrel racing, pole bending, stakes race, reining, western riding, trail, horsemanship, western pleasure, hunter under saddle and hunt seat equitation.
Country Classic’s show record reveals American Junior Quarter Horse Association World Championship Show top-10 placings in hunt seat equitation, barrel racing, heading, heeling, stakes race, working cow horse, breakaway roping and cutting. In 1977, he won a reserve world championship in stakes racing.
By the end of his career, Country Classic had won 25 grands and 20 reserves in the open and youth divisions. He also placed at the AJQHA World Championship Show 15 times in nine different events, had 98 all-around titles and six Superiors in open and youth, in addition to two Youth Supreme Championship titles.
The gelding retired to the Powder River Cattle Company in Kaycee, Wyoming, and lived out his retirement at the ranch. In April 1986, he was euthanized due to complications from arthritis.
Country Classic was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2001.