Ranch Horse Classic Champ

By Holly Clanahan for The American Quarter Horse Journal 

“All Quarter Horses must be able to run a quarter mile in twenty-three seconds or show that they are capable of Quarter Horse Performance under ranch conditions.”
 – AQHA Executive Committee meeting minutes from April 22, 1940 
 

From the very beginning, ranch horses have set the standard for American Quarter Horses. And now, as the AQHA World Championship Show enters its 50th year, they are again taking center stage. The inaugural Ranch Horse Classic was held November 9 – and the reigning Versatility Ranch Horse junior world champion TCR Wild Cat showed the crowd in Oklahoma City what he was made of. 

Ridden by Lavert Avent for Tee Cross Ranches in Mineral Wells, Texas, TCR Wild Cat was named the first champion of the event, taking home $33,000 for his efforts. The total purse for the Ranch Horse Classic, presented by Platinum Performance, was $82,500. 

“This is great,” Lavert said after his win. “It brings the ranch horse back to notoriety. I think it’s great what they’re doing, and the money they’ve added into the ranch (events).” 

TCR Wild Cat, known as “Stitches,” is a 2019 bay gelding by Dual Smart Rey and out of SR Cat Attack by Wild Haired Cat. TCR Wild Cat was bred by Rancho Estrellita De Cobre LLC of Weatherford, Texas.

“He’s such a pretty mover,” Lavert said. “He’s built so nice. He’s good down the fence. He’s really good in all of it. I mean, at the Versatility World, we won five of the six events, so he’s good in everything. He’s one special horse, I’ll tell you.”

The Ranch Horse Classic is a three-part challenge, showcasing many of the skills a good ranch horse needs to possess. First, each of the 20 entries performed a ranch riding pattern, where the maneuvers included extension of gaits, changing leads and making a 360-degree turn. The horse-and-rider pairs then moved immediately into a ranch trail pattern that asked the horses to drag a small downed tree, navigate a series of three gates while carrying a tool bag, load into a trailer, cross a bridge and logs, and serpentine through bushes. Ranch cow work was the third element, and riders could either circle or rope the cow to demonstrate their horse’s ability to handle livestock. 

This event came together thanks to a lot of time and effort from the AQHA ranching committee, said Karen McCuistion, AQHA senior director of member programs. 

“This was a great opportunity to educate the public about how talented the American Quarter Horse ranch horse is,” Karen said. “The vision of the ranching committee was to showcase the different aspects of the working ranch horse’s daily routine.” 

The reserve Ranch Horse Classic champion is Kit Kat Paddy Whack, ridden by Wade Meador of Marietta, Oklahoma, for owner Clyde Metzler of Topeka, Kansas. Second place paid $23,000. 

The bronze champion is Rosie Jonez, ridden by Joshua Briggs of Pilot Point, Texas, for owner Heather Van Hooser of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Third place received $13,000. 

Entry priority was given to horses qualified for one of the AQHA world shows or Ranching Heritage Challenge Finals, as well as to horses that are Ranching Heritage-bred. 

A $7,500 side pot was available for the Ranching Heritage-bred horses, and that was won by This Secret Look, ridden by AQHA Professional Horsewoman Cindy Hale of Perryton, Texas, and owned by Marcie Lechtenberg of Manhattan, Kansas.  

The Ranch Horse Classic individual class winners were: Kit Kat Paddy Whack and Wade Meador winning ranch trail and ranch cow work; and Rosie Jonez and Joshua Briggs winning ranch riding. 

Many thanks go to the sponsors for supporting this inaugural event. Besides the presenting sponsor, Platinum Performance, other sponsors included supporting sponsor Las Tunas Cattle Co. and the following Ranching Heritage breeders: A Bar Ranch of Claremore, Oklahoma; Bagley Performance Horses of Dimmitt, Texas; Box O Quarter Horses of Gordon, Nebraska; CS Cattle Co. of Cimarron, New Mexico; Dry Well Ranch of Mud Butte, South Dakota; KT Cattle Inc. of Amado, Arizona; KT Ranch of Connell, Washington; Open Box Rafter Ranch of Faith, South Dakota; OR O Ranch of Prescott, Arizona; Raymond Sutton Ranch of Gettysburg, South Dakota; and Swenson Martin Horse & Cattle Co. of Beulah, North Dakota. 

As for what’s next for the champion? Lavert says he will continue training TCR Wild Cat in the two-rein and then straight up in the bridle.