In mid-July, 2012 Wilmington, Ohio was the gathering place for competitors at the eighth annual American Ranch Horse Association (ARHA) World Horse Show celebration. The six-day competition saw exhibitors from 18 states compete in cattle events, ranch riding and trail classes, horsemanship and showmanship, conformation classes, ranch reining and reining, and speed events.
Some highlights of the week included the ARHA Queen Competition for young women ages 17 – 24, who compete in rules testing, horsemanship, interviews, and a speech contest, and will represent the organization at a variety of events during the following year; the 3-Year Old Challenge, consisting four classes – conformation, ranch riding, ranch cutting and ranch reining – designed to show off the talents of the young American Ranch Horse, and to recognize the offspring of horses nominated to the ARHA Stallion Stakes Program; the High Point and Reserve High Point awards competition in the Open, Select (over 50), Amateur and Youth Divisions; and a variety of daily social events.
This year’s added attraction was a clinic with NRHA Reiner Shawn Flarida. With Flarida, ARHA members could obtain some hands-on advice from one of the country’s most noted reining authorities. Sixteen riders participated with their horses, while many watched this talented horseman and clinician assist the riders in developing new skills.
The two show arenas were packed with action. The cattle classes, which are the foundation of ARHA, include cutting, ranch cutting, working cow horse, working ranch horse, ranch roping, and ranch sorting. Youth classes included exhibitors as young as seven years old, and the Select classes saw an increased number of entries.
One of the most exciting and well attended events was the Queen Competition Horsemanship class. These young ladies compete in the Working Ranch Horse class, which consists of two sections. In the Reined Work, each of the four candidates “draws” for a horse and complete the reining pattern on a horse other than their own. In the second part, they complete the cattle portion on their own horse.
The ARHA is a national association that offers a family oriented, friendly competitive atmosphere for the versatile ranch type horse. This year’s high point winners include:
Open –
High Point Horse – Income Texas, owned/shown by Jim Isley, North Carolina
Res. High Point Horse – Shortys Stop N Time, shown by Woody Taylor/owner, Kathy Armstead, West Virginia
Select –
High Point Exhibitor – Gary Eason, riding KD Did, Indiana
Res. High Point – Jim Isley, riding Income Texas, North Carolina
Amateur –
High Point Exhibitor – Vanessa Mamie riding A Texas Breeze, Missouri
Res. High Point – Jennifer Foster riding Phantom Yankee, Indiana
Youth –
High Point – Lindsey Conti riding Willow Deelivery, Tennessee
Reserve High Point – Kathryn Rippetoe riding Hollywood Shines, Tennessee
Three Year Old Challenge Winner – One Time Bugsy, shown by Woody Taylor/owned by Jen Frame, Kentucky
2012 ARHA Queen – Mary Grace Warren (who shows Kiss My Buns)
Some highlights of the week included the ARHA Queen Competition for young women ages 17 – 24, who compete in rules testing, horsemanship, interviews, and a speech contest, and will represent the organization at a variety of events during the following year; the 3-Year Old Challenge, consisting four classes – conformation, ranch riding, ranch cutting and ranch reining – designed to show off the talents of the young American Ranch Horse, and to recognize the offspring of horses nominated to the ARHA Stallion Stakes Program; the High Point and Reserve High Point awards competition in the Open, Select (over 50), Amateur and Youth Divisions; and a variety of daily social events.
This year’s added attraction was a clinic with NRHA Reiner Shawn Flarida. With Flarida, ARHA members could obtain some hands-on advice from one of the country’s most noted reining authorities. Sixteen riders participated with their horses, while many watched this talented horseman and clinician assist the riders in developing new skills.
The two show arenas were packed with action. The cattle classes, which are the foundation of ARHA, include cutting, ranch cutting, working cow horse, working ranch horse, ranch roping, and ranch sorting. Youth classes included exhibitors as young as seven years old, and the Select classes saw an increased number of entries.
One of the most exciting and well attended events was the Queen Competition Horsemanship class. These young ladies compete in the Working Ranch Horse class, which consists of two sections. In the Reined Work, each of the four candidates “draws” for a horse and complete the reining pattern on a horse other than their own. In the second part, they complete the cattle portion on their own horse.
The ARHA is a national association that offers a family oriented, friendly competitive atmosphere for the versatile ranch type horse. This year’s high point winners include:
Open –
High Point Horse – Income Texas, owned/shown by Jim Isley, North Carolina
Res. High Point Horse – Shortys Stop N Time, shown by Woody Taylor/owner, Kathy Armstead, West Virginia
Select –
High Point Exhibitor – Gary Eason, riding KD Did, Indiana
Res. High Point – Jim Isley, riding Income Texas, North Carolina
Amateur –
High Point Exhibitor – Vanessa Mamie riding A Texas Breeze, Missouri
Res. High Point – Jennifer Foster riding Phantom Yankee, Indiana
Youth –
High Point – Lindsey Conti riding Willow Deelivery, Tennessee
Reserve High Point – Kathryn Rippetoe riding Hollywood Shines, Tennessee
Three Year Old Challenge Winner – One Time Bugsy, shown by Woody Taylor/owned by Jen Frame, Kentucky
2012 ARHA Queen – Mary Grace Warren (who shows Kiss My Buns)
