FIRST AQHA VERSATILITY RANCH HORSE WORLD CHAMPIONS CROWNED IN DENVER

The American Quarter Horse Journal, January 18, 2008 – History was made in Denver as Sixes Pick and Chance D. O’Neal won the open world title and Peppy Chex Your Gun and Terri Cooper won the amateur world title at the inaugural AQHA Fort Dodge Versatility Ranch Horse World Championships. The event took place at the National Western Stock Show in Denver January 16-17, 2008.

Sixes Pick is a 10-year-old sorrel stallion bred and owned by Burnett Ranches LTD of Fort Worth, Texas. The homebred stallion won the ranch trail and ranch conformation classes, placed second in ranch cutting, finished third in working ranch horse and was fourth in ranch riding to earn 44 points, 10 more than reserve world champion Smart Whiskey Doc, who was exhibited by owner Mike Majors of Fowler, Colorado. Sixes Pick is by Tanquery Gin and out of the Tenio Badger mare Natural Pick.  

Peppy Chex Your Gun is owned by Clayt Cooper of Otis, Colorado. The 8-year-old sorrel stallion won the ranch trail class, placed second in the working ranch horse, finished third in ranch cutting, ranch riding and ranch conformation. He earned 43 points, five more than reserve world champion Little Bell Pepper, who was shown by Betty Lou Valdez. Bred by Michael and Victoria Simmons of Parker, Colorado, Peppy Chex Your Gun is by Young Gun and out of the Peppy San Chex mare La Osas Peppychex.

The sorrel stallions are the first world champions crowned in versatility ranch horse competition. Fort Dodge Animal Health, the official equine vaccine manufacturer of AQHA and a corporate partner since 2005, is the title sponsor of the event.

“The American Quarter Horse is known as the world’s most versatile breed, and the AQHA Fort Dodge Versatility Ranch Horse World Championships highlight the athletic prowess and mental ability of American Quarter Horses to perform many tasks well,” AQHA Executive Vice President Bill Brewer said. “I congratulate the owners and exhibitors of Sixes Pick and Peppy Chex Your Gun on making history in Denver, and I want to extend my sincere thanks to all the people at the National Western Stock Show  & Rodeo for the outstanding hospitality we enjoyed.”

The versatility ranch horse competition demonstrates the versatility of the working ranch horse in five categories – ranch riding, ranch trail, ranch cutting, working ranch horse and ranch conformation. The versatility ranch horse competition promotes the athletic ability and versatility of the horse. To learn more about the versatility ranch horse competition, visit www.aqha.com/showing/divisions/versatility.html.

The World Champions each received a custom-designed gold-tone trophy, courtesy of Fort Dodge AQHA VRH World Championship Show; sterling silver buckle with 14-karat gold overlay, courtesy of Montana Silversmiths; a specially designed logoed jacket and world champion patch, courtesy of Cripple Creek Outerwear and a neck wreath.

Highlights from the inaugural Fort Dodge Championships will be aired on two episodes of “AQHA Presents,” AQHA’s new weekly television series on the RFD-TV network. The amateur competition will be featured on February 13 with a repeat February 16 and open competition on February 20 with a repeat February 23. Online coverage of the inaugural Fort Dodge Championships provided by The American Quarter Horse Journal is available at http://www.aqha.com/showing/shows/VRHworldshow/index.html.

Visit aqha.com for more information about these episodes. RFD-TV is available on satellite systems Dish (Channel 231) and  DirectTV (Channel 379), as well as several cable systems including Mediacom Cable and NCTC Cable Systems.

Open Results

1 Sixes Pick / Chance D. O’Neal of Guthrie, Texas

2 Smart Whiskey Doc / Mike A. Major of Fowler, Colorado

3 Amigos Medicine / Cody Crow of Eaton, Colorado

4 Josephs Catchum All / Jimbo Humphreys Dickens, Texas

5 Peppy Chex Your Gun / Terri Cooper of Yuma, Colorado

6 Just Train / Martin Kribs of Driggs, Idaho

7 BH Tanquery Chick / Scott E. Long of Yazoo City, Mississippi

8 Watts Twisten Badger / Jacelyn Watt of Sidney, Nebraska

9 Real Smart Mate / Bill James of Abilene, Kansas

10 Whats In The Zack / Jody D. Dubois of Paradise, Texas

11 Circle Bar Pistol/Colton Daniel of Trescott, Texas

Amateur Results

1 Peppy Chex Your Gun / Terri Cooper of Yuma, Colorado

2 Little Bell Pepper / Betty Lou Valdez of La Junta, Colorado  

3 Love A Little Devil / Holly Jolene Ward Major of Fowler, Colorado

4 Sixsation / Robert Michael Valdez of La Junta, Colorado

5 Teninolenas Angel / Bruce Hasbrouck of Hydetown, Pennsylvania

6 Play Squall / Mitch Guerrieri of Franktown, Colorado

7 Sweet Paramour / Daryl W. Lund of Paicines, California

8 Senorita Express / Joi Luene Brackenbury of Yerington, Nevada

9 Triangle Bar Billy / Shelley Johnsen of Hawley, Minnesota

10 Cinnabars Lil Lena / Justin Hill of Peyton, Colorado

11 Snappin Wil / Melissa Hausman of Waxhaw, North Carolina

12 Ladys Croton Lobo / Bryan Lee of North Platte, Nebraska  

13 Circle Bar Pistol / Colton Daniel of Trescott, Texas  

14 A Time To Spark / Dr. Edgell Pyles of Snowmass Village, Colorado  

15 Roan Busy Bee / Conrad T. Swanson of Wellington, Colorado 

16 Chester Glass / James E. Wilson of Plymouth, Iowa

17 Smart Woolie Badger / Mark Zimmerman of Akron, Colorado

18 Splash O Nic / Regina Jo Downey of Limon, Colorado

19 Rainbow Gentleman / Donald E. Guthrie of Joy, Illinois   

AQHA news and information is a service of AQHA publications. For more information on The American Quarter Horse Journal, The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal or America’s Horse, visit www.aqha.com/magazines.