AMATEUR CUTTING CHAMPION

BUCKI JAMES SCORES GOLD ON HER LAST HURRAH WITH RAMBO MERADA.

BY CANDACE DOBSON, FIELD EDITOR

It’s a bitter sweet ending for Bucki James and her 7-year-old sorrel gelding, Rambo Merada. The pair scored a crowd raising run of 225 in the finals to win the amateur cutting world championship in their last ride together.

“It was really a special night to me,” James said. “This was my last event with 'Rambo' because I’m selling him at the National Cutting Horse Association Futurity sale in December.”

James and Rambo sealed their victory cutting their last cow together.

James is an aged event rider and mostly rides horses through their 3- to 6-year-old year.

The pair wowed the crowd with Rambo’s signature stop, and beat reserve champions, Dean Holden and Alittle Street Smart, by seven points.

“We went in and cut the three cows we wanted out of the herd, and it turned out great,” James said. “Rambo just has an incredible stop and he’s really bright on a cow. He’s kind of the whole package.”

James raised Rambo at her home in Purcell, Oklahoma. She owned his dam, Merada Missy, who won the AQHA amateur cutting world championship in 1996.

Rambo has won nearly $180,000 in NCHA earnings, including an NCHA Derby championship in 2002. He placed 10th at the 2004 World Show. This is his first AQHA world championship.

James qualified Rambo at the Teddy Johnson to compete at the World Show, and their next stop will be at the NCHA Futurity. Rambo will find a new owner during the event running from November 23 through December 11 at Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas.

WINNER STATS Horse name: Rambo Merada Pedigree: Docs Stylish Oak x Merada Missy by Freckles Merada Owner/Exhibitor/Breeeder: Bucki James, Purcell, Oklahoma Total Class Entries: 54 Purse: $49,736 World Champion Prizes: Gold trophy, Montana Silversmiths buckle, Cripple Creek jacket, Tex Tan AQHA spurs, Justin ostrich Tekno Crepe boots, Professional's Choice products, Nutrena feed, neck ribbon