It was a hot August night in Oklahoma City for 16-year-old Denver Mead and his little sorrel mare Shes His Wil, “Rose.” They took the youth cutting world championship at the 2008 AQHYA World Championship Show. A good first cow, a troublesome mott and a chip in the last seconds led to a 219 score for the two, seventh in the go. From Aledo, Texas, Denver’s folks, Ron and Darlene, were on hand for the win – and to pick up the trophy while Denver spoke with the Journal crew.
Q. Tell me how the cattle were tonight?
Denver: They weren’t as good as they were in the prelims, but we got by. They were good. The first cow, we walked in, and it was on the way outside. Randy (Butler) said, scoop on in here and don’t take any cattle with it. just come up and cut and be aggressive, and that’s what I did. Good cow.
(I) quit that one, and cut a mott. It took me a little while to cut him, a little bit more difficult cut. It ended up not being a very good cow; it kind of just ran all over the place. After a few stops I got off of it and tried to get another one to lay down something good.
My third cow, as soon as I turned around it was right on top. I chipped it and put my hand down, and she went to shaking and doing her stuff.
Q. What makes you proudest of this mare?
Denver: I’ve had her since she was a 4-year-old, and we’ve kind of learned showing together. She was my first aged event horse. I’ve won about $30,000 (National Cutting Horse Association) so far (with her). She’s my baby.
Q. How long have you been cutting?
Denver: About four years. I used to ride pleasure horses and English horses and had some friends that did reining. They went to their trainer’s for a lesson. I was like, hey, I’ll go down there with y’all.
He happened to do working cow horse and cutting, and they asked me if I’d ever been on a cutting horse and I said no. They put me on an horse, and I fell in love with it.
We ended up buying the horse that I rode first. He had actually been an AQHYA world champion and reserve back in 1999 and 1998. Little Orphan Ote – a great learning horse, probably the best you can get.
Denver Mead and Shes His Wil, aka "Rose," took home the 2008 Ford Youth World championship in cutting on August 2.
Q. How did you get Rose?
Denver: We had been talking about getting me a new horse, and we knew that Randy (Butler) had trained Little Orphan Otie. We really wanted an aged event horse that I could take to the shows and win more money (with). We went out and looked at a couple of horses, but nothing that I really liked.
On our way back from Brenham (Texas), (a friend) said Randy Butler has a 4-year-old that he marked a 75.5 on yesterday, do y’all want to go look at her? I said yes, absolutely. The next day we looked at her. As soon as I walked in her stall over there, I knew she was the one.
Q. What about her said that to you?
Denver: I don’t know; it was just a feeling. (He smiled.) I don’t know.
Q. Is there anyone you want to thank?
Denver: Yeah, thank you Randy Butler, a lot. And all my help that was here to get me through these last couple of days. And my parents!
BETCHA DIDN'T KNOW
Rose was seventh in the junior cutting at the 2006 AQHA World Championship Show. According to Denver her only quirks are that "you have to lope her a lot, she's extremely cowy." And then he added, she's "a little moody sometimes, but that's all mares."
WINNER STATS
Horse name: Shes His Wil Pedigree: 2002 sorrel mare by Peppys Lil Wil and out of Sabrinas Lena by Doc O'Lena Exhibitor: Denver Mead, Aledo, Texas Owner: Divine Rock Ranch Inc., Aledo, Texas Trainer: Randy Butler and Bruce Morine
Total class entries: 46 Sponsored by the National Cutting Horse Association
