Nutrena East AQHA Level 1 Championships Top Ranching Heritage-Bred Horse

The 5-year-old gelding Drift To Skip was named the top AQHA Ranching Heritage-bred horse at the 2023 Nutrena East AQHA Level 1 Championships, which was April 25-30 at the World Equestrian Center in Wilmington, Ohio.

Drift To Skip is by Zans Tyree Drifter and out of Poquita Harlita Skip, bred in Minnesota by Reed Kettlewell. This breeder has seen horses he bred earn more than 780 AQHA points and be money earners in National Reined Cow Horse, National Cutting Horse and National Reining Horse association competition. Drift To Skip is owned and shown by Gabriella Grace Powalie of Painesville, Ohio.

The AQHA Ranching Heritage program highlights the versatility, soundness and willing attitude of American Quarter Horses that are ranch-born and -raised.

Only the horses produced by Ranching Heritage Breeders are eligible to participate in the program, but anyone can own and show these horses.

Ranching Heritage Breeders are those operations that have steadfastly continued to maintain the ranching tradition by raising American Quarter Horses for use in working cattle.

In addition to top horse awards, AQHA Ranching Heritage-bred horses are eligible to compete in AQHA Ranching Heritage Challenges, which are offered across the country. Competing in these events, many of which have added money, make horses eligible to compete at the AQHA Ranching Heritage Challenge Finals.

To find out more about the Ranching Heritage program, visit www.aqha.com/ranching.

AQHA news and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more news and information, follow @AQHA on Twitter and visit www.aqha.com/news.