By Becky Newell

Eight Ranching Heritage-bred horses competed at the 2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in December in Las Vegas. Five were in tie-down roping, two in heeling and one in heading. 

Ranching Heritage-bred horses are those produced by AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeders. To become part of the Ranching Heritage Breeders, ranches must be members of AQHA, and their ranch remudas must consist of American Quarter Horses, which must be used primarily to work ranch cattle. The ranch must own at least five American Quarter Horse mares that are used to produce the remuda, and the ranch must have received at least an AQHA 10-year breeder award.

Here are the Ranching Heritage-bred horses that were competing at the NFR:

In tie-down roping, Hunter Herrin was riding Gunpowder Spookster, a 2012 gray gelding by PG Gunpowder and out of Rules The Roost by Bet On Me 498. The horse was bred by Lowrance Horse Division LLC of Truscott, Texas. Hunter and “Quanah” earned $143,842.50 at the NFR and finished fourth in the world standings. 

Smooth As A Powercat and Marty Yates earned $105,834.92 at the NFR and finished seventh in the tie-down roping world standings. “Jag,” who was bred by AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeders Garth and Amanda Gardiner, is a 2009 sorrel gelding by Smooth As A Cat and out of Diamonds With Style by Playin Stylish.

Shad Mayfield’s Big Cats Monkey, “Rampage,” is a 2009 red roan gelding by Big Cat Galarraga and out of Ms Sun O Roseolena by Mr Sun O Lena. Rampage is bred by Robert Weaver and Mike Stewart of Haskell, Texas. Shad won $66,428.35 at the NFR, some of which was won on Rampage.

This Fiestas Lonely is the gray Ranching Heritage-bred horse ridden by tie-down roper Tuf Cooper. The duo took home nearly $45,000 in earnings. “Bro” is a 2012 gelding by Fiesta Royale and out of Annie Be Lonely by Ikes Last. He was bred by the K4 Ranch of Prescott, Arizona.

Haven Meged rode Seven S Tomahawk in Round 7 of the NFR to give his main mount, Casanovas Cowgirl, a rest. Bred by the AQHA Best Remuda-winning R. T. Stuart Ranch, Seven S Tomahawk, aka “Smoke,” is a 2016 bay gelding by Mr Playinstylish and out of Seven S Sassy Zan by Seven S Zanaday. Haven finished eighth in the tie-down world standings, with $227,896.65.

In the team roping, header Tyler Wade roped off of Espuela Bro, who is a 2007 bay gelding by Blue Light Ike and out of Brio Victress (TB) by Sucha Pleasure. “Spur” was bred by Joseph and Cathy Murray of Oakdale, California. Tyler and heeler Trey Yates both finished eighth in their event’s world standings. Tyler had $196,868.58 in earnings for the year.

Two NFR heelers were also riding Ranching Heritage-bred horses. Logan Medlin was riding TRR Freckles Holidoc, and Jade Corkill was on Sixes Posse. TRR Freckles Holidoc is a 2016 bay gelding by Pepcid and out of SR Pretty Playboy by Playboy Lena Bar. As the initials in his name indicate, the gelding was bred by the Tongue River Ranch. Sixes Posse, bred by Burnett Ranches Ltd., Sixes Posse is a 2005 gray gelding by Playgun and out of Cedar Style by Mr Sun O Lena. Logan, who roped with header Coleman Proctor, finished sixth in the heeling world standings with $207,354.76. Jade, who roped with Clay Tryan, finished third in the heeling world standings with $231,147.06.

Ranching Heritage-bred horses are also eligible to compete in AQHA Ranching Heritage Challenges. Also, because they're registered Quarter Horses, these horses might also be eligible to compete in the Riata Buckle team roping stallion incentive program.