Working ranch horses prove their worth
at American Paint Horse competition

FORT WORTH, TEXAS—Bringing horse shows a step closer to old West
traditions, the American Paint Horse Association’s (APHA) third annual Working Ranch Horse Clinic & Competition, held Oct. 28 and 29 at the National Ropers Supply Training Center in Decatur, Texas, gave exhibitors the opportunity to test their horse’s versatility both in and outside of the arena. The two-day event promoted practical ranch skills in unique classes like the Stock Horse Versatility class, which incorporated natural terrain into its outdoor obstacle course. The indoor classes—Stock Horse Pleasure, Working Stock Horse and Stock Horse Reining—were also designed to showcase the working abilities of the breed.

Tom Neel continued his success in APHA's Working Ranch Horse competition, earning the overall title for the Open Regular Registry division riding Delta Olenas Jul. Photo Courtesy Kayla Starnes/APHA. Hirez JPEG (3.25 mb)

“We’re trying to reach a segment of our industry that we’ve felt hasn’t been reached at this point—and that’s the working cowboy,” said APHA Executive Committee President-elect Carl Thurow, who was instrumental in the contest’s development.

APHA’s Working Ranch Horse competitions, sponsored by The Kent Group
and Hart Trailers, offer participants a fun, friendly atmosphere with four divisions: Open Regular Registry, Amateur Regular Registry, Open Solid Paint-Bred and Amateur Solid Paint-Bred.

The weekend featured not only the distinctly Western heritage-themed classes with Open and Amateur divisions for Regular Registry and solid Paint-bred horses, but also a clinic and versatility practice with well-known trainers and judges Carl and Karen McCuistion. Participants were able to enter the clinic and any of the classes individually, but those entered in all four classes were eligible to receive overall awards, cash and titles.

Chris Schoeneberg took the Amateur Regular Registry division's overall title aboard Instant Cowgirl. Here, he is shown taking a jump on the mare during the Stock Horse Versatility class. Photo Courtesy Jessica Hein/ APHA. Hirez JPEG (7.03 mb) Hirez JPEG (1.84 mb)

Division overall winners included:

Winners received one ton of Kent feed, courtesy of The Kent Group, as well as a Gist belt buckle and cash, courtesy of APHA. Cash and prizes were awarded to overall winners from 1st to 10th place in each division. Individual class winners also received prizes for their accomplishments.