The 2022 Stock Horse of Texas Western Horseman World Championship Show saw 3,066 entries compete in twelve divisions for the chance to earn the title of all-around World champion from October 26 through October 30 at the Taylor County Expo in Abilene, Texas. When the dust settled from the last of the 650 cattle worked during the show, competitors walked away with not only bragging rights but also $43,680 and another $69,185 in prizes.
“Stock Horse of Texas is honored to offer the Western Horseman Stock Horse World Show that gives everyone a place to vie for a world title, from novice riders to open riders at the top of their game,” said Executive Director Jill Dunkel. “What sets our World Show apart is the atmosphere—we have fun with our special events. The arena was rocking with excitement during the Classic Equine Fence Work Showcase—it was electric! It’s so fun to see stock horse enthusiasts cheering on their friends and celebrating great cow horses. That event displays the camaraderie of Stock Horse of Texas.”
In spite of the association requiring entries in the World Show to qualify by having competed at one other SHTX event, the numbers didn’t dwindle. The Novice division featured 93 competitors, in the Limited Non Pro 69 and in the Novice Youth there were 54.
It took outstanding runs in two go-rounds of four classes—Cow Work, Reining, Stock Horse Trail and Stock Horse Pleasure —to earn the title of World Champion. Additionally, two collegiate teams were named overall Collegiate World Champions based on their team member’s scores.
• Open Champion: CR Tuff Secret and Taylor Peters
• Junior Horse Champion: Larrys Little Sister and Tom Neel
• Level 1 Open Champion: SCC Royal Gentleman and Ty Ferguson
• Non Pro Champion: Mason Elliott riding The Fletcherator
• Intermediate Champion: Wendy Lamborghini riding Metallic Dynamite DR
• Youth Champion: Treylyn Hancock riding Slyd My Way
• Novice Youth Champion: Catharine Paben riding NADA Pepto Taz
• Novice Champion: SCC Fourstargeneral and Haley Winkler
• Limited Non Pro Champion, Collegiate Limited Champion: Daeleigh Patridge riding RVR Natural Cat for Tarleton State University
• Collegiate Non Pro Champion : Evan Means riding Hollywood Big Star for Texas Tech University
• Collegiate Novice Champion: Tana Butts riding I Have The Chex for North Central Texas College
• Division I Collegiate Champions: Texas Tech University
• Division II Collegiate Champions: University of Arkansas
Open Champion Taylor Peters piloted CR Tuff Secret, owned by Bill Lockwood, to top an Open field of 35 competitors to the all-around title. However, his barn included riders in the Youth and Non-Pro divisions of the show.
“It’s such a great family atmosphere and it is so great to bring our new customers or youth customers to learn to show and prepare our horses to do these events we do,” he said. “I brought some youth kids who had never [shown] here before. We worked real hard all summer and fall, and they made their goal of being top 10 in the Youth. It was fun to watch them achieve their goal.”
CR Tuff Secret and Taylor Peters captured the Open World Champion title
In 2005, the SHTX collegiate program was launched by the late Dr. Kris Wilson when he brought the first group of riders in black shirts with a Texas Tech University logo. Since then, the program has evolved to include eligibility for any enrolled full-time college student, or group of collegiate riders from the same school on a team. Team and individual awards are presented. Division I teams have up to six riders in Open/Non Pro, Limited or Novice. Division I teams include four riders in either Limited or Novice divisions.
“Showing against such a great group of people and all the camaraderie, support has made this an incredible show,” said Daeleigh Patridge, who earned the Collegiate Limited Champion title for Tarleton State University. “I like the versatility events because it is a family friendly atmosphere and everyone makes you feel so welcome.”
In addition to the Western Horseman-sponsored World Championship Show, on Sunday, October 30, the Ordner Insurance/American Reliable Insurance Derby saw entries up 23 percent over last year to vie for the $10,000-added purse. There were 30 Open entries and 14 Limited Non Pro entries.
“The depth of competition at the Ordner Insurance/American Reliable Insurance Derby was phenomenal,” Dunkel said. “These horses get better and better each year. It’s not easy to go from running wide open down the fence, to carefully navigating a stock horse trail course. Showcasing these versatile horses is our goal.”
Limited Non Pro division Champion Nancy Cloud rode her gelding Blueberry Boon DR to the top spot, earning $3228.30. Open Champion and Non Pro Incentive Champion Allora Leonard, 18, rode away with $5,475 aboard her red roan gelding Stylish Lil Boon.
“Last year, I stayed an extra day at this show to watch the Derby and our goal was to prepare to enter this,” Leonard said. “It’s incredible the number of incentives SHTX has provided to the Open Derby, and I can’t thank Ordner Insurance, Michelle Reding, American Reliable Insurance and SHTX enough for all they do to support our industry and the working cow horse.”
Though the calendar year wraps up with the World Championship Show, year-end awards are presented at the first event in the next year. In 2023, the Bryan, Texas, Stock Horse of Texas event kicks off what will be another year of growth for the once grass-roots versatility organization that has grown into a founding member of the National Ranch and Stock Horse Alliance.
For additional information on the World Show or to see the 2023 show calendar, visit www.StockHorseTexas.org
By Press Release
