
While the temperatures fluctuated the week of the 2023 Western Horseman Stock Horse of Texas World Championship Show and Ordner Insurance/ American Reliable Insurance Derby, the competition remained fierce throughout the event, culminating in 13 new world champions and two Derby champions titles given as well as more than $150,000 in payout and prizes awarded. The 2023 show surpassed previous years in both entries and purse money.
The 2023 event saw the show add a day of competition to accommodate the 481 horses entered, a 97 percent increase in entries for the last four years. Additionally, the Derby payout was the largest in the event’s history, totaling more than $47,000, thanks to the increased support of Ordner Insurance and American Reliable Insurance.
The Open Derby win went to This Cats Shiny ridden by Trevor Carter and owned by Carter Ranch Horse. The duo took home $5,548 for the win. Jane Bagley and her home-bred gelding Ranch Security took top honors in the Limited Non-Pro Derby, with a paycheck of $3,611.
“Each year, the event gets bigger and bigger as exhibitors want to compete in a true versatility world show, and our sponsors recognize and respect that challenge by also upping their commitment,” said Jill Dunkel, Stock Horse of Texas executive director. “With the increase in entries, we had a schedule change late in the game, but our exhibitors accepted that challenge and it made for a show where we completed competition in time to allow participation in our evening sponsored special events. It was a big show, but it was a fun show!”
Versatility competitors had to show in one regular season Stock Horse of Texas event, which showcases cow work, reining, ranch trail and stock horse pleasure to qualify to enter the World Show. The Derby was open to all competitors showing 4-, 5-, or 6-year-old horses. In addition to division champions, there were two Collegiate Champions that were named from the 11 teams competing.
The complete list of 2023 Stock Horse of Texas World Champions follows:
Open — Allora Elizabeth Leonard riding Stylish Lil Boon
Level 1 Open — Zachary Haydon riding Seven Nation Army
Junior — Matthew Turner riding Peptos Royal Bet
Non-Pro — Mason Ann Elliott and The Fletcherator
Collegiate Non-Pro — Evan Means from Texas Tech University on Hollywood Big Star
Limited Non-Pro — Brianne Hight riding Eureka Wild Card
Collegiate Limited Non-Pro — Ryley Wilson from Clarendon College on SQH Hot Rod Lincoln
Intermediate — Jennifer Fridley on MSU Joe Has An Ace
Novice — Grace Chambers riding TAMU Pepyrey Marsali
Level 1 Novice — Callie Goins on ND Shes So Bella
Collegiate Novice — Camry Mangum from West Texas A&M University on Mister Cowboy Smarts
Youth — Treylyn Hancock and Slyd My Way
Novice Youth — Harper Kiseljack on Smart Taz Olena
Collegiate Division 1 — West Texas A&M University, Team Maroon
Collegiate Division II — Clarendon College, Team White
Two popular incentive programs, the Texas Triple Threat and Chrome Cash paid out $10,000 and $2,100 respectively.
“Since starting with SHTX, it’s grown leaps and bounds but the thing I’m most proud of, as a member and officer, is that we still know and recognize the exhibitors,” Lewis said. “It is a family-focused organization, but it’s still a tough competition in all our events, cow, reining, trail and pleasure. We’ve grown from the grass roots to a nation-wide group that saw riders from 14 states come to Abilene, Texas, to compete.”
Complete World Show and Derby results are available at stockhorsetexas.org/.
By Press Release