Open exhibitor Mozaun McKibben and amateur exhibitor Holly Major took top honors March 10 at the Pfizer AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse World Championship Show in Houston.
The American Quarter Horse Journal – Edging out
14 other open exhibitors, Mozaun McKibben and his 2006 stallion, Lil Ruf Catalyst, took home the open world championship at the 2011 Pfizer AQHA Versatility World Championship March 10 in Houston.
Lil Ruf Catalyst is by Lil Ruf Peppy and out of Foxy Catalyst by Taris Catalyst. He was bred by Werner Hermus of Valley View, Texas, and is owned by M. McKibben and H. Zimmerman of Whitesboro, Texas.
Earning the open reserve championship was Mike Major, riding Black Hope Stik, and taking home the bronze open championship was Fielding Rogers, riding Josephs Catchum All.
The Individual Open Class winners are as follows:
Open Ranch Trail: Fielding Rogers and Josephs Catchum All, owned by Jimbo Humphreys of Dickens, Texas
Open Ranch Riding: Chance O’Neal and Pickin Tivio, owned by Burnett Ranches LLC of Fort Worth, Texas
Open Ranch Cutting: Fielding Rogers and Blue Savanah Holli, owned by Watrous Valley Ranch LTD of Houston
Open Working Ranch Horse: Mozaun McKibben and Lil Ruf Catalyst, owned by M. McKibben and H. Zimmerman of Whitesboro, Texas
Open Ranch Conformation: Mike Major and Black Hope Stik, owned by Major, of Fowler, Colorado.
Amateur World Champion
Holly Major of Fowler, Colorado, rode 2004 stallion Chica Shine to world championships in all five amateur classes at the Pfizer AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse World Championship Show to ultimately become the amateur world champion.
Chica Shine is by A Chic In Time and is out of Shining Smart by Shining Spark. The stallion was bred by Rick Langland of Waukon, Iowa. Chica Shine is owned by Mike and Holly Major.
Earning the amateur reserve world championship was Daryl Lund and Sweet Paramour, and taking home the amateur bronze was Jennifer Lieuallen and Chickalena Superstar.
To make their world championships sweeter, McKibben and Holly Major each take home a custom gold-tone trophy, Montana Silversmiths silver buckle, Cripple Creek logoed jacket and patch, Justin boots and a world champion neck wreath.
The Pfizer AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse World Championship Show, March 9-10 in Houston, is an event for American Quarter Horse versatility ranch horse owners and exhibitors around the world, who must qualify by earning a predetermined number of points to compete in each of the classes: ranch riding, ranch trail, ranch cutting, working ranch horse and ranch conformation. This year’s event took place during the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
For more information and complete coverage of the Pfizer AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse World Championship Show, visit aqha.com/versatility.
Pfizer AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse World Championship Show Facts
•Total entries – 30 (Amateur – 15, Open – 15)
•Owners represent the following countries: United States – California, Colorado, Kansas, Nevada, Nebraska, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Texas; and Germany
•Total horses – 28
•Total purse of prize money and awards – approximately $35,250
•AQHA membership – more than 300,000 members
•Classes
?Ranch Trail – a course with a minimum of six obstacles designed to show a horse’s ability and willingness to perform several tasks that might be asked of him during the course of a normal day’s ranch work, including opening and closing a gate, and crossing a water hazard
?Ranch Riding – demonstrates the horse’s ability to move at a working speed with a rider at a walk, trot and lope
?Ranch Cutting – a specified numbered cow is cut from the herd, and the horse must demonstrate its ability to work the cow
?Working Ranch Horse – combines the ability of the working ranch horse to rein, handle cattle and put its rider in the position to rope and stop a cow
?Ranch Conformation – goal of this class is to preserve the American Quarter Horse type by selecting well-mannered horses based on their resemblance to the breed ideal
AQHA news and information is a service of AQHA publications. For more information on The American Quarter Horse Journal or America’s Horse, visit AQHA Publications.