The American Quarter Horse Journal, February 2, 2007 – AQHA’s newest event, ranch sorting, had its first World Championship Show qualifiers this week. While the results are still unofficial, Jeannine Gemmill and Shelly Fitzgerald qualified in the open division riding Doc O Foxy Girl and Action Advantage at the Mustang Sorting in Mustang, Oklahoma.

Gemmill rode Doc O Foxy Girl, a 1985 bay mare owned by Van Gemmill. Teammate Fitzgerald rode Action Advantage, a 2003 bay mare owned by Lynn and Bonita Laske.

Also competing in Mustang were more than 30 amateur exhibitors with four qualifying for the 2007 World Show. Robert Lofton showed Roc Bar Ray, a 2000 gray gelding, and his teammate, Jim Martin, rode MV Peppy Rey Tari, a 2004 sorrel gelding owned by James and Vicky Martin.

Finishing second and also qualifying for the 2007 World Show were Randy Dummitt and Don Bell aboard Pocos Smokin Jem and Boon Freckles Lynx, respectively.
Ranch sorting is an exciting timed event that is based on precision. A team of two riders enters the arena to face 12 head of cattle. Ten of the cattle are wearing numbers zero through nine, and two of the cattle are unmarked. The two riders hear a randomly called number and have exactly 60 seconds to numerically sort the cattle into a nearby round pen, starting with the number called.

For example, if the riders hear three, they first will push the cow with the number three on its back to the round pen followed by the No. 4 cow, then the No. 5 cow, and so on until all are penned without disturbing the unmarked cattle.

For more information about ranch sorting and to view a list of 2007 World Show qualifying points, visit http://www.aqha.com/showing/shows/aqhyapoints.html.

AQHA news and information is a service of AQHA publications. For more information on The American Quarter Horse Journal, The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal or America’s Horse, visit www.aqha.com/magazines.

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