Results of the Inaugural NAERIC Versatility Ranch Horse Stake!
| | Featuring $2,000 Purse NAERIC Stake Class | | 11/6/2008 | | | (Brandon, MB November 3, 2008) The inaugural 2008 NAERIC Versatility Ranch Horse Stake held as a class-within-a-class during the 2008 AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse Competition, was held October 10, 2008 at the Westoba Agricultural Centre of Excellence in Brandon, Manitoba.
The competition was judged by Maryann Willoughby of Hugoton, Kansas according to the 2008 AQHA Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations.
There were 13 exhibitors in the Open division and 2 exhibitors in the Youth division from Manitoba and Saskatchewan, who competed at the second annual AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse Competition, (more than double the number of exhibitors at the 2007 competition).
This was due, in part, to the addition of a $2,000 purse NAERIC stake class open to NAERIC-enrolled, three-year-old registered American Quarter Horses, Paints and Appaloosas sired by NAERIC member-owned, nominated stallions.
Phil Adams of Deloraine, Manitoba aboard his 2005 AQHA sorrel mare, AR Echos MS Zan, sired by Echo Country O Lea, out of Colonels MS Zan, won first place in the 2008 NAERIC Versatility Ranch Horse Stake class earning $1,000.
Justin Bridgeman of Binscarth, Manitoba rode Sonitas Zan Par, a sorrel 2005 AQHA stallion sired by Sonitas Reyson, out of Solano Zan Par, owned by his father, Kevin Bridgeman, receiving $600 for placing second. Duncan Campbell of Virden, Manitoba, placed third winning $400 aboard 2005 AQHA red dun mare, DACS Sis Lazer, sired by Dolls Double Jac, out of Lazer Y Lee Coyote, owned by Cathy Gerrand of Virden, Manitoba.
Neil McLeod of Brandon, Manitoba, aboard his palomino 2002 AQHA gelding, Tally The Style, sired by High Style Hickory, out of Tally Trix, placed first overall in the Open Division of the 2008 AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse competition. McLeod also won the High Point Crocus Cow Horse Association`s members incentive.
Katie Michie of Austin, Manitoba, was first overall in the Youth Division, riding Quix Dry Hick, a sorrel 2000 AQHA gelding, sired by Hicks Little Pep and out of MS Dry Quixote, owned by her father Mark Michie. Katie also earned a Crocus Cow Horse Association member incentive.
Phil Adams, along with his wife Myrna and children, Justin and Miranda, are NAERIC member equine ranchers, owning and operating Alkali Ranch at Deloraine, Manitoba.
Phil said, "We are raising registered American Quarter Horses from a broodmare band of about 60 mares and stand four stallions. We have a variety of bloodlines, but are predominately breeding performance horses. All of our horses used in our day-to-day operations are home-raised. We start them using a natural horsemanship program and bring them along slow to be a finished horse that anyone would be proud to own. We also have a cow/calf yearling operation - and all work with the cattle is done horseback. Our ranch has been in our family for 100 years. We started out as a mixed operation and converted to an all-livestock operation in 1992."
As part of his marketing program, Adams has consigned foals to Southwest Ranch Horse Association (MB) events and the Manitoba and North Dakota 50/50 Futurity Sales. In more recent years, Adams said, "I recently began competing at these events on my own horses. I entered this NAERIC Versatility Ranch Horse stake class, to give me another venue to show my own horses to get them out in front of people and promote our breeding program. The horse market has changed to the point where people are looking for a reason to buy one of your horses, and this NAERIC stake class provides a good reason. Winning this stake class was huge for me. I`m new to showing so this was a real confidence builder. Besides that, the event was really enjoyable. The judge emphasized that we were supposed to have fun out there and be safe. She was very helpful to the exhibitors, ensuring that we all understood the elements we were being judged on."
NAERIC-member equine ranchers paid a $250 per stallion nomination fee, on August 1, 2008 into the NAERIC Versatility Ranch Horse Stake program. As a result of this initial payment, NAERIC-enrolled 2005 offspring of nominated stallions were eligible to compete for the 2008 NAERIC stake class; their 2006 offspring will be eligible to compete in 2009, and their 2007 offspring will be eligible to compete in 2010. NAERIC will continue to provide the $2,000 guaranteed purses for the 2009 and 2010 Versatility Ranch Horse stake classes.
Additionally, NAERIC-enrolled 2008 foals sired by nominated stallions will be eligible to compete for the 2011 NAERIC stake purse which is estimated at over $6,000.
Norm Luba, Executive Director of NAERIC, said, "The goals of the NAERIC Versatility Ranch Horse Stake program are to increase awareness of the Versatility Ranch Horse as a market opportunity; to continue the development of NAERIC-bred ranch horses; and to create an added-value opportunity for a segment of equine enthusiasts interested in owning a NAERIC registered horse."
For more information regarding the NAERIC Versatility Ranch Horse Stake program, please contact equine ranchers, Kevin Bridgeman (204) 847-2112 or Dean Fenty (204) 567-3561.
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Photos by Wilf Davis
TOP: Phil Adams and AR Echos MS Zan, winners of the inaugural 2008 NAERIC Versatility Ranch Horse Stake.
MIDDLE: Katie Michie and Quix Dry Hick, winners of the Youth Division of the 2008 AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse Competition
BOTTOM: Neil McLeod and Tally The Style, winners of the Open Division of the 2008 AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse Competition
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