Coming into the 2026 APHA World Championship Show, Raycee Sullivan and her family had one goal in mind: earning two world championships aboard Cruisers Doll. The buckskin overo mare is 23 years old this year, and adding two to her tally would secure a legacy for “Snickers” as a speed-event powerhouse, giving her 20 total world championships before retirement.
Raycee, now 14, has competed with Snickers since 2019. Before that, Brandi Reeder—Raycee’s aunt and Snickers’ former owner—jockeyed the mare in speed events like barrel racing, pole bending and stake race.
“The first thing I won with her was the Junior Barrels [in 2008],” Brandi said. “I was really excited about that. The last thing I won on her was the Open [Senior] Barrels [in 2019]; we outran some really nice horses. She just was real honest and would go do her job—just a good horse.”
As a child watching Brandi run Snickers, Raycee fell in love with the mare.
“When I first saw Snickers, I immediately fell in love with her, and we instantly clicked,” the teen from Cache, Oklahoma, said. “My aunt Brandi eventually started letting me ride her. She’s so loyal and just does whatever I ask.”
Having 6-year-old Raycee ride Snickers at home was one thing; sending them into the competition arena was another—one that required buy-in from Raycee’s mom, Stephanie.
“When I told Stephanie my idea about Raycee riding, she thought I was crazy,” Brandi laughed. “The first time that she ran her, Raycee screamed all the way out of the pen because that’s as fast as she ever had run. After that, they started figuring things out and Snickers kind of slowed down until Raycee was ready to go a little faster.”
Saddle Up
In 2019, the team saddled up for Paint World—Brandi’s last aboard the mare and Raycee’s first. With legs that barely reached past the saddle pad, Raycee and Snickers captured their first APHA title: a reserve world championship in Novice Youth Pole Bending.
“This mare’s a pole running machine,” Brandi said. Snickers has 11 Paint World wins in pole bending.
Since then, Raycee and Snickers have been unstoppable, winning seven world championships since 2020. Coming into the 2026 APHA World Show, Snickers’ lifetime total was sitting at 18 world championships and nine reserves.
With plans to retire the 23-year-old mare looming, reaching the benchmark of 20 world championships became something of a quest for the Sullivan family. Though Brandi tried to breed Snickers previously, the mare has no offspring. Her legacy, it seems, is destined to live in the arena, marked by red-and-blue championship ribbons and a mountain of shining trophy buckles.
With wins in Youth Pole Bending 13 & Under and Youth Stake Race 18 & Under, Raycee helped Snickers secure her final two titles. Raycee was all smiles while taking her victory lap around the John Justin Arena on June 20. But while the accomplishment is monumental, Raycee says her favorite part of the journey is getting to share a love of horses—especially Snickers—with Brandi.
“My favorite thing about Paint World is everything—especially being able to run with my Aunt Brandi,” Raycee said. “She shows me how to be a good horseman. She’s always been a great role model to me.”
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About APHA
The American Paint Horse Association is the world’s second-largest international equine breed association. Since it was founded in 1962, APHA has registered more than a million horses in 59 nations and territories. APHA promotes, preserves and provides meaningful experiences with Paint Horses. Learn more at apha.com.