By Isabel Schween
In a historic fourth running, APHA’s 2021 Ranch Work Championships drew impressive numbers to the innovative and uniquely formatted all-breed event. Hosted on July 4 in conjunction with the APHA World Championship Show in Fort Worth, Texas, the Ranch Work Championship’s action-packed classes and added payouts truly gave exhibitors something to celebrate on Independence Day.
The Ranch Work Championships is designed to showcase the talents and skills of ranch horses and their riders in an authentic ranch-like format. The championship event consists of three classes: ranch penning, ranch course and ranch roping, and all have an emphasis on efficient and proper cattle handling. Open to all breeds, the unique walk-trot format of these classes allows competitors to show off their ranch skills in a variety of ways, and both divisional and all-around awards give special recognition to competitors.
To incentivize this year’s event, APHA added an additional $5,000 in prize money, plus another $500 cash bonus to the highest-placing Paint Horse in each division of the all-around. All awards are presented in a three-division payout structure, with all-around awards offered to the highest overall-placing exhibitors across all events in each division.
Chris Jeter of Perrin, Texas, piloted Cash For Chisolm to a big win in the 3D all-around section of the competition. Chris and Cash For Chisolm also earned an extra $500 bonus for being the highest-placing Paint Horse in their division of the all-around, coming away with a grand total of $1,230 in winnings. Chris says the event was a blast and loves how authentic the walk-trot format is to real-life ranch work.
Several years ago, Chris worked with APHA Senior Director of Judges, Shows & Education Dave Dellin to help create the Ranch Work Championships event, and he has enjoyed seeing this idea come to life. Chris showed this horse for the first time at last year’s Ranch Work Championships and was very excited to take him to town and see what he could do as a ranch horse this year.
“At the end of the day, the main purpose is always to promote the Paint Horse, and this is an amazing added incentive to make Paints come show. It gets people to compete and is what should be done to promote the breed,” Chris said.
Congratulations to our overall all-around winners, all of whom were also the winners of the $500 bonus given to the highest-placing Paints:
1D Champion: Tom Neel and Color Me Marked, Weatherford, Texas
1D Reserve: Leanne Jetton and Countin Reys, Stephenville, Texas
2D Champion: Greg Robinson and Dunnitini, Cisco, Texas
2D Reserve: Lynne Faust and Pocos Sonnydee Sedona, Weatherford, Texas
3D Champion: Chris Jeter and Cash For Chisolm, Perrin, Texas
3D Reserve: Matt Nichols and Dually Fancy Twist, Richards, Texas
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About APHA
The American Paint Horse Association is the world’s second-largest international equine breed association, registering more than a million horses in 59 nations and territories since it was founded in 1962. APHA promotes, preserves, and provides meaningful experiences with Paint Horses.