2010 AQHA/PRCA Horse of the Year selections all first-timers
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – There will be an all-new class of superstar horses on display at the Dec. 2-11 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, including one named Vegas.
His full, registered name with the American Quarter Horse Association name is Ra Sonoita Silver, but owner Turtle Powell calls him Vegas. This seems fitting enough, given that Powell splurged four years ago – paying Terry Thompson $25,000 – to get a team roping heading horse he believed could give him a chance at a gold buckle in that Nevada city.
Vegas is the 2010 AQHA/PRCA Team Roping Heading Horse of the Year – his first such award – and Powell arrives at the Wrangler NFR in third place in the world standings.
“Without him, I would be struggling,” Powell told the ProRodeo Sports News. “I would be in the bottom half, 20 to 25. When I didn’t have him, it was very hard for me to make money. Probably 75 percent of it is him. You have to have a really good horse. He’s awesome. I wouldn’t be where I am without him.”
Travis Tryan’s Precious Speck “Walt,” who won the heading horse award four times (2003, 2007-09), was voted into second place posthumously, ahead of brother Clay Tryan’s Bear Cash Partner “Syndicate.” Walt died April 24 of an aneurysm at the Clovis (CA) Rodeo.
For the first time since 2003, all of the AQHA/PRCA/WPRA Horses of the Year are first-time selections, a rather notable changing of the guard.
Jade Corkill’s Fine Snip of Doc “Cave Man” was named the Team Roping Heeling Horse of the Year, ending a four-year reign by Baileys Copper Doc “Diesel” (2006-09), owned by fellow Nevadan Randon Adams. Diesel finished third in this year’s balloting behind Travis Graves’ Startime Diablo “Super Star.”
Dashs Dapper Star “Wick,” owned by Wade Sumpter and Ken Lewis, was voted the Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year, ahead of Bailey Tokum “Pump Jack” and Rocks Eye Opener “Jessie,” the legendary Canadian horse owned by Lee Graves who won the award in 2007 and 2009.
Eightys Sport “Sweetness” was second in the Tie-Down Roping Horse of the Year balloting last year, but moved up to the top spot in 2010 by earning more than $90,000 for the cowboys who rode him, a list that includes three Wrangler NFR qualifiers: Clint Cooper, Trent Creager and Fred Whitfield. The 16-year-old gelding is owned by Karen Herbst and Spur Resources 1 in Whitesboro, TX.
Rocky Patterson will take the Steer Roping Horse of the Year, Skips Harlan Tyree “Pops,” to Guthrie, OK, next month when he attempts to repeat as world champion at the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping. Pops out-polled White Hot Ike “Bullseye,” owned by Chance Kelton, and Tonk Champ “Champ,” owned by Chris Glover.
Judge Buy Cash “Jethro,” owned by Frank and Lynne Mays, and ridden by Brenda Mays, is the Barrel Racing Horse of the Year.
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – There will be an all-new class of superstar horses on display at the Dec. 2-11 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, including one named Vegas.
His full, registered name with the American Quarter Horse Association name is Ra Sonoita Silver, but owner Turtle Powell calls him Vegas. This seems fitting enough, given that Powell splurged four years ago – paying Terry Thompson $25,000 – to get a team roping heading horse he believed could give him a chance at a gold buckle in that Nevada city.
Vegas is the 2010 AQHA/PRCA Team Roping Heading Horse of the Year – his first such award – and Powell arrives at the Wrangler NFR in third place in the world standings.
“Without him, I would be struggling,” Powell told the ProRodeo Sports News. “I would be in the bottom half, 20 to 25. When I didn’t have him, it was very hard for me to make money. Probably 75 percent of it is him. You have to have a really good horse. He’s awesome. I wouldn’t be where I am without him.”
Travis Tryan’s Precious Speck “Walt,” who won the heading horse award four times (2003, 2007-09), was voted into second place posthumously, ahead of brother Clay Tryan’s Bear Cash Partner “Syndicate.” Walt died April 24 of an aneurysm at the Clovis (CA) Rodeo.
For the first time since 2003, all of the AQHA/PRCA/WPRA Horses of the Year are first-time selections, a rather notable changing of the guard.
Jade Corkill’s Fine Snip of Doc “Cave Man” was named the Team Roping Heeling Horse of the Year, ending a four-year reign by Baileys Copper Doc “Diesel” (2006-09), owned by fellow Nevadan Randon Adams. Diesel finished third in this year’s balloting behind Travis Graves’ Startime Diablo “Super Star.”
Dashs Dapper Star “Wick,” owned by Wade Sumpter and Ken Lewis, was voted the Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year, ahead of Bailey Tokum “Pump Jack” and Rocks Eye Opener “Jessie,” the legendary Canadian horse owned by Lee Graves who won the award in 2007 and 2009.
Eightys Sport “Sweetness” was second in the Tie-Down Roping Horse of the Year balloting last year, but moved up to the top spot in 2010 by earning more than $90,000 for the cowboys who rode him, a list that includes three Wrangler NFR qualifiers: Clint Cooper, Trent Creager and Fred Whitfield. The 16-year-old gelding is owned by Karen Herbst and Spur Resources 1 in Whitesboro, TX.
Rocky Patterson will take the Steer Roping Horse of the Year, Skips Harlan Tyree “Pops,” to Guthrie, OK, next month when he attempts to repeat as world champion at the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping. Pops out-polled White Hot Ike “Bullseye,” owned by Chance Kelton, and Tonk Champ “Champ,” owned by Chris Glover.
Judge Buy Cash “Jethro,” owned by Frank and Lynne Mays, and ridden by Brenda Mays, is the Barrel Racing Horse of the Year.
