Anyone with experience as the last one standing in the arena, hearing the announcer call their name and “World Champion” in the same breath, will tell you that there are few experiences in life that rival the sensation. Karen Watters, of Whitesboro, Texas experienced that feeling tenfold when she was named the APHA World Champion in Ranch Riding. She wasn’t just receiving prizes; she was showing in a class created by her (now 89 year-old) father, Don Clark.
“Winning and being successful in a class my dad had such a heavy hand in creating means more to me than any World Championship or buckle,” Watters told us after her win. “The truth is that having my dad be proud of me will never get old, no matter how old I am.”
It has been ten years since Don first proposed the ranch riding class to AQHA and six years since the class has been approved. His idea behind the creation of the class was to get back to the roots of the horses he grew up with that were a pleasure to ride and had a very natural and comfortable way of going.
“Dad wanted a class for a horse that was a natural mover that didn’t have to be with a trainer all the time,” Watters states. “He wanted to reward broke horses, handy horses that are happy to do their jobs.”
Six years after the addition of the ranch classes to the breed shows, it is obvious that Don (pictured right) created a winning class for both horses and exhibitors. It is consistently the biggest class at most horse shows these days. Karen, a multi-carded judge, notices the growth of the classes every time she goes to judge a horse show.
“When I go judge, the ranch riding is usually one of the largest classes at every show, and it makes me feel so proud to see his plan in action and all of his work being enjoyed by exhibitors and their horses.”
Additionally, Karen is proud that the ranch classes have given horses that might not have excelled in their specific disciplines a place to succeed. “The addition of these classes has made a significant impact on the industry. These classes have given horses a place to go show that might have fallen through the cracks because they were not excelling at their intended discipline. Now, they have a place to go and be competitive and appreciated.”
Karen appreciates the natural aspect of the ranch horse classes. “Horses with higher neck carriage or horses that don’t want to go super slow now have a different avenue in which to compete and you don’t have to spend a fortune to be competitive. It is an approachable class and that is exactly what my dad had in mind.”
Karen’s mount, PS Shiners Toy, also known as “Lexi,” is a four-year-old reining bred mare who flunked out as a reining horse because she wasn’t able to stop hard enough to be a competitive reiner. Karen purchased her specifically for the ranch classes.
“I bought her in the fall of her two-year-old-year and she was just green broke. I started riding her and working on the fundamentals of the class such as side passing, backing, steering, and just exposing her to things she would see in competition.”
Along with lead change help from her daughter, Shannon Gillespie, and Jarvis Anderson’s help with Lexi’s turnarounds and stops, Karen and Lexi have become a force to be reckoned with in the ranch riding classes. “I have had a blast doing this class. Throughout my career, I have shown in almost every class offered at the breed shows and I really love this class. I feel like it is the perfect class for me at this point in my life.”
After Karen and Lexi started their show career, one of the most memorable moments for Karen came when she was able to haul to Iowa to show at the Iowa Show Circuit so her dad could watch her show. “Lexi and I got five firsts and a second and our ROM and my dad came to watch and was in tears. It was so exciting and one of those moments I will cherish forever.”
Showing in a class her father created is something that is always on Karen’s mind and when she was waiting in the lineup at the APHA World Show, she could not help but think of him and tear up. “It was not feasible for him to travel this far at his age, but I have talked to him on the phone a few times since we won and he is so excited and continues to tell me how proud he is of me.”
Looking around the lineup, it is easy to see that her fellow exhibitors are truly enjoying the fruits of her father’s labor and that is a win, according to Karen. “People love that they can be competitive and don’t have to break the bank to compete at the top level. You still have to put in the work, but it is a more level playing field. The people are having fun and the horses are happy. What more could you ask for?”
Trainer Leslie Temple and Gunna Win A Prize
NRHA judge and professional trainer, Leslie Temple of Granbury, Texas showed Gunna Win a Prize to a third place finish for owner Julie Jennings in the APHA Ranch Riding Class. “Buckle”, as he is known around the barn, has been doing the ranch classes for two years and won the APHA World Championship in Ranch Riding last year. “He started out as a reiner but he is such a cute mover that we thought we would try our hand in the ranch classes and he has done very well and seems to enjoy the classes.”
Like most horses that Leslie trains, Buckle still competes in the reining, but the ranch classes have given him a new job and more opportunities to shine at each horse show. “I think the ranch classes have helped give horses a job that keeps them fresh and all of my horses and owners are really enjoying the addition of these classes to the show schedules.”
All of Leslie’s non-pro riders compete in the ranch events and she appreciates the fact that they have the opportunity to be competitive even if they are on a tight budget. “I have one amateur who bought a rescue horse off the Internet for $150 and has made him into a champion ranch riding horse. She keeps him at home and does most of the work herself and just hauls in for lessons.”
While Leslie primarily trains reining horses, with the addition of the ranch classes, she now has horses that primarily compete in the ranch horse classes. “Sometimes the reining can be too hard on some horses. They can’t stop hard enough or spin fast enough and this a great class where they can still be successful.”
Like Karen, Leslie has seen tremendous growth since the approval of the ranch classes. “At the Appaloosa World Show, the ranch classes were almost double the size of the other classes. I think they are so successful because you don’t have to have your horse in full time training to be successful in ranch riding, you don’t have to break the bank to buy the horse, the average person can do it, you don’t need the fanciest clothes or saddle, the horses do not have to be over trained.”
Amateur Renate Finely and Gunner Hold Your Fire
Amateur rider, Renate Finley of Burleson, Texas and her 17-year-old mare, Gunner Hold Your Fire, also known as “Lacy”, was the top non pro entry in APHA Open Ranch Riding placing 5th overall. “I was so tickled with my ride, she was so good and everyone is so positive. It is hard not to enjoy yourself when everyone is having so much fun.”
Lacy was Jana Simons’ first reiner and she has won numerous awards in reining including APHA World and Reserve World Championships and top honors in NRHA competition. Renate was new to the reining scene when she purchased Lacy last April and together, they have ventured into the ranch horse classes together. “She is the first reiner I have ever shown and she had never done anything except reining until I introduced her to the ranch riding classes.”
Renate loves the ranch riding classes and participates in them every chance she gets. “I love that these classes show that a horse is broke at every gait. It shows they can steer, they are forward moving, and that they can be natural and expressive. I love being rewarded for hard work and the horse’s natural ability.”
In addition to the ranch riding class, Renate and Lacy have started to compete in ranch trail and cow work. One of the aspects that Renate appreciates about the ranch riding events is that she can keep her horse at home and still be competitive. “Lacy stays at home with me and I try to have one or two lessons a week outside. I do a lot of work outside of the arena and we have a lot of fun practicing at home.”
Regardless of the horses she has in the future, Renate plans on continuing to show in the ranch horse events. “I am in it for the long haul. We have purchased a breeding for Lacy to Lil Joe Cash with the goal of doing the ranch riding events with the resulting foal. “It is such an inviting class and it is so neat to see new people getting involved. You don’t have to break the bank to be competitive and the atmosphere is so relaxed. Everyone is so supportive and it is a very family oriented event. I cannot say enough about how much fun I have had in these classes and I know there is so much more fun yet to come.”
Huge congratulations to Don Clark for creating such an amazing class that has brought so much positive energy to the industry and will continue to grow for years to come.
