State Fair Park and the American Quarter Horse Association are pleased to announce an exciting new addition to Battle in the Saddle, the country's newest equine event. The National Reined Cow Horse Association will host the World's Greatest Horseman Shootout, a unique competition for exhibitors to experience the thrill of a prestigious competition that will award one talented competitor a paid entry into the 2011 World's Greatest Horseman competition.
The World's Greatest Horseman Shootout will take place during the Battle in the Saddle competition at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City July 5-10.
World's Greatest Horseman is a yearly contest that has captured the imagination of the horse world since its inception in 1999. Exhibitors compete on the same horse, with the same bridle - in herd work, rein work, steer stopping and cow work over a series of days for a chance to make the top 10 finals. On finals day, each horse and rider show in all four events in one day to see who will win the title of World's Greatest Horseman and join the horse show world's most elite list of winners.
World's Greatest Shootout ... How It Works:
Associations participating in Battle in the Saddle will be given the opportunity to enter two, single-horse, single-rider entries into World's Greatest Shootout. Those associations' representatives cannot have previously won more than $500 in NRCHA competition. Associations that can nominate two entries are American Quarter Horse Association, National Cutting Horse Association, National Reining Horse Association and American Rope Horse Futurities Association. The entry fees for World's Greatest Shootout must be paid by the nominating associations. In all, eight competitors will battle it out for bragging rights and the coveted free entry into World's Greatest Horseman.
Kris Wilson and Craig Haythorn will represent AQHA in the World's Greatest Horseman Shootout. Representing NRHA will be Doug Milholland and Todd Wright. Riding for ARHFA will be J.D. Yates and Clay Logan. NCHA will be represented in the World's Greatest Horseman Shootout by Matt Budge and Chris Benedict.
Those eight competitors will compete in a "class within a class" in herd work, rein work, steer stopping and cow work. Exhibitors will be allowed to use only one horse and one bridle in each of those events.
The exhibitor with the highest-place finishes in each event will be declared the Shootout winner and given a paid entry into next year's NRCHA World's Greatest Horsemen competition. World's Greatest Shootout winner also will be awarded a special trophy cup, and the winner and the association he or she represents will be placed on a perpetual plaque that will be kept at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City.
"We are so proud to bring a piece of the popular World's Greatest Horsemen competition to the inaugural Battle in the Saddle," said Kathy Gould, NRCHA President. "Battle in the Saddle is a great way for the top talents of all other alliance partners to come together in this true test of all-around horsemanship. We are delighted to offer a paid entry to our 2011 World's Greatest Horseman as a fitting prize for the World's Greatest Horseman Shootout Champion."
The National Reined Cow Horse Association, now in its 61st year, is the governing body of cow horse competition and works to keep the vaquero tradition alive in today's equine industry. NRCHA is responsible for promoting the sport, ensuring high standards of competition, and educating members and the public about the history and tradition of the reined cow horse. For information on the National Reined Cow Horse Association, visit www.nrcha.com.
Battle in the Saddle was announced last November in Oklahoma City and is an exciting new competition owned by Oklahoma State Fair and managed by AQHA. Battle in the Saddle is open to all breeds with $143,000 in added money for more than $300,000 in total estimated purses. Cutting, reining, roping and working cow horse classes will be recognized as AQHA special events. All breeds are welcome but American Quarter Horses competing will receive AQHA points. The ranch horse competition is open to all ranches that meet the criteria of the Pfizer/AQHA Best Remuda Award.
Roping events will be recognized by the American Rope Horse Futurity Association and follow ARHFA rules. Horses competing in the cutting will receive National Cutting Horse Association recognition. Ancillary reining classes will be approved by the National Reining Horse Association and NRHA affiliate Oklahoma Reining Horse Association.
Adding to the excitement of the competition, the selection trial for the Adequan U.S. Reining Team that will compete at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games will take place during Battle in the Saddle. See who will win a place on the U.S. team and go for the reining gold at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
Battle in the Saddle will be held in conjunction with AQHA's Youth World Cup, a team competition between youth from 16 nations scheduled to attend -- Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States.
In addition to the exciting equine competition in the arena, Battle in the Saddle will also feature a trade show. Other special events are also being planned to be held during the competition.
For more information or to enter, visit www.battleinthesaddle.com.
