Tina Bass’ sorrel mare, Caliente Mona, trotted and loped confidently Wednesday in the trail portion of the National Western’s amateur versatility ranch horse competition.
“This is my first serious year,” said the 35-year-old Fort Collins resident, who grew up around cattle and roping on her family’s ranch.
Bass and Caliente Mona finished fourth out of 15 amateurs in the trail course, one of five categories in the Fort Dodge/ American Quarter Horse Association world championship.
The association’s president, Ken Mumy, said ranch horse competitions have become increasingly popular since first held in 2002.
“The competitions definitely showcase the versatility of the American quarter horse,” Mumy said.
The horses and riders are judged on maneuvers common in ranching, such as working cows, moving smoothly at working speeds and navigating an obstacle course that simulates trail work.
“I like ranch horse versatility because it’s fair,” Bass said. “You can’t just have a cutter. You have to have a horse that can do it all.”
Nearly all of the horses in this year’s competition are 6 years or older, bringing maturity to the contest.
“You might see younger ones in other competitions, but not at the world championship,” Bass said. “Basically, it’s the miles they have on their odometers that count.”
Mike Major’s 10-year-old bay stallion, Smart Whiskey Doc, is one horse that has seen it all.
The horse once worked every day on Major’s ranch near Fowler, though now “we’ve got so many young horses that he gets to rest some,” Major said.
Still, Smart Whiskey Doc — who won the open or professional’s inaugural show last year — wasn’t too sure about the 200-pound log he was about to drag in a circle, giving it a wary eye.
“He’s fresh,” Major said after placing second in trail work among the professionals. “He’s been sore and hasn’t been ridden a lot.”
The amateur competition continues at 8 a.m. today in the Coliseum, with the horses doing a reining pattern and then working a cow before they are judged on their conformation. The amateur world champion will be named afterward.
The open division completes its competition at 6 tonight in the Events Center with cow work before the world champion is crowned.
Ann Schrader: 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com
