Adan Banuelos Wins World's Greatest Horseman Shootout

Adan Banuelos, Jacksboro, Texas, representing the National Cutting Horse Association, beat out his competition by over 30 points to win the 2012 World's Greatest Horseman Shootout at the Battle In The Saddle event in Oklahoma City, Okla. The pair scored a 217 in cutting, 225 in steer stopping, 215.5 in reining and 215.5 in fence work.

In this competition, 10 of the top competitors from the American Quarter Horse Association, American Rope Horse Futurity Association, Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association, National Cutting Horse Association and National Reined Cow Horse Association competed for top honors. The exhibitors competed in four events to determine who would be crowned the 2012 World’s Greatest Horseman and go on to the 2013 NRCHA World’s Greatest Horseman competition in San Angelo, Texas.

Banuelos rode the American Quarter Horse MH Boon In My Blood, owned by Sandy Jirkovsky of Kearney, Nebraska. The 2003 sorrel gelding by Bodee Boonsmal and out of Royal Lenabell by Smart Little Lena was bred by Western States Ranches of Dublin, Texas.

Banuelos received a prize package including a 100X cowboy hat from Shorty’s Caboy Hattery, an AQHA saddle pad, his name and association represented on a perpetual plaque displayed at State Fair Park and earned a paid entry into the 2013 NRCHA World’s Greatest Horseman competition.

The 24-year-old was the American Quarter Horse Youth Association world champion in cutting in 2005 and the reserve world champion in 2006. After his youth career ended, he turned pro, following in the footsteps of his father, National Cutting Horse Association Hall of Fame rider Ascencion Banuelos of Jacksboro, Texas.

“I’m blessed and excited and happy and lucky – just humbled,” Adan said. “I’ve had some really good friends, (Chris Dawson and Sandy Jirkovsky), helping me, and it’s their horse, and I’m very grateful for that. I think the hardest part of this competition is just keeping a level head all the way through it and not getting carried away in any event.”

The individual results are:

1. Adan Banuelos of Jacksboro, Texas, representing NCHA
2. Tripp Townsend of Earth, Texas, representing AQHA
3. Chad Little of Saint Michael, Minnesota, representing CMSA
4. Dustin Rogers of Blanchard, Oklahoma, representing NRCHA
5. Jamie Stover ofAbilene, Kansas, representing ARHFA
6. Gary Wells of Lone Grove, Oklahoma, representing ARHFA
7. Ben Baldus of Electra, Texas, representing AQHA
8. Natalie Johnson of Phoenix, Arizona, representing CMSA
9. Thomas C. Scheer of Sumerall, Mississippi, representing NRCHA
10. Bubba Matlock of Perrin, Texas, representing NCHA

The team results are:

1. AQHA with 1664 points
2. ARHFA with 1663 points
3. CMSA with 1602.5 points
4. NCHA with 1486.5 points
5. NRCHA with 1468.5 points