sr cutting

Cutting Champions Crowned at AQHA World Show

sr cuttingKyle Manion & Holly Is Smooth • Photo by The American Quarter Horse JournalThe Lucas Oil American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) World Championship Show kicked off Nov. 5 in Oklahoma City, and with a revamped schedule, the first championship trophies were awarded in cutting. The three newly crowned champions shared a common bond of being homebreds.

Michael Cooper, of Weatherford, Texas, rode Kyle Manion’s Holly Is Smooth (Smooth As A Cat x Holly N Zack x Zack T Wood) to a score of 222 to win the title in Senior Cutting, which is open to 6-year-olds and older horses.

Manion of Aubrey, Texas, bred the 9-year-old mare, who had $191,542 in National Cutting Horse Association earnings prior to the AQHA World Show. With 36 entries, the class had a purse of $45,522, and the 20 percent winner’s share of $9,104 pushed the mare’s earnings past the $200,000 mark.  

It was a record-breaking show for Phil Rapp, of Weatherford, Texas, too. He secured the Senior Cutting Reserve World Championship with Waco Bend Ranch’s Manytimes (One Time Pepto x Cats Twisted Whisker x High Brow Cat) and placed fourth with Gale Force Quarter Horses’ Reyzin (High Brow CD x Miss Reycine x Dual Rey). Rapp broke the $9 million mark for rider earnings with his World Show placings.

MetelesCat CHedlund 15JHCody Hedlund & Meteles Cat • Photo by Jennifer K. HancockIt was déjà vu in Junior Cutting as reigning 2014 champions Cody Hedlund, of Lipan, Texas, and Meteles Cat (Metallic Cat x Teles Lies x Lenas Telesis) marked a 225 to secure another title. The 2010 bay roan stallion was bred by Hedlund’s parents, Rock and Landy Hedlund, of Wilton, California.

“He’s just a pretty amazing animal,” Hedlund said after the victory. “He’s one of a kind. He’s very special. We raised him, and Dad trained him. Dad and I have both been lucky enough to have some success on him, and he just tries his heart out every time.”

The Junior Cutting class had 36 entries and offered $46,823 in purse money.

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