MMajor-SmartWhiskeyDoc

Six World Champions Crowned at Stock Horse World Show

MMajor-SmartWhiskeyDocMike Major and Smart Whiskey Doc • WillieGomezPhotos.comMore than 150 horses and riders gathered in Abilene, Texas, for the Western Horseman Stock Horse World Championship. Six world titles were awarded as well as more than $70,000 in cash and prizes. Contestants tested their abilities in four Stock Horse of Texas (SHOT) classes – Stock Horse Pleasure, Trail, Reining and Cow Horse – in several different divisions.

Despite a scary fall in the cow horse, Mike Major and Smart Whiskey Doc (Paddys Irish Whiskey x Smart Little Carol x Smart Little Aleck) prevailed in the Open, winning the duo’s first SHOT world championship. Major and “Whiskey” have won several titles together, including an American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Working Cow Horse Select World Championship, as well as AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse World championships in 2009 and 2010.

Major brought Whiskey out of retirement for the SHOT World Show. He was the Reserve World Champion on Cowpony Express (CDS Boonolena x Roosters Note x Roosters Shorty), owned by Diamond JK Ranches and R. Snider. Major’s daughter, Shanae Major, and Chica Shine (A Chic In Time x Shining Smart x Shining Spark) also earned a buckle as Youth Reserve World Champions.

The Non-Pro and Youth titles went to a father and son duo, William and Christopher Lewis. William piloted Shiney Vintage Chic (Smart Chic Olena x Suddenly Shiney x Shining Spark) to win the all-around on both days of competition. William has worked his way through SHOT’s divisions, starting in the Novice a few years ago, and now compets in the Non-Pro. William’s World Show win also secured the SHOT year-end Non-Pro championship. Sidney Dunkel and Bobbie Can Do (Cat Man Do x Bo Bobbie Socks x Mr Sorrel Bo) finished the weekend as Non-Pro Reserve World Champions.

William’s son, 12-year-old Christopher, earned the Youth World Championship on Colonels Colonel (Queens Colonel x Colonels Hot Reward x Queens Colonel). The very tight race and came down to the last class before a winner was determined. Christopher’s horse, Colonels Colonel, is a SHOT Merit Hall of Fame inductee. The gelding has been shown by three different SHOT members during his career.

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