John Swales, of Millarville, Alberta, Canada, the 2017 World’s Greatest Horseman Champion, added another major accolade to his resume when he guided SLR Won Smart Wolf (Paddys Irish Whiskey x Smart Miss Wolf x Smart Trip Olena) owned by Keri Hudson-Reykdal, to the Open Two Rein World Championship.
Swales and the gelding earned at total 440.5 score (220 rein/220.5 fence), claiming $5,872 in first-place money. That paycheck pushed Swales to an Equi-Stat record of nearly $915,000.
“I tried to show him as hard as I could and tried not to box my cow too much, and he felt great,” Swales said.
The World Championship also came with a custom saddle from DC Cow Horse Gear, a CR Morrison Trophy sponsored by Paul and Amy Bailey, a Gist buckle sponsored by NexGen Compounding, a jacket sponsored by CR Ranchwear, a Stockman hat sponsored by JW Brooks Custom Hat Company and product from Platinum Performance.
Non-Pro Limited
Julie Bowden, from Amarillo, Texas, claimed the Non Pro Limited World Championship riding her 2007 gelding, Elans A Chic (Elans Playboy x Starring A Chic x Smart Chic Olena).
“He has just been a dream come true,” Bowden said following her winning run on “Elans.”
Bowden scored a 432.5 composite (216 rein/216.5 cow). The World Championship came with a $3,730 paycheck, which brought the gelding’s lifetime earnings to nearly $30,000. Bowden now boasts an Equi-Stat record of $7,904.
Bowden also received a Bob’s Custom Saddle, a Gist buckle sponsored by Mike and Kelly Warner, a Stockman hat from JW Brooks Custom Hat Company, a CR Morrison Trophy sponsored by Paul and Amy Bailey, a jacket from CR Ranchwear and product from Platinum Performance and San Juan Ranch/Santa Cruz Animal Health.