reined cow horse
2018 AQHA Youth Working Cow Horse World Champions Cutter McLaughlin & CD Dee Vee Dee • Photo by Shane Rux

McLaughlin Bags Another One

Cutter McLaughlin knows what it’s like to win a World title – he’s been winning them for years aboard CD Dee Vee Dee.

That plethora of experience helped the young horseman guide his seasoned 13-year-old gelding to yet another golden globe at this year’s Built Ford Tough American Quarter Horse Youth Association (AQHYA) World Championship Show in Oklahoma City. The duo won the Working Cow Horse preliminary round with a 438.5 on their way to finishing first in the finals with a 439.5 (217.5 rein/222 cow).

“It feels awesome. I’m happy I could still win it, because you never know when you’re going to get beat,” McLaughlin said. “It’s just getting tougher and tougher. You never know what’s going to happen.”

CD Dee Vee Dee (CD Lights x Shiners Missy Jay x Shining Spark), bred by Carol Rose, of Gainesville, Texas, boasts lifetime earnings of nearly $240,000, according to Equi-Stat. Much of that sum was won with McLaughlin’s father, Jay, in the saddle. The Commerce, Texas-based 15-year-old’s record reflects more than $46,000 won since 2010.

“He’s changed, but in good ways,” McLaughlin said of how “DVD” has developed since he first swung a leg over the gelding. “He tries harder and harder. He keeps his same attitude. If I keep everything simple, he’ll keep everything simple.”

While DVD has been a trusty mount for McLaughlin, it seems he is bringing another talented performer up through the ranks. Along with his newest World Championship, he took home the Youth Working Cow Horse Reserve World title riding 6-year-old gelding DT Whiskey Shine (Paddys Irish Whiskey x Smart Shinealo x Smart Shiner).

Bred by Canyon Horse Sales LLC, DT Whiskey Shine was shown by Dustin Rogers and Kelby Phillips earlier in his career, with his first recorded check coming from a trip to the Junior Heading finals at the 2016 American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) World Show.

McLaughlin’s parents, Jay and Wendy, purchased the gelding this spring following the National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) Stallion Stakes. Just four months later, he carried McLaughlin to a 437 (217.5 rein/219.5 cow) for the Silver trophy in Oklahoma.

“He’s been a great horse. He tries so hard every day,” McLaughlin explained of his newest charge, noting that his dad may take over the reins for the AQHA World Show in November. “He shows myself, personally, that I can ride another horse and take that challenge and get another horse shown.”

Youth Boxing

The first year Emily Barlowe went to the AQHYA World Show, she didn’t make the finals. In 2017, she made it back to the finals for the first time. She did one better this time around when she piloted HR Players Trista to the Youth Boxing World Championship.

Barlowe, of Lenoir, North Carolina, and her sister’s 11-year-old bay mare (HR Hickory Player x Miss Trista x Doc Per) earned a 217.5 in the finals rein work after laying down the best pattern the pair had ever completed.

boxing cow horse
Emily Barlowe & HR Players Trista • Photo by Shane Rux

“I’m just in shock. This is a dream come true. Our spins were awesome, probably the fastest we’ve ever spun,” Barlowe said of her run on the Melvin and Virginia Hutchings-bred mare. “She gave it her all. This was my last year at the AQHA Youth World, so I’m so glad I went out like this.”

“Marley” and her 18-year-old rider gritted up for the boxing. They earned a 219.5 from the judges to win their class by an incredible 6.5-point margin with a 437. It was a meaningful moment for the college sophomore, who is studying speech pathology at Appalachian State University.

Barlowe, who trains with Robert Smith, has been riding since she was 4 years old. She first rode a cow horse around age 13 and has recently started going down the fence. Her sister Lindsay purchased Marley in August 2016 from Eugene and Maria Murphy.

“She is the sweetest horse we have ever owned,” Barlowe said of the mare. “Her strong part in the reined cow horse is definitely the cow work. She loves working a cow. She is so good at it.

“I’m very thankful for my parents and my trainer; he is the best and so patient with us,” she added. “I’m also thankful to my sister for allowing me to show her horse, and my brother for always coming to the shows and supporting us, and for all the support and love from back home.”

The Youth Boxing Reserve World Championship went to Peyton Hall and Hot Metallic Cat (Metallic Cat x One Hot Widow x Spots Hot), bred by Beau Galyean. The Shreveport, Louisiana, rider and the 5-year-old red roan gelding secured the title with a 430.5 (211 rein/219.5 cow).

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