Ben_Baldus_Playin_Motown
Ben Baldus & Playin Motown • Photo by Willie Gomez Photos

Champions Crowned at Stock Horse World Show

The Western Horseman Stock Horse World Show wrapped up three days of competition as more than 230 riders vied for several World Champion titles. The event, hosted by Stock Horse of Texas (SHTX) and sponsored by Western Horseman, highlighted the versatility of ranch horses while they competed in cow work, reining, stock horse pleasure and stock horse trail. The Stock Horse Derby and AQHA Ranching Heritage Challenge concluded the final day of the competition.

Riders from 8-75 years old tested their skills in seven different divisions. The show had more than 2,300 entries over three days, with exhibitors from as far as Wyoming, Missouri and Arkansas making the trip to Abilene, Texas. A total of $27,600 was paid out, and more than $36,000 in prizes were presented at the exhibitor awards party. Prize packages were sponsored by Classic Equine.

“The World Show gives our exhibitors the chance to compete on a big stage and truly show how versatile their horses are,” said Stock Horse of Texas President William Lewis. “These horses are remarkable, going wide open down the fence in the cow work in one arena to navigating the intricacies of a ranch trail course just a few minutes later.”

The Open championship, sponsored by Stormcloud Clothing, went to Ben Baldus, of Bowie, Texas, riding Playin Motown (Mr Playinstylish x Mo Flo x Mr Peponita Flo), owned by Catelyn Walker, of Prairie Grove, Arkansas. The 5-year-old sorrel gelding won the All-Around in the first go-round and finished Reserve in the second go-round to top last year’s World Champion, Seven S Woodrow, a son of Woody Be Tuff. The gelding, who is out of Bo Spoon (by Mr Sorrel Bo), won Reserve this year for owner Jerry Ward, of Canton, Mississippi.

Baldus shared riding time on Playin Motown throughout the weekend as Walker also showed him in the Youth division, finishing third overall. On the final day of the show, Baldus rode the horse to the Derby Open Championship. Once again, Seven S Woodrow finished Reserve.

In addition to individual competition, collegiate team World Champions were also crowned in Division I and Division II, with North Central Texas College and Tarleton State University earning championships in each division. Texas Tech University and Clarendon College were Reserve, respectively.

The Western Horseman Stock Horse World Show is the final event in the 2018 competition year. The 2019 season kicks off in Bryan, Texas, on the first weekend in March.

For complete results, visit the SHTX website.