The 2023 American Quarter Horse Association Versatility Ranch Horse (VRH) World Championships and concurrent ranch horse events concluded June 24 at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma. The event hosted over 440 exhibitors; more than 480 horses; and over 3,100 entries between the VRH World; AQHA Ranching Heritage Challenge Finals; AQHA Cattle Level 1 Championships, presented by the Four Sixes Ranch; and National Ranch and Stock Horse Alliance National Championship Show. The combined purse and prizes of the four premier shows was over $375,000.
The show featured a variety of events, including ranch cutting, ranch trail, ranch conformation, ranch reining, team roping, barrel racing, ranch riding, ranch cow work, working ranch horse and, for the first time, steer stopping and breakaway roping.
“This show showcases exactly what we want to see in ranch-bred horses,” said Karen McCuistion, senior director of member programs. “Competing in five different performance classes then moving into conformation is the epitome of what the American Quarter Horse can do.”
In addition to the nine AQHA VRH world champion titles, 54 Versatility Ranch Horse class championships, seven NRSHA national all-around championships, 35 NRSHA class championships, seven Level 1 youth and seven amateur and one Select Level 1 championships, and 28 Ranching Heritage Challenge championships, the event also recognized the top AQHA Ranching Heritage-bred horses.
Qualifying has already started for 2024, next year’s event will be held at the Tri State Fair and Expo in Amarillo.
About the AQHA VRH World
The VRH World combines four premiere ranch horse events into one: the AQHA VRH World, AQHA RHC Finals, AQHA Cattle Level 1 Championships and NRSHA National Championship Show. This prestigious event draws ranch-horse competitors from around the globe each June to crown nine AQHA VRH world champions along with champions in the AQHA RHC Finals, Cattle Level 1 and NRSHA championship shows in addition to awarding approximately $375,000 in purse and prizes.
