Contestant Bios

Get to know the contestants in this year's World's Greatest Horseman Shootout and view photos from the herd work.

By Larri Jo Starkey
The American Quarter Horse Journal
July 5, 2012

The World’s Greatest Horseman Shootout has become a fan favorite at Battle in the Saddle.

Five groups have two riders representing them in a contest similar to the National Reined Cow Horse Association’s World’s Greatest Horseman competition.

Using the same bridle and horse, competitors must show their skill in herd work, similar to cutting; reined work, similar to reining; steer stopping; and fence work, similar to working cow horse.

The winner gets bragging rights for a year plus a paid entry into the World’s Greatest Horseman contest.

This year, the Journal lets you know a little bit more about the competitors and their chances to help you out as you watch the competition that begins July 5 and will conclude July 7.

Rider: AQHA Professional Horseman Gary Wells
Representing: American Rope Horse Futurity
Horse: Tiger Lilys Award
Owner: Eric Storey, Henagar, Alabama
Breeding: 2001 sorrel mare by Peppys Dry Award-Colonel Tigers Trena by Colonel Tiger
Breeder: Max McLean, Stromsburg, Nebraska

Gary, an AQHA Professional Horseman and specialized roping judge, definitely knows how to throw a loop for the roping portion of the competition. And as one of four returning competitors to the Shootout, he knows the format and should be more comfortable with the contest. His mount, Tiger Lilys Award, has placed in the top 10 at the AQHA World Championship Show in working cow horse and has earned $24,666 in National Reined Cow Horse Association competition. He has taken the horse, which was trained by Don Murphy of Burneyville, Oklahoma, to a show in San Antonio where they did well together. And let’s not forget, Don trained the mount of the first World’s Greatest Horseman Shootout champion, Bald N Shiney. Gary has to be considered a serious entrant in this race.

Rider: Jamie Stover
Representing: ARHF
Horse: Hard To Get Playboy
Owners: Corey and Marquette Powell, Abilene, Kansas
Breeding: 2001 bay stallion by Freckles Playboy-Uno Bonita Gal by Smart Little Uno
Breeder: Dr. Ernest Harper, Little Rock, Arkansas

Roping trainer Jamie Stover of Abilene, Kansas, is making his debut in the Shootout, and he has a sure-enough tough horse backing him up. Hard To Get Playboy is a multiple qualifier for the World Show in heeling and working cow horse. He was the 2011 amateur reserve world champion in heeling with owner Corey Powell. We know Jamie can rope, and he’s on a good horse. He could be one to watch.

Rider: Chad Little
Representing: Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association
Horse: Lil Ruf Catalyst
Owners: McKibben and Zimmerman
Breeding: 2006 black stallion by Lil Ruf Peppy-Foxy Catalyst by Taris Catalyst
Breeder: Werner Hermus, Valley View, Texas

Minnesota cowboy Chad Little is a multiple world champion in mounted shooting. Anybody who can handle two guns and a horse at the same time should be able to handle a rope and a horse at the same time. Chad might not be as familiar with the rein and cow work portions of the competition, but he’s riding Lil Ruf Catalyst, the 2011 world champion in open Versatility Ranch Horse, owned by Mozaun McKibben. A week ago, Mozaun and Chad went to a SHOT show for some experience, so look for Chad to be competitive.

Rider: Natalie Johnson
Representing: CMSA
Horse: CTR Surfine Cat
Owners: Steve and Kim Temple, Marana, Arizona
Breeding: 2004 sorrel gelding by Cat Silver-Surfine Babe Lena by Doc O Dynamite
Breeder: R B Ranch, Dallas

Natalie can ride the hair off a horse. The 21-year-old from Arizona is a phenom at mounted shooting, weaving in and out of barrels with targets on them at full speed. But she says this is the first time she has ever competed in these four events. Will the events of the Shootout be too much for her? We’re betting on her determination to make a go of it, plus she says roping is her favorite part.

Rider: Adan Banuelos
Representing: National Cutting Horse Association
Horse: MH Boon In My Blood
Owner: Sandy Jirkovsky, Kearney, Nebraska
Breeding: 2003 sorrel gelding by Bodee Boonsmal-Royal Lenabell by Smart Little Lena
Breeder: Western State Ranches, Dublin, Texas

Adan might only be 24, but he already has $335,875 in NCHA earnings to his credit. The cutter was the AQHYA world champion in cutting in 2005 and the reserve world champion in 2006. Right after his youth career ended, Adan turned pro, following in the footsteps of his father, NCHA Hall of Fame rider Ascencion Banuelos. He’s young and tough, and he grew up on the back of a horse. Word on the street is he has been working on his roping for just this sort of competition.

Rider: Bubba Matlock
Representing: NCHA
Horse: Oh Cay N Short
Owners: Sydney and Kevin Knight, Weatherford, Texas
Breeding: Oh Cay Quixote-Bit of Shorty by Shorty Lena
Breeder: Patricia Frerichs, Ogden, Illinois

Oh Cay N Short has $25,299 in NCHA earnings and $143,069 in NRCHA earnings. The 2004 bay stallion has been in training with Boyd Rice and knows how to take a cow down the fence; he definitely showed the competition what’s up at the three-event 2007 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity, where he claimed the open championship. The question is: Can he do the same with a different rider? Well, Bubba has $924,664 in National Cutting Horse Association earnings himself. We imagine he knows how to get a horse to do what he wants.

Rider: Tripp Townsend
Representing: AQHA
Horse: Sixes Sixgun
Owner: Crofoot & Sandhill Ranches, Lubbock, Texas
Breeding: 2006 stallion by Sixes Pick-Sixes Playgun by Playgun
Breeder: Burnett Ranches, Fort Worth, Texas

Tripp is the second of four returning contestants to the Shootout, and we know he’s a nice guy because he let us paint a red “Q” on his horse’s hip. He will have gained experience from last year’s competition and more importantly, he’s riding the strong competitor Sixes Sixgun, who has been shown extensively in Versatility Ranch Horse competition, including earning the reserve world championship this year. Now, VRH isn’t exactly like the Shootout, but there’s enough similarity that Tripp could be one to watch. Plus, he’s on #teamAQHA.

Rider: Ben Baldus
Representing: AQHA
Horse: Rey Jay Boonsmal
Owner: Lary Knowlton, Dallas, Texas
Breeding: 2008 sorrel gelding by Peptoboonsmal-Hickorys Red Rey by Doc’s Hickory
Breeder: Ruby View Quarter Horses, Elko, Nevada

Ben is the third of our returning contestants, and he’s riding Rey Jay Boonsmal. During the past year, Ben has been competing more in reining, and on June 30 won the Level 1 open competition at the National Reining Horse Association Derby on Dainty Little Step in a three-way runoff. Will that play out in the dry work portion? Maybe so. Mozaun McKibben found Rey Jay Boonsmal for Ben, and Mozaun knows a good horse when he sees one.  Keep your eyes on #teamAQHA.

Rider: Dustin Rogers
Representing: National Reined Cow Horse Association
Horse: Skeets Nicker
Owner: Stacy Lynch, Thomas, Oklahoma
Breeding: 2005 sorrel gelding by Skeets Peppy-Boomer Nicolette by Boomernic
Breeder: Mary Jean Yockey, Temecula, California

In 2011, Dustin competed on Cookin Merada. This year, he’s on Skeets Nicker, who was fourth at the 2011 World Show in amateur working cow horse with his owner, Stacy Lynch. Again, experience has to play a factor in this marathon, and a horse with some trips down the fence under his cinch is going to help.

Rider: T.C. Scheer
Representing: NRCHA
Horse: Who Could Be Smarter
Owner: Barbara Biddix, Ocean Springs, Mississippi
Breeding: 2003 sorrel gelding by Smart Chic Olena-Blue Docs Badger by Peppy San Badger
Breeder: Hillis Akin, Gainesville, Texas

In February, at the NRCHA Celebration of Champions, Brandi Scheer showed Who Could Be Smarter to the limited open bridle title for owner Barbara Biddix. Her husband, T.C., took a liking to the horse, and that’s the one he’ll be riding for the Shootout this week. T.C. trains cutting horses for a living, and he has been drilling for the last few weeks with AQHA Professional Horseman Todd Crawford. He’s also gotten a bit of coaching from his wife – the world champion rider. He’s even game for the steer stopping, so T.C. could be a contender this week.