December 2017 36 RANCH & RODEO By Kimmie Dillon VERSATILITY OF THE RANCH HORSE Ranch horse versatility competitions started cropping up on the western horse-show scene well over a decade ago. Today the stock horse culture continues to see growth nationally including right here in Arizona. With recognition by the American Quarter Horse Association, the athletic ability and versatility of the ranch horse is demonstrated in six classes: Ranch Confirmation, Ranch Trail, Ranch Riding, Ranch Reining, Ranch Cutting and Ranch Cow Work. Divisions are Youth, Amateur, Open, and Cowboy. The Arizona Quarter Horse Association sponsored a Versatility Ranch Horse competition on November 11th at WestWorld in Scottsdale. Stock classes here in Arizona are also especially known for their friendly comradery! Class Winners from AZ VRH Competition: Youth Ranch Confirmation Smoken Fire-Anthony Luna Amateur Ranch Confirmation Zen Master-Frances Greene Open Ranch Confirmation Gentleman Smoker-Tyler Wiese Youth Ranch Trail Smoken Fire-Anthony Luna Amateur Ranch Trail Boomin Miss Skeets, Christine Brannen Open Ranch Trail Tari Eyed Jack, Tyler Wiese Youth Ranch Riding Smoken Fire-Anthony Luna Amateur Ranch Riding Boom Tang, Kimmie Dillon Open Ranch Riding Ragtime Surprise, Abby Cosenza Youth Ranch Reining Smoken Fire-Anthony Luna Amateur Ranch Reining Sammy Solano, Heather Vatcher Open Ranch Reining Bettin on Guiness, Rick Hoffman Youth Ranch Cutting Smoken Fire- Anthony Luna Amateur Ranch Cutting She Writes the Chex, Paula Bellesi Open Ranch Cutting Lilgovernmenthooker, Tom Duke Youth Cow Work Smoken Fire-Anthony Luna Amateur Limited Cow Work A Holey Doc Prom, Laura Mucci Amateur Cow Work Twenty Ten, John Holbrook Open Cow Work Tari Eyed Jack, Tyler Wiese Youth All-Around Anthony Luna Limited All-Around Heather Vatcher  Limited Reserve All-Around Paula Bellesi Amateur All-Around Bob Schubbe Open All-Around Tyler Weiss  Open Reserve All-Around Rick Hoffman  TEAM ROPING INDUSTRY CHANGES Active Interest Media, who owns the World Series of Team Roping (WSTR), has announced their acquisition of the United States Team Roping Championships (USTRC). Ty Yost, Founder of the National Team Roping Tour (NTR), will serve as President-elect of the World Series of Team Roping and well as a liaison during the transition. The NTR will continue as an independent organization. The 2018 NTR National Finals IV will take place in Wickenburg at Rancho Rio during March 5-10, 2018. Here are results from a NTR Qualifier on November 11th: #9 Megabucks 1st in Average - 43.10 on 4, Chi Delapena & JR Delapena  $3360 2nd in Average - 49.31 on 4, Lucas Hogue & Jody Nunnellee  $2000 3rd in Average - 52.91 on 4, Bob Harvey & Daniel Valenzuela  $1340 #9 Shortgo 1st not placing in average - 9.66, Stacy Mcknight & Blake Nelson  $200 #8 Megabucks 1st in Average - 33.82 on 3, Monte Alkire & Walt Vermedahl  $3160 2nd in Average - 39.01 on 3, Don Campbell & JR Delapena  $1880 3rd in Average - 44.42 on 3, Chi Delapena & Kirby Rhoades  $1260 #6 Buckle Up 1st in Average - 24.68 on 2, Jay Varela & Doug McLain  $1240 & Buckles 2nd in Average - 28.48 on 2, Bruce Northrop & Eloy Archuleta  $930 & Buckles 3rd in Average - 28.99 on 2, Luis Madrid & Ricardo Ramirez  $600 & Buckles 4th in Average - 29.63 on 2, Adan Quezada Sr & Harry Bernhardt  $320 & Buckles #7 Trailer Roping 1st in Average - 25.09 on 3, Jason Sherwood & Glenn Tsosie   $2200 & Saddles 2nd in Average - 28.61 on 3, Ken James & Santos Martinez  $1320 3rd in Average - 31.22 on 3, Jason Sherwood & Tom Krupinski  $900 4th in Average - 31.32 on 3, Tim Fletcher & Clayton Overson  $800 5th in Average - 31.62 on 3, Kenny Leiseth & Santos Martinez  $700 6th in Average - 32.11 on 3, Buster Hynes & Robbie Thompson  $600 7th in Average - 33.20 on 3, Jesus Parra & Charleston Claw  $450 8th in Average - 33.67 on 3, Tim Fletcher & Travis Wilde  $400 This month, the NTR will host 2 big ropings. “Las Vegas in December” will take place at Ranch Rio from December 4th-12th. And “Lasso Del Ranch Rio” will kick off the day after Christmas and run through the 30th. Wishing you a holiday month filled with joy