First-time event showcases top ranch horses

The National Versatility Ranch Horse Association is capping off its inaugural year with the first-ever NVRHA National Finals competition and celebration September 26-28, in Colorado Springs, Colo., and the atmosphere is definitely fun-filled and relatively stress-free.

The NVRHA promotes itself as an organization where excitement, education and friendliness are primary goals. It offers “a rider friendly environment” for elevation of skills in all the traditional ways of riding an American ranch horse, such as cutting, roping, cow work, trail and pleasure.

The NVRHA follows the American Quarter Horse Association’s Versatility Ranch Horse program, which includes awarding horses that display good “form-to-function” conformation with the mind and heart to perform ranch work at “high skill levels.” According to the NVRHA, for riders who are interested in AQHA competition, the NVRHA events provide an excellent “leg up” to success.

During the Finals competition, all riders who competed in at least one other NVRHA event in 2008 are eligible to compete. The Finals also includes breed-approved competitions and an open Stakes Competition to identify “The Worlds Greatest Versatility Ranch Horse. Sunday’s classes are open to any rider on any horse of any breed who would like to claim “braggin’ rights” as “The World’s Greatest Versatility Ranch Horse.” A $5,000 purse will be awarded to the top horses/riders.

For more information, visit www.nvrha.org.