Chris was the 2008 RHAA Junior Division Champion. This is an excerpt of an article in the
July 15, 2008 issue of Quarter Horse News. The full story and photographs can be viewed
by clicking here.
July 15, 2008 issue of Quarter Horse News. The full story and photographs can be viewed
by clicking here.
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Ranch Horse Championships
Written by Jill J. Dunkel (Fly Thomas photo)
The Ranch Horse Association of America crowned four new
champions at its annual National Finals, held in conjunction with
the Western Heritage Classic in Abilene, Texas, in May. In its 10th
year of competition, the caliber of horses and riders at the National
Finals continues to impress both the average spectator and horse
trainers alike.
“I say this year after year, but the caliber of competition in every
division keeps improving,” said Jim Frank Richardson, RHAA
president. “The level of horsemanship and the quality of the horses
Written by Jill J. Dunkel (Fly Thomas photo)
The Ranch Horse Association of America crowned four new
champions at its annual National Finals, held in conjunction with
the Western Heritage Classic in Abilene, Texas, in May. In its 10th
year of competition, the caliber of horses and riders at the National
Finals continues to impress both the average spectator and horse
trainers alike.
“I say this year after year, but the caliber of competition in every
division keeps improving,” said Jim Frank Richardson, RHAA
president. “The level of horsemanship and the quality of the horses
class. This year, you better not stump your toe in your run, or somebody would come along and beat you. It just
short go, vying for National Championships in Open, Junior, Ranch Hand and Cowboy classes.
The number of spectators this year reached an all-time high, with more than 4,000 people looking for seats in
the coliseum to watch the best 20 horses that the association had to offer. Chris Littlefield, who judged the
National Finals three years ago, was very excited to see the level of horsemanship displayed by the riders.
Littlefield returned to RHAA competition this spring after several years away from ranch horse shows.
“This has been a great building block for cowboys to learn to be better horsemen. Some of these guys are tried
and true Texas cowboys. They got their job done as far as being cowpunchers, and they were the best at that.
But as far as having fluid, supple and soft horses that performed tasks with ease and refinement, it wasn’t
there. These guys have done their homework, and this year it was amazing to see the quality of these horses,”
he said.
Return of a champion
In the Junior division, Littlefield rode Smart Move Dulce to the highest score of the finals with a 406. Littlefield is
a former RHAA Champion, winning the title in 2002 and 2003 aboard Real Gun; however, he had not set foot in
RHAA competition for the last several years.
“I made it to the show in Crowell, Texas, a few weeks before the finals. I went to that show hoping to qualify for
Abilene,” Littlefield said.
“My horse was turned out, not doing anything,” he said. “I wanted to go back to an RHAA show, so I caught him
and thought we’d go.” Littlefield’s return to ranch horse competition picked up right where he left off several
years ago – at the top. His performance at the finals drew a large number of cheers and applause.
Smart Move Dulce is a 5-year-old gelding by Dulces Smart Lena and out of a daughter of Holidoc. Littlefield
purchased the gelding at the NCHA Futurity Sale as a yearling and began training him. The pair made the Open
finals at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity in Reno when the horse was 3, and also made the NRCHA Stallion
Stakes finals when Smart Move Dulce was a 4-year-old. To date, the gelding has almost $20,000 in NRCHA
earnings.
“I’ve wanted to go to an RHAA show for a couple of years, but I can’t seem to keep one of my own horses long
enough. He was hanging around, not doing anything, and I wanted to get back into that competition. I caught
him and thought we’d go,” Littlefield explained. According to RHAA rules, horses must be owned by the exhibitor
for a minimum of one year prior to showing in most divisions.
Previously the horse trainer at Stuart Ranch in Waurika, Okla., Littlefield recently went out on his own and
purchased a training facility near Henrietta, Texas. “I’d like to go to more RHAA shows. Sometimes it’s tough to
get away. My horses have been turned out while I ride customer horses. I guess that’s the story of a horse
trainer,” he said.
“Smarty,” as he’s known around the barn, is very laid-back and gentle, according to Littlefield. “He works a cow
pretty good and has a lot of stop to him. He’s kind of a kid horse now, and we’ll probably keep him around.”
Littlefield recently married last November, and his children, Skee and Kalico Burkes, enjoy riding Smarty.
Coming in as Junior Reserve Champion was Heath Ownbey and Little Badger Gin. Scott Long and BH Strait
Gin were third, followed by Monte Jones riding Feelin Freaky and Mark Voss with Sir Hickory Bar.
short go, vying for National Championships in Open, Junior, Ranch Hand and Cowboy classes.
The number of spectators this year reached an all-time high, with more than 4,000 people looking for seats in
the coliseum to watch the best 20 horses that the association had to offer. Chris Littlefield, who judged the
National Finals three years ago, was very excited to see the level of horsemanship displayed by the riders.
Littlefield returned to RHAA competition this spring after several years away from ranch horse shows.
“This has been a great building block for cowboys to learn to be better horsemen. Some of these guys are tried
and true Texas cowboys. They got their job done as far as being cowpunchers, and they were the best at that.
But as far as having fluid, supple and soft horses that performed tasks with ease and refinement, it wasn’t
there. These guys have done their homework, and this year it was amazing to see the quality of these horses,”
he said.
Return of a champion
In the Junior division, Littlefield rode Smart Move Dulce to the highest score of the finals with a 406. Littlefield is
a former RHAA Champion, winning the title in 2002 and 2003 aboard Real Gun; however, he had not set foot in
RHAA competition for the last several years.
“I made it to the show in Crowell, Texas, a few weeks before the finals. I went to that show hoping to qualify for
Abilene,” Littlefield said.
“My horse was turned out, not doing anything,” he said. “I wanted to go back to an RHAA show, so I caught him
and thought we’d go.” Littlefield’s return to ranch horse competition picked up right where he left off several
years ago – at the top. His performance at the finals drew a large number of cheers and applause.
Smart Move Dulce is a 5-year-old gelding by Dulces Smart Lena and out of a daughter of Holidoc. Littlefield
purchased the gelding at the NCHA Futurity Sale as a yearling and began training him. The pair made the Open
finals at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity in Reno when the horse was 3, and also made the NRCHA Stallion
Stakes finals when Smart Move Dulce was a 4-year-old. To date, the gelding has almost $20,000 in NRCHA
earnings.
“I’ve wanted to go to an RHAA show for a couple of years, but I can’t seem to keep one of my own horses long
enough. He was hanging around, not doing anything, and I wanted to get back into that competition. I caught
him and thought we’d go,” Littlefield explained. According to RHAA rules, horses must be owned by the exhibitor
for a minimum of one year prior to showing in most divisions.
Previously the horse trainer at Stuart Ranch in Waurika, Okla., Littlefield recently went out on his own and
purchased a training facility near Henrietta, Texas. “I’d like to go to more RHAA shows. Sometimes it’s tough to
get away. My horses have been turned out while I ride customer horses. I guess that’s the story of a horse
trainer,” he said.
“Smarty,” as he’s known around the barn, is very laid-back and gentle, according to Littlefield. “He works a cow
pretty good and has a lot of stop to him. He’s kind of a kid horse now, and we’ll probably keep him around.”
Littlefield recently married last November, and his children, Skee and Kalico Burkes, enjoy riding Smarty.
Coming in as Junior Reserve Champion was Heath Ownbey and Little Badger Gin. Scott Long and BH Strait
Gin were third, followed by Monte Jones riding Feelin Freaky and Mark Voss with Sir Hickory Bar.
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