Around the Rings – SAQHA Hits Home Run with 2026 Ranch Challenge Event
All photos by Lyndsey Lamell Photography, courtesy of SAQHA.
The setting for the 2026 SAQHA Saguaro Classic Quarter Horse Show, January 27th through Feb 1st, 2026, was Horseshoe Park in Queen Creek, Arizona. The longstanding show formerly set in Southern Arizona celebrated another year in the Valley of the Sun as it has continuously evolved to meet the needs of the local and regional Quarter Horse industry.
This year, the show hosted all-around, cutting, cow horse, reining, roping, and ranch competition, with six judges: Mike Jung – Farmington, UT; Robbin Jung – Farmington, UT; Leo Foure – Scottsdale, AZ; Leonard Berryhill – Talala, OK; Mike Edwards – Scottsdale, AZ; Allen Walton – Bluff Dale, TX.
However, the highlight of the show was the 2026 Ranch Challenge Event! Read the synopsis of the event by producer and manager Carol Whittaker:
SAQHA Hits Home Run with 2026 Ranch Challenge Event
By Carol Whittaker:
After two previous attempts to create a spectator friendly, exhibitor-challenging, and fair-to-all event, the 2026 Ranch Challenge at the Southern Arizona Quarter Horse Association Saguaro Classic covered all the bases. Adding $50,000 sponsored by SAQHA and a free fiesta sponsored by SAMI Fine Jewelry and SJ Ranch sweetened the pot.
The challenge was offered in three different divisions: Level 1 Riders, Non-Pro, and Open. Horse and rider qualified by riding to a top ten score on the first day of classes in both ranch riding and ranch trail.
The path in the finals was a ranch riding pattern and was the same for all exhibitors. Interspersed in that path were four obstacles that might be encountered riding on a ranch: a bridge, a trot serpentine, two jumps, and the finale—a pen of cattle! At the conclusion of each division, the obstacles were made increasingly difficult.
The finalists who faced off in the Open portion of the Ranch Challenge.
A crowd of more than 200 stayed for the whole afternoon, cheering each rider as they finished their pattern. All finalists were awarded a designated portion of the added money purse and a challenge neck ribbon.
The finalists who faced off in the Non Pro portion of the Ranch Challenge
The 2026 Ranch Challenge was fondly dubbed “the funnest ranch event ever,” by Andrea Kail, whose husband, Ryan, riding Cee My Special Nite (owned by Libby Haydon), won the open with a purse of over $7,000. Paje Turner on Trashtalk N BigStar won the Non-Pro, and Linda Hamilton, Arizona’s energizer bunny at age 82, rode Magnificent Dreamer to a win in the Level 1.
Ryan Kail with daughter Kenzley on Cee My Special Nite (owner Libby Williams Haydon). “Diablo” was the Ranch Challenge Open Champion with Ryan in the saddle.
Ranch Challenge Open champion: Cee My Special Nite with Ryan Kail for Libby Williams Haydon
Trashtalk N BigStar earned the Ranch Challenge Non Pro Championship with Paige Turner.
Ranch Challenge Non Pro champion: Paige Turner and Trashtalk N BigStar
82-year-old Linda Hamilton took home the L1 Ranch Challenge Championship with Magnificent Dreamer.
Ranch Challenge L1 champion: Linda Hamilton and Magnificent Dreamer (Linda is 82!)
A pen of cattle was one of many increasingly-difficult obstacles presented to exhibitors in the Ranch Challenge.
Ranch Challenge Open complete results:
Ranch Challenge Results — Southern Arizona Quarter Horse Association
Photo by Andrea Kail.
Scoresheets for all classes:
Results — Southern Arizona Quarter Horse Association
Thank you to Lyndsey Lamell Photography for the wonderful Ranch Challenge gallery ! Find more photos from the Saturday Show and Challenge – Lyndsey Lamell
Photos from Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sun can be found here on the W&C website– Deb of W&C Marketing and Designs
