Maggie Bellville and Mozaun McKibben Score Top Titles in Ranch Horse Pleasure at QH Congress

By: Brittany Bevis

Two big winners have been named this morning at the 2014 All American Quarter Horse Congress in what’s quickly becoming one of the nation’s most popular new disciplines. First up was the Open Ranch Horse Pleasure with 51 entries.

Claiming the Congress Champion title and a check for $400 was Mozaun McKibben with Lil Ruf Catalyst. The pair scored an impressive score of 231.5 to take the top spot. Coming in a close second was Ann Tebow with Doctor JJ; the pair scored a 229. Third place was Steve Meadows aboard Classic Crome for owner Maggie Bellville, also scoring a 229. Fourth place was Michael Jennings aboard Dunnit Topsailing with a 228.5. Rounding out the top five was Clark Bradley with Shiners Surprise with a 228.5.

The Amateur Ranch Horse Pleasure class of 34 entries saw Maggie Bellville return aboard Classic Crome to take the Congress Championship with a score of 222.5. The pair received a check for $400, a coveted Congress bronze, neck ribbon, and bragging rights. Coming in second was Allysn Light with The Fresno Fox with a score of 222.5. Third place was Diane Petersen with Show Biz Jack with a 221.5. Petersen also claimed the fourth place spot with Fishin For Bizness, also scoring a 221.5. Rounding out the top five was Lynn Agee with Impulsive Grace with a score of 221.

We caught up with Bellville and “Cromer” as they headed back to their stalls to brush out his trademark flowing mane for the all important win photo.

“This is absolutely unbelievable!” Bellville says. “Who would’ve thought this would’ve happened? He was such a good boy, and we had such a great ride. I think the top five were all separated by a point and a half.”

“He’s only four years old, and he’s just been doing this for eight months. He’s such a natural, and he takes such good care of me. I didn’t even think I would get to show him this year, because I thought he was probably going to need some time to get going himself. But, he has proven to be a ‘Steady Eddie.'”

In preparation for the PBR Bull Ride that will take place this evening at approximately 8:00 pm, the Coliseum has already begun to undergo a transformation. The narrowed arena combined with a difficult pattern created a challenging combination for Bellville and Cromer.

“It was a tricky pattern, but he was really good,” she says. “He was really good for Steve [Meadows, my trainer,] too. He tied for second in the Open, but he lost the tie-breaker. He kind of set him up for me.”

“Ranch Horse Pleasure is kind of like Horsemanship on steroids. What Steve has taught me is that you have to exhibit the horse’s way of going, and you have to be able to make all of those transitions work. You have to be able to show your horse to the best of its ability.”

Cromer has certainly performed to the best of his ability at the Congress, winning a Congress Championship and third place finish, and now he’s headed back home to rest before the AQHA World Show in November where he will compete in Amateur Ranch Horse Pleasure, Ranch Horse Pleasure, and Performance Halter.

The Youth Ranch Horse Pleasure class is currently underway. Stay tuned for those results coming soon! 1:18 pm UPDATE- Youth results listed below.

Ranch Horse Pleasure

1- 231.50- $400- Lil Ruf Catalyst/Mozaun McKibben

2- 229- $350- Doctor JJ/Ann Tebow

3- 229- $250- Classic Crome/Steve Meadows

4- 228.50- $150- Dunnit Topsailing/Michael Jennings

5- 228.50- $100- Shiners Surprise/Clark Bradley

6- 227.0- $90- Timber Chic Olena/Robert Johnson

7- 225- $85- Show Biz Sug/Mozaun McKibben

8- 223- $75- Doublenotyourreeboks/Heather Johnson

9- 219- Boomin Little Peppy/Taylor Mariani

10- 218.50- Coyote Secret Spirit/Steve Meadows

Amateur Ranch Horse Pleasure-

1- 222.50- $200- Classic Crome/Maggie Bellville

2- 222.50- $180- The Fresno Fox/Allysn Light

3- 221.50- $160- Show Biz Zack/Diane Petersen

4- 221.50- $140- Fishin For Bizness/Diane Petersen

5- 221- $120- Impulsive Grace/Lynn Agee

6- 218.50- $100- Peppy San Loper/Suzzette Stroud

7- 218- $60- Dual Footwork/Lauren McCambridge-Gruber

8- 216- $40- Bound To Cash/Jim Bound

9- 214.5- Lena Docs Oakie/Jamie Oakley

10- 214.50- Hes Got Major Moves/Olivia Lee Turner

Youth Ranch Horse Pleasure-

1- 226- $100- Doctor JJ/Ann Elizabeth Tebow

2- 223.5- $90- Rita On The Rocks/Calley Huston

3- 221.50-$80- Crank Up The Band/Abby Gettinger

4- 220- $70- Creek Rider/Katie Shadowens

5- 218.5- $60- Formally Yours/Makayla Flowers

6- 218- $45- Surely A Smart/Terri-June Granger

7- 217- $30- CSF Lightening Josey/Lauren Taylor Lloyd

8- 213.5- $25- My Kisses Are Hot/Erin Nicole Mask

9- 212.50- Just Me Too/Hanna Jordan Hedderick

10- 212.5- Twist N Chexinic/Houston Huff