AQHA 2025 World Show Award Recognition Recap Number Two

Each year, the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau Leading Owner Award is given to the owner whose horses accumulate the highest number of points at the Markel AQHA and Adequan Select World Championship Shows in both the Level 3 and Adequan® Level 2 classes. Horses shown in the amateur, Select and open divisions are included. The owner must have at least three horses entered and shown to be eligible.

For 2025, the leading owner award goes to Iron Horse Ranch of Granbury, Texas, which had horses competing in halter classes in all divisions. Horses showing at the World Show under Iron Horse Ranch ownership are:

• Miss P
• De La Cruzz
• The Last E
• Kept Cool Secretz
• Gunnsandroses
• Mr Fabulous
• Solicitation
• So Lets Party
• IHR Fabulous Spurs

Iron Horse Ranch received a specially designed bronze and rose bouquet.

Dan Fox and Prominence added a unanimous championship in Select Aged Stallions to his repertoire at the 2025 AQHA World Show.

The reserve leading owner, presented by The American Quarter Horse Journal, is Dan Fox of Weatherford, Texas, whose horses competed in halter, ranch riding, ranch trail, working western rail and working cow horse classes. Dan is the owner of:

• Seismic Reaction
• Double Tapn
• FR Final Edition
• FR After Party
• Solair
• Prominence
• FR Peaceably
• FR Gunslinger
• FR Glitter N Gold
• Shinersdiamondlights

Dan received a silver cup for this achievement.

Ranch-Horse Recognition

The AQHA Ranching Heritage program spotlights the quality horses produced by AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeders. When those horses make their way into the arenas at the Markel AQHA and Adequan® Select World Championship Show, they are recognized with the “RHB” designation after their name. Now, we recognize the three who rose to top in each division: Select, amateur and open.

In each division, the owner received a specially created ranch-horse trophy, and both the owner and breeder received $250.

The top Ranching Heritage-bred horse in the Select division is Always Do, owned and shown by Dana Avila of Scottsdale, Arizona. Always Do is a 2018 gray gelding by Cat Man Do and out of Greyt Little Steps by Greyt Whiz. He was bred by AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeder W.T. Waggoner Estate of Vernon, Texas.

In the amateur division, Cowpuncher Cadillac was named the top Ranching Heritage-bred horse.

In the amateur division, Cowpuncher Cadillac was named the top Ranching Heritage-bred horse. Cowpuncher Cadillac is a 2017 bay roan stallion by Royal Blue Quixote and out of Miss Dakota Eyed by Two Eyed Red Buck. He is owned by Jimmy Daurio and David Renier of Loveland, Colorado, and was bred by the Pitzer Ranch/Dack Cattle LLC of Ericson, Nebraska.

The top Ranching Heritage-bred horse in the open division is Smooth Smoken Boon, bred and owned by Michael and Kim St. Clair of Kahoka, Missouri. Smooth Smoken Boon is a 2020 red roan stallion by Once In A Blu Boon and out of Smooth Smoken Cat by Smooth As A Cat.

Recognizing Senior Athletes – Both Human and Equine

The love for American Quarter Horses is timeless, and showing horses is a sport that is accessible to all ages. Some of our more seasoned exhibitors were recognized at the 2025 Markel AQHA and Adequan® Select World Championship Shows.

Nutrena Senior Athletes

The Nutrena Senior Athletes Award recognizes an exhibitor and his or her American Quarter Horse for having the highest combined age competing at the Adequan® AQHA Select World Championship Show. AQHA has proudly teamed with AQHA Corporate Partner Nutrena on this award since 2012.

Congratulations to Donald Tisdall, 84, of Castle Rock, Colorado, and Pistol Packin Mister, 25, for being the senior athletes of the 2025 show. Their combined age is 109. Tisdall has won this award for two previous years riding Truly A San Peppy, competing in Select heeling.

Pistol Packin Mister is a 2000 sorrel gelding by Mister Dual Pep out of Taffy Remedy by Doc’s Remedy, bred by John Ward of Tulare, California.

Tisdall is the owner of 2011 AQHA Superhorse Chex This Dually and the owner of various other Superhorse contenders over the years. He also owns Romancing The Chics, who has carried Trey Yates to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

Tisdall and Pistol Packin Mister also earned the AQHA Century Club Award, which was new at the 2025 World Show. This award was presented to all Select horse-and-exhibitor combinations with a combined age of 100 years old or older.

Gene Graves Super Select Special Recognition Award

This award goes to the Super-Select exhibitor, age 70 and over, earning the greatest number of points in Level 3 Select competition at the 2025 Markel AQHA and Adequan® Select World. The award is named in honor of the late AQHA Past President Gene Graves of Grand Island, Nebraska, who believed that recognizing our Super-Select exhibitors is a great way to shine the spotlight on this group of exhibitors that continues to support the equine lifestyle.

This year’s Gene Graves Super Select Special Recognition Award winner is Debbie Wolaver of Mocksville, North Carolina, showing Impulsive Details.

This year’s winner is Debbie Wolaver of Mocksville, North Carolina, showing Impulsive Details, a 2014 bay mare by MDR Impulsified and out of Late Night Details by Last Detail.

Wolaver and Impulsive Details earned the reserve world championship in Select working hunter and placed in the top five in Select equitation over fences and in the top 10 in Select hunter hack.

Wolaver was honored with a special plaque and will have the achievement placed on her permanent record at AQHA.