Writer: Morgan Moreno
The Texas A&M Stock Horse Team competed at three major events this fall, claiming many awards in addition to giving back to the community.
In September, the team won the title of Champion Collegiate Team at the Stock Horse of Texas show in Bryan.
On October, the team competed at the Stock Horse of Texas World Championship Show in Abilene. Texas A&M was the 3rd Place All-Around Collegiate Team in the Division I category.
Courtlyn Ranly claimed the Novice World Championship aboard TAMU Pop A San Doc, or “Tango,” a Texas A&M bred and raised horse. Kelley Ranly finished as 5th Place All-Around Novice aboard Pepto Rey Lori, and Bailey Barziza claimed 9th Place All-Around Novice with Boons Texas Legacy.
Elizabeth Klein finished as 10th All-Around Junior Horse with TAMU Sonitavalentina, a 3-year-old project filly started in the ANSC 311 class.
Kayte Weeks claimed the 9th Place All-Around Limited Non-Pro title riding TAMU Reyette Olena, another Texas A&M homegrown horse. Sarah McEntire was 12th aboard Heza San Jo, one of the first equine members of the Texas A&M Stock Horse Team.
Lane Birkenfeld was 7th Place in the Non-Pro division riding his personal horse Sparks Genuine Article.
In early November, members spent the day teaching the Heritage Days Classic Ranch Horse Clinic to local ranch horse enthusiasts. The Heritage Days Classic was a 3-day event that promoted western heritage while benefiting the Still Creek Ranch Equestrian program.
Several members chose to participate in the ranch horse competition following the clinic, and claimed several individual awards.
Nolan Self was the Junior Horse Champion with his mare Light Dots. He was followed closely by Junior Horse Reserve Champion Elizabeth Klein, riding TAMU Sonitavalentina.
Sarah McEntire claimed the Amateur Championship riding TAMU Reyette Olena, and Hayley Walker finished as 5th Place Amateur, aboard her horse Jacs R Wild.
Courtlyn Ranly and TAMU Pop A San Doc claimed another Novice Championship, and Kelley Ranly was 4th Place in the Novice division with Pepto Rey Lori.
“There are many new faces on this year’s team,” said Coach Morgan Moreno. “They have just begun making this team their own, and they are loaded with potential,” she said. “I am so excited to see what they will do for Texas A&M both in and out of the arena.”
The Stock Horse Team will host spring tryouts on January 11-12, 2018. Interested students should email morgan.moreno@tamu.edu to request an application.
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For more information regarding news from the Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M University, please contact Maggie Tucker at maggie.tucker@tamu.edu or (979) 845-1542.