FROM THE

from Reined Cow Horse News, March/April 2023, Volume 28, No. 2

HACKAMORE CLASSIC MOVES TO TULSA, OKLAHOMA, IN 2023

The Kaplowar Quarter Horses Celebration of Champions held at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas, was a stellar success to start the new year. The National Reined Cow Horse Youth Association would like to congratulate Phillip Ralls and Call Me Mitch for winning the title of the 2023 World’s Greatest Horseman and Tylie Norcutt and Soulas Hickory Star, who captured the Champion title of the 2023 World’s Greatest Youth Horseman, presented by MARS Equestrian™.

One of the many special things about the NRCHA is the family-centered atmosphere. For example, there were six sets of fathers and sons or daughters between the event’s Open and Youth for the World’s Greatest, as well as two sets of siblings in the World’s Greatest Youth, and one set of siblings in the World’s Greatest Horseman. There were multiple couples competing in the Open class of the World’s Greatest, too.

The NRCHyA had a constructive meeting, with over 75 members in attendance. During the meeting, the association voted on the 2023 board members. The Youth members really came together and pulled through to narrow down to the perfect candidates. In addition, the Youth gathered 150 coats in a fundraiser drive, which were donated to the Safe Haven of Tarrant County.

NRCHyA Secretary Bryce Barkemeyer invited Terry Stuart Forst of Waurika, Oklahoma, to share her life’s story about the 7S Stuart Ranch, which is the oldest family ranch in Oklahoma. This horse and cattle operation succeeds through seven generations of care and is the first ranch to be inducted into the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Hall of Fame. Terry, an inductee into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame, spoke about how working with generations of family was not always easy, and they didn’t always see eye to eye, but it’s what saw them through anything. Terry also emphasized the huge responsibility of keeping the 7S Stuart Ranch running successfully. She mentioned that even though she had some out-of-the-box ideas for the ranch, she still had confidence that her plans would work. Even though others may have disagreed with her ideas, she still stuck to what she felt was best to do in her heart, for the best interest of the ranch. She had great faith in God during the good and trying times, and still walks with that same strong faith today.

Hearing her story, you can tell how much grit and love she has for the cattle and horse industry. This guest speaker’s testimony surely inspired the future of the horse and cattle industry, the NRCHyA.