COWBOY CONNECTION

R.A. Brown began riding cow horses because of brotherly competition, but today he enjoys the challenge of taking ranch-raised horses to the show pen.

INTERVIEW AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATE BRADLEY BYARS

It’s six miles of rock-dirt road from the highway to R.A. Brown’s home southwest of Channing, Texas, on the Rob A. Brown Ranch he manages. He covers a lot of country to tend cattle and complete ranch chores. Typically, he rides a Brownraised Quarter Horse, that has also spent time under the bright lights of the competitive arena.

“I get a lot of the horses my brother, Myles, starts; he is more of a horse trainer than I am,” said Brown.

Brown has three bridle horses that he can pick from to ride, including Ima Wynna RAB (PG Shogun x Right On Eddie RAB x Right On Tivio), a 2011 grey gelding owned by Brown’s father, Rob A. Brown, that he rode to Reserve Champion at the The Run For A Million 2022 Cowboy Invitational, presented by XIT Ranch. However, the cowboy was no stranger to the reined cow horse arena before making the trip to Las Vegas, Nevada. In 2019, he showed a 3-year-old at the National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity®, presented by Metallic Cat, Dreaming Of Denver (Metallic Cat x Reys Dreamgirl x Dual Rey), then Brown attended the first Cowboy Clinic in March of 2019 before competing in the Cowboy Class Invitational at the Snaffle Bit Futurity.

“Getting to go to the clinic, learn from some of the best, was a reason to go and also to ride with people like me who were learning,” he recalled. “The Futurity was fun, and I had a good time, even though I learned I wasn’t very good at the cow horse thing. Going down the fence was the easiest part!”

Today, he continues to compete in both NRCHA events and at Ranch Horse Association of America competitions, like the one held each spring in conjunction with the R.A. Brown Ranch Bull Sale at the Throckmorton, Texas, ranch. He’s won $9,060.75 in LAE/HS and $11,075 in the Cowboy Class, and counting.

Reined Cow Horse News: How did you get started in cow horse?

R.A. Brown: I grew up rodeoing and roping. I never really got into the cow horse until about 10 years ago, and it was a learning curve. My brother, Myles, started and I thought, ‘If he can do it, I can do it.’ My first NRCHA event was in 2019, but my first show was an [American Quarter Horse Association] Ranching Heritage event.

RCHN: What excites you about entering the Cowboy Class?

RAB: I’ve had a lot of fun showing, especially roping because, being a cowboy, we rope when we work, so having that option in the class is a good way to show that skill. The Cowboy Class is fun, because I’ve been able to show a horse we’ve raised and ranched on to success. That is Bubba [Ima Wynna RAB]. The Cowboy Class has definitely brought more people. The one in October [2022 at the Snaffle Bit Futurity] was a big turnout, where before it was just an invite. I think [the class] has brought more cowboys, ranchers to NRCHA. It will help the market for a ranch horse.

RCHN: How does ranching on the horse you compete on go hand in hand?

RAB: I cowboyed on a CD Lights I showed at the Futurity a lot because he had a motor. If I knew then what I know now about [reined cow horse], I could have done a better job with him, I think. I’ve been showing right maybe 10 years. Every time I think I’ve maybe got it figured out and do good at a show, I go to another show and it’s terrible and you wonder what you’re doing. I’ve definitely learned a lot. It’s addicting; the success makes it worth it.

Cow horse, showing, it makes your horses better to show on and makes me a better cowboy. Out of the herd or going down the fence, it is kind of like sorting dries—you have to be in position and read your cow. There is just more finesse in the show pen. The fence work was boxing and go fast, and hope your horse stands up; I’m not very good at the reining.

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Cowboy Connection