It was a successful outing for Missouri State University’s Ranch Horse Team at the recent American Stock Horse Association National Show (ASHA) in Sweetwater, Texas.

Top awards

The team of six students led by coaches Dr. Gary Webb and Will Boyer finished as the 2021 Division II Reserve Champion Team. Webb, the animal science department head, won the All-Around Champion title in the 5-year-old Derby category.

Natalie Rector, an animal science and agricultural business major, emerged as the 2021 Novice Collegiate All-Around Champion. This is the highest award a novice collegiate rider can receive.

Rector and her horse, Whizz Bang Boom, competed against 28 other participants from across the country in her division.

Other awards

The other team members and their awards include:

• Grace DelVecchio (horse Royal Blue Laredo), animal science major – Reserve Novice Trail.
• Brayden Gruben (horse Cats Stevens), animal science major – Champion Collegiate Novice Cow Work.
• Emily Selby (horse Commanders Little Nic), agricultural communications major – Champion Limited Non-Pro Trail.
• Shianne Walther (horse WR Katies Cat), agriculture graduate student – fourth Overall Collegiate Limited Non-Pro Division and fifth Overall Limited Non-Pro Division.

“The Ranch Horse Team members have served as excellent ambassadors for the Darr College of Agriculture and the university,” Webb said.

He also added his appreciation to the local equine community for supporting the team with donations of time and resources.

About the competition

ASHA is a nonprofit that focuses on enhancing the pleasure of owning and riding horses through creating better horses and horsemen.

ASHA competitions offer four classes on pleasure, reining, trail and working cow horse. Riders are awarded for each class placing, as well as all-around placing in each division that is offered according to ASHA rules and point systems.