The Magnificent 7 Entertained Record Crowds at the 2006 Western States Horse Expo
Equestrian News Release
2006 Western States Horse Expo Magnificent 7 Stock Horse Competition Won By Bob Avila
A world-class competition that demonstrates the traditions of the working cowboy, the Magnificent 7 entertained record crowds at the 2006 Western States Horse Expo in Sacramento, California in June.
The nation’s top stock horse and rider teams showed their skills, athletic prowess and versatility in four events: herd work, reined work, steer stopping and cow work down the fence. Overall winner with a payout of $12, 432 was Bob Avila on Light N Fine, owned by Rhodes River Ranch. Avila also took second place on Brother White. Avila was the first Magnificent 7 competitor to ever sweep the first and second places at this event. Avila is the only horseman to win both the National Reining Horse Association and the National Reined Cow Horse Association open futurities. He was also awarded AQHA’s Professional Horseman of the Year, in addition to the title of NRCHA World’s Greatest Horseman in 2000.
Based on the historical 1972 event called the Word’s Championship All-Around Stock Horse Contest, the Magnificent 7 is a revival of the first one-man, one-horse competition created by Pro Rodeo Hall of Famers, Cotton Rosser and Benny Binion. The idea became reality over drinks at Benny Binion’s notorious Horseshoe Club in Las Vegas, Nevada, when the two men started talking about putting together a competition showcasing the horses that many a rancher talked about --- the horse that ranchers loved to ride --- the horse that could rope, cut, rein, and run a cow down the fence.
When the original World’s Championship All-Around Stock Horse Contest faded into history, it gave way to smaller spin-offs at various National Reined Cow Horse Association sanctioned events. But it was the World’s Greatest Horseman that brought the “one man, one horse” all-around competition back to life.
When the World’s Greatest Horseman contest was suspended in 2002, Western States Horse Expo founder Miki Cohen wanted to keep the concept alive, and did --- with the help of Bobby Ingersoll, Benny Guitron, Ted Robinson and Bill Lefty.
Today, this open competition, sponsored by Horse & Rider Magazine, has a permanent home at the Western States Horse Expo in Sacramento and is widely respected as the place to see the “best of the best” compete in this sport, accompanied by a handsome purse of $25,000 added.
This year’s Magnificent 7 finalists were:
1st place Light N Fine, owned by Rhodes River Ranch, ridden by Bob Avila
$12,432 payout
2nd place Brother White, owned by Dana Mandala, ridden by Bob Avila
$10,212 payout
3rd place Smartcashinvestment, owned by Linda Wood, ridden by Mark Luis
$7,104 payout
4th place Pancho Lena, owned by Susan Stoltz, ridden by Corey Cushing,
$5,328 payout
5th place Ill Be A Lil Smarter, owned by Ken and Ramona Wold,
ridden by Ken Wold
$3,996 payout
6th place Chex Out This Remedy, owned by Jon Roeser, ridden by Jon Roeser
$3,108 payout
7th place SOR Little Lena, owned by Jennifer Brushia, ridden by
Rod Weimers
$2,220 payout
Other competitors were:
Really A Reyner, owned by Samantha Adler, ridden by Mark Lewis
Topsails Rein Maker, owned by Kevin Cantrelle, ridden by Russell Dilday
Dun It For Cash, owned by Vanessa Lawrence, ridden by Brandon Staebler
Me Col Fox, owned by Katie Moon, ridden by Lance Johnston
Tangys Classy Boy, owned by Partners N Paints, ridden by Ron Emmons
Shiners Goldielocks, owned by San Juan Ranch, ridden by Ron Emmons
Just Mr Cool, owned by Ward Ranch, ridden by John Ward
Springs Colonel Cash, owned by Dana Cole, ridden by Russell Dilday
Past Magnificent 7 winners:
2002 Chex Out That Remedy, ridden by Jon Roeser
2003 Miss Plain Plain, ridden by Russell Dilday
2004 SOR Little Lena, ridden by Rod Weimers
2005 Roo Star, ridden by Ron Emmons
The 2007 Western States Horse Expo is scheduled for June 8-10 at Cal Expo in Sacramento, California. For more information, visit http://www.horsexpo.com or call
800/352-2411.
MAGNIFICENT 7 SIDEBAR
The excitement of the Friday night Magnificent 7 finals was heightened when horseman extraordinaire Benny Guitron and Western States Horse Expo President Miki Cohen honored Bill Lefty with a “cowboy nod” and a “tip of the Stetson” for his lifetime contributions to the horse world.
Emotions ran high when Guitron presented Bill Lefty with a limited-edition sterling bit crafted by Guitron. Lefty, whose name is synonymous with quality horse sales, started the National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity sale, and is responsible for starting the premium horse sale at the Horse Expo and the Magnficent 7 competition.
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