Stock Horse Of Texas Celebrates Champions At 2024 Ordner Insurance / American Reliable Insurance Stock Horse Derby

The 2024 Ordner Insurance / American Reliable Insurance Stock Horse Derby saw more than $43,000 in cash and prizes paid out to competitors riding 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old horses in the versatility stock horse event. Open Champion Stefani Wagley piloted Boon Doxx to the win, and the Limited Non-Pro Champion Jane Bagley rode Ranch Security to the division title. In addition to the two champions, the stock horse Derby also paid incentives to the high-scoring 4-year-old horse, and Level 1 Open, Non-Pro and Collegiate riders.

The Derby, the original aged event for versatile stock horses, was held this year in September, in Bryan, Texas, instead of at the end-of-year Stock Horse World Show, allowing the young horses and exhibitors to compete in four events over three days instead of all events in one day.

“We moved the Derby to Bryan for several reasons,” said SHTX Executive Director Jill Dunkel. “First, the horses could compete over several days instead of showing all four events at the end of our World Show when horses and riders were tired. Second, we wanted our membership to enjoy the competition, and that they did. The stands were packed with people having a great time cheering on the riders. It was a win-win for the event.”

Sponsored by Ordner Insurance / American Reliable Insurance for the last four years, the stock horse Derby has grown to a premier SHTX event with 22 entries in Open and 21 in the Limited Non-Pro. In the Open, the Derby paid six places for all-around, but with incentives and individual event checks, 18 entries took home money.

Open Derby Champion

Open Champion Wagley earned $5,537 for the win, including the $1,000 high Non-Pro Incentive. Reserve Champion Tommie Shelby (Metallic Rebel x Lahaina Lena x Dual Rey) was ridden by Ben Baldus to the title, the Open 4-Year-Old Incentive, and a check totaling $4,079. The  Level 1 Open Rider Incentive was earned by Reece Nichols, taking home $1,000 aboard Side Winder Kitty (Blind Sided x SCR Shadow Cat x Metallic Cat).

Wagley’s mount, Boon Doxx (Sannman x Docs Stylish Liz x Docs Stylish Oak), was started and shown in the cow horse, so trail and pleasure were a challenge for the gelding. Overcoming the gelding’s fear of obstacles like the drag and earning the win meant a lot to Wagley, who also earned the Open Derby Champion win in 2020 aboard her mare, Precious Metalz (Metallic Cat x Starlights Liz x Grays Starlight).

“I’ve been showing SHTX since 2005; this is such a great association,” Wagley said. “I think it is good for a horse’s mind to do the pleasure and trail and not only cow and a reining pattern. It gets them more broke and more solid. It was really special to win; I never thought I’d get him shown in pleasure and trail. A year-and-a-half ago I would ride past the drag in a trail pattern and OP [off-pattern], because it was a disaster. For him to get so solid in pleasure and trail, it was special. Plus, I won it in 2020, and it is cool to see that I could do it on another horse.”

* Photo Provided by SHTX Limited Non-Pro Derby Champion

Jane Bagley and Ranch Security (Peptorey x Bueno Meadno x Bueno Starlight) win the Limited Non-Pro Derby title for a second year.

The Limited Non-Pro Champion Bagley earned $4,311 for the win. Reserve Champion Emily Boldt and Thee Gambler (Smart Like Juice x Starlight And Seven x Genuine 007) earned the $500 Limited Non-Pro 4-Year-Old Incentive to take home a total of $4,018. In the division, 16 exhibitors took home checks.

Bagley originally entered a mare, Dry Windy Rey (Peptorey x Dry Docket x Taris Judge), but had to substitute Ranch Security two weeks before the event. The gelding had not practiced trail or pleasure and had been on rest after an injury. The duo earned the 2023 Limited Non-Pro Derby Champion title when the event was held in Abilene with the Western Horseman Stock Horse World Show. It was “a Cinderella story,” says Bagley.

“The money for the boxing, traditionally, isn’t near what it is for the fence classes, so the sponsors putting up this much money, it was too good not to run at it. I appreciate them so much,” Bagley said. “Last year was my first time to go to the SHTX Derby, and we just had a great time and we wanted to experience that again, it was so well run and we enjoy the people so much. ‘Ranch’ is a six-generation for us; we breed, and I showed his mother and grandmother. He’s been my buddy since the day he was born and we get along really well.”

In addition to the show expanding to three days of competition, the cow work was showcased during an exhibitor party with food sponsored by Equinety on Saturday night. Dr. Dickson Varner played a special harmonica version of the National Anthem to kick off the event and SHTX member Shawn Ayers served as DJ. The stands were full as the Derby competitors boxed and went down the fence to determine the winners.

“I appreciated how the cow work was showcased on Saturday night. It was pressure, because there were so many people there, but it was fun pressure,” Bagley says. “It was exciting! Sometimes, the box-drive people are not considered exciting or a spectator event, but I really appreciate how everybody got behind the box-drive class. It was fun to show in that atmosphere.”

In addition to the $20,000 in added money from Ordner Insurance and the $3,000 in added money from Stock Horse of Texas, as well as prizes from sponsors UltraCruz and Classic Equine, two scholarships were awarded. Kalli Reed, from North Central Texas College, was awarded the Zinn Lindsey scholarship for being the highest-placing Collegiate rider in the Stock Horse Derby. Kylie Ricketson, also from North Central Texas College, was awarded the Nathan and Norma Belcher $500 scholarship and belt buckle for being the highest-placing rider in the Limited Non-Pro Derby.

Stock Horse of Texas will complete the competitive year at the Western Horseman Stock Horse World Show held in Abilene, Texas, October 23 through 27, 2024. The event will award more than $110,000 in cash and prizes in2023 through 10 divisions of competition, including added money to the Open and Non-Pro divisions. The Texas Quarter Horse Association Texas Triple Threat Incentive and American Paint Horse Association Chrome Cash also provide an opportunity for exhibitors to earn money. Entries are due October 4th for the World show, which does require a horse and rider pair to have qualified by competing in one SHTX or an alliance member event.

For more information on Stock Horse of Texas, visit stockhorsetexas.org. The non-profit focuses on helping people ride a better horse and cultivating a positive, competitive stock horse community.