Texan At The Ritz And Tracy Pinson - Extreme Cowboy Race Non-Pro World Champions
Thursday, November 14, 2013

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The 2013 Craig Cameron Extreme Cowboy Race World Finals were held October 31st through November 3rd in Hamilton, Texas. With over 180 entries, this was by far the largest and most competitive EXCA World Finals ever!



Extreme Cowboy Racing is the creation of Craig Cameron who describes it as surgical precision with kamikaze speed. While time is a big factor, so is horsemanship. Competitors must accurately execute obstacles which include roping, jumps, water crossings, bridges, dragging, ponying, ground ties, riding bareback, etc.  Horses must be able to run at full speed and then settle down quickly to perform various tasks.

Topping a field of 38 of the best Non Pro riders in the country was Tracy Pinson aboard Texan At The Ritz (aka Buford). Buford is by Hard Texas Cash and out of Mitzi Ritzi (by He’s Puttin’ On The Ritz). Bred, raised and trained at Darby Oaks Stables in Bushnell, Fla., by Wayne Conkle and Tracy Pinson, this six-year-old Tennessee Walking Horse stallion had some big shoes to fill as Pinson won this same division in 2009 and 2012 with Skyjacker’s Mountain High (aka Tuff). After two World Championships and a top five finish at the famed Calgary Stampede, Tuff has been semi-retired from competition, so it was up to Buford to show the versatility of the TWH. This year, Buford was also honored with an invitation to the Calgary Stampede in 2014.
This has been a great year for this young stallion. Buford won five EXCA races, including the Nationals and the Southeast Regional Championships. He also won three blue ribbons at this year’s TWHBEA World Versatility Show and four at the International, plus the title of International High Point Versatility Horse.



Not only did Buford win the Non Pro division at the World Finals, but he carried his Hawaiian youth rider to a third place finish out of 25 top young riders, as well as capturing eighth with Lisa Steinbach out of over 30 riders in the Novice division.

Craig Cameron has become a fan of the Tennessee Walking Horse, as well as the other gaited breeds. Having made statements throughout the competition about how well suited these horses are for Extreme Cowboy Racing – They are athletic, smart, have a gentle disposition and can be trained to do just about anything!
There were a number of other TWH’s and gaited breeds placing in the top 10 at this year’s EXCA World Finals. Generator’s Tall Paul carried Rebecca Adams to a fifth in Novice, as well as a fourth in Youth with Shelby Ratliff. Destiny, a Kentucky Mountain Horse owned by Bernie Duncan, won the Young Guns World Championship with Gianna Sbarbaro from Hawaii, while Brooke Matson finished seventh in the Youth division. Tennessee native, Kelsie Graham and her Spotted Saddle Horse Flower were third in Non Pro and eighth in the Pro division. Kimberly Brown and her SSH NCIS In Dixie were seventh in Novice. A great event for the gaited breeds!
 


Texan At The Ritz and Tracy Pinson continue to show the true versatility of the Tennessee Walking Horse and would like to thank everyone for the great comments throughout their journey, as well as sponsors TWHBEA and Montverde Academy, who make it possible to get to all these events.

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