1989-2022 AQHA-PRCA/WPRA “TIMED-EVENT” HORSES OF THE YEAR

Since 1989, AQHA and PRCA have recognized the top American Quarter Horses in the six timed events. Nominated by their owners, riders or fans, these horses are voted on by the top 25 contestants in their respective events. Each winner receives a cash prize and an AQHA bronze.

 

It is known that the equine athletes in the sport of rodeo play a vital role in helping every competitor achieve his or her goals. The voting process takes place each year in October.
*Courtesy of the PRCA

 


1989~2020 AQHA/PRCA/WPRA "Timed-Event" Horses of the Year

YEARBREAKAWAY
ROPING
BARREL
RACING
STEER
WRESTLING
TIE-DOWN
CALF ROPING
TEAM ROPING- HEADERTEAM ROPING
HEELER
STEER
ROPING
2022BAYBE BULLET, “Baybe,” ridden by Joey Williams – owned by Taylor and Joey WilliamsFAMOUS LIL JET, “Rollo”, ridden by Jordon Briggs – owned by Jordon and Justin BriggsDASHIN HAZE, “Tyson,” ridden by JD. Struxness, J. Brown, C. Cassidy, S. Culling, K. Irwin, R. Parrott, W. Lummus – owned by Curtis CassidyPOCKETFUL OF LIGHT, “Pockets,” ridden by Caleb Smidt, Marty Yates – owned by Caleb SmidtJESS A MOOSE, “Grey,” ridden by Lightning Aguilera – owned by Jim DonnanKADABRA KING, “Turbo,” ridden by Patrick Smith – owned by Patrick and Christi SmithJS FROSTYS BADGER, “Goose,” ridden by Scott Snedecor – owned by Scott and Kelli Snedecor
2021NO WIMPY TURNS, "Onna," ridden and owned by Shelby Lynn BoisjoliFAMOUS LIL JET, "Rollo," ridden by Jordon Briggs and owned by Justin and Jordon BriggsDASHIN HAZE, "Tyson," ridden by Curtis Cassidy/Jesse Brown - owned by Curtis CassidySORT OF POPULAR,"Pouraguaja," ridden and owned by Marcos CostaIMA FRESNOS DEE, "Annie," ridden and owned by Cody SnowNITA WIN PLAYBOY, "Drago," ridden and owned by Logan MedlinRBS BADGER TIGGER, "Tigger," ridden and owned by Cole Patterson
2020
HIGH VALOR, aka "Valor"
Owned by: Dona Kay Rule
DASHIN HAZE, aka "Tyson"
Owned by: Curtis Cassidy
POCKETFUL OF LIGHT, aka "Pockets"
Owned by: Caleb Schmidt
RK TUFF TRINKET, aka "Bob"
Owned by: Riley Minor
*TIE* (1) NITA WIN PLAYBOY, aka "Drago"
(2) LEOS HIGHBROW, aka "Sug"
Owned by: Logan Medlin
LENA JOE ICHI, aka "Professor"
Owned by: Martin Poindexter
2019
HIGH VALOR, aka "Valor"
DO GET FAMOUS, aka "Rattle"
*RIP 2012-2020*
LITTLE SMART LEO, aka "Big Time
Owned by: Tyler Milligan

*RIP 2003-2020*
JEWELS SMOKE SCREEN, aka "Smoke"
DT SUGAR CHEX WHIZ, aka
"Sugar"
MR BLACKBURN CHEX 113, aka "Dunny"
2018
DM SISSY HAYDAY, aka "Sister"
CANTED PLAN
"Scooter"
LITTLE SMART LEO, aka "Big Time
Owned by: Tyler Milligan

*RIP 2003-2020*
RK TUFF TRINKET, aka "Bob"
ZANS COLONEL SHINE
"Colonel"
COOPERSLITTLETOY, aka "Cooper"
2017
RAFTER W MINNIE REBA
"Sister"
CANTED PLAN
"Scooter"
SIMON COW
"Si"
MADISON OAK
"Clint"
ZANS COLONEL SHINE
"Colonel"
CAROLS SASSY DOC
"Salty"
2016
FOUR TIBBIE STINSON
"Tibbie"
LANDRYS CADILLAC
"Cadillac"
MFO HARVEY
“Colonel"
TUFFYS BADGER CHEX
“Badger”
ZANS COLONEL SHINE
"Colonel"
(TIE) AT WAR LEO
“Punchy”

(TIE) TONK CHAMP
"Champ"
2015FRENCH FIRST WATCH
"Custer"
KR MONTANA SHAKE EM
"Shakem"
SWEET AS TIME
"Flea"
DEW THE DASH
"Dew"
REY SHINES ON TOP
"Rey"
WEAVERS DIAMOND BAR
"Rowdy"
2014WONDERS COWBOY DAN
"Cowboy"
LANDRYS CADILLAC
"Cadillac"
DUALIN DEMON
"Rambo"
EL TEVO CASH
"Tevo"
REY SHINES ON TOP
"Rey"
OLEE ROBERTO
"Major"
2013
FLOS HEIRESS
"Baby Flo"
SPEEDY FAILA
"Two Guns"
BIG SMOKIN WONDER
"Pearl"
LUCYS FAST JEWEL
"Jewel"
CD STARBUCKS
"Starbucks"
(TIE) OLEE ROBERTO
"Major"

(TIE) LARNEDS RICOCHE DOC
"Woody"
2012PERCULATIN
“Latte"
DILLONS DASH
“Dillon”
EIGHTYS SPORT
"Sweetness"
LITE MY DYNAMITE
“Sic Em”
FINE SNIP OF DOC
“Caveman”
WHITE HOT IKE
“Bullseye”
2011(TIE) YEAH HES FIREN
“Duke”

(TIE) MP METER MY HAY“
Sting Ray”
DASHS DAPPER STAR
"Wick"
EIGHTYS SPORT
"Sweetness"
SYCAMORE GOLD FINGER
"Classic"
CDS QUIXOTE
"Dugout"
SENIOR SONITA
"Pokey"
2010JUDGE BUY CASH
“Jethro”
DASHS DAPPER STAR
"Wick"
EIGHTYS SPORT
"Sweetness"
RA SONOITA SILVER
"Vegas"
FINE SNIP OF DOC
“Caveman”
SKIPS HARLAN TYREE
"Pops"
2009RARE FRED
"Fred"
ROCKS EYE OPENER
"Jesse"
BIG SMOKIN WONDER
"Pearl"
PRECIOUS SPECK
"Walt"
BAILEYS COPPER DOC
“Diesel"
LARNEDS RICOCHE DOC
"Woody"
2008SUGAR MOON EXPRESS
"Martha"
RTR LITTLE WILLY
"Willy"
(TIE) ACRE TE RUN
"Oz"

(TIE) DUAL SONNY DEE
"Dually"
PRECIOUS SPECK
"Walt"
BAILEYS COPPER DOC
“Diesel"
(TIE) LARNEDS RICOCHE DOC
"Woody"

(TIE) HAPPY SAN DOC
"Happy"
2007SIXTH VISION
“Stitch”
ROCKS EYE OPENER
"Jesse"
SMASH PAR FANCY
"Flip"
PRECIOUS SPECK
"Walt"
(TIE) BAILEYS COPPER DOC
“Diesel"

(TIE) SUNDAY NIGHT BINGO
"Amigo"
RIVER LIGHTNING BUG
"Shep"
2006RARE FRED
"Fred"
FF ZANS A BARON JACK
"Zan"
EXPRESS ON HEIR
"Luke"
NICKS ROCKET ROJO "Nickolas"BAILEYS COPPER DOC
“Diesel"
OAKAYS SUNBEAM
"Dunny"
2005SPARKY IMPRESSION
"Sparky"
FF ZANS A BARON JACK
"Zan"
TOPOFTHEMARKET
"Topper"
DOCALICKIN
"Thumper"

PETS TEN
"Chili Dog"
BOBS LENA
"Tarzan"
2004KRIMPS READY TO GO
"Elmer"
FF ZANS A BARON JACK
"Zan"
I R STILL DRY
"Ned"
MEGAZORD
"Megazord"
PETS TEN
"Chili Dog"
TWO D OLE MAN
"Jeremiah"
2003TOP TALLY
"Tally"
IMA STAR O LENA
"Jackpot"
TOPOFTHEMARKET
"Topper"
PRECIOUS SPECK
"Walt"
MARVINS WONDER
"Potato Chip"
FANNIN WAR LEO
"Leo"
2002THE KEY GRIP
"Llave"
SORT OF LIKE FAST
"KO Jak"
TINYS CLIPSO
"Tweeter"
SMOOTHLY ANCHORED
"Calhoun"
SMOKIN HOLLY 045
"Wick"
TEE SUE JR
"Boudreaux"

2001
FIREWATER FIESTA
"Fiesta"
BAD MOTORSCOOTER
"Scooter"
LEOS SEN BAR
"Easy"
SMOOTHLY ANCHORED
"Calhoun"

BOONS SMOOTH VAL
"Roany"
TWO D OLE MAN
"Jeremiah"
2000
FIREWATER FIESTA
"Fiesta"
BECKY MY LOOP
"Becky"
KID TAURUS
"Grumpy"
KEEP ON FLUSHING
"Viper"
NIFTY JACKS BACK
"Dinero"
TWO D OLE MAN
"Jeremiah"
1999
FRENCH FLASH HAWK
"Bozo"
PADRES PERFECTION
"Preacher"
SMOKIN DEE
"Smokey"
OKLAHOMA TOP HAT
"Scooter"

BOONS SMOOTH VAL
"Roany"
TWO D OLE MAN
"Jeremiah"
1998
FRENCH FLASH HAWK
"Bozo"
BAD MOTORSCOOTER
"Scooter"
MERRY TWO BAR
"Deuce"
OKLAHOMA TOP HAT
"Scooter"

BOONS SMOOTH VAL
"Roany"
DOCTOR ROCKY BOB
"Rocky"
1997
FRENCH FLASH HAWK
"Bozo"
MAMAS JR
"Baby Blue"

KIDO DOC
"Rifleman"
OKLAHOMA TOP HAT
"Scooter"

BOONS SMOOTH VAL
"Roany"
JACK BART TENDER
"Bullet"
1996
FRENCH FLASH HAWK
"Bozo"
SUPER SAN WOOD
"San Wood"
LITTLE RING
"Art"
MARK MY DREAM
"Butter Bean"
FLITS SMOKIN DREAM
"Iceman"
VANS LAD
"Chubs"

1995
FRENCH FLASH HAWK
"Bozo"
MR. LIGHT STAR
"Whitey"
COWBOY MARINE
"Orejas"
AYES HAVE IT
"Rooster"
WILLS BUDHA
"Blue"
FLAXY FLASH
"Refuse"

1994SPECIAL AGREEMENT
"Brown"
TOO VEE
"Yellow Dog"
GRAND RAPID RETURN
"Prime Time"
TRES SPIFFY DUDE
"Spiff"
BAR FIVE KOYS DUN
"Dunny"
GRAY BALDY
"Santa Claus"
1993
GILLS BAY BOY
“Scamper”
HANK BAR BINION
"Hank"
BROADWAY TAR BABY
"Boogie Man"
OKLAHOMA TOP HAT
"Scooter"
FLITS SMOKIN DREAM
"Iceman"
CODY BAR SKIP
"Dutch"
1992
GILLS BAY BOY
“Scamper”
SKIP D SACK
"Skippy"
TOMMY BLUE BAR
"Malachi"
OKLAHOMA TOP HAT
"Scooter"
FLITS SMOKIN DREAM
"Iceman"
CODY BAR SKIP
"Dutch"
1991
GILLS BAY BOY
“Scamper”
DOC BEE QUICK
"Doc"
BROADWAY TAR BABY
"Boogie Man"
OKLAHOMA TOP HAT
"Scooter"
BAR FIVE KOYS DUN
"Dunny"
CODY BAR SKIP
"Dutch"
1990
GILLS BAY BOY
“Scamper”
DOC BEE QUICK
"Doc"
POWER KEY
"Mr. Tee"
YELLOW BAR SMUG
"Maverick"
JET INTERRUPTION
"BJ"
BARELY NEALS RIVET
"Rocky"
1989
GILLS BAY BOY
“Scamper”
DOC BEE QUICK
"Doc"
DOCS DESPERADO MISTER RUBY CLERK
"Cannon Ball"
FLITS FRIEND
"Pac Man"
CODY BAR SKIP
"Dutch"


 

AQHA: The Originals

Twenty-three years ago, these American Quarter Horses received the first rodeo horse of the year awards from AQHA.

August 7, 2012 – From The American Quarter Horse Journal

Back in the glory days of the American cowboy, the days of the open range prior to barbed wire, Quarter Horses were the standard mode of transportation. No mechanical contrivance worked cattle as cheaply or easily as Quarter Horses, then called “Steeldusts,” due to the influence of the famous stallion in the mid-1800s. Their level-headed disposition, lightning quickness and hardiness was ideally suited to the rugged lifestyle of the plains.

Little has changed on the ranches of America since the late 1800s, as cowboys still ride American Quarter Horses when working cattle. But another breed of cowboy also rides Quarter Horses to work each day – the cowboys and cowgirls of professional rodeo.

AQHA recognized this fact, and in 1989, set out to identify and reward the outstanding American Quarter Horses competing in professional rodeo timed events. The result: the AQHA-Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Horse of the Year program, which continues today. In the beginning, AQHA presented the owners of the winning horses with $1,000 and a Suzann Fiedler bronze during the PRCA awards banquet at the 1989 National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

An award was given in each of the timed events in professional rodeo: tie-down roping, steer wrestling, team roping (heading and heeling), steer roping and barrel racing. The job of selecting these outstanding horses went to the cowboys and cowgirls in the respective events. Sixty-eight horses originally received 250 votes, and the top three horses in each category were then voted on by the top 25 cowboys (or cowgirls) in that particular event.

Tie-Down Roping

Cowboys have long appreciated Quarter Horses for their intelligence and attitude. These were the same reasons Joe Parson believed his horse, Docs Desperado, the tie-down roping horse of the year in 1989, was so outstanding.

“This horse is so smart, it is almost like he is a reincarnated human,” Joe said after receiving the award. “If you miss a calf, he even nickers at you. He enjoys roping that much.”

Joe, who started tie-down-roping seriously in 1976, qualified for several NFRs. However, several injuries prompted retirement for the Yuma, Arizona, cowboy on two different occasions. In 1983, he and his business partner, Paul Zanardi, purchased Docs Desperado. A 1980 gray gelding, Docs Desperado was by Doc’s Oak (by Doc Bar) and out of Doc’s Maria, whose grandsire was Doc Bar. Docs Desperado was bred and trained by cutting-horse trainer Tom Lyons. After Joe bought the horse, he started him on tie-down roping.

“This horse gave me the inspiration to rodeo again,” Joe said.

Joe first began hauling him to rodeos full time in 1988, and Docs Desperado distinguished himself as a top tie-down horse. World champions Roy Cooper, Chris Lybbert and Joe Beaver each had thrown a loop or two from the gelding’s back, and Joe figured that more than $100,000 had been earned on the gray. Joe qualified for the 1989 NFR on the horse, but a slight injury sidelined the horse from the finals.

“I didn’t want to risk hurting him, so I didn’t ride him at the finals,” Joe said. “We will be there in 1990, though. He’s the kind of horse that loves to take care of you. He is the first horse I have ever owned that is so willing to work. All it takes is to saddle him up, lope him, and he is ready. Big calves, long scores, it doesn’t matter. He loves to rope.”

Steer Wrestling

Another top money-earning horse was the 1989 steer wrestling horse of the year, Doc Bee Quick, who was owned by Larry Ferguson of Waco, Texas. In fact, Larry said that in the seven months’ time that he owned the bay gelding, more than $250,000 was earned by riders.

The 1980 bay gelding, bred by Noel Skinner of Draper, Utah, was by Doc Bar grandson Docs Bee Good and out of Barbie Bells. Larry, who purchased Doc Bee Quick in 1989, had seen the horse at an old-timers rodeo, where he was ridden in the steer wrestling.

“I just tuned him up a little,” Larry said. “He wanted to work on his own.”

Doc Bee Quick was the chosen mount of many top cowboys in professional rodeo, including Butch Myers, who pocketed nearly $32,000 by jumping off the horse at the 1989 NFR.

When asked about the horse’s greatest asset, Larry said without hesitation, “His calmness. To mount cowboys in the steer wrestling, it takes a calm, well-broke horse. It also takes an athletic mount. In my estimation, he fits the bill perfectly.”

Team Roping

Team roping is the only team event in rodeo, and, therefore, it is fitting that the heading and heeling horses of the year in 1989 were ridden by one of the hottest teams in professional rodeo. The heading horse of the year was owned and ridden by Matt Tyler of San Marcos, Texas, while the heeling horse was piloted by J.D. Yates of Pueblo, Colorado. Both ropers tied for sixth in the 1989 world team roping standards.

Matt’s horse, Mister Ruby Clerk, nicknamed “Cannonball,” was a 15-year-old sorrel gelding by Mister Ruby Bar, who traced to Three Bars (TB), and out of Sale Clerk. Matt said he first saw the horse in the summer of 1985. Up until that time, Cannonball had been ridden strictly as a ranch horse in South Dakota and had only been used for heading steers for two or three years. But Matt liked the powerfully muscled and balanced gelding, and purchased him.

“I’ll never sell him,” Matt said. “He scores really well, runs strong and never tires. He has a heart bigger ’n Dallas. I couldn’t ever put a price on him.”

Matt’s heeling partner was no stranger to professional rodeo or AQHA competition. J.D. qualified for his first NFR in team roping in 1975 at the age of 15.

J.D.’s horse, Flits Friend, was bred by his dad, Dick. The gray gelding, nicknamed “Pac Man,” was by Bar Flit’s Pokey and out of Mighty Mindy. Flits Friend traced to Three Bars, Leo and Peppy on his top side and Top Deck and Midnight Jr on the bottom side of his pedigree. Both father and son trained the horse for heading, heeling and tie-down roping. J.D. figured he had earned more than $60,000 on the gelding in 1989.

J.D. also rode Flits Friend in AQHA competition, where the gelding earned points in tie-down roping, team roping and barrel racing. He also qualified three times in team roping-heeling at the AQHA World Championship Show. (He won the world title in 1996).

“He’s as good a horse as I have ever ridden,” J.D. said. “He’s so physical and athletic for his size, he runs really good and really gets his rear in the ground in the timed events. He’ll last as long as I want to ride him.”

Steer Roping

Long-time roper, AQHA competitor and Quarter Horse breeder Tee Woolman in 1989 figured he was riding one of the best steer roping horses in the business. His suspicions were confirmed when his mount, Cody Bar Skip, aka “Dutch,” who was owned by Mack Yates of Cherokee, Texas, was chosen as the steer roping horse of the year. He was by Skipper Bar Four and out of Jane Mavis.

Tee was another competitor who had been “roping all my life,” but he’d only been steer roping since 1985. He is probably best known for his skills as a team roper, as by 1989 he had earned two world championships, countless circuit awards and boasted career earnings of more than $600,000.

“Team roping is my life,” Tee said. “But I also like steer roping. It is just you and your horse. It is like any event – if you have a good horse, go for it.”

Tee said his success in steer roping – he finished second in the world standings in 1989 – was owed to Dutch.

“He’s only 14.1 hands, but he weighs in at more than 1,250 pounds. He is built low to the ground and really works well in the steer roping. I’ve heeled on him, but he is strictly a ‘tripping’ (the nickname for steer roping) horse.”

Barrel Racing

In 1989, the barrel racing horse of the year surprised no one. It was “Scamper” and Charmayne James Rodman. And they were, without a doubt, the best barrel racing duo in professional rodeo history. They also provided one of the greatest success stories of the American Quarter Horse.

Registered as Gills Bay Boy (by Gill’s Sonny Boy and out of Drapers Jay), the 1977 bay gelding was bred by Walter Draper of Wetmore, Colorado, and traced to Three Bars on his top side. The horse went through several owners (including one whom he bucked off and put in the hospital) before being purchased by Charmayne’s father for $1,100 from a feedlot cowboy in their hometown of Clayton, New Mexico. Though the bay gelding had never run a barrel pattern, Charmayne mounted her new horse and began working him on barrels. Two weeks later, they won their first barrel race at a small playday. Three years later, they won their first world championship at the NFR.

After winning that first world championship and $53,499 in 1984, records fell all over the place for Charmayne and Scamper. The pair won the world again in 1985, with $93,847 in earnings. In 1986, they posted the highest single-event season earnings ever in professional rodeo with $151,969. Charmayne then became the first woman to wear the No. 1 at the finals in 1987, where she won her fourth world title, with season earnings of more than $120,000. In 1988, she and Scamper won the most money in professional rodeo competition that year, and with $130,540 – more than the men’s all-around world champion Dave Appleton – clinched their fifth world championship. And in 1989, after trailing going into the finals, Charmayne and Scamper won the Finals average and jumped to the lead in the world standings with $96,651 in season earnings.

“He’s still the best horse out there,” Charmayne said.

Charmayne and Scamper went on to win a total of 10 world barrel racing titles.

BACK TO TOP


 

 

 

 


🇺🇸 American owned and operated since 2000.

Copyright© 2023 PRORODEOHORSES.COM. All rights reserved.