The Arena

The National Versatility Ranch Horse Association’s World’s Greatest Versatility Ranch Horse competition returns to the Norris-Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, September 27. The competition is part of the NVHRA’s second National Finals, which runs September 25-27.

Mike Major and his horse Smart Whiskey Doc won the inaugural World’s Greatest competition in 2008. The event is open to “any horse, any rider, any breed” and will feature a $10,000-plus payout. Entries are open until September 15 and fees are $300. Only nine riders competed in the first World’s Greatest Versatility Ranch Horse competition, but NVRHA President Dave Currin expects close to 30 horses in 2009.

“Last year we were in our first year and had just three states where we had held events,” he says. “But this year we’ve had events in 16 states [ranging from California to Massachusetts]. So I think we’ll see a lot more interest. Last year we had 72 horses at our first national finals and this year we expect more than 100. So there should be a pretty dramatic increase in the World’s Greatest competitors, as well.”

After talking with competitors at the 2009 World’s Greatest Horseman competition in San Angelo, Texas, Currin believes several of them will make the trip to Colorado Springs this month.

“Increasing the prize money has also sparked some interest,” he says. “Last year was the first event and we didn’t have a lot of publicity for it, so that made it difficult to draw in contestants. I think we’re in a much better place with all of that this year.”

The World’s Greatest Versatility Ranch Horse event will offer cash payouts to the top six places in all five events—conformation, ranch cutting, ranch riding, ranch trail and working ranch horse.

For more information, visit nvrha.org.