Since its inception in 2006, the American Ranch Horse Association Stallion Stakes and Three-Year-Old Ranch Horse Challenge program has awarded horse owners and breeders with thousands of dollars in cash plus awards. The Three-Year-Old Challenge is held during the ARHA World Show each year-in 2010, June 21 to 26 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Approximately 140 stallions and young horses have competed for top overall ranch horse honors through four events designed to test a horse’s versatility and ranch suitability: conformation, ranch riding, ranch cutting and working cow horse.

Winners from past years are: 2009 Three-Year-Old Challenge: Hancocks Moonwalk, owned and shown by Sean Prater of Burbank, Okla. 2009 Stallion Stakes: Bubbas Short Stroke, owned by Brady and Wendi Rinehart of Highmore, S.D. 2008 Three-Year-Old Challenge: Ali Zack, shown by Dennis Cappel and owned by Dennis and Cindy Cappel of Silex, Mo. 2008 Stallion Stakes: Poco Mr Blue, owned by Lewis Eastwood of Boswell, Okla. 2007 Three-Year-Old Challenge: Blondies Little Rio, shown by Terry Allen of Cookeville, Tenn., and owned by Rondal Reed of Cookeville, Tenn. 2007 Stallion Stakes: Rio Band Joe, owned by Terry Allen of Cookeville, Tenn.

Set up much like a breeders’ classic or futurity, the ARHA Stallions Stakes and Three-Year-Old Ranch Horse Challenge offer money paid out for both events. For a horse to be eligible to compete in the Three-Year-Old Ranch Horse Challenge, it must be registered with ARHA, and its owners must be ARHA members. In addition, the horse’s sire must have been nominated for the Stallion Stakes program during the horse’s 2-year-old year. Anyone may nominate a stallion as long as it’s registered with ARHA and its owners are ARHA members. Nominations do not carry over from year to year. Regular nominations for the 2010 program close on December 31, 2009; late nominations are allowed until May 22, 2010, for an additional fee.

Formed in 2004, the American Ranch Horse Association promotes the abilities of the all-around versatile working horse in a positive atmosphere where western tradition is genuinely honored. Rapidly growing with more than 7,000 members, ARHA hosts competitions, clinics and educational events throughout the year.

Full Stallion Stakes and Three-Year-Old Ranch Horse Challenge details are online at www.americanranchhorse.net or by calling ARHA at 606-872-2742.