IN THE NEWS:

FEATHERLITE SUPERHORSE

ROO STAR SHOOTS TO SUPERHORSE STATUS.

BY LAUREN SCIBA, JOURNAL INTERN

Roo Star, a 1999 stallion by Gallo Del Cielo, and his crew accepting the $25,000 award from Featherlite.

It was an intense seven days for Roo Star during FedEx Open Week at the 2008 AQHA World Championship Show. He competed in five events – performance halter stallions (with AQHA Pro Horseman Gene Parker), senior heading and heeling (with AQHA Pro Horseman Brad Lund) and in senior reining and senior working cow horse (with Ron Emmons). All the hard work and dedication paid off, as “Roo,” who is owned by Melissa Ann Miller of Belton, Texas, was named the 2008 Superhorse. Though senior heading was the only class that Roo earned a world championship in, he was able to accumulate 46 points throughout the week – enough to climb to the top of the other 52 horses vying for the honor. The Journal visited with Brad and Melissa – and Roo – in the aisles of Barn 8 to hear more about this magnificent horse and the road to being named the 2008 Superhorse.

Q: Congratulations to you both! Melissa, tell us about Roo Star.

Melissa: Roo Star is just ... he’s it. He just has that “it” factor. He’s great-minded and has more heart than any horse I’ve ever been around. I am just honored to be associated with him in any aspect, much less his owner. I am so proud of him, I can’t stand it. He’s just an incredible individual.

Q: Brad, this is your third time riding a horse to Superhorse status, did you think you were going to do it a third time?

Brad: No, not really. I’ve just been real fortunate these last three or four years to fall into the right horse. These things just kind of happen. It’s a great deal.

Q: Melissa, how were you feeling while you were watching Brad ride throughout the week?

Melissa: A lot of nerves. I had crepe-soled boots when I started, and they are not crepe-soled anymore. They’re gone. It was just nerve-racking. Brad, he’s the man. He knew what he was doing, and he handled it. All the credit goes to Brad, and I can’t say enough about Brad and Amy and their clients and Ron Emmons (of Ione, California ). Work around the horse always came first. No matter what our goal was, Roo’s health and his well-being were always put first. That was very important to me. The prize is secondary; his best interests were at heart. That was the important thing, and they did a great job.

Q: What is it about him that makes Roo so special?

Brad: Ron Emmons – he started this horse and did all major training on him, and he was very broke when I got him. He hadn’t done a lot of the roping. But I think a lot of credit goes to Ron. He’s the one who broke him and started him – and started him out in his career right. Of course, I think the best part about Roo is, you know, he’s just so good-minded. He doesn’t try to cheat, try to second-guess what’s going on – he is the same every time. He’s a true show horse. He really is. He’s got some presence in the arena. I think that’s the best part about him; he just wants to please me. I think that’s the best thing about him.

Q: Brad, what has this week been like for you, knowing that you’ve been a contender for Superhorse with Roo?

Brad: This was a long two weeks for me and our crew around here. You know, we just try to do the best we can. We rent a place off grounds so we can go and school our horses and feel that we’re prepared for whatever happens. I think that’s a big thing for our program is every day we get out and go work our horses, still preparing. He was in the reining, cow horse, and we got a rope on him – it’s just having a place to go and feel that we’re prepared is what I think is the best for me mentally, let alone the horse. The horse actually probably would have been all right anyway. But it just helps us out.

Q: What’s next for Roo?

Melissa: Brad will probably take Roo to the (National Reined Cow Horse Association) World’s Greatest (Horseman) competition. He’s probably retired then.

Brad: He’s going to go home and rest. We’ll swim him in the underwater treadmill a little bit. He’ll have 30 days off, at least. We’ll put him in the underwater treadmill, but he won’t get rode till after Christmas, I’m sure. He deserves a little break. 

Article Courtesy of: THE QUARTER HORSE NEWS

Roo Star Wins Third Superhorse Title for Brad Lund by Rebecca Overton

Roo Star with Brad Lund and Melissa Ann Milller

Roo Star and Brad Lund captured the AQHA Superhorse title by responding to pressure like champions, earning enough points in their final class at the 2008 FedEx Open AQHA World Show to win the event’s most prestigious award on Nov. 23. After nailing the Senior Heading World Championship, Melissa Ann Miller’s gallant 9-year-old stallion and the La Cygne, Kan., trainer finished fourth in the next class – Senior Heeling – to net a 46-point total that pushed them past 52 other contenders in Oklahoma City to win the coveted title.

The victory, which earned them a place in AQHA history and a $25,000 voucher for a Featherlite product, was a first for the Belton, Texas , horse owner and the third for Lund, 39. In 2007, the AQHA Professional Horseman piloted Garth and Amy Gardiner’s Shiners Diamond Jill to take the title after winning it with Jim and Michele Holland’s With All Probability in 2005.

Roo Star (Gallo Del Cielo x Anna Paulena x Doc O’Lena) and Lund also won the inaugural  AQHA Roping Most Valuable Horse Award by earning 43 points, which was rewarded with a $5,000 check. This is the first year the AQHA offered the awards for high-point horses in six Open divisions at its world championship show. In addition to roping, MVH awards were earned in Pattern/Cow (cutting, reining and cow horse), Western (Western Pleasure, Western Riding and trail), Timed (ranch sorting and team penning), Speed (barrel racing and pole bending), and English (hunter under saddle, hunter hack, working hunter, pleasure driving and jumping). Winners in each category were honored with a $5,000 check. Shine By The Bay (Shining Spark x Metermaid To Order x Doc O’Lena) and Robbie Schroeder, Gainesville, Texas, took the Pattern/Cow Most Valuable Horse Award with 24 points. Shine By The Bay is owned by Shine By The Bay Partnership, comprised of Joe and Karlene Schlegel, Roger Mitschele, Scott and Mary Beth Gordon and Dr. Mike Bowman. Roo Star became the latest AQHA Superhorse by competing in five events. In addition to Senior Heading and Heeling and Working Cow Horse, he vied in Senior Reining and Performance Halter Stallion. Despite a heavy schedule that included five preliminaries and five finals, Lund knew Roo Star would give it his all down to the last class. “He’s always going to be in the hunt,” Lund said. “I think the best part about ‘Roo’ is he’s just so good-minded. He doesn’t try to cheat. He’s the same every time.” Winning the Superhorse award was a “lifetime journey” for Miller. “I’m so proud to be associated with him in any way,” she said.

In other action during the World Show’s final evening, Rita Crundwell, Dixon, Ill., took her fifth straight Oklahoma City Leading Owner Award with a total of 191 points. Vernon Habighorst, Phoenix, Ariz., was the American Quarter Horse Journal Reserve Leading Owner with an 81-point tally.

Article Courtesy of: TEMPLE DAILY TELEGRAM:

Roo Star rises as World Champion

By Fred Afflerbach | Business Writer, Published: December 4, 2008

Ron Emmons rides Roo Star in the senior working cowhorse class at the American Quarter Horse Association’s World Show in Oklahoma City last month. A Belton horse owner’s bay stallion has won a world championship in the senior category for heading - a roping event - at the American Quarter Horse Association’s World Show this November. Melissa Miller’s 9-year-old quarter horse, Roo Star, was also named most valuable roping horse and won super horse for accumulating most points at the Oklahoma City show.  Ms. Miller, 44, said she has been showing horses since age 10. She bought Roo Star in March 2007. She said the senior division is for horses more than 6 years old. “This is one of the top honors that you can achieve. I’m very proud of him,” Ms. Miller said. “This year we thought we might have a shot at the super horse. It’s a deserving title for him.” According to the AMQA, for two weeks in November the world’s best horses meet in Oklahoma City to compete for world champion and share more than $2.7 million in cash and awards.

Roo Star won about $55,000 total for all events. The money is divided between the owner, trainer and rider. Ms. Miller said her horse also won bronze and gold trophies, a trailer, belt buckle and leather jacket. Brad Lund rode Roo Star to the heading championship in a rope-off, or tie-breaker. “He’s just a great individual. I’ve rode horses that probably have more talent, but you can take him to the show pen and he’s a show horse,” Lund told the AQHA. “He likes what he does. He works hard and never cheats. He’s a true show horse and gives his heart every time … every time.” Lund said part of Roo Star’s training included using an aqua treadmill.

Article Courtesy of: American Quarter Horse Association

SENIOR WORKING COW HORSE

TODD CRAWFORD AND ROO STAR SHINE IN WORLD SHOW FINALS.

BY LARRI JO STARKEY, COPY EDITOR

Todd Crawford drew first in the working order in the senior working cow horse finals November 15 at the AQHA World Championship Show.

But the veteran competitor took it in stride. Riding Roo Star, a 1999 bay stallion, Todd rode hard and fast into the arena, skidding through his stops and circles “(‘Roo’) circled good, he ran and stopped good, he turned good,” Todd said. “I thought he was real good all the way through, so I was real happy with him.” As Todd and Roo turned to face the gate, the black Angus heifer that trotted in looked feisty, but she stumbled as Todd and “Roo” were finishing their last circle.

“It was a good cow,” Todd said. “It boxed well. It honored me good. It was maybe a tad weak and fell down after the second turn and that concerned me that I would get reviewed and knocked down three points a judge or (maybe) just the run content go down, but it was a good cow. As tough as they’ve been all week, it shocked me that it weakened a little bit like that, but we made it through.” The judges agreed with Todd, giving him a 222.5 in the dry work and a 223 in the cow work for a total of 445.5. Todd’s work was done. All he could do was wait for the other 14 finalists to ride. “It was a long wait, and whatever happens, happens,” Todd said. “You can’t control it, so I was happy. My horse was good." Roo, owned by Melissa Ann Miller of  Belton, Texas, was bred by AQHA President Frank Merrill and his wife, Robin, who were among those watching as rider after rider failed to match Todd’s score. In the end, no one could, and Todd claimed the world championship title. Accepting the golden trophy from Frank, Todd told the crowd the horse “had a poor start in life, but he overcame it, and he’s doing very good now.” So good, in fact, that Todd is thinking of taking the horse to the World’s Greatest Horseman competition in  Stephenville,  Texas, in February. “He seems like a real show horse,” Todd said. “If Melissa lets me, I would enjoy showing him.”

Article Courtesy of: THE NRCHA – 2/21/2008

Todd Crawford and Roo Star Top World’s Greatest Horseman Rein Work Prelims

Todd Crawford and Roo Star Top World’s Greatest Horseman Rein Work Prelims

The World’s Greatest Horseman is known for showcasing top horses and riders, and this year’s rein work preliminaries helped cement that belief. Riding the 2007 AQHA Working Cow Horse World Champion Roo Star, Todd Crawford earned the evening high score of 221.5. If not for a disappointing 203 in the herd work, Crawford and Roo Star would likely be near the top of the leader board. Instead, they hold a composite score of 424.5, setting them firmly in the 14th position and earning a go-round check worth $2,000. Roo Star, owned by Melissa Ann Miller of Belton, Texas, is by Gallo Del Cielo and out of Anna Paulena. There is currently a three-way tie for first place in the preliminary competition. John Ward, on Smart Little Pepinic, Robbie Schroeder, on Shine By The Bay, and Bob Avila, on Chics Magic Potion all hold a 436 total score. Ward and his talented stallion marked a 215 in the rein work, but remain near the top because of a 221 in the herd work. Smart Little Pepinic has won or placed at many prestigious events, and boasts career earnings of $60,000. Shine By The Bay, ridden by Robbie Schroeder for Shine By The Bay Partnership, has lifetime earnings of $120,000. He is a two-time AQHA World Champion in Working Cow Horse. He and Schroeder marked a 219 in the rein work, boosting them to the top of the class. Former Snaffle Bit Futurity Champions Bob Avila and Chics Magic Potion teamed up again for the competition. They had a herd work score of a 215 and improved on that with a 221 in the rein work. Chics Magic Potion has lifetime earnings of over $200,000. He is owned by Ken Banks of Schulenburg, Texas.

The ten World’s Greatest Horseman finalists will be decided Friday, February 22, after the steer stopping and cow work prelims. The World’s Greatest Horseman finals will be held Sunday, February 24. The 2007 NRCHA Affiliates of the Year were announced at the NRCHA Affiliate’s meeting held after the World’s Greatest rein work prelims. The Affiliate of the Year honor went to the North West Reined Cow Horse Association, with second place going to the Great Lakes Reined Cow Horse Association. The Affiliate of the Year Honorable Mention went to the European Reined Cow Horse Association. At the same time as the Affiliate’s meeting, Dave and Loke Allen, of Aspen Meadows Ranch, LLC, hosted a youth pizza party for NRCHA youth members. A large number of young exhibitors showed up to enjoy the refreshments and camaraderie. The National Reined Cow Horse Association, the governing body of cow horse competition, is responsible for promoting the sport, insuring high standards of competition and educating members and the public about the history and tradition of the cow horse. Through the support of a Corporate Partner family that includes Wayne Hodges 4-Star Trailers and Outlaw Conversions, Bob's Custom Saddles, Cinch, Inc., Classic Equine, Gist Silversmiths, MD Barns, Platinum Performance, Inc., Nutrena, Quarter Horse News & Performance Horse magazine, the Peppermill Hotel/Resort, Fort Dodge West Nile Innovator, Rios of Mercedes, Merial products ULCERGARD and GASTROGARD, Great American Insurance Company and the Silver Legacy Hotel, the association works to keep the vaquero tradition alive in today’s equine industry. For information on the National Reined Cow Horse Association, call 580-759-4949 or visit the NRCHA Official Web Site at www.nrcha.com.

Article Courtesy of: EQUISEARCH

Emmons Wins 2005 Magnificent 7 Stock Horse Title

Ron Emmons and Roo Star won the Magnificent 7 All-Around Stock Horse Championship by 16 1/2 points on June 10. Jon Roeser and Chex Out This Remedy were reserve champions.

By Shelly Mix

June 17, 2005 -- The Magnificent 7 All-Around Stock Horse Championship is a test of talent for both horse and rider. Sponsored by Horse & Rider magazine, with special event sanctioning by the National Reined Cow Horse Association, it draws the nation's top horse and rider teams to the Western States Horse Expo each year in Sacramento , Calif.

This year, Ron Emmons on Roo Star walked away with the coveted title of All-Around Stock Horse Champion on June 10 with an impressive score of 589--a whopping 16 1/2 points ahead of reserve champion Jon Roeser on Chex Out This Remedy, who scored 572 1/2. Emmons earned $25,000 and a sterling silver, gold and diamond belt buckle.

Eighteen competitors took part in the preliminary elimination go-round on June 9 with six riders and seven horses moving on to the final round. Other cow horse luminaries in the final placings were Bob Avila on Spark Master (third), Emmons on his second horse, Tangys Classy Boy (fourth), Jake Gorrell on Cuttin Diamonds (fifth), Mark Luis on Fussy Jay Bar (sixth) and John Ward on Double R. Wrightway (seventh).

This unique competition consists of four events performed with one horse: herd work, reining, steer stopping and cow work. Herd work is basically cutting: one cow is split from the herd and kept separated. The horse is judged on its athletic movement and ability to work the cow. Reining work is the western version of dressage, judged on one designated pattern for all contestants, with specific movements including spectacular sliding stops and whirlwind 360-degree spins.

In steer stopping, riders must "stop" the cow by roping and turning him toward the horse. They are judged on rate of speed to the steer and the horses' ability to rate and stop him. Cow work is the final of the four elements. Riders must work with one cow, first keeping it confined at one end of the arena. Next they run the cow down the fence and pass it, forcing it to change direction, then run it back down the fence line again, turning the cow one more time. In the final segment of cow work, rider and horse must run the cow in a complete circle to the right, then switch directions and run a full circle to the left.

Through the generosity of Bank of America, FedEx and other AQHA corporate partners, $600,000 of added money supplemented the purses. The horses competed for world champion titles and a share of more than $2.7 million in cash and The Bank of America Amateur and FedEx

Fans came by the Horse & Rider booth on June 10 to collect a free poster of the finalists; the seven riders were also on hand to offer autographs. Left to right: Bob Avila, John Ward, Ron Emmons, Jake Gorrell, Jon Roeser and Mark Luis.