Everything you'd ever want to know about the most exciting event to hit to Oklahoma City is right here! At Battle in the Saddle, we have everything from famed PRCA ropers battling it out for $10,000 to the high speed action of barrel racing and cowboy mounted shooting! Special just for families, don't miss the Family Fun Day at 4 p.m. on July 9. There will be games and activities fit for any size of family, and it's free!
Come shop the trade show, watch top cowboys compete for more than $140,000 in added money and watch history in the making!
Everything you need to know is below! Click the +/- below to learn more about this exhilarating event then put your higher learning to use July 5-9 at State Fair Park!
ALL BATTLE IN THE SADDLE EVENTS ARE FREE TO THE PUBLIC!
About Oklahoma City
"Home to the world's most popular equine events."
There's no place better than Oklahoma City, otherwise known as "The City," to host a world-class, western equine event. Oklahoma City is already home to some of the world's largest equine events including the American Quarter Horse World Championship Show, the Built Ford Tough AQHYA World Championship Show, the American Quarter Horse Association Youth World Cup, National Reining Horse Association Derby and Futurity and the Grand National Morgan Horse Show - just to name a few. A jaw dropping complete list of equine events in Oklahoma City shows you how important The City - your city - is to the equine industry.
"Our Battle in the Saddle event is attracting top competitors and new fans interested in seeing the athleticism and talent of these horses and riders," said Tim O'Toole, President/General Manager of Oklahoma State Fair, Inc., the organization that operates State Fair Park. "We have one of the finest equine facilities in the world and expect Battle in the Saddle to become a world-class equine event for Oklahoma City."
Special Events
"It's way more than just another horse show."
Come for the entire weekend, and, while you're here, be sure to not miss these exciting special Battle in the Saddle events!
Mercuria World Series of Cutting: July 5 (8 a.m.) & July 6 (6 p.m.)
Ranch Remuda Preliminaries: July 8 (8 a.m.)
$10,000 Match Roping: July 8 (7 p.m.)
Ranch Remuda Finals: July 9 (8 a.m.)
Cowboy Mounted Shooting: July 9 (all day)
Barrel Racing: July 8-9 (all day)
Battle in the Saddle Family Fun Day: July 9 (4 - 6 p.m.)
World's Greatest Horseman Shootout
World's Greatest Horseman Shootout Cutting: July 7 (6 p.m.)
World's Greatest Horseman Shootout Steer Stopping: July 8 (7 p.m.)
World's Greatest Horseman Shootout Reined Work: July 9 (morning)
World's Greatest Horseman Shootout Fence Work: July 9 (morning)
About the Events
"Come see the horse industry's most exciting western events."
Competitors from around the world will shoot it out in six fast-paced, exciting events: barrel racing, cowboy mounted shooting, working cow horse, roping, cutting and ranch remuda. The world's most talented horses and cowboys take center stage on July 5, 2011 to battle it out for top honors at Battle in the Saddle!
The barrel racing, cutting, cowboy mounted shooting, roping, versatility ranch horse and working cow horse classes will be recognized as AQHA special events. All breeds are welcome, but American Quarter Horses competing will receive AQHA points. This is the perfect venue to earn those last few points to qualify for the AQHA World Championship Show. Qualifying period ends July 31.
Barrel racing will be recognized by Better Barrel Racing. The roping events will be recognized by the American Rope Horse Futurity Association and follow ARHFA rules, which combine times with judges' scores to get a contestant's overall score. Horses competing in the cutting will receive National Cutting Horse Association recognition. Horses in the cowboy mounted shooting classes will receive Cowboy Mounted Shooting recognition. The National Reined Cow Horse Association will be involved, as well.
Barrel racing is an exciting race against the clock in which exhibitors follow a course consisting of three barrels in a triangular "cloverleaf" pattern. Riders choose to circle either the right or left barrel first, race to the opposite barrel and complete the course after circling the third barrel and racing down the center of the three barrels to stop the timer. Knocking over a barrel carries a five second penalty.
Cowboy Mounted Shooting is the fastest growing equestrian sport in the nation. Mounted contestants compete in this fast-paced, timed event using two .45 caliber single action revolvers each loaded with five rounds of specially prepared blank ammunition. The Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association "C.M.S.A." has a variety of levels of competition for everyone, ranging from novice to the seasoned professional.
Cutting pits horse against a cow in a battle of wills. Horse and rider must move quietly into a herd of cattle, cut one cow from the herd, drive it to the center of the arena and "hold" it away from the herd. The horse is scored on its ability to keep the cow from returning to the herd, cow sense, attentiveness and courage. There is a 2 ½ minute time limit.
Roping is an event that tests a horse's ability to follow a calf at great speed, giving the rider the best opportunity to catch the calf. The horse is judged on how quietly he waits for the calf to be released; how well he runs to the calf; how he rates his speed and position so that the rider can rope the calf; and how well the horse stops and works the end of the rope, keeping the slack out but not dragging the calf. There is a one minute time limit for all roping events. Battle in the Saddle features Breakaway, Tie-down and Heading and Heeling varities of roping.
Working cow horse combines reining ability and cow sense. This event tests the horse's skills that are applicable to ranch work. The competition consists of two parts: prescribed reined work and actual cow work. Judging is based on good manners, smoothness, cow sense and ease of reining. During the cow working part, one cow is turned into the arena. The horse is required to hold the cow on the end of the arena, make at least one turn each direction along the fence, and circle the cow both directions.
Ranch remuda is held in a similar format as the AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse competition. The ranch horse competition is open to all ranches that meet the criteria of the AQHA-Pfizer Best Remuda Award. This event is ranch vs. ranch for top honors!
The Versatility Ranch Horse competition promotes the athletic ability and versatility of the working ranch horse in five categories: working ranch horse, ranch riding, ranch trail, ranch cutting and ranch conformation.
Match Roping Throwdown
"Will Fred Whitfield defend his 2010 title?"
Fred Whitfield is back! Taking center stage at 7 p.m. on July 8, Fred will defend his 2010 mattch roping title against Ryan Jarrett of Comanche, Oklahoma. Each roper will take on 10 head of cattle in two different sections. The one with most catches in the least amount of time will go home with $10,000. You won't want to miss this battle of speed and accuracy with more than state pride on the line.
Admission to this special battle is free to the public!
Check out what happened last year!
Brought to you by americashorse.tv
Trade Show Shopping
"It's not your average mall - bring the truck."
You can't have a world-class equestrian event without a world-class shopping mall! Be sure to visit all our vendors; it's truly the Christmas in July you were looking for. Make special time to stop by the AQHA booth in the concourse trade show. AQHA is offering special discounts and gifts with their On-Site Services during Battle in the Saddle. Simply bring your AQHA paperwork by the booth and they'll happily help you finish transfers, registrations and even join or renew your membership.
2011 BATTLE IN THE SADDLE VENDORS Here's why you should bring the truck:
AQHA
4W Tack & Western
Ann's Turquoise
Baggs By Staggs
CMSA
Cowgirls & City Chics
Davis Western
Envision!
Flaharty Bits & Spurs
Herd Collection
KC Montgomery
Leather & Rhinestones
MW Enterprises
NCHA
Quarter Horse Outfitters
Rockin J Horse Stalls
Scotts Cleaners
Shorty's Caboy Hattery
Sport Chassis LLC
Spurs & Pearls
Steve Guitron Custom Braiding
Teners
The Chic Boutique
Tupperware
Valley Vet Supply and Western Shooting Horse Magazine
Sponsor Hotels
"The place to stay for special deals on rooms."
Battle in the Saddle is excited to announce our team of hotel sponsors. All these hotels are working together to make sure you have the best room rates in Oklahoma City during Battle in the Saddle. Don't hesitate - call or go online today and reserve your hotel room! Rooms are going fast and room rates cannot be guaranteed on-site.
About Oklahoma City
There's no place better than Oklahoma City, otherwise known as "The City," to host a world-class, western equine event. Oklahoma City is already home to some of the world's largest equine events including the American Quarter Horse World Championship Show, the Built Ford Tough AQHYA World Championship Show, the American Quarter Horse Association Youth World Cup, National Reining Horse Association Derby and Futurity and the Grand National Morgan Horse Show - just to name a few. A jaw dropping complete list of equine events in Oklahoma City shows you how important The City - your city - is to the equine industry.
