The final week in June belonged to the ranch horses extending the trot through the 2026 AQHA VRH World Championships; AQHA Ranching Heritage Challenge Finals; and the AQHA Cattle Level 1 Championships.
In Fort Worth, Texas, the APHA World Show ranch events are getting started, with ranch trail leading the way on Monday morning, June 29. The Ranch Horse Triple Crown Challenge and the IRHA Ranch Horse Futurity will take place later in the week.
Dig into the highlights from the Western performance horse industry, as well as what’s on the calendar as one of the busiest seasons of the year continues.
Table of contents
What Happened June 22–28
Ranch Horse: AQHA VRH, Ranching Heritage and Cattle Level 1 World Championships
Amarillo, Texas | June 21–27 | $100,000 added | Tri-State Fairgrounds
The 2026 AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse World Championships brought together three concurrent events — the VRH World Championships, the Ranching Heritage Challenge Finals and the Cattle Level 1 Championships — for a seven-day run in Amarillo presented by the 6666 Ranch. Find full results here.
The standout performance of the week came from Meg Griffith-Ralston of Collbran, Colorado, who swept three Ranching Heritage Challenge classes on two horses:
- RHC Amateur Ranch Riding Champion: Griffith-Ralston and Seven S Tuff Boots (Blind Sided x My Boots Are Tuff) earned a 231.5 for $1,560.
- RHC Amateur Ranch Cutting Champion: Griffith-Ralston and Seven S Tuff Boots earned a 220 for $1,065.
- VRH Amateur Ranch Trail: Griffith-Ralston and Bud Lyte (Spendin Peptos Money x Silva Chica Tari) earned a 233.5.
Myles Thomas Brown of Stinnett, Texas also put together a dominant week aboard Overthelegallimitrab (One Time Royalty x Billie Travis), winning three Open and Amateur classes:
- RHC Open Breakaway Roping Champion: 2.040 seconds for $890.
- RHC Open Steer Stopping Champion: 217.5 for $956.
- RHC Amateur Heading Champion: 220.8 for $1,430.
In the Cowboy division, Aaron T Ralston of Collbran, Colorado tripled up aboard Howling At The Boon (Once In A Blu Boon x Cuttalena Sugar), winning Cowboy Ranch Cutting (217), Cowboy Ranch Cow Work (217) and Cowboy Ranch Reining (216).
Additional Open class champions:
- RHC Open Ranch Riding Champion: Bryce Hayden Briggs and Bet Hesa Pep (Bet Hesa Cat x Miss Freckles N Pep), owned by Natalie Beight-Hair of Collinsville, Texas, earned a 231 for $1,560.
- RHC Open Ranch Cutting Champion: Leanne E Jetton and Sparktallica (Metallic Cat x Sparktilion), owned by Chris or Debbie Swain of Stephenville, Texas, earned a 222.5 for $1,578.75.
- VRH Junior Ranch Cutting Champion: Katie Dove and Super Kwik (Woody Be Tuff x Sarahs Super Cat), owned by Julie Kent of Midland, Texas, earned a 220.
- VRH Senior Ranch Cutting Champion: Clay D West and Stunner Cat (Metallic Cat x Absolutely Stunning), owned by Kevin L Benton of Bowie, Texas, earned a 221.
- VRH Junior Ranch Cow Work Champion: Matthew Turner and Justwatchmeonetime (Hickory Holly Time x Nurse Kitty Kat), owned by William E Lewis of Plantersville, Texas, earned a 228.5.
In the Youth division, Talen Riley Barry of Augusta, Kansas won both VRH Youth Ranch Riding (232.5) and VRH Youth Ranch Cow Work (224) on Ohh Brother (Brother Jackson x Hickorys One Time), owned by Jared Barry.
This Week June 29–July 4
Ranch Horse: APHA World Show, IRHA World Show, Triple Crown
Fort Worth, Texas | June 29–July 4 | $118,500 added | Will Rogers Memorial Center
The ranch horses move to Will Rogers Memorial Center today as the APHA World Show’s paint-specific ranch classes, the IRHA Ranch Horse Triple Crown Challenge and the IRHA Ranch Horse Futurity all open at the same venue through the holiday weekend. Three events, one complex, $118,500 in combined added money:
- APHA Paint Horse Ranch Championships — $27,000 added
- IRHA Ranch Horse Triple Crown Challenge — $40,000 added
- IRHA Ranch Horse Futurity — $30,000 added (plus the IRHA Derby and Classic running alongside)
Find the full schedule of ranch classes we’re watching here.
Looking Ahead
Reining: Wickham Tractor RMRHA Summer Slide
Loveland, Colorado | July 6–11 | The Ranch
One week out. The Rocky Mountain Reining Horse Association heads to The Ranch in Loveland for the annual Summer Slide, anchored by the RMRHA Stallion Stakes Futurity for 3-year-olds.
New for 2026: the Non Pro Futurity runs as a one-go format — one run, one score, no prelim rounds. Entry and show info at rmrhasummerslide.com.
Cutting: NCHA Summer Spectacular
Fort Worth, Texas | July 10–August 2 | Will Rogers Complex
Eleven days out. The Triple Crown heads to Will Rogers Memorial Center for nearly a month. The marquee Open storyline: Kenny Platt brings recently syndicated stallion LBR Hangem to Fort Worth for his final major limited age event.
Cow Horse: NRCHA Hackamore Classic
Tulsa, Oklahoma | July 12–18
The 4- and 5-year-old working cow horse derby comes to Tulsa with the full three-event slate — herd work, reining and cow work. The Hackamore Classic also serves as the third and final Run for a Million qualifier, making it the last chance for riders on the RFAM bubble to punch their ticket to Las Vegas in August. The World’s Greatest Non Pro runs alongside the derby. Find the show bill at nrcha.com.
Reining: 100X Brazos Slide
Waco, Texas | July 17–26 | Extraco Events Center
The 100X Shows circuit moves to Waco for a 10-day run. Entry and show info at 100xshows.com.
Cutting, Cow Horse, Reining: Run for a Million
Las Vegas, Nevada | August 11–15 | South Point Arena
Six weeks out. The Run for a Million returns to South Point Arena. New for 2026: a $125,000 Non Pro Cutting Challenge and a $50,000 Breakaway Roping Showcase debut at the event.
The NRCHA Hackamore Classic (July 12–18) will determine the final qualifiers for the cow horse challenge. Tickets and info at therunforamillion.com.
The weekly Performance Report publishes at the beginning of each week on HorseandRider.com.