WC ranch horse team earns top finishes at national world show
The newly reestablished Weatherford College ranch horse team made a strong showing at the Stock Horse Association of Texas World Show in Abilene last week, earning multiple top finishes against collegiate competitors from across the nation.
With approximately six weeks of preparation, the team competed in two full rounds of ranch trail, stock horse pleasure, reining and cow work. Several riders participated in their first stock horse competition of this level.
Among more than 60 collegiate novice riders, Katie DeLeon of Weatherford placed fifth in Round 1 of cow work and recorded multiple top-20 finishes throughout the competition.
Katie Matak of Hampshire, Texas, and RyAnn O'Loughlin of Santa Rosa, Texas, also earned top-20 finishes in cow work.
The team also included Thea Underdahl of Aledo and Lexi Taylor.
The competition marked an important step for the revived program as team members gained experience competing against collegiate riders from across the country. The team's goal was to earn an invitation to the Bridles and Brains competition at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, and members are awaiting notification on those results.