Clint Swales drove a long way to compete at the National Reined Cow Horse Association World Championship Show, presented by John Deere over 1,700 miles! Swales, from High River, Alberta, Canada, earned the Limited Open Hackamore World Championship and its $3,645 paycheck on Pure Latigo, owned by Bob O' Callaghan.

It is the 25-year-old trainer's first NRCHA World title, but Swales felt a little nervous about the size of the pen. This is the largest pen that we have ever showed in, so it made the stops in the rein work a little difficult. He felt a little chargy, but he settled down. Then he locked onto the cow as soon as it came in. The pair won the title with a score of 437.5.

Swales has trained the 6-year-old gelding, by Rated PG and out of Kims Lady Doc, since he was a 2-year-old. "He's really easy. He's got a great stop, and he's really cowy. The only thing to complain about is that he won't let me swing a rope on him," he said.

During the large awards presentation, Swales and Callaghan were presented with a Bob's Custom Saddle sponsored by Jackson Land & Cattle, a Gist custom buckle sponsored by Knight Haulers, a pair of Rios of Mercedes stock boots, a CR Morrison trophy, a CR Morrison commemorative medallion, and a commemorative World Championship vest from Gist Silversmiths.

Todd Fitch rode a new horse, Bit O Pepto, to the Reserve World Championship and $2,916 for Jason and Nichole Steffler of Firth, Idaho, with a score of 437. Thanks to great sponsorship, the Stefflers also received a Gist custom buckle from Knight Haulers, a set of custom spurs from Tom Balding Bits & Spurs, a pair of Rios of Mercedes stock boots, an ESP saddle pad from Classic Equine, a CR Morrison commemorative medallion, and a commemorative World Championship vest from Gist Silversmiths.

The NRCHA World Championship Show, presented by John Deere, is held at the 1st Community Federal Credit Union Spur Arena in San Angelo, Texas, as part of the Fort Dodge Animal Health NRCHA Celebration of Champions. The event, which runs through February 8, begins daily at 8am, with the exception of Sunday, February 8, when it will begin at 10am.

The National Reined Cow Horse Association, celebrating its 60th Anniversary in 2009, is 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 John Deere, Adequan, 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 EQUIOXX, 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.