4P's HORSES

Texans Take Titles and Trophies at Annual Missouri Fox Trotter Show

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Ava, Missouri You don’t have to come from south of the Red River to score big at the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association’s 2012 Annual Fall Show and Celebration held in Ava, Missouri, but it sure doesn’t hurt.

Texans Harry Patterson (Wichita Falls) and Billy Ray McCalip (Iowa Park), along with Missourians Janet Johnson and Wade Hightower, showed Patterson’s 4P’s Ranch horses to win nine World Championships, six Reserve World Championships, four Reserve World Grand Championships, and the coveted Open Versatility World Grand Championship at the prestigious MFTHBA show. They also captured the 3-Year-Old Boss Man Futurity win, as well as the Open Hi-Point Speedhorse title.

“It takes teamwork to win like this. People don’t realize how many World Champion wins you have to have to get a World Grand Championship or Reserve World Grand Championship,” Patterson said. Patterson, of Patterson Auto Group, knows how to build a good team. His friend and trainer, Billy Ray McCalip, guides Patterson and his horses in the elements of cattle work, a big part of a Versatility Fox Trotter’s competition.

McCalip’s name may be familiar to those in the cutting horse world. Although he has numerous championship buckles and won the American Paint Horse Association 1991 World Show cutting championship aboard the mare Freckles One Spot, he is more well-known as a National Cutting Horse Association judge. “I train Harry’s Missouri Fox Trotters to cut just like I would a Quarter Horse,” said McCalip, “and it’s a long, slow process. Cutting is the equine equivalent of golf. It’s complicated, and there are so many variables. Getting a cow cut right and penned right involves getting a horse to understand and read everything about a cow’s demeanor. The horse has to be thinking about what’s coming up next,” said McCalip.

“Cutting is my favorite thing to do,” laughed McCalip, “but thanks to Harry Patterson, I have to do other events, too.” Those events included roping, penning, and even showing in a ranch horse conformation class. McCalip did well enough in each to win the Open Ranch Horse Reserve World Grand Championship with the mare Cash‘s Southern Dolly.

Patterson did his part, too, winning World Championships in Open Amateur Trail, Open Amateur Versatility, and Open Amateur Ranch Conformation aboard the pretty gelding, Cold Hard Cash. These wins, combined with other class results, earned Patterson the Open Amateur Ranch Horse Reserve World Grand Championship.

Janet Johnson guided three 4P’s Ranch mares in speed and ranch events, with each horse making a big contribution to the win totals: Cash’s Ashley Renee won the 3-Year-Old Boss Man Futurity, Cash’s Brenda June took the Open Hi-Point Speedhorse title, and Dash for Cash carried Johnson to the Open Ranch Horse Versatility World Grand Championship.

All of these horses were sired by Patterson’s 4P’s Ranch stallion, Boss’ Midnight Cash, known for siring horses as pretty as they are athletic. Shown by Wade Hightower, Cash Ticket won the Open Weanling Model (halter) Reserve World Grand Championship, and Cash’s Clay earned the Reserve World Grand Championship in Open Junior Model 2 & 3 Year-Olds.

All this made Harry Patterson a very happy man. Surveying the ribbons and trophies in his RV before heading back to the Lone Star state, Patterson leaned back, crossed his legs, and smiled. “I’d say this was a good show,” he said. “A real good show.”

Print Quality Photos by FreeReinDesigns, Dawn Young: (to save print quality 300 dpi - 8x10 photos right click on images and choose "save target as" or "save link as" and save to folder on your computer)

Little Pony: Big Competitor

Monday, July 23, 2012

by:  Josephine Cozean Styron

      The crowd at the first-ever Missouri Fox Trotter Pony Triathlon in Ava, Missouri, was holding its breath. Which pony in this agonizingly close contest would win the thousand-dollar scholarship and handsome new saddle? As applause erupted in the stands, Little Boss Man, a pony owned by Harry Patterson of Angel Fire, New Mexico, and Wichita Falls, Texas, was trotted forward by his 13-year-old rider, Daylen Stevens, to claim their first-place trophy and prizes.
      Patterson was delighted by this. He was just as proud of his pony when, a few weeks later, the crowd of summer school kindergarten through second graders at Hubble Elementary School in Marshfield, Missouri, streamed out of their classrooms to see two "guest" Missouri Fox Trotter ponies. As Little Boss Man stood quietly, the children (200 in all!) petted him, kissed him, and put their arms around him. This is not usual behavior for most show horses, but then, Little Boss Man obviously is not the usual show horse.
      Little Boss Man first won acclaim in June by winning the Pony Triathlon during the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association’s Spring Show and Three Year Old Futurity. In that event, he emerged victorious against 10 other Fox Trotter ponies in a competition so close that only one point separated the first-place winner from second place, and one point separated the second place winner from third place.
      Unlike a regular horse show class, the Pony Triathlon consisted of three parts: an obstacle class; a conformation class; and a performance class in which the young riders rode their ponies at a walk and a foxtrot, the smooth signature gait of the Missouri Fox Trotter. Although Little Boss Man did not receive a blue ribbon in any of the three portions of the Triathlon, he scored well enough in each to take the overall title. Another of Patterson's ponies, Beautiful New Yorker, ridden by Caitlyn Vaught of Fair Play, Missouri, won the Obstacle portion of the Triathlon and placed fifth overall.
     On July 13 Little Boss Man captured his second major win by taking the blue ribbon in the Foxtrotting Pony Class at the 2012 Mid-America Grand Slam horse show in Springfield, Missouri. This was only the second time he has been shown.
     Daylen rode Little Boss Man in both competitions. “I was excited about these wins. I was confident, but nervous, too. Little Boss Man is a good pony to ride in competition because he moves well and is naturally gaited,” Daylen said.
     "It takes a team to win, and Daylen and Little Boss Man are a good fit. Daylen is a good rider, and Little Boss Man is calm and a natural mover in every respect, which is exactly what I look for in Fox Trotters," said Patterson, who raises the gaited breed at his 4P’s Ranch in Wichita Falls.
     But, tough competition isn't over for Little Boss Man. In September he will travel back to Ava, Missouri, to compete against other winning ponies in the Pony Performance class at the Annual Fall Show and Celebration, the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association's most prestigious and competitive show. Patterson also is considering entering his champion pony in the versatility Trail class, where his competition will be regular-sized Missouri Fox Trotters.

Writer: Josephine Cozean Styron
Photographer: www.freereindesigns.com
School photos courtesy of Jenalee Stevens

Texas Pony Wins Big

Monday, June 11, 2012

 In a breathtakingly close contest, a pony owned by Harry Patterson, of Wichita Falls, Texas, defeated some of the finest ponies in the country to win the first-ever Missouri Fox Trotter Pony Triathon, held at the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association's headquarters and showgrounds in Ava, Missouri.

            Little Boss Man, a beautiful black pony gelding, was ridden by 13-year-old Daylen Stevens of Rogersville, Missouri, for Harry Patterson, owner of Patterson Auto Group.   Only one point separated Little Boss Man's first-place win from the second-place winner; only one point separated second place from third in this inaugural event.

            "It takes a team to win, and Daylen and Little Boss Man were a good fit.  Daylen is a good rider, and Little Boss Man is a natural mover in every respect, which is exactly what I look for in Fox Trotters," said Patterson.

             The Missouri Fox Trotter Pony Triathlon consisted of three classes: an obstacle class; a conformation class; and a performance class in which riders rode the ponies at a walk and a foxtrot, the signature gait of the Missouri Fox Trotting horse.  Although Little Boss Man did not receive a blue ribbon in any of the three portions of the Triathlon, he scored well enough in each to take the overall title. 

            Another Harry Patterson pony, Beautiful New Yorker, ridden by Caitlyn Vaught of Fair Play, Missouri, won the Obstacle portion of the Triathlon and placed fifth overall.  The event was held during the 2012 Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association's Three Year Old Futurity and Spring Show, June 6-9.

             For his win, Daylen was awarded a thousand-dollar scholarship and a new Boss Man saddle.  Reserve through fifth-place winners received scholarships ranging from $1000 to $500.  Every child entered in the Pony Triathlon received a $100 cash payback for participating in this new event.          

            Patterson raises easy-gaited Missouri Fox Trotter Ponies and Missouri Fox Trotter horses at his 4P’s Ranch in Wichita Falls.  From his Texas-based ranch, Patterson has sold Missouri Fox Trotters all over the world.  "It was a joy to have my rider and horse win.  Ponies are for kids, and kids are the best investment there is.  Parents and grandparents need to get their kids a Fox Trotter pony and have some family fun," said Patterson.

            A pony must be the offspring of two registered Missouri Fox Trotter Ponies or have at least one regular registry Missouri Fox Trotter parent, and must be between 44 and 56 inches tall to be eligible for registration as a Missouri Fox Trotter Pony.  The Fox Trotter Pony is appealing to both children and smaller adults.

Writer: Josephine Cozean Styron
Photographer:  www.freereindesigns.com

Patterson Horses Show the World

Monday, September 05, 2011

By Josephine Cozean Styron

           Ava, Missouri--Boss’ Midnight Cash, a stallion owned by Harry Patterson’s 4P’s Ranch in Wichita Falls, Texas, added to his arsenal of championship awards on September 6 at the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association Show and Celebration, when he was named the Open Amateur Western Pleasure Reserve World Champion.
            The horse, ridden by Patterson, has a record number of championships in model (halter) classes, but has never been shown under saddle before.  “This horse has never been out competing in the show ring in a Versatility performance class before,” said Patterson.  “I feel like a million dollars.  Being able to ride ‘Cash’ to a Reserve World Championship is a real thrill.”
            Boss’ Midnight Cash’s achievement may have paled a little when compared to that of his daughter, Dash for Cash.  Ridden by Janet Johnson, of Gainesville, Missouri, the mare swept the three speed events, consisting of the Open Barrel Race, Open Pole Bending, and Open Stakes Race, to win the Triple Crown of Versatility events.  But, Dash for Cash, owned by 4P’s Ranch, didn’t stop there.  She won Reserve Champion in the Boss Man Versatility Derby, and was named Open Ranch Pleasure World Champion and Open Ranch Conformation World Champion.
            Other 4P’s horses did well, too.  Cash’s Southern Dolly, ridden by Billy Ray McCalip of Iowa Park, Texas, took the Reserve World Championship in Open Ranch Cutting.  Cash’s Nacona Rose, ridden by Harry Patterson for Gerald R. Green, Jr., Denton, Texas, took third in both the Open Amateur Ranch Roping and in the Open Amateur Ranch Working Cow class.
            Patterson horses also won outside the Versatility arena.  Cash’s Clay, shown by Wade Hightower, of Hartville, Missouri, was named the Open Yearling Model World Grand Champion.  Cash’s Adley Taylor Sells, shown by Hightower, captured the Open Weanling Model Reserve Grand Championship.
            Amazingly, Patterson’s horses who won in Versatility events and his horses who won the Model classes are all sired by the same stallion, Boss’ Midnight Cash.  “It all goes back to good breeding,” said Patterson.  “The stallion line for these horses started with the legendary Zane’s Boss Man, a performance horse who was the father of Cash.  Cash himself is a living legend.  He has won three World Grand Championships and four World Championships in model classes.
            “Good Missouri Fox Trotters should be able to do Versatility events, then hit the trails for a trail ride.  And, they should look good doing it,” Patterson said.
            “This has been a good show.  But, you can’t feel anything but good when you ride a Cash horse,”  Patterson said.  “I’m looking forward to coming back next year." 
            For more information about Harry Patterson 's Missouri Fox Trotters and 4P's Ranch, contact them at 940.761.1730 or visit their website at 4psranch.com.