The title of World’s Greatest Horseman is considered one of the toughest achievements for Western performance competitors. It involves four events: herd work, rein work, steer stopping, and fence work, all done by one horse and rider.
Although not many have won it, lots of skilled riders and horses come back each year. Some have even won more than once, and many horses have been in the finals multiple times.
For the 2024 competition — which starts on Wednesday with the preliminaries — Quarter Horse News looked at the stats to find the top horses, breeding stock and people involved in the event’s history, according to EquiStat.
Horses 1. Call Me MitchPedigree: 11S (Metallic Cat x Miss Hickory Hill x Doc’s Hickory)
Earnings: $232,917
Rider: Phillip Ralls, Paso Robles, CA
Owner: Estelle Roitblat Living Trust, San Luis Obispo, CA
Breeder: James Eakin, Hondo, TX
Top Finishes:
Pedigree: 99S (Topsail Cody x Jameen Gay x Toby Gay Bar)
Earnings: $131,667
Rider: Russell Dilday, Wynnewood, OK
Owner: K. Cantrelle/R. Dilday
Breeder: Stellato Revocable Trust, Redding, CA
Top Finishes:
• Three-time champion (2008, 2009 and 2011)
Pedigree: 93M (Grays Starlight x Colonel Gunsmoke x Colonel Freckles)
Earnings: $105,450
Rider: Ted Robinson, Oak View, CA
Owner: Paula & David Hunsicker, Solvang, CA
Breeder: Nick & Julie Arismendi, Bridgeport, TX
Top Finishes:
• Two-time champion (1999 and 2001)
Pedigree: 15S (Hottish x Sugars Smart Kitty x High Brow Cat)
Earnings: $102,000
Rider: Corey Cushing, Weatherford, TX
Owner: Lynne Wurzer, Tacoma, WA
Breeder: Austin Adams, Logandale, NV
Top Finishes:
Pedigree: 02S (Smart Chic Olena x Fritzs Oak E Doakie x Doc’s Oak)
Earnings: $95,900
Rider: Ron Emmons, Ione, CA
Owners:
+ Scott/Emmons, Ione, CA;
+ Smith/Branquino, Dunnigan, CA
Breeder: David Nogle, Palatine, IL
Top Finishes:
The leading rider in the history of the World’s Greatest Horseman is Phillip Ralls, of Paso Robles, CA. His top mount is Call Me Mitch, who has a championship and two reserve championships to his name.
Here are the top riders in the event by earnings, according to EquiStat:
RankRiderTop Money–Earning MountTotal Earnings1Phillip RallsCall Me Mitch ($232,917)$281,867 2Corey CushingHott Rod ($102,000)$203,767 3Russell DildayTopsails Rien Maker ($131,667)$193,417 4Bob AvilaPaid By Chic ($58,650)$143,333 5Ted RobinsonKatie Starlight ($105,450)$140,333 6Jake TelfordSparktilion ($40,000)$132,933 7Chris DawsonReyzinette ($76,000)$130,750 8Ron EmmonsOlena Oak ($95,900)$124,442 9Boyd RiceOh Cay N Short ($63,375)$124,063 10Zane DavisRubys Radar ($78,000)$114,875 11Todd BergenSmartly Starstruck ($49,000)$109,017 12John SwalesMetallic Cat Rose ($42,000)$108,500 13Kelby PhillipsHickory Holly Time ($41,250)$102,750 14Jon RoeserChex Out This Remedy ($40,495)$97,287 15Todd CrawfordPlay Dual Rey ($24,875)$96,617 SiresThe list of leading sires in this four-event competition is EquiStat Elite $66 Million Sire Metallic Cat, who is the father of 2023 Champion and all-time money earning horse in the event, Call Me Mitch.
RankSireYOB/Sex/PedigreeEarnings1Metallic Cat05S (High Brow Cat x Chers Shadow x Peptoboonsmal)$339,512 2Smart Chic Olena85S (Smart Little Lena x Gay Sugar Chic x Gay Bar King)$320,461 3Dual Rey94S (Dual Pep x Nurse Rey x Wyoming Doc)$257,525 4Grays Starlight84S (Peppy San Badver x Doc’s Stqrlight x Doc Bar)$236,170 5One Time Pepto01S (Peptoboonsmal x One Time Soon x Smart Little Lena)$169,408 6Very Smart Remedy99S (Smart Little Lena x Remedys Response x Doc’s Remedy)$158,200 7Shining Spark89S (Genuine Doc x Diamonds Sparkle x Mr Diamond Dude)$145,616 8Topsail Cody77S (Joe Cody x Doc Bar Linda x Doc Bar)$131,667 9Bet Hesa Cat06S (High Brow Cat x Bet Yer Blue Boons x Freckles Playboy)$120,167 10Hottish08S (Spots Hot x Stylish Play Lena x Docs Stylish Oak)$102,000 11Smart Little Lena79S (Doc O’Lena x Smart Peppy x Peppy San$81,845 12Just Plain Colonel83S (Colonel Freckles x Grey Nelly x Blue Whammy Cat)$78,892 13Oh Cay Quixote86S (Doc Quixote x Oh Cay San x Peppy San)$63,375 14Smooth As A Cat99S (High Brow Cat x Shes Pretty Smooth x Wheeling Peppy)$61,548 15High Brow Cat88S (High Brow Hickory x Smart Little Kitty x Smart Little Lena)$58,950 Top World’s Greatest Horseman Dams 1. Miss Hickory HillPedigree: 97M (Doc’s Hickory x Whatyouthink x Son Ofa Doc)
Progeny Earnings: $232,917
Money-winners: 1
Pedigree: 98M (Shining Spark x Chicks And Chex x Smart Chic Olena)
Progeny Earnings: $142,433
Money-winners: 4
Pedigree: 87M (Toby Gay Bar x Vegas Lynx x Doc’s Lynx)
Progeny Earnings: $133,667
Money-winners: 1
Pedigree: 81M (Colonel Freckles x Sweetbreeze x Mr Gun Smoke)
Progeny Earnings: $105,450
Money-winners: 1
Pedigree: 09M (High Brow Cat x Billies Smart Lena x Smart Little Lena)
Progeny Earnings: $102,000
Money-winners: 1
All Rights Reserved. Copyright , Central Coast Communications, Inc.