Cathy Ivey and her horse, Scotch, placed top ten in all of the events they entered at the Palomino World Show this July. Her highest rank was fifth place in Amateur Select Ranch Riding.
The Palomino World Show is hosted by the Palomino Horse Breeders Association in Springfield, Illinois each year. Around 2,000 horses are shown over a two week period. Cathy and Scotch competed on July 15 and 16. .
“Palomino horses are the only kind of horse in that show,” Cathy said. “It’s nothing but yellow horses.”
Cathy Ivey and Scotch at the Palomino World Show.
They made the 1,900 mile drive to Springfield in two days, traveling during the coolest parts of each day.
“We competed in a colosseum, and I was there every morning by 4:30 to get adjusted to the arena,” she said. “On that second night, I didn’t get out of there until 10:30 at night.”
In addition to Cathy’s fifth place result, she placed sixth in Amateur Ranch Riding, seventh in Ranch Conformation All Ages, ninth in Amateur Ranch Conformation All Ages, and tenth in Amateur 50+ Ranch Rail Pleasure.
Cathy also has an American Quarter Horse Association Championship Trophy. To qualify for the AQHA Championship, participants are required to score a certain number of points in five different disciplines, all with a single horse.
“Other people have done this, but most horses have a different owner, breeder, trainer, and handler,” Cahty’s husband, Len said. “Cathy is one of the few people that does all of those things herself.”
“My pleasure comes from doing it myself,” Cathy said. “Seeing my husband there too, knowing that we did it all on our own, is so gratifying. We have a tiny six-stall barn, nothing fancy. I worked hard, especially these last four months.”
This year was Cathy’s fourth year ranch riding. She has been riding since she was eight years old, and she has shown horses in other classes.
“Changing disciplines was difficult, but I wanted to try something different,” she said. “Ranch classes depict a horse working on a ranch, so it’s faster paced. It was a new journey for me, and I really felt like I was ready this year.”
Cathy mentioned that many of the competitors were younger adults.
“I’m very blessed that I can do this and am still healthy,” she said. Cathy cometes three or four times a year now, but in the past she attended as many as 15 shows.
“She’s a rockstar,” Len said. “She’s been doing this for 58 years, so it’s not new. But she was showing against pros while she’s an amateur.” //
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