2014 Hall of Fame Inductee: Kansas Kowboy D.

“He had that certain look, even as a foal,” said breeders Richard and Willa Danner. “We called Linda Shaddy to come and look at him.” One look and Linda picked “Kowboy” up and started his training, beginning a history of show ring dominance in Model, Performance, and Versatility.

The Kansas Kowboy D. is by Country Frank and out of Missouri Minnie D. Even as a foal Kowboy was a show ring force, winning Foal Grand Championships at the National Breeders Cup and the Celebration in 2003. In 2008, under the ownership of John and Samantha Brandreth, Kowboy became one of the few Fox Trotters to capture the MFTHBA “Triple Crown” by winning World Championships in Performance, Versatility, and Model at the Celebration.

With Tori Blankenship training him, Kowboy went on to win many more championships. In 2010, earning over 1000 points, Kowboy was named the Friends of Sound Horses (FOSH) Horse of the Year.

In 2011 Kowboy turned in top times in the Georgia Junior Rodeo Circuit, barrel racing among stock horse competition. Kowboy racked up Grand Championship wins in Florida in 2012,but in 2013 he became Issabella Brandreth’s mount in Versatility events at the Celebration, winning two reserve championships and the MFTHBA Youth World Championship in Western Horsemanship.

All of these wins by the gorgeous gelding didn’t escape media attention. Kowboy was featured in Horse & Pony News in 2009, The Sound Advocate and the MFTHBA Journal in 2010, Equine Wellness Magazine in 2011, and Horse & Rider magazine in 2012. Kowboy won the Reserve Youth Versatility High Point award at the 2014 MFTHBA Spring Show, but he also started something new: Western Dressage. With Tori Blankenship, Kowboy demonstrated Western Dressage at the MFTHBA’s Expo in May.

Kowboy is the poster boy for Missouri Fox Trotter versatility. He proves that Fox Trotters can do it all­­and smoothly. What an ambassador for our breed!