2007 NCHA World Champion

CONGRATULATIONS Ron Davis and RD Bud Light

Ansel's long time friend Ron Davis, of Ron Davis Quarter Horses here in Tumalo, Oregon reached a milestone that many of us hope for and few ever achieve. Ron showed his home grown cutting horse, RD Bud Light last year to become the NCHA World Champion 3000 Novice Horse. Ron traveled all over the NW, CA, NV, AZ, NM, TX, OK, and LA (I'm sure there are more that I can't remember) to earn the most winnings in his class to beat out the Reserve Champion, Bobin Hood shown by Dan Hansen by just a few dollars relatively speaking.

Ansel followed Ron's progress all year and was very excited for Ron's win. When they went into the finals only a few hundred dollars separated 1st and 2nd place. Thanks to 2008 technology we were able to watch Ron's go rounds in the finals in Amarillo, TX, LIVE from the comfort of our living room here in Bend on my lap top. There was a production glitch and they didn't announce Ron's score after his work or during the broadcast, so we were in the dark as to whether he won the whole enchilada or not until he called.

Ansel had given Ron valuable advice earlier in the year when he stopped by to visit Ansel and give him an update... Ansel told him that "the most important secret to getting to the winners circle, was to keep the horse sound until the last show". Every time Liz would call with an update, Ansel would just beam. He was very proud of Ron.

Bud Light was out of Ron's great mare Misholena, the palomino in the picture that they are looking at in the picture below. Sadly she had to be put down last spring, and there will only be one more colt out of this great mare. They were able to harvest her eggs, and breed her posthumously via a donor mare.
Sunday afternoon Ron and Liz's daughters put together a congratulations party for Ron to celebrate his Championship. Ansel was determined that we be sure and get home from our road trip so that we could attend the party. He wouldn't have missed it for anything.

Ansel visits with Lisa Urbach at the party. He had lots of opportunities to tell his stories.
This is Bud Light. Daughter Laura brought him over to check out the festivities in his honor.

Not only did the cake tell the story, it was incredibly delicious... I need to find out where they got it !!!
Ron and Ansel above, Liz and Ansel below