Sacramento, CA – The Western States Horse Expo is just around the corner and riders for the Magnificent Seven All Around Stock Horse Championship are gearing up their horses for the unique event. Seventeen of the country’s top competitors will participate in the intense one-day riding competition, where one horse and one rider demonstrate their skill and versatility in four events: herd work, rein work, steer stopping and fence work.

The action peaks on Friday night when seven finalists are just four events away from a $25,000 purse, and the best horseman will receive the winning title. The Western States Horse Expo is scheduled for June 8-10, 2012 at the Cal Expo Fairgrounds in Sacramento, CA. The event will feature the leading riders in the nation, including Russell Dilday, who will be aboard Scott and Darnell Trueblood’s Pepinic Chex, and Kevin Cantrelle’s Topsails Rein Maker. In 2007 and 2008, Dilday was the event’s reserve champion, and now looks to claim the winning honors. Ken Wold will ride Victory Phelps’ Shes A Catty Lady, and has ridden finalist at every national event, including the NCHA Futurity/Derbies, NRHA Futurity/Derbies, and the AQHA World Shows. Darrell Norcutt, one of last year’s finalists, will be returning riding Fairlea Steady Betty. Norcutt has trained reined cow horses for over 25 years at the top levels of the sport. Smart Rewind, owned by Duane and Billiejo Baxley, will compete with Phillip Ralls in the irons, who is based in Paso Robles, CA, and owned his training business for 20 years. Corey Cushing was the 2010 NRCHA Derby Open Herd Champion, and won the NRCHA Circle Y Ranch Derby Novice Horse Open earlier this year. He will be riding Pink Jeans for Eric and Wendy Dunn, as well as Smart Boons for Kevin and Sydney Knight.  All four of the top finishers from 2011 will once again compete for the top honors. The champion was Ron Emmons, who will return with Mel Smith and Nichole Scott’s Olena Oak. Doug Williamson was right on his heels in 2011 as the reserve champion, and this year he will be riding Shining Lil Nic, owned by Bill and Janie Jill Tointon. Third and fourth place finishers Les Oswald and Clayton Edsall will each be returning with the same mounts, MH On A Full Boon, owned by TKO Ranch and Bob Stevens, and Fresnos Dual Bar owned by Julie Schman. Edsall will also be aiming for the top honors with his second mount Wynsome Chex, owned by Adrianna Adams. Mark Luis has also been a Magnificent 7 finalist and is the four-time Steer Stopping Champion. He will be riding BBR Mardi Gras Time for Adam Rhodes. Justin Wright, the 2008 Leading New Non Pro Rider who has now opened his own business, will enter the arena with Shelly Franklin’s A Dazzlin Prize. Jon Rosner was the 2011 Reined Cow Horse Futurity Champion and the NSHA Derby Reserve Champion, and will join the competition with Moody Blues Brother, owned by K. Mark Nelson. Jake Correll had the high-scoring gelding at the 2008 NRCHA World Championship Snaffle Bit Futurity, and will compete during the Magnificent 7 with Roloff Ranch’s Smooth N Cash. The final rider will be Ted Robinson with MH Its Only Boon, and who is the winningest rider in the history of the reined cowhorse, with seven National Reined Cow Horse Association Open Snaffle Bit Futurity World Championships and two World’s Greatest Horseman titles to his name. The Magnificent Seven All Around Stock Horse Championship is one of the main highlights during the Western States Horse Expo with over 5,000 spectators. One dollar of each ticket will be donated to Bikers Against Child Abuse, and an introduction will be held for the bikers during the event. The California Cowgirls will also complete a drill for the audience, followed by a poem by cowboy poet Tony Argento. Guests will also enjoy the presentation of a majestic Long Horn Steer, and amusing performance by a miniature pony with a dog. Over the past 13 years, Horse Expo Events has established the Western States Horse Expo as the gold standard of equine events. The 2012 Western States Horse Expo takes center stage from June 8-10, 2012 at the Cal Expo Fairgrounds in Sacramento, CA. In addition to the Magnificent 7, the Project Cowboy – Cowgirls Only, and the Horse Expo Horse Sale during that weekend, there will be several clinicians at the Expo: Chris Cox, Bernie Traurig, Steve Rother, Larry Whitesell, Eitan Beth-Halachmy, David Bodin, Bonnie Davis, Dr. Sue Thompson, Christy Landwehr, Peggy Cummings, Robert M. Miller, DVM. There will also be breed demonstrations, Young Rider Park, Equine Dream Art Show and Book Corral. For more information on the Western States Horse Expo please visit www.horsexpo.com.WESTERN STATES HORSE EXPO FAST FACTS WHAT: The Western States Horse Expo is one of the country’s leading equestrian experiences with vendors, events, and clinicians for every horse enthusiast. Over the past 13 years, Horse Expo Events has established the Western States Horse Expo as the gold standard of equine events. Held at the spacious Cal Expo in beautiful Sacramento, CA, from June 8-10, 2012, The Western States Horse Expo offers something for everyone. For more information please visit www.horsexpo.com. WHEN: June 8-10, 2012 WHERE: Cal Expo Center, 1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento, CA, 95815 HIGHLIGHTS:

• Hundreds of Equine Exhibitors and Retailers
• Magnificent 7: More than a dozen of the nation’s top riders convene for an intense one-day riding competition, where one horse and one rider demonstrate their skill and versatility in four events: herd work, rein work, steer stopping and fence work. On Friday night, seven finalists compete for a $25,000.00 purse, and the best horseman will receive the title of Magnificent 7 All-Around Stock Horse Champion.
• Project Cowboy – Cowgirls Only! Presented by the American Quarter Horse Association, is “American Idol” meets “America’s Got Talent” for cowgirls.
• Trail Symposium: Politicians and trail enthusiasts gather to discuss how to keep our horse trails open and maintained, now and in the future, and how to work in harmony with state and federal officials who oversee many of these trails.
• Horse Sale: Trained riding horses and a select section of Cutting bred yearlings and broodmares will be available at auction. Trail horses, cutting horses, cow horses, pleasure riding horses, rope horses, ranch horses, a few select ponies and draft horses; there will be horses for everyone from beginners to experts.

* Breed Demonstrations* Young Rider Park* Art Show* Book CorralWHO: The exciting clinician lineup includes:Chris CoxBernie TraurigLynn PalmShannon DueckJim MastersonDr. Clair ThunesBree KrebelSteve RotherLarry WhitesellEitan Beth-HalachmyDana HokanaDavid BodinBonnie DavisDr. Sue ThomsponChristy LandwehrPeggy CummingsRobert M. Miller, DVMDr. Joe ShelleJohn BozanichTim KimuraRichard Godbee ACCOMMODATIONS:Hilton – Sacramento Arden West – 916-922-4700 – www.hilton.comCourtyard Marriott – Sacramento Cal Expo – 800-321-2211 – Group Code: WSTS Fairfield Inn Marriott – Sacramento Cal Expo – 800-605-6578 – Group Code: WSTS  For more information and to learn all about the 2012 Horse Expo events, activities, clinicians and presenters, please visit www.horsexpo.com or call 1-800-352-2411.Photo Credits: Ron Emmons won the Magnificent Seven All Around Stock Horse Championship at the 2012 Western States Horse Expo. Photo By: K. Higgins.