Andy Holcomb had loads of time to shine with the 2015 gelding Walkin The Dog.
Holcomb received the American Rope Horse Futurity Association’s Arizona Sun Circuit on the son of War Bird Dog, and he received the Royal Crown’s Open Heading on him in 2021.
Lately, although, the horse has been proprietor Liz Hirdes’ foremost mount. But with $20,000 added within the Royal Crown’s 8-&-Under Heeling in Rock Springs, Wyoming, Holcomb jump-rode “Louie” to win $4,500 for proprietor Liz Hirdes, plus $675 for the house owners of War Bird Dog and one other $675 for breeders WR Diversified Holdings LP. He additionally received second within the second spherical and first within the third spherical, price one other $1,500.
Walkin The Dog additionally was second within the Royal Crown’s 8-&-Under Heading, for one more $6,000. Hirdes confirmed him within the Intermediate and Limited heading, too, profitable sixth within the Intermediate price $1,329 and second within the Limited, for one more $2,100. Not to say, Hirdes additionally picked up $1,890 for profitable fourth (because the highest-placing feminine) within the 8-&-Under Breakaway, too.
Where Did Walkin The Dog Come From?
Out of War Peppys Love (Peppys Buckshot Bob), Walkin The Dog got here to Hirdes and Holcomb by means of California coach Quentin Hall.
“I was over there one day, just roping,” Hirdes mentioned. “They were riding that horse and I was like, ‘Hey guys, what’s that one? That’s kind of what I’ve been looking for. I came back the next day and ran some on him, got him vetted and bought him.”
Holcomb started taking Walkin The Dog to futurities on the finish of his 5-year-old 12 months, and he positioned in two rounds of the American Rope Horse Futurity Association’s World Championships that first 12 months. In 2021, he received the Arizona Sun Circuit in opposition to the perfect horses in he enterprise within the heading, and he and Holcomb adopted that up with a win on the Royal Crown’s Open Futurity in Rock Springs, Wyoming. Holcomb confirmed him within the heading in Fort Worth in 2021 to win eighth in a tricky brief spherical with a leg, whereas Jade Corkill confirmed him within the heeling.
“He’s been huge, and everything to my career on a lot of different levels,” Holcomb mentioned. “Because Liz is a really good family friend who’s been around a long time.She’s like family to us, so to have her own the horse is special too. It’s something she rides all the time everywhere. She just breakawayed on him at the Salinas rodeo last week. So he’s definitely a special horse.”
Most of the time, the horse is with Hirdes, who in 2022 certified and competed on the Women’s Rodeo World Championships in Fort Worth on Louie, too.
Holcomb profitable the 2021 AZ Sun Circuit ARHFA occasion on Walkin The Dog. | Elite Equine Promotions Photo
Holcomb received him again to to go to Rock Springs—one of many few locations a 7-year-old may nonetheless compete, not to mention for the $20,000 added within the pot. He had the assistance of reigning World Champ and present standings chief Kaleb Driggers, too.
“My wife asked Kaleb last year, before Texas, if he was going and he would help me,” Holcomb mentioned. “He said yes, and we got talking. We started doing some business together, and it went from there.”
Holcomb retains about 40 horses in coaching, however Louie stays with Hirdes with a breakaway focus many of the 12 months. Holcomb can also be circuit rodeoing as a header, sitting nicely inside the highest 5 within the California circuit at press time.
