VON HOLTEN RANCH A Family Heritage
Est. 1906
Ride Host Spotlight
Novice and Intermediate. She finished last in the Novice and was disqualified in the Intermediate for going over the allotted time. For Brandy, a humbling experience for a seasoned international competitor. This outcome served to light a new fire for Brandy, propelling her to finish the year with a third place overall in the Novice and a sixth place overall in the Intermediate.
This is where ACTHA started for Brandy. She entered her first ACTHA event in January 2014 where she won her first blue ribbon and was instantly hooked. Convincing a friend to go with her to Arkansas for a halter series Brandy finished in second place in the pleasure division and made a startling realization. ACTHA would allow her to train for extreme coboy races in a more casual
competition manner or as Brandy says “with a lot less stress”. So successful was Brandy’s new training methods that in the 2014 season of UHCA she earned herself a buckle and a championship saddle. Because UHCA races are double sanctioned as EXCA (Extreme Cowboy Association) races Brandy qualified for the EXCA World Championships held in Hamilton, Texas. The World Championship is a three day event, where the rider’s first two days scores are combined. Only the top ten rider’s advance to day three and Brandy made it, in the nail biting number ten position. She placed 6th overall in the EXCA World Championships, impressive for someone who took up the sport 18 months prior.
Brandy’s competition horse is a big palomino named KTM. A quarter paint blend with the personality of a Golden Retriever and cantankerous pony, combined. KTM is the last colt born from Brandy’s childhood mare that she got on her 9th birthday and lived until Brandy was 32.