World Champion heading horse from Mayes County

Kathy Parker

The World Champion American Quarter Horse dally heading horse is owned by Sanna Buckbee of Adair. In fact the four-year-old mare, Real Guns Sweetie, was born in Mayes County.

Chris Littlefield of Henryetta, Texas, rode the mare to win the title Nov. 21

at the AQHA World Championship show in Oklahoma City. Junior horses (age 5 and under) show in the same class.

The heading title would have been a big accomplishment on its own, but Littlefield also showed the mare in heeling and finished third in the world in that competition. Steve Orth, Guthrie, was Littlefield’s roping partner at the World Show.

Horses are judged, not timed, on their roping ability. To qualify for the invitational event, horses must earn a predetermined number of points in AQHA-approved shows from August to July. The show is the largest, richest single-breed event in the world with $2.7 million up for grabs this year. Fifty-five horses qualified for the show in heading. After a preliminary round, 16 came back for a final round.

“He was first out and they hold the points,” Buckbee said. That meant nail biting until all the horses had roped before she learned Littlefield scored 224, next to 217 scored in second place.

“They were big, runny steers,” Buckbee said. “That was pretty awesome to have her win by that much.”

Littlefield has ridden several horses for Buckbee, who was actually trying to show a working cow horse. When he rode Real Guns Sweetie, Littlefield told Buckbee roping would be her best chance.

“I like working cow horses, but if they win money in the roping I’ll take it,” Buckbee said.

“She’s just a really good mare,” Littlefield said. “She backs in the box and stands dead flat ... there’s just no wiggle or move to her. She waits in your hand, and when you tell her to go, she’s all out.”

Littlefield began riding for Buckbee when he was employed at the Stuart Ranch in Waurika. He started his show career in ranch horse competitions. In fact, this year he took his own horse to the Ranch Horse Association of America finals in Abilene, Texas, and won the world in both the junior and senior classes. By swapping from a snaffle bit to a bridle, he could show the same horse in both competitions.

“It’s not so much about the competition for me there. I just like to go and see all the ranch people and visit. They’re just good people. That’s the way I grew up and that’s what I like.”

Real Guns Sweetie is a daughter of Real Gun out of Seven S Sweet Thing by Zans Misty Gold. Littlefield rode Real Gun and helped him win the 2004 AQHA Superhorse title.

Buckbee bought Seven S Sweet Thing as a three in one package. She has a full sister to Real Guns Sweetie.

“A lot of people try and try and never get there,” Buckbee said of the World Show.

“I didn’t get my first horse until I was 28 years old,” Buckbee said. “My first horse was an Arabian. An Oklahoma City acquaintance kept telling me I needed to get a horse from Stuart Ranch.” She did, and that began her quest for the World Show.

Buckbee and Littlefield will continue their association when he shows a horse for her in the cow horse snaffle bit futurity in September in Reno, Nev.

“So I’m excited for that,” Buckbee said. “I’m not trying for the ropers. I’m trying for the cow horse.”

As for what the future holds for Real Guns Sweetie, “I don’t know,” Buckbee said. “Chris and I may show her this spring or just flush an embryo and see what happens.” Buckbee has looked at several studs as possible matches for her champion.

Right now, the mare is coming home to “just be a horse.” She got to be a horse for the summer, Buckbee said, where she drug calves to the branding fire and did general cow work.

“She pulled her mane out,” Buckbee said. “She’s so nasty. We call her Pigpen.”

The total purse in the heading class at the World Show was $45,222.10. In addition to the prize money, Buckbee’s horse won a custom-designed trophy, trophy buckle, neck wreath, gold medallion, logo jacket with world champion patch, Professional’s Choice products, Justin boots and Nutrena feed.

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