Home » EKU student named Amateur Stake Race World Champion at riding competition

EKU student named Amateur Stake Race World Champion at riding competition

larken_jones_photoPart of American Quarter Horse Association

RICHMOND, Ky. (Dec. 8, 2016) — Eastern Kentucky University student Larken Jones was named the Amateur Stake Race World Champion at the 2016 Lucas Oil AQHA World Championship Show, held recently in Oklahoma City.

Jones, a pre-vet major from Richmond, and her mare, Excitabull Lady, competed against horses and riders from Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas.

To qualify for the championship, riders were required to accumulate points based on placing at American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) events throughout the year. Jones qualified for four events this year: amateur stake race, amateur pole bending, senior pole bending and amateur barrel racing. With Excitabull Lady, Jones placed first (of 15) in amateur stake race and sixth (of 32) in amateur pole bending.  She also placed fourth (of 48) in amateur barrel racing on a different horse, Time on the Money.

Jones has been riding since she was 8 and competing since she was 9.