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ACHA CONGRATULATES: TOBY COMBS

Toby Combs is a fourth-generation cutter, carrying on a family tradition that started with his great grandfather, George Combs.  Toby has always been around horses and has ridden off and on since he could sit in the saddle.  He started riding more with his “Papa”, Mike Combs and in the fall of 2017, he attended the 2017 ACHA Championships to help his grandpa.  After that, he was hooked and ready to try showing cutting horses and has been on the road with his Papa ever since. His first time to show was in January 2018 riding Lot A Memories, a mare his Dad, Ryan Combs, trained.  She gave him a great start, but he was only able to ride her for a few months because she was due to foal.  Luckily, he had great supporters who kept him mounted with horses to show. He finished the year riding One Time Special K, loaned to him by Mr. Larry Fontenot. With Special K, Toby was able to really gain some confidence in the show pen.  He won his first buckle in Fort Worth at the APHA’s Cowtown Cutting in July 2018 and finished the year as the 2018 Junior Youth World Champion, definitely his most memorable feat to date.  Toby also won the 2018 McDonalds Junior Youth Shootout at the ACHA Championships.  Toby continues to ride Special K, continues to improve, and is continually learning more with every trip to the herd.  In July, he was Reserve Champion in the Junior Cutting at the Texas State 4-H Horse Show. Toby is a seventh grader at Tolar Junior High School and enjoys playing football – he currently plays both offense and defense. Toby also shows pigs, and enjoys playing video games, target shooting, and fishing. When asked what was his favorite thing about cutting, he replied that he enjoys it all – from getting ready to go to the show, to the actual showing of his horse, to the friendships he has made along the way. With role models like his dad and his grandpa, Toby is sure to be a success not only in the cutting pen but in all walks of life. The ACHA wishes continued success to Toby and cannot wait to see what the future holds for him – both inside and outside the cutting pen!

Keeping it in the family!  Ron Wright, one of the Founding Directors of the American Cutting Horse Association, is presented with a commemorative plaque listing the 1985 ACHA Founding Board of Directors by current ACHA President, Mike Combs. Mike's father, George Combs, was also a founding director. Ron Wright's son, Phil Wright, has ridden with Mike Combs since he was in the Youth!

Ron Wright, ACHA Founding Director, presents the Founders Open Trophy to John L. Dublin. John won the $1000 Added Founders Open class at the American West Texas CHA Labor Day Bash in Sweetwater, TX. Pictured left to right:  Alvin Turner - AWTCHA President, John L. Dublin, Ron Wright, Mike Combs - ACHA President.

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