POMONA — After finishing close behind highly regarded Robin Bond in the last two of Charles Wilhelm’s Ultimate Super Horse competitions, Don Moore put it all together Jan. 29-Feb. 1 at Horse Expo Pomona and scored a decisive championship with his partner, Nic-O-Lena.

Moore, who along with wife Janet have operated Reed Valley Ranch in Hemet since 2005, gives all the credit to his support team — and also to “Nic”, an 8-year-old gelding he bought in an out-of-state auction as a 2-year old.

“He’s a once-in-a-lifetime horse, and I waited 50 years for him,” said Moore, a Northern California native who was a cowboy in Montana and Idaho for three decades before moving to Reed Valley Ranch. “And it’s been worth the wait.”

Moore received a custom saddle designed by Charles Wilhelm for the title, as well as a championship buckle provided by Horse Expo, Pomona, clippers from Andis, supplements from HorseTech, and other sponsor prizes.

The Reserve Championship went to Mary Rose Anderson on Boot Scootin’ Stats, owned by Susie Johnson. She received $500 cash along with sponosr prizes, and in third was Kelly Baker on Boonshakalaka.

The competition, spread over four days at Expo Pomona, featured different segments watched by three judges from the panel of Barbra Schulte, Larry Whitesell, Brandi Lyons, Dr. Robert Miller and Bond. Segments included:

* Ranch pleasure, in-hand work and a rail class
* Equitation trail pattern, including trot poles, sidepassing, up and down transitions, gate and bridge
* “Dancing with cows” and a performance pattern
* Meet and greet – at the entrance of the Horse Expo, to simulate a parade
* Super Horse Challenge Grand Finale: Extreme obstacles with a flag run, crossing a large tarp, pedestal, balls, jumps and more.

Moore, who rides Nic daily during his ranch work at Reed Valley, said he knew he had a good horse when he spotted him at a horse sale.

“Even as a baby he was a really, really good horse,” he said. “I started cowboy racing, and we had some success. Then I saw Charles had started this Super Horse, and I thought I’d try it.”

He entered the inaugural event at Horse Expo in Sacramento, and after leading until the final day, he just missed the title. The same thing happened at Horse Expo Pomona last year.

“I decided we were going to fix the holes, and we went over there and we got it done,” he said. “Between him and all the help I’ve been given, I think the two of us as a team has come right up. We work cows and we ranch every day, so I get the advantage of literally being on him every day — not just a weekend-warrior kind of thing.”

Since their arrival in 2005, the Moores have seen Reed Valley Ranch blossum beyond a working ranch into a popular destination for horsepeople looking to give their own horses a taste of the ranch life. Of the 16 horses at the ranch, five are part of Nic’s family.

“The thing about it is, they are all like him,” Moore says. “Quiet. Gentle. Smart.”

By any measure, super horses.

2015 Charles Wilhelm’s Ultimate
Super Horse Challenge, Pomona
Jan. 29-Feb. 1, 2015 * L.A. County Fairplex, Pomona, Calif.

Place/ Rider
Champion Don Moore
Reserve Mary Rose Anderson
Third Kelly Baker
Fourth Peter Taylor
Fifth Sara McClaine