Morgan Stallion Debuts in National Reined Cow Horse Competition

By: Stephen Kinney, Editor, The Morgan Horse

Pictured: Westwind Otto and Zane Davis

A charismatic Morgan from generations of Western ranching bloodlines is challenging the Quarter Horse stronghold of Reined Cow Horse competition.

Bryan Blatt’s homebred palomino stallion, Westwind Otto (Sweet’s Baybarry x Westwind Eyelash), made his May 30th debut at the National Reined Cow Horse Association Regional  Show in Nampa, Idaho. The competition involves three aspects: cow work, reining, and fence work—where the horse guides a cow down a fence and back. He scored a 71 and 72 in reining and finished seventh his first time out in the  open hackamore event.

Blatt says of watching Otto in his first competition, “When the horse came out I said to myself, ‘Here we go.’ There is more to do, but it was the result of 20 years' work.” Blatt cites historic Morgan Working Western bloodlines in his horse’s pedigree, with ancestors like Archie O, Steve Reeve’s Desert Sands, and old Sellman Ranch blood.

Westwind Otto is trained by the accomplished Western horseman Zane Davis, who claims more than $1.8 million in lifetime earnings in the high stakes cutting and reined cow horse sports. “Zane loves the horse, and he loves Zane,” Bryan says.

Davis acknowledges that Reined Cow Horse competition is “custom made” for Quarter Horses, but is finding a lot to like with the Morgan  in his string. “I’ve found him to be very good-minded and trainable…with the ability to read a cow. I’m very impressed with the Morgan’s good bone structure and natural soundness.”

Currently, owner and trainer are deciding whether Otto will stick with hackamore competition or move forward to bridle work. He will compete again in 2021. “I’m committed to taking him as far as he can go,” Bryan says.