The world's most talented horses and cowboys take center stage July 6, 2010, in Oklahoma City to battle it out for top honors at the inaugural Battle in the Saddle competition. State Fair Park and the American Quarter Horse Association have teamed to present this first-of-its-kind equestrian event. Battle in the Saddle, owned by Oklahoma State Fair Inc. and managed by AQHA, will be a premier equine competition showcasing five western disciplines.

Beginning July 6 and continuing through July 10, 2010, at State Fair Park, competitors will shoot it out in five fast-paced, exciting events: reining, working cow horse, roping, cutting and ranch horse competition. Open to all breeds, horses and riders will compete for their share of more than $130,000 in added money, contributing to an estimated $340,000 in purses.

The cutting, reining, roping and working cow horse classes will be recognized as AQHA special events. All breeds are welcome but American Quarter Horses competing will receive AQHA points. The ranch horse competition is open to all ranches that meet the criteria of the AQHA-Bayer Best Remuda Award.

The roping events will be recognized by the American Rope Horse Futurity Association and follow ARHFA rules, which combine times with judges' scores to get a contestant's overall score. Horses competing in the cutting will receive National Cutting Horse Association recognition. Ancillary reining classes will be approved by the Oklahoma Reining Horse Association. The National Reined Cow Horse Association will be involved, as well