When you look up the word ‘supreme’ in the dictionary, you will find that one of the definitions reads, “highest in achievement,” and that is what Cal-Western had in mind when they decided to induct the Tijerina family, Dick, Ann and Lori, and their horse, Promised World, in to the Hall of Fame.

Promised World, aka “Sam” was California’s First Supreme Champion. In order for a horse to achieve Supreme Champion status, a horse must meet some very difficult requirements in both racing and showing. In 1980, as a 3-year-old, Promised World earned his ROM in racing.

Lifetime horse enthusiasts, the Tijerinas had always been believers in doing a lot of different things with their horses. When Sam came home after the racing season, daughter Lori began riding him. Their first show was January 18, 1981, not quite two months after running his last race. Lori placed in English and Western Pleasure and enthusiastically looked forward to the next show. He won his first pleasure class and took Grand Champion in Halter. The Tijerinas were delighted.

“I think the halter requirements for the Supreme Champion are the hardest,” said Ann Tijerina. “When you are competing with a young, race-bred Appaloosa against horses who were bred to do nothing but halter, it’s tough.”

In 1982, the points started adding up as Lori and Sam began the long road toward their Supreme Champion goal. It was a family affair from the beginning. Ann even assisted in riding Sam at some shows during Lori’s first pregnancy.

“It took us two years of racing and four years of showing, but we did it on our own, and that makes the award really special – really worth the time and the effort,” said Ann.

Ann adds that a lot of credit goes to Phil and Judy Wright who were Lori’s instructors as a youth. They taught her the basics and gave her the confidence and ability to do what she did with Sam. In 1985, Promised World was sold to a family in Texas. He went on to be the Youth National Champion Western Riding horse.

The Tijerinas are truly an Appaloosa family, having been involved in many facets of the breed for over 40 years. Dick has been a race trainer and was Cal-Western’s original treasurer, Lori showed extensively as a youth and an adult, and Ann has been a director and officer of both Southern California and Cal-Western. They are widely known by fellow club members as hard workers and the kind of people who can be depended upon to follow through with their commitments.

Cal-Western salutes the commitment and dedication of this family as they are inducted into the Hall of Fame.