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Reined Cowhorse
News RUSSELL DILDAY AND TOPSAILS RIEN MAKER MAKE HISTORY AS THREE-TIME WORLD’S GREATEST HORSEMAN CHAMPIONS Courtesy NRCHA
Russell Dilday, Porterville, Calif., and Topsails Rien Maker won back-to-back National Reined Cow Horse Association World's Greatest Horseman Championships in 2008 and 2009. They finished fourth in 2010, but came back with a vengeance in 2011 to become the only three-time World's Greatest Horseman Champions. Dilday and Topsails Rien Maker began the Finals competition on Sunday, Feb. 6, at the First Community Credit Union Spur Arena in San Angelo, Texas, with the fourth high herd work score - a 217 - and marked the second high rein work score with a 218. The Finals completed the Celebration of Champions which also included the Circle Y Ranch Derby and the NRCHA World Championship Show presented by John Deere. "I thought he was as good in the cutting as he's ever been for me. Todd (Crawford) had a huge herd work and had three points on us there," Dilday explained. "I knew I had to press it in the reining, and after that was over I was really happy. My horse is so pure. Of course, Todd had another big score in the reining." With two events down, Dilday and Topsails Rien Maker, nicknamed Slider, were tied with Ron Emmons and Olena Oak at a 435, and Crawford and Play Dual Rey had a 441 going into the steer stopping. "I knew I was going to give it all in the roping - I didn't want to leave anything behind. I want Slider to be recognized for being as great as I believe he is," Dilday said. "Ron and I tied with a 220 and Todd roped well again and had a 216, and then we were only two points behind." Fortunately for Dilday, he and Slider drew up fourth in the cow work, and he was able to watch both Crawford and Emmons and know what he'd have to score to win. Crawford went first in the set on Play Dual Rey, marking a 217 for an 874 composite. Emmons and Olena Oak were next, marking a 219 to tie for the lead. "There was no safety for me. Of course Todd was good with a 217 and then Ron tied him with a 219," he said. Then, it was time for Dilday and Slider to compete. As in every cow horse event, the Championship came down to the cow work. "Our cow was tricky and I wish I had gotten by him a little sooner in the first turn - then we wouldn't have cut it so close. That cow was absolutely hammering us in the turns. My horse had to really work - he has a heart bigger than my hat." Dilday exited the arena, crossing his fingers that the cow work would be enough to earn the third title. "I was just hoping beyond hope that it would at least be a 219 and let me tie with them," he said. Dilday got his wish and then some, as the judges awarded a 219.5 - giving the pair the title by a mere half-point. "This is huge. I can't tell you how big it is to win this again. I think my horse is so great - especially when you compete against horses like this. There's not a bad one in this group. The only way you sort out the winner is bad luck, and we happened to have the least." When it was all said and done, Dilday and Topsails Rien Maker, 12, sired by Topsail Cody out of Jameen Gay, and owned by Dilday and Kevin Cantrelle, had won the Cow work, was in a three-way tie for the Steer Work, finished second in the Rein Work and fourth in the Herd Work. Dilday had admitted earlier that there was a good chance that they'd make a run at a fourth title. "We gave him some time off to nurse a tendon several months ago, but other than that he's never been sore. If we don't press him he might never be sore again. I hope he'll last forever." He laughed, adding, "I actually have a replacement for him - in about seven years it might be ready!" Dilday received the signature check for $30,000, along with a Bob's Custom Saddle sponsored by Coyote Rock Ranch, a Gist Silversmiths buckle sponsored by Wagonhound Land & Livestock, custom handmade boots from Rios of Mercedes, a custom handmade hat from Shorty's Hattery, and a monogrammed saddle pad from Classic Equine. Dilday noted that a huge amount
of credit for his success went to the people who support the industry.
"I can't thank any of the NRCHA's sponsors enough for everything
they do. The sponsors put money into the association, support us,
give us product and exposure to the rest of the world - and they
do a lot of it. It's what helps grow this sport and this event."
He added, "I also specifically thank my sponsors which are
Bob's Custom Saddles, Classic Equine, Rios of Mercedes, Nutrena,
Twister Trailers, and Circle N Stables." "I was just going to get my
horse shown as good as I could, and try to get as high of score
as I could," said Crawford of his cow work. "This horse
has got a lot of stop and heart. He's a show horse." "I wasn't really thinking
of anything when it was time for the cow work. I was just going
to let happen what happened. He's a great horse, and I knew I had
enough to get down the fence," he said. TUCKER ROBINSON AND STYLISH LITTLE OAK WIN 2010 NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP Press release from
NRCHA Tucker Robinson skillfully piloted Stylish Little Oak, owned by San Juan Ranch, through a picturesque fence work, marking a 224, to win the Open title of the Snaffle Bit Futurity. In doing so, Robinson not only won the $100,000 first-place check, he and his father, NRCHA Hall of Famer Ted Robinson became only the second father-son team to both be Snaffle Bit Futurity Champions. "It means so much. I had seen my dad, Jon Roeser, Bob Avila, Greg Ward and John Ward all win it when I was a little kid - and now my name is going on that list with them," he said. "It is really, really special to me." Robinson has ridden Stylish Little Oak, by Playin Stylish out of Shiners Little Oak, since she was a 2-year-old. "John and Brenda Stephenson send my dad and me a handful of 2-year-olds every year, and she and I just fit each other. I really appreciate them giving me the opportunity to ride such great horses," the 32-year-old noted. Within a short amount of time, Robinson knew the mare was special, and that belief in the mare never wavered. "I figured she had a shot. I knew she was talented and steady through all the events, and that, if luck went my way, we might have a shot." Going into the cow work, Robinson was only a scant half-point behind the leaders. But the highest-scoring cow work of the evening secured the title. "It could have gone any way - there were a lot of people right there together going into the fence work," he said. "It's awesome. I don't know what to say. I'm still in shock and I'm hoping it might sink in tomorrow. It means so much because you work your butt off for two years and for it to work out is unreal." Along with the Championship check, Robinson received the C.R. Morrison NRCHA Cow Horse Bronze sponsored by the South Point Hotel and Casino; a Bob's Custom Saddle sponsored by Lyle Lovett; a Bob's Custom Saddle sponsored by Jeffrey Mathews and One Time Pepto; a Gist Silversmiths buckle sponsored by Hooker Creek Ranch; a Gist Silversmiths buckle sponsored by Lone Oak Veterinary Clinic; a custom handmade hat from Shorty's Hattery; an ESP pad from Classic Equine; custom designed boots from Rios of Mercedes; Platinum Performance; two monogrammed Cinch vests from Bob's Custom Saddles; and a C.R. Morrison commemorative medallion. Robinson thanked his father, Ted; his mother Georgia; his sister Casey; his herd help - Jon Roeser, John Ward, and Jake Gorrell; his girlfriend Tina Fry; John and Brenda Stephenson; and everyone else who helped him. Brenda Stephenson, who bred and raised Stylish Little Oak, noted "The only thing I can say is that we are very excited. Ted actually won money on not only this mare's mother, but also her grandmother. It's been a long process to get her here - we were happy to get here. We know how hard it is to make the finals so we are thrilled." The busiest rider of the day was easily Jake Telford, who took four of his five Snaffle Bit Futurity entries back to the finals, and finished Reserve on One Time Rey Jay, owned by Aspen Meadows Ranch. "When the preliminaries were over I thought I could handle the four horses, but when I woke up this morning I knew there was no way," he said. "I realized how grateful I was to be in the finals, and it was all about family and friends for me. I couldn't have done it without all of them. I had people helping me with my horses who never have before. Morgan Cromer came up from California to help me with the herd work, Todd Bergen was warming up my horses for the rein work, my in-laws were watching the girls and my mom was brushing and cleaning stalls and feeding, while my wife kept me on schedule. It was a team effort." For the Reserve Championship on One Time Rey Jay, by One Time Pepto out of Hickorys Red Rey, Telford received a check for $80,000 for their 657 total score; a Bob's Custom Saddle and a Gist Silversmiths buckle sponsored by Heart River Ranch; a Gist Silversmiths buckle sponsored by Garth and Amanda Gardiner; two monogrammed Cinch vests sponsored by Bob's Custom Saddles; Platinum Performance; and a C.R. Morrison commemorative medallion. Telford also won fifth on Hes Shinettes CD (CD Olena x Sheza Shinette), owned by Holy Cow Performance Horses; twelfth on Sheza Dancingdiamond (Diamond J Star x Sheza Shinette), also owned by Holy Cow Performance Horses; and nineteenth on Abbey Roan (One Time Pepto x Stylin Jewel), owned by Newt White. All total, Telford won $146,000 in the Open Finals competition alone, bringing his lifetime earnings within $60,000 of the $1 million mark! "This is by far the biggest win I've ever had," he said in the press conference following the awards ceremony. "I'm just blessed to have a great group of owners and a great group of horses." In a tie for third place was Lenas Time To Spare, also sired by One Time Pepto out of Shorty Lena Girl, owned by Matthews Cutting HOrses, LLC, the owner of the stallion One Time Pepto and ridden by Todd Crawford. He tied with Dont Miss My Chic and Corey Cushing, sired by Smart Chic Olena and owned by Kevin and Sydney Knight. Both scored a total of 647.5 points and earned $55,000. NRCHA Corporate Partner Wide World of Horses was in Reno to cover the Snaffle Bit Futurity. Commentators Robert Chown and Lee Schneider will give the expert play-by-play details of the Futurity in two broadcasts during the weeks of Nov. 29 and Dec. 13.Each weekly program is run three times - every Monday at 12:30 p.m. EST and 10:30 p.m. EST and on the following Sunday at 7:30 a.m. EST. CASEY
BRANQUINHO AND NI THE WRANGLER TAKE INTERMEDIATE OPEN "It's amazing that Cinch stepped up to sponsor the added money for the Intermediate Open. Cinch has been a part of my life for a long time as a sponsor of my brother Luke (World Champion Steer Wrestler Luke Branquinho), so I have always supported them," he said. "My hat's off to Keith Mundee and everyone there at Cinch. I really appreciate everything they have done." Owned by Holy Cow Performance Horses LLC of Santa Ynez, California, Nic The Wrangler, by Starlights Wrangler out of Nic N Chic, is a full-sibling to Branquinho's first Snaffle Bit Futurity entry, Wranglin Reminicky. After making the finals of all three Open divisions at the 2009 Snaffle Bit Futurity, Wranglin Reminicky was unfortunately sidelined from the finals with an injury. But because of his success, Holy Cow Performance Horses owner Nancy Crawford-Hall gave Branquinho the chance to ride Nic The Wrangler. "Last year was tough. It was my first time to experience the competition and I made the Finals but wasn't able to compete. Coming back on a full-brother to that mare makes this win more special," he said. "I thank Nancy Crawford-Hall for giving me the chance to ride such great horses." Branquinho is surrounded by many well-known and accomplished trainers. Not only is his father-in-law John Ward a two-time Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion, his mother-in-law Laurie Ward is a former Non Pro Futurity Champion, and his grandfather-in-law Ronnie Richards is an NRCHA Hall of Fame member. "Ronnie has taken me under his wing and taught me a lot. John Ward has been there every step of the way, along with Bobby Ingersoll, Doug Williamson, Corey Cushing, Todd Bergen - I pick everyone's brain that I can," said the trainer. Along with the Championship check, Branquinho and Crawford-Hall received a Bob's Custom Saddle and a Gist Silversmiths buckle, both sponsored by San Juan Ranch; a C.R. Morrison trophy and commemorative medallion; a monogrammed Cinch vest from Bob's Custom Saddles; Platinum Performance; an ESP pad from Classic Equine; and a custom handmade hat from Shorty's Hattery. The Reserve Championship was a tie between Justin Wright on No Chic Flicks and Brandon Buttars on Halo Cat. Both entries finished with a 641.5, and each won $16,796. Wright and No Chic Flicks, by Chic Please and out of Pandalita Star, had already won $21,000 earlier in the week, thanks to the Open 2-Year-Old Sale Incentive. No Chic Flicks and Laurie Ward, daughter of owners Ronnie and Karin Richards, won the Non Pro 2-Year-Old Sale Incentive check for $9,000. With go-round money from the preliminary competition added, No Chic Flicks, who is qualified for the Open Snaffle Bit Futurity finals, has already won $50,000! Buttars and Halo Cat also made the Open Snaffle Bit Futurity finals. By WR This Cats Smart and out of Stylin Jewel, Halo Cat is owned by Deirdre Hill of Salt Lake City, Utah. Following the Cinch Intermediate Open finals, Buttars had to prepare for the Open Hackamore Finals, in which he qualified for with JJ Dual Cat. Buttars and Wright divided the bounty for the Reserve Championship, including a Gist Silversmiths buckle sponsored by Stuart Ranch and one sponsored by Deer Creek Ranch; a monogrammed Cinch vest from Bob's Custom Saddles; Platinum Performance, and a C.R. Morrison commemorative medallion.
Haefner, an accomplished cutter, began the day with a 222 in the herd work, giving him an early lead, but a 205.5 in the rein work might have taken him out of contention. "Cookie Banuelos, Jon Roeser, and I were picking cattle, and two of our picks got cut right before us. I had a really good first cow that showed off what this horse can do. He's really big in the cutting, and I train cutting horses, so that was good for me," he said. "Today was my fourth reining pattern ever! I was just happy to get through it. I've got to give Jon Roeser most of the credit - he's helped me a lot in the rein work." When it was time for the fence work, Haefner was in for a surprise - the cow he drew was the first one he had cut out of the herd! "That was the craziest thing. I recognized it as soon as it came out. I knew it would be soft because it was so soft in the herd. I was worried that my horse would be tired so I just opened him up with everything I had. I was trying to decide about making a third turn, but we stumbled and fell behind, so I had to just go with it," he said of his cow work, at which he marked a 212.5. "The cow work is what I love about the event - it's a blast!" Jason and his wife, Dana, raised Smart Lookin Cat, by WR This Cats Smart out of Stylin Jewel. After just a couple months of riding as a 2-year-old, Jason was sure the talented colt would be a big-time cutter - but Dana had other ideas! "I told Dana that he was going to be our next Fort Worth horse - but she's always wanted to do the cow horse so she nixed that idea real quick," he said, laughing. "She'll probably be showing him in the cow work as a 4-year-old." Haefner received a Bob's Custom Saddle sponsored by Sherman Quarter Horses; a Gist Silversmiths buckle sponsored by Doug Granade; a handmade custom hat from Shorty's Hattery; a C.R. Morrison trophy and commemorative medallion; an ESP pad from Classic Equine; a monogrammed Cinch vest from Bob's Custom Saddles; and Platinum Performance. Taking Reserve honors and winning $5,152 was Les Oswald and Dulces Little Light, owned by Rena and Richard Whyler of Willows, California. The pair also won $2,964 in the Cinch Intermediate Open finals. Oswald and the Whylers also received a Gist Silversmiths buckle sponsored by Laguna Island Ranch; a monogrammed Cinch vest from Bob's Custom Saddles; Platinum Performance; and a C.R. Morrison commemorative
"We decided to go ahead and ride her and bring her back and put her over the $100,000 mark," said Shawn Hays, Tammy Jo's husband. Shine Smartly and Hays of Tishomingo, Oklahoma, won the NRCHA Derby Holy Cow Performance Horses $50,000 Added Bridle Spectacular and were reserve at the National Stock Horse Association World's Richest Stockhorse, increasing Shine Smartly's winnings to $103,052. And on October 2, another $7,560 was added to her lifetime earnings when Hays and the Shining Spark mare, who is out of Smartly Dressed, won the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Bridle Championship, marking a 217 in the rein work and a 227 in the cow work. "She was really good," Hays said of the 444 composite run. "I was a little soft in the reining - I could have ran her harder in the circles and stuff but I didn't want to run her out of gas for the cow work. I wanted to make sure she had plenty of air before we went down the fence. She's always been a good little fence horse. She's just a little show horse." And she's producing show horses as well with Shiny Knickers, a 3-year-old gelding out of her by Nic It In The Bud, making it back to the Intermediate Open Finals, where he and his rider Doug Koontz placed thirteenth. Along with the check for the Open Bridle title, Shine Smartly also won a Bob's Custom Saddle courtesy of Cottonwood Springs Ranch and Floyd Miller; a Gist Silversmiths buckle sponsored by Debbie Sanguinetti and Tish Wilhite; a C.R. Morrison NRCHA trophy; romal reins courtesy of Benny and Steve Guitron; a monogrammed Cinch down vest from Bob's Custom Saddles; Platinum Performance; and a C.R. Morrison commemorative medal. Hays and Shine Smartly also took home the Runaway Creek Open Bridle Mare award, presented annually since 2007 by Bert and Lori Hornback of Runaway Creek Ranch. Each year an individual name plate is added, naming the high-scoring mare of the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Bridle class to the list that already carries the names of the past winners since 1974. The perpetual trophy resides at Runaway Creek Ranch, while Greeman and Hays received a C.R. Morrison trophy to keep. Winning the Open Bride reserve championship were Lil Miss Shiney Chex (Shining Spark x Lil Miss Smarty Chex) and Jay McLaughlin with a 443.5. Owner Carol Rose received a check for $6,048; a monogrammed Cinch vest from Bob's Custom Saddles; Platinum Performance; and a C.R. Morrison commemorative medallion.
With NRCHA Million Dollar Rider Todd Bergen in the saddle, the son of Very Smart Remedy out of Gunna Be Lucky, marked a 222 in the rein work and a 219.5 in the cow work. The pair also won the 2010 NRCHA Open Derby Champions in June. "As a 2-year-old, he sold for a lot of money, and had a chance to win the Futurity last year but fell down in the fence work," Bergen said."Then it kind of all came together for us at the Derby. I felt like I finally won on a good horse." Bergen and Smart Luck just squeaked into the Open Hackamore Finals, tying for twelfth in the preliminaries with a composite of 430.5. "My cow took me to the corner in the prelims but it doesn't matter how you get to the finals as long as you get there," Bergen said with a smile. "My horse was awfully good tonight. He's an exceptional horse and is one of a kind. He's probably one of the best I've ever ridden. He's got a big, big heart and lots of ability. When you combine those two it makes a great horse." Owned by Cable Creek Ranch LLC, Smart Luck added $8,120 to his growing earnings with the championship title along with a Bob's Custom Saddle sponsored by Newt White; a Gist Silversmiths buckle sponsored by Shirts, Caps and More and Danny and Sherri Rumph; a C.R. Morrison trophy; a horse hair mecate from Krause Mecates; a monogrammed Cinch vest courtesy of Bob's Custom Saddles; Platinum Performance; and a C.R. Morrison commemorative medallion. And in an almost déjà vu moment, the 2010 NRCHA Open Derby Reserve Champions Corey Cushing and Smart Boons (Peptoboonsmal x Smart Little Easter) won the Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Hackamore Reserve Championship, marking a 222 in the rein work and a 217.5 in the cow work. "In that hackamore class, there were a lot of really good horses in there and a lot of really, really good runs," Bergen said. "Corey and I have been kind of going head-to-head. We have two really good horses and I'm sure they'll be going for years and years to come." The reserve title came with
a check for $6,496; a hackamore courtesy of Benny and Steve Guitron;
a horse hair mecate from Krause Mecates; a monogrammed Cinch vest
courtesy of Bob's Custom Saddles; Platinum Performance; and a C.R.
Morrison commemorative medallion. RANDY PAUL WINS 2010 NRCHA WORLD'S GREATEST HORSEMAN TITLE Press release from
NRCHA Paul and Smokeelan, by Elans Playboy out of Smart Little Smokee, began the finals competition with a herd work run that placed him in a tie for seventh place. “I felt my horse wanted to be good in everything, but I had a little trouble getting good cattle in front of him. We were just average – but nothing bad happened so we were OK,” he explained. Then it was time for the event that is Paul’s forte – the rein work. The accomplished trainer has earnings exceeding $1 million in National Reining Horse Association competition. “I knew I had a lot of horse for the rein work, so I pushed him. That caught me up pretty good.” Following the rein work Paul was in third place, only two points behind the leader. The World’s Greatest Horseman is the only NRCHA Premier event that features steer stopping – and roping is an event that Smokeelan has only been working on since the first of January. “The steer ducked and dove down the arena. It took away from the run a little bit, but I think the judges appreciated how he handled the situation,” he said. When it came down to the cow work, the Scottsdale, Arizona, trainer was in third place – eight points behind the leader, Doug Williamson. Williamson drew first in the cow work, and marked a 213 for an 873.5 composite. The next eight contestants took their shot, but no one managed to mark higher. Paul would need to score a 221 to win the title. “I tried not to let the pressure get to me. I knew I had a good chance because I have a good fence horse, but I just tried to do a good job.” His strategy paid off, resulting in a 223! “It’s kind of hard to describe. It’s something you dream about when an event is started – it’s like a racecar driver winning Daytona,” he said following the awards ceremony. “When you’ve been striving for it and you finally get it done, it definitely feels like you accomplished something.” Along with a check for $30,000, Paul and Smokeelan were awarded a Bob’s Custom Saddle sponsored by Coyote Rock Ranch, a Gist Silversmiths buckle from Wagonhound Land & Livestock, custom boots from Rios of Mercedes, and a monogrammed saddle pad from Classic Equine. Doug Williamson and Hes Wright On, owned by Gardiner Quarter Horses, had the lead going into the cow work – but luck of the draw made marking a high score difficult. “You know, my horse was so solid all day. I just didn’t have a very good cow. I had a 71 cow, and that’s all I got out of him,” said Williamson. “My horse was solid the whole time, and I am very proud of him.” Williamson collected $21,000 for the Reserve title, and also received a Gist Silversmiths buckle, sponsored by Garth and Amanda Gardiner, and a monogrammed saddle pad from Classic Equine. Hes Wright On, by Lenas Wright On and out of Shesa Lota Nic, has been in Williamson’s program through his Derby years, and had won about $78,000 prior to the World’s Greatest Horseman. “He’s a winner because he can do it all. He’s a great rope horse, a great fence horse, and a great reiner. He’s also good out of the herd,” he explained. When asked if he would be competing with Hes Wright On in the 2011 World’s Greatest Horseman, the NRCHA Hall of Fame member - who has been a World’s Greatest Horseman finalist four other times, and finished as high as Reserve – laughed and replied, “I think the Gardiners are going to make me do it again!” There’s a deeper story - both men could do a clinic in perseverance, each having battled with cancer before going on to make even bigger marks on the industry. “I’m just glad to be here,” Paul noted. And Williamson, who along with having cancer suffered a terrifying fall at the 2008 Snaffle Bit Futurity added, “I thought they made this sport for me, so I’ll keep coming back.” The NRCHA World’s Greatest Horseman is held as part of the Fort Dodge Animal Health Celebration of Champions. The Celebration of Champions also features the NRCHA World Championship Show Presented by John Deere, and the Circle Y Ranch Southwest Reined Cow Horse Association Derby. Over the 12 days of competition the event paid out nearly a half-million dollars. It will return to San Angelo in 2011. NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY SCHEDULED FOR SEPT. 20-OCT. 4; SALES HELD OCT. 1-3 Sept. 10, 2009 –
Reno, Nev. With $412,000 added, the Futurity
and show is expected to pay out over $1 million, as it has for the
past four years. Winning exhibitors will also receive over 100 Gist
buckles and 15 Bob's Custom Saddles, along with the signature CR
Morrison bronzes. Also, the Snaffle Bit Futurity Horse Sales will
also be held Oct. 1-3. The sale will be managed by Professional
Auction Services. To date, 244 are entered in the Open Futurity, 113 in the Intermediate
Open and 57 in the Limited Open. There are 48 entries in the Non-Pro,
31 in the Intermediate Non-Pro and 36 in the Amateur. ED ROBERTSON WINS 2009 NRCHA STAKES RIDING CD ROCKS MIKE MILLER TAKES NON-PRO TITLE RIDING BUCKS GENUINE FEVER April 1, 2009 –
Nampa, Idaho
In just one day of competition at the 2009 National Reined Cow Horse Association Stakes, held March 25-29 in Nampa, Idaho, Ed Robertson piloted That CD Rocks to win $39,672. He accomplished that feat by topping both the Open and Intermediate Open divisions with a score of 651. Mike Miller and Bucks Genuine Fever won the Non-Pro title. "We started out just flat in the herd work, and couldn't cut a cow that would challenge us," Robertson admitted about his score of 212 in the first phase of finals competition - but that low score combined with a 219 in the reining, and put him and the CD Lights stallion back into contention for the title. "It was cold and windy today, and he was pretty strong. I just rolled with him and he worked." It all came down to the cow work, with Robertson and That CD Rocks drawing up in the middle of the second set. The Paso Robles, Calif., trainer admitted that the cow work can sometimes work against him at big events - he and That CD Rocks missed the Open finals at the 2008 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity because of a difficult bovine, but made the Intermediate finals and won that title. "I was really happy with the cow. This horse is very talented in every dimension of this competition. He just has that presence that makes him special," Robertson explained after the awards ceremony. That CD Rocks, sired by CD Lights and out of Shiney Tari, is owned by Robbie Humphreys of Clovis, Calif. Robertson took home a Bob's Custom
Saddle sponsored by Idaho Equine Hospital, a Gist Silversmiths buckle
sponsored by Flynn's Saddle Shop, an additional Gist Silversmiths
buckle sponsored by Why Worry Ranch/Very Smart Remedy, a CR Morrison
trophy sponsored by Wide World of Horses, a CR Morrison trophy sponsored
by Roeser Ranch, and two CR Morrison commemorative medallions. "All my horses did well in the prelims, and then they all did great in the finals. I really have to thank all the guys that I work with at Carol's for helping me get them shown," he said. McLaughlin moved to Gainesville to work for Rose, and officially began working on January 2. "I also want to thank Carol for giving me the opportunity to ride such great horses. This mare in particular is such a great stopper. She is extremely talented and I just hope to keep showing her." Rose collected the Reserve Championship check for $24,724 and a Gist Silversmiths buckle sponsored by Blackpoint Ranch and a CR Morrison commemorative medallion, and an additional $15,894 when her other horse, CD Dee Vee Dee won fourth place. Doug Mills piloted Shiney Playboy to the Limited Open Championship, winning $4,860. Shiney Playboy, by Shining Spark and out of Playboys Sally, is owned by Michael Vantreight. "This horse was really solid today. He just had a little bit of bad luck in some areas," noted Mills after his run. "He's a good horse, and really has heart." NON-PRO
DIVISION: "It's kind of like cheating - she makes it so easy," said Miller with a laugh after piloting the mare to yet another title - the NRCHA Stakes Non Pro Championship. "If all the horses showing were like this, we'd all believe we really were trainers. She's always ready to show - and shows well." The Big Piney, Wyo., rancher and the 5-year-old mare, by Miller's stallion Playboys Buck Fever and out of Nu And Genuine, marked a 212 in the herd work, followed that with the high score of 218 in the rein work, and marked the cow work high score of 219. "The fence work could have been scary. The cow was fresh, but I couldn't get him to move and wear himself out in the boxing. Then I took him down the fence and was getting scared, but this mare's really fast, so we were ok," he said. "On the second turn the cow came off the fence, so I made the decision to go on to the circles with a fast cow. That could have back-fired on me, but it worked out." The Non Pro Championship paid Miller $10,650, and he collected a Bob's Custom Saddle sponsored by the Northwest Region NRCHA Affiliates, a Gist Silversmiths buckle sponsored by Paul Bailey, a CR Morrison trophy and a CR Morrison commemorative medallion. The venerable competitor also earned an additional $2,000 for owning Bucks Genuine Fever's sire, Playboys Buck Fever. Anne Reynolds and Very Smart Flo Jo claimed the Non Pro Reserve Championship with a composite score of 643.5, earning a check for $8,520, a Gist Silversmiths buckle and a CR Morrison commemorative medallion. The home-grown 5-year-old mare is by Reynold's stallion, Very Smart Remedy, and out of Teena Cash Flo, and is owned by Reynold's mother, Joyce Pearson. Reynolds received an additional $1,000 for the Non-Pro Reserve Sire Award. For the third year in a row, Kathy Wilson won the Intermediate Non Pro Championship, this year on Dandy Little Randy, by Mister Dual Pep and out of Dandy Geraldine. The win netted a CR Morrison trophy, a Gist Silversmiths buckle sponsored by Aspen Meadows Ranch, a CR Morrison commemorative medallion, and a check for $4,220. Wilson's finals began with a demoralizing
206 in the herd work. "The cutting was horrid today,"
she admitted. "He can really do well at the cutting, we just
cut bad cows. But he followed that with a very smooth rein work,
and everything was solid."The Clarksburg, Calif., competitor
graciously thanked everyone who had helped her make it to the winners
circle. "I want to thank the Lord for letting us do this, my
dad Tom Young and my mother, Dixie. I want to thank Ken Wold and
his wife Ramona for all their help, my husband Mark, and my kids
Lindy and Danny," she said. The NRCHA Stakes awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in prize money to the competitors, but the show also recognized the sires and their owners who are the backbone of the program. CD Lights, sire of Open Champion That CD Rocks, earned $4,000 for Winston Hansma and Danny Motes. Carol Rose, who owns Shiney Sushi's sire, Shining Spark, earned $2,500 for the Reserve Open Sire Award, and Elaine Hall, nominator of Peptoboonsmal, the sire of Smart Boons, received $1,500 for the third place Open finish.The Intermediate Open Sire Award was $1,000 to Winston Hansma and Danny Motes, for That CD Rocks Intermediate Open win, and the Limited Open Sire Award of $1,000 went to Carol Rose, owner of Shining Spark, sire of the Limited Open Champion, Shiney Playboy. For further information and results, go to www.nrcha.com. A FAMILY AFFAIR AT THE NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY JOHN WARD RIDES HOME-BRED "PEARL" TO THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP Oct. 6, 2008 –
Reno, Nev. The prestigious show, held Sept. 21-Oct. 5 in Reno Livestock Events Center, paid out $1.3 million to contestants vying for huge paychecks while showing in three different events, - Herd, Rein and Cow work. The scores from each event are added together following a clean-slate finals to determine the champion. Black Pearl was bred by the Ward Ranch, who owned both her sire and her dam. The talented black mare was sired by Smart Little Pepinic, a staple in the Ward Ranch breeding program, and out of Sugar Babe Taffy by Master Remedy. In 1998, when John’s father, Greg, won his last Futurity Championship, John earned sixth place on Sugar Babe Taffy, Black Pearl’s dam. “It’s really cool that all of this mare’s relatives have been a part of our family,” said John after his win. Ward started out the finals by tying for the lead in the Herd Work with Boyd Rice, who had been in the lead following the preliminaries, riding Mr Playinstylish, owned by Kit and Charlie Moncrief. Both had scored a 218. Rice finished the event in a tie for eighth, with a total score of 637 – taking home $28,500. “She was really good,” Ward said about his mare’s performance in the Herd work. “And my help had all the cattle spotted.” He kept the composite lead in the finals through the Rein work, but the pair was feeling the pressure, as they had scored a 216. “She was great,” Ward said. “She can run and stop (just) likes her sire so I was really pleased.” Shinin Train, ridden by Todd Bergen and owned by the Spirit Ridge Ranch Inc., won the division with a 219.5 and took the lead following two divisions. Shinin Train, a gelding by Shining Spark, is out of Ima Train by Reminic. Shinin Train ended up in a tie for 12th, scoring a total of 633.5 and taking home $19,250. However, a 214 in the Cow work gave Black Pearl and Ward a 648 total – good enough for the championship. The Cow work was won by Playgirls Miss Grace, owned by Randall Murray and ridden by Ken Wold to a 219.5. The daughter of Mister Dual Pep out of Playgirls Miss Cross, finished the event in third place with a total score of 647, taking home a $65,000 paycheck. We drew a good cow and the cattle had been tough,” said Ward. We boxed for awhile and left in really great shape. She was kind of giving out because we had both shown her, but she gave me all she had.” Ward was referring to the fact that his wife, Laurie, had also made the Non-Pro finals on the mare. “It’s the biggest thing that any reined cow horse person can ever wish for,” said Ward. “I was blessed to win this once before. It was intense. When you get the lead you don’t want to lose it.” Prior to the Snaffle Bit Futurity, Black Pearl had won the Non-Pro Division of the National Stock Horse Association (NSHA) Reined Cow Horse Association Futurity with Laurie in the saddle and finished fourth with John riding in the Open – for a total of $17,000. However, she will now be getting a well-deserved break. “She’s been doing so much,” said Ward. “We probably won’t show her again until the Derby in June.” He laughed, adding, “That’s if Laurie lets me keep riding her. I think she’s planning on stealing her from me.” Shiney Lil Miss, the Reserve Champion, is a daughter of Shining Spark out of Lil Miss Smarty Chex by Smart Little Lena. The mare and Roeser scored a 216 in the Herd work, 214.5 in the Rein and 217 in the Cow, for a total of 647.5. Prior to the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity, Roeser rode her to a 12th-place finish in the NSHA RCHA Open Futurity earning $4,000. The pair clinched their title when taking a cow down the fence, which had been the “kiss of death” to many of the finalists. “I turned the cow once, then twice and it didn’t feel right to circle,” Roeser said. “So I turned it a third time and then a fourth. I felt I had to do that or I wouldn’t have been able to get the cow to circle. It cost me a little because we didn’t quite have enough gas. We came close though. In the end, the pair marked a 217 – and ended up just a half-point behind Ward. Roeser was happy. “I’m usually tickled if I’m in the top five. You always want to win, but I wasn’t disappointed.” But that wasn’t all. True
to the family-affair atmosphere of the show, the Roeser clan had
a successful Futurity, as Jon’s son, Clay, earned the Amateur
Reserve Championship on Dualyawanna, earlier in the week. ED ROBERTSON WINS NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY INTERMEDIATE OPEN RIDING THAT CD ROCKS TOMMY THOMPSON WINS LIMITED OPEN ON FAMOSA STARLIGHT Oct. 5, 2008 - Reno,
Nev. Photo by Primo.
. The National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity crowned two new Futurity Champions on Friday, Oct. 3. Ed Robertson, Paso Robles, Calif., and That CD Rocks earned the Intermediate Open title, while Tommy Thompson, Shafter, Calif., took home Intermediate honors on Famoso Starlight. Neither Champion had ever qualified for the Snaffle Bit Futurity Finals, but each proved he could compete with the best at the Reno Livestock Events Center in Reno, Nevada. INTERMEDIATE
OPEN: Their final’s debut began
with the high score – 219 – of the herd work. “He
was great in the herd work; it’s the best he’s ever
felt,” noted Robertson. “I cut good for him, and he
held the cows. He was really comfortable.” Robertson was quick to give credit to That CD Rock’s original trainer. “Brandon did a great job. We rode together, and I used my input to help Brandon in the herd, and he helped me in the rein work.” That CD Rocks is sired by CD Lights, a 1999 son of CD Olena out of Delight Of My Life by Grays Starlight, owned by winston Hansma and Danny Motes, Weatherford, Texas. The stallion earned close to $233,400 during his lifetime and was named the 2006 NCHA World Champion Stallion. Although he had one foal in 2004, his first major foal crop of 35 foals saw first-time competition in 2008. This is the first major win by one of his offspring. The win garnered owner Robbie Humphreys, Clovis, Calif., a check for $21,698, a Bob’s Custom Saddle and a Gist Silversmiths Champion buckle, both sponsored by San Juan Ranch, an ESP wool top pad from Classic Equine, a Cinch monogrammed vest from Wayne Hodges 4-Star Trailers/Outlaw Conversions, a custom made hat from Shorty’s Caboy Hattery, and Platinum Performance. B.J. Avila riding One Hot Pepto, and Tommy Thompson on Famoso Starlight, tied for the Intermediate Open Reserve Championship with 640. One Hot Pepto, by Pepto Power Play and out of BB Jalapenas Babe, is owned by Penny Knight. Famoso Starlight, by Wranglers Starlight and out of Chex My Rain, is owned by Lloyd Moore and Sylvia Riggs. Both received checks for $14,560, a Gist Silversmiths Reserve Champion buckle, a Cinch monogrammed vest from Wayne Hodges 4-Star Trailers/Outlaw Conversions, and Platinum Performance. LIMITED
OPEN: The horse was started by Matt McConn, who had worked for Thompson halter breaking yearlings. Because he liked the horse, Thompson tried to buy him. “A year later, I heard it was offered to another trainer for $2,500 – and that trainer turned him down. He was sold back to John Lacey, and he said he’d sell him to us for what he paid.” He paused, then added, “I was sure we couldn’t afford it, but we bought that horse for $1,500.” But the story of Famoso Starlight
continued, as the new owners, Lloyd Moore and Sylvia Riggs, weren’t
thrilled with the idea of a futurity horse. “We tried to sell
him, and he was sifted from both of the sales here. I just kept
telling them it was better. Then they didn’t want to buy a
slot, and I asked them, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool to make
the Open finals on this horse?’ and they bought the slot.” The rest of the story is unwritten, because Thompson will still compete in the Open finals on Sunday. “I’m going to give him some time off on Saturday to relax. He’s a very strong horse, so if any horse could do it, it’s him,” he said. “I’m lucky that I get to get up every day and do what I want to do. I’ve always wanted to be a cowboy.” Friday’s performance resulted in quite the payday, with the owners collecting $9,900 for the Limited Open Championship, $14,560 for the Intermediate Open Reserve Championship, $3,500 from winning the preliminary cow work, and will have a guaranteed $6,500 for making the Open Finals. He also won a Bob’s Custom Saddle from Cottonwood Springs Ranch, two Gist Silversmiths buckles, one sponsored by Stuart Ranch, the other sponsored by Granite Creek Ranch, an ESP wool top pad from Classic Equine, two Cinch monogrammed vests from Wayne Hodges 4-Star Trailers/Outlaw Conversions, Platinum Performance, and a custom handmade hat from Shorty’s Caboy Hattery. The Snaffle Bit Futurity concludes
Sunday, Oct,. 5, with the Open Finals. The total payout for the
event will exceed $1.3 million, with the Open Champion taking home
the $100,000 check. DEMA PAUL WINS NRCHA NON-PRO SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY RIDING SMART SHINEY LENA JOHN MCCARTY RIDES MISTER DIAMOND SHINE TO RESERVE AND INTERMEDIATE NON-PRO TITLE Oct. 4, 2008 - Reno,
Nev. Photo by Primo
Riding Smart Shiney Lena, Dema Paul, Cave Creek, Ariz., earned her third NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Non-Pro Championship and the $28,820 paycheck that came with it. By Smart Shiner and out of Sassy O Lena, the talented 3-year-old mare and her owner marked scores of 214 in the herd work, 214.5 in the rein work, and the high score of 220 in the cow work to clench the title with a 648.5 composite. Dema also placed 12th in the Finals riding Nic It Night, pocketing an additional $3,602. “Every part of it was fun," said Dema. "Everything went like it was supposed to. I was tickled with everything, and I drew the best cow – it was the cow to win on." She was also quick to thank her herd help. “Ted Robinson and Brad Buttrey were such great help in the corners.” While Paul wasn’t quite satisfied with her preliminary dry work, she noted that she had some help there, too. “I didn’t really trust her at first. I said she was nervous. My stepson, Randy Paul, told me I was making her nervous – he told me I had to relax. Today, I let her go, and she was perfect.” Paul purchased Smart Shiney Lena in July of last year from Carol Rose. “Shining Spark horses are good horses. They do well for me. They have a lot of natural stop, and that’s what attracted me to this one,” she noted. Dema received an original CR Morrison NRCHA Cow Horse bronze from Cable Creek Ranches, a Bob's Custom Saddle sponsored by Skeets Peppy and Vaughn Zimmerman, a Gist Silversmith Champion buckle from Jon and Jody Semper, an ESP wool top pad from Classic Equine, Platinum Performance, a Cinch monogrammed vesst from Wayne Hodges 4-Star Trailers/Outlaw Conversions and a custom-made hat from Shorty's Caboy Hattery. JOHN
MCCARTY - INTERMEDIATE NON-PRO AND RESERVE NON-PRO CHAMPION “This is my vacation. I’ve worked there for many years, and they always let me come. This year, my vacation more than paid for itself,” he said with alaugh. But the Futurity isn’t over for the pair – they also qualified for the Intermediate and Limited Open Finals, and the Open Finals. However, McCarty decided to scratch from the Intermediate and Limited Open Finals, which would be held only six hours after the completion of the Non Pro Finals. “We didn’t have a good herd score for the Intermediate and Limited, so I decided he might as well have a break, and get ready for Sunday,” explained McCarty. “It’s really all gravy from here, so he might as well relax.” Completing three fast cow work runs can have adverse affects on a horse’s performance, so McCarty already has a plan to make the most of the time between finals. “I’ll probably come to the arena at night, so he can be in here and just do slow work. He’s a little up now, because we’ve gone so hard down the fence. I’ll just let him be here and relax.” McCarty was quick to thank Mister Diamond Shine’s original owners, Mark and Kelly Gowing, who sold him the horse. “I’m really fortunate that they sold me this good of a horse. I also need to thank my wife, Shannon, who has always been there for me,” he noted. Along with the big payday, John was also awarded, for the Championship, a Bob’s Custom Saddle from Heart River Ranch, a Gist Silversmiths Champion Buckle from Bitterroot Springs Ranch, an ESP wool top pad, a Cinch monogrammed vest from Wayne Hodges 4-Star Trailers/Outlaw Conversions, Platinum Performance, and a custom made hat from Shorty’s Caboy Hattery. For the Reserve title, he received
another Gist Silversmith Buckle, from Cinder Lakes Ranch, a custom
designed bit from Randy Paul, a Cinch monogrammed vest from Wayne
Hodges 4-Star Trailers/Outlaw Conversions, and Platinum Performance. Cowan’s wife, Michelle, was last year’s Non-Pro Champion. Although she was in the Reno Livestock Events Center to watch her husband compete, she was only cheering from the sidelines, as she is due with the couple’s third child on Nov. 5. The Snaffle Bit Futurity Non-Pro
finals concluded Oct. 3 as the 16 finalists competed for a purse
that exceeded $159,000. The event is being held at the Reno Livestock
Events Center in Reno, Nev., and runs through Sunday, Oct. 5, when
the Open Champion will be decided. The Open division will pay out
over $707,000, with the Open Champion receiving the coveted $100,000
check. BOYD RICE AND MR PLAYINSTYLISH LEAD NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY COMPOSITE PAIR FINISH 8TH IN COW WORK WON BY TOMMY THOMPSON RIDING FAMOSA STARLIGHT By Glory Ann Kurtz
- Photos by Primo
Boyd Rice, the diversified cowboy who won the 2007 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity, is again in the lead following the preliminaries of the 2008 event riding Mr Playinstylish, a son of Playinstylish owned by Fort Worth’s Kit and Charlie Moncrief. The pair clinched the composite title with a 215.5 in the Cow work (down the fence), good enough for eighth place and a composite score of 651.5. They previously won the Herd work and scored a 215.5 in the Rein work. The winner of the Open Cow work was Famoso Starlight (Wranglers Starlight x Chex My Rain), owned by Lloyd Moore and Sylvia Riggs and ridden by Tommy Thompson to a 219. The pair also is leading in the composite of the Intermediate & Ltd. Open and is sixth in the Open with a 645. Second in the Cow work was a three-way tie with a 218 between Mister Diamond Shine (Mister Dual Pep x Shinersdiamondjackie), owned by John and Shannon McCarty and ridden by John; Smooth N Cash (Smooth As A Cat x Dox Gavacash) owned by the Roloff Ranch and ridden by Jake Gorrell and Blue Wright By You (Duals Blue Boon x Sliden Wright By), owned by Billy Grissom and ridden by Brad Buttrey. Smooth N Cash is second in the composite, with a total of 650, while Wuhdnt Me Jack (Teninas First x Murlena), owned by Kevin and Sydney Knight (owners of the 2007 Champion Oh Cay N Short, ridden by Boyd Rice), and ridden by Corey Cushing finished third in the composite with a 649. Cushing also finished fourth, scoring a 648, riding MH Sweet Boon (Bodee Boonsmal x WSR Sweet Lil Jazz), owned by Allan Kaplan. The event continues through
Oct. 5 when the finals will be held. RON RALLS SWEEPS SWRCHA FUTURITY/DERBY; EARNS $15,589 CUTTING-BRED HORSES WIN MAJOR DIVISIONS By Glory Ann Kurtz
with Drenda Chappell Solano Cat, a son of High Brow Cat out of Smartest Solano by Smart Little Lena, has been in training with Ralls since he was a 2-year-old. Ralls said that he has not shown the horse much because he wanted to save him for the big NRCHA Snaffle Bit in Reno, Nev., in September. The stallion looked like a top cutting horse in the herd work, winning the division with a 148. The pair scored a 147 in the reined work and a 143 in the cow work – which turned out to be rather exciting. When Ralls nodded for his cow it came into the arena on the muscle, trying to charge Ralls’ horse. The judge blew the whistle, signaling for another cow; however, the horse didn’t understand, rocking back on his hocks in front of the cow. However, when the cow hit him, Solano Cat simply sat down; Ron dismounted, got the horse up and signaled for his second cow. “He’s just so good minded,” said Ralls, “his attitude is just, ‘Let’s get busy.’ ” Reserve went to Genuine Masterpiece, (Shining Spark x Kings Masterpiece by Peppy San Badger), owned by Wagonhound Land & Livestock Co., Douglas, Wyo., ridden by Jay McLaughlin. The pair earned $6,012. The Limited Open Futurity title went to Sheeza Smokin Chic sired by Smokin Chic Olena out of Sheeza Ed, owned by Jim Lane and ridden by Kyle Trahern to a 420 composite score. Derby Champion, Peptos Spooky Storm (CR Pepto Storm x Spyder Two Solano by Doc’s Solano) was bred and raised by Koenig, who also owns the sire and the dam. Ralls had taken the young stallion to Reno but failed to place. After gelding the horse, the pair went to the NRCHA World Show and won the Intermediate Open and Novice Horse classes. This was the pair’s first Open title. The Reserve Open Derby Champion was Nics Peach (Reminic x Shining Little Peach by Shining Spark) owned by Trend Quarter Horses LLC, who collected $2,813 for the 428.5 score earned by Robbie Boyce. Reserve in the Limited Open Derby was won by Kwackin Me Up (Smart Chic Olena x Kwackin), owned by the Prideaux Ranch LLC and ridden by Bruce Logan. The Novice Horse Derby competition was won by TR Miss Gray Gun (Playgun x JK Carlita Bruce) owned by Lynda and John Burnside and ridden by Robert Chown. NON-PRO: The Non-Pro Derby was taken by BJ Chula Mula (Chula Dual x BJ Tari) owned by Fielding Rogers and ridden by Karla Rogers to a 430.6. A close second, scoring a 430.5, was Captain 327 (Hickorys Indian Pep x Mac O Lena Queen) owned and ridden by McKenzie Merrill. The two also finished 1-2 in the Amateur Non-Pro Derby, as it was a class-within-a-class. NRCHA DERBY TUCKER ROBINSON CLAIMS HIS THIRD CHAMIONSHIP ABOARD DAYS ZANOLENA June 25, 2008 –
Paso Robles, Calif.
Doug Williamson tied himself for second, scoring a 650.5 – taking home two $28,843 checks. He rode Docs Soula, a 5-year-old stallion by Soula Jule Star out of Docs Hickory Nut by Doc’s Hickory, owned by D&S Quarter Horses, Terrebonne, Ore., and Hes Wright On, a 2003 stallion by Lenas Wright On out of Shesa Lota Nic by Reminic, owned by Gardiner Quarter Horses, Ashland, Kan. Shawn Hayes rode Peppy Nicolena (Nic It In The Bud x Chelsea Lena x Smart Peppy Doc) to a 641 score and $6,278 paycheck for second place in the Intermediate Open. Owners are Walter Greeman and Tammy Jo Hays. The Limited Open Derby was won by Mary Dosek riding Colonels Cash Cow, a 5-year-old gelding by The Nu Colonel out of Peppy Leanna by Peppy Lena San, owned by Tom and Judy Crawford, Santa Ynez, Calif. The 428.5 score earned the gelding $4,500. The Reserve title went to Libertys Aristocrat ridden by Jaton Lord to a 421.5 for earnings of $3,600. The 2003 daughter of Smart Aristocrat out of Pepper Hangin by Dry Spec A Pepper, is owned by leading non-pro rider Anne Reynolds, King Hill, Idaho. NON
PRO DERBY: Bill Cowan won the Intermediate Non-Pro riding Wheres My Shine, a 2004 daughter of Shining Spark out of Boomerita Boomernic, owned by he and his wife, Michelle. Their 643 composite score earned them $6,524. Michelle had previously won the 2007 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Non-Pro Championship on the mare. Reserve went to Bubba Petty riding Buenonic Reins, a 2004 gelding by Shiners Buenonic out of Justin A Lena by Smart Little Lena, owned by Rick and Susan Petty, Madera, Calif. Winner of the Amateur Derby was Ernie Beal, Clovis, Calif., riding Shesa Mr Dual Pep, a 2003 daught3er of Mister Dual Pep out of Shesa Smoker by Hesa Commander, that he bred, raised and trained himself. The Reserve title went to Nattall Melo, Turlock, Calif., riding Colonel Doc Tucker, a 4-year-old gelding by Master Jay out of Genuine Emma Tucker by Teddy Tucker. Dema Paul, Cave Creek, Ariz., won the Non-Pro Bridle Spectacular on her 9-year-old gelding, Primos Bob Acre by Teninas First out of Bob Acre Angelena by Bob Acre Doc. In the Novice Non-Pro Bridle class, Marilyn Harris, Cave Creek, rode Irish A Shine, a 6-year-old daughter of Paddys Irish Whiskey out of Shine O Lena by Shining Spark, to the title.
TUCKER ROBINSON AND DAYS ZANOLENA WIN 2008 NRCHA STAKES MARC BOURDET RIDES CD PRECIOUS PEPPY TO NON-PRO TITLE April 2, 2008 – Nampa, Idaho Days Zanolena and Tucker Robinson, 29, Oak View, Calif., took home the largest paycheck of the 5-year-old mare’s career, when they won the NRCHA Open Stakes title with a total score on three events of 656.5, earning $36,252. The pair also captured the Intermediate Open finals, winning an additional $6,570. The event was held at the Idaho Horse Park, Nampa, Idaho, from March 26-30. The $42,822 earned at Nampa boosted the mare’s lifetime earnings to over $95,378. The daughter of Smart Zanolena out of Chex Out This Day by Peppy Badger Chex, owned by Matt Day, had won her second highest-paying check by winning last year’s NRCHA Open Hackamore Classic for a $16,200 paycheck. Tucker is the son of Teddy Robinson, a legendary NRCHA trainer and rider. The Reserve title went to Hes Wright On, a 5-year-old son of Lenas Wright On out of Shesa Lota Nic by Reminic, owned by Michael Vantreight and ridden by Doug Williamson. The pair scored a total of 655, earning $26,712. The Limited Open Finals was won by Nic Me, a 5-year-old stallion by Nic It In The Bud out of Starlight Chex by Grays Starlight, owned by Vickie Sanchez and ridden by Josh Auman. The pair collected $4,320 for their 629 composite score. The Non-Pro title went to Marc Bourdet riding CD Precious Peppy, earning $12,316 for their 647.5 composite score. The 5-year-old mare, nicknamed “Margie,” is sired by CD Olena out of Splash A Lil Cash by Nu Cash. The Reserve Non-Pro title was split between Anne Reynolds, NRCHA’s only million-dollar non-pro rider, riding Very Smart Flo Jo and Michelle Cowan riding Wheres My Shine. Both scored a 645.5, taking home $8,835.75. Smart Flo Jo , a 5-year-old daughter of Very Smart Remedy out of Teena Cash Flo by Nu Cash, owned by Joyce Pearson, won the Rein Work with a 217. Wheres My Shine, by Shining Spark out of Boomerita by Boomernic, owned by Michelle and her husband Bill, won the cow Work with a 217.. Kathy Wilson, who has won the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity three times, won the Intermediate Non-Pro title and the $4,725 that came with her 644.5 score, riding Sis Is Smart, a 5-year-old daughter of Ill Be Smart out of Sis Royal Mahogany by Doc’s Mahogany. The pair had won the Cow work with a 219 and the rein work, scoring a 212.5. Reserve Int. Non-Pro Buenonic Reins, by shiners Buenonic out of Justina Lena, owned by Rick and Susan Petty and ridden by Bubba Petty, won the Herd work. In Hackamore competition, Dee Craig rode Smart Like Jerry, a 5-year-old gelding by Smart Little Jerry out of Pepsi San Badger, owned by Vicki Cantlon, Boise, Idaho, to a 430 composite score, wining the Open and Intermediate Open Hackamore Derby. The Reserve title went to Caldwell, Idaho, trainer Jake Telford riding One Shiney Chic for Aspen Meadows Ranch. They added $2,440 to their lifetime earnings for their 427.5 composite score. In 2007, Telford won the NRCHA Open Hackamore World Championship riding Shady Lil Starlight. Coming off a Limited Open Hackamore World Championship and a Reserve National Championship, Todd Fitch won the Limited Open Hackamore Championship riding What Happened Uno, a flashy palomino stallion nicknamed Pal, sired by Smart Pep Uno out of Zans Blonde Whizard, owned by Vance and Jo Anne Ward. The Reserve title went to Blake Nelson and Unos Smart Tucker, also sired by Smart Pep Uno out of Tuckers Pistol Star, after the pair had tied with Fitch. However, NRCHA rules dictate the high cow work score wins in the case of a tie. Debby Sanguinetti, Farmington, Calif., won the Non-Pro Hackamore Championship riding She Aint Plain, a daughter of Just Plain Colonel out of Bex Leoak Chex. The NRCHA Stakes awarded over $308,000 in prize money to the competitors, but they also recognized the sires that make up the program. Open Champion, Days Zanolena’s sire, Smart Zanolena, earned $4,000 for the Hooker Creek Ranch. They also received $1,000 for his Intermediate Open win. The Lenas Wright On Syndicate received $2,500 and Jim Babcock, owner of Smart Chic Olena, sire of Smart Crackin Chic, received $1,500 for third place. The Limited Open sire award recipient was Eric Storey, owner of Nic It In The Bud, sire of Nic Me. OPEN
DIVISION: “The cattle were tough though, so it was out of my control,” said Robinson, who is the son of Teddy Robinson, a legendary reined cow horse trainer and competitor, “and we did the best we could. I just had to wait and see how it worked out.” The waiting was amplified by the trio of riders that had a clear shot at the championship. They included Todd Bergen on Billys Cool Cat (High Brow Cat x NQH Lucy Lena), owned by Bar L Quarter Horses; Todd Crawford on 2006 Snaffle Bit Futurity Champ Smart Crackin Chic (Smart Chic Olena x Kwackin) owned by the Singleton Ranches and Doug Williamson on Hes Wright On,owned by D&S Quarter Horses. Williamson put together a 220.5 score, which moved him to second, just a point and a half behind Robinson’s 656.5. Bergen had to settle for a 214.5 after their match with an obstinate bovine and Crawford and Smart Crackin Chic were able to mark only slightly better – a 215.5. Following his win, Robinson, who was experiencing his second NRCHA Limited Aged Event major win called Day, who was unable to attend the show. “I told him, ‘Hey, I just got you a birthday present,’ “ said Robinson with a laugh. He gave most of the credit for winning to Days Zanolena, saying, “She’s a great one. I’ve been fortunate to rider her.” And he’ll continue to do so as the current plans are to continue to show her at the NRCHA major events. NON-PRO
DIVISION: “I’m glad it’s over,” said Bourdet. “I was just trying to keep my head. Jake Gorrell told me earlier, before I rode, ‘It’s all position,’ and so I was trying to stay focused and think about what I needed to do.” Bourdet purchased CD Precious Peppy as a 2-year-old from Tim Brewer, Weatherford, Texas, during the NCHA Futurity sales in Fort Worth and this was Bourdet’s first major limited age event win. The $12,316 paycheck increased the mare’s lifetime earnings to $31,572.50.
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BOYD RICE COMES IN SECOND, SIXTH AND 15TH GOING INTO FINALS Sept.
29, 2011 Bergen and Shiners Dun Juan, a stallion by Smart Shiner out of Cremes Chic Olena, owned by Janiejill Tointon, Longmont, Colo., not only topped the preliminaries but also topped the Rein work with a 224. Bergen also finished third on The One Time (One Time Pepto x Love Em N Lena), owned by Camela Essick, with a 655 total score. Bergen holds the distinction of being the only rider to win over a million dollars in both the NRCHA and the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) and he's a former Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion who has won numerous NRCHA premier event titles. Spoiling Bergen's sweep of the top two spots was Boyd Rice riding Sixes First Cat (Waresthecat x First Peg), owned by the Burnett Ranches LLC, who until the final day of Open competition led the composite preliminaries with a 660 and won the Cow work with a 223. Rice qualified three horses for the 25-horse finals,including a tie for sixth on Moonstruck Pepto (One Time Pepto x Moonstruck Cat) owned by Cowan Select Horses LLC, scoring a 654, and a tie for 15th on Mamas Money Talks (Dual Pep x Money Talks Rio), owned by Pratt and Poole, scoring a 648. Other riders with multiple qualifiers for the finals include Todd Crawford with four: tie for 4th on Cat Can Dew (WR This Cats Smart x Dew It Flo) owned by Julie Gibbons, 654.5; tie for 15th Fancy Boons N All (Peptoboonsmal x Smart Fancy Zan), owned by Garth and Amanda Gardiner, 648.0; tie for 17th on Hes A Stylish Rey (Stylish Rey x Moondawgs Mate), owned by Dan Churchill, 647.5 and a tie for 23rd riding Sinful Cat (WR This Cats Smart x Sinful Playgirl) owned by Stacy Lynch, 645.5. Zane Davis will be riding three head, including 10) Diamond J Starlite (Diamond J Star x Little Chickalena) owned by Ty Jenkins, 652.0; 11) Chickarey (Dual Rey x Sonita Lena Chick) owned by John Semanik to a 650.5 and tie for 20) Stylishnfancy (Stylish Rey x Playgirl Fancy) owned by Dallan Jeppesen, 646.0. Forty-one years after tying to win the very first NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity, NRCHA Hall of Famer Les Vogt is back. He topped the Intermediate Open preliminaries with a composite of 654.5 riding Nic It Smartly (Nic It In The Bud x Shining Smartly, owned by Luke Jones. The score also tied him for fourth going into the Open finals. The Intermedite Open finals will be Saturday, Oct. 1, the day prior to the Open finals. The cut-off for the Intermediate was 639.5. The Limited Open preliminaries
ended in a tie between Trent Pedersen on Stylish Herbie and Nick
Dowers on Little Plain Chex, both with a 644 composite which was
just short of also qualifying for the Open finals. Stylish Herbie,
owned by Quail Run Ranch, Bend., Ore., is by Stylish Rey Gay out
of Gees A Shining Star. Little Plain Chex, owned by Curt and Kelli
Van Nes, Bishop, Calif., is by Just Plain colonel out of Smart Little
Chex. It took a 630.5 to qualify for the Limited Open. BOYD RICE AND SIXES FIRST CAT LEAD NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY OPEN COW WORK PRELIMINARIES Sept.
28, 2011 Only three sets remain in the Open preliminary cow work of the 2011 National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity being held Sept. 20-Oct. 2 in Reno, Nev., and cutter and all-around cowboy Boyd Rice, Spearman, Texas, is in the lead with a 223. The reined cow horse industry's largest event annually pays out more than $1 million over the course of the 13-day show. When the cow work preliminaries are completed today, the top 25 Open entries from the preliminary competition will earn a spot in the clean-slate finals on Oct. 2, where the winner will receive a check for $100,000. Rice, a former Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion, is currently leading the preliminary composite on Sixes First Cat. Rice and Sixes First Cat have a 223 in the cow work, complimented by a 218 in the herd work and a 219 in the rein work for a 660 composite. Sixes First Cat, by Waresthecat and out of First Peg, is owned by Burnett Ranches, LLC. If Rice and Sixes First Cat maintain their lead, they'll take home a check for $1,500, a Gist Silversmiths buckle sponsored by the Diamond RB Ranch, LLC, and a Mehl Lawson bronze from the Leavitt family. The awards will be presented during the annual NRCHA Hall of Fame Banquet, held at the Silver Legacy Hotel and Casino on Thursday, Sept. 29. Reserve in the composite with a 655.0 is Todd Bergen riding The One Time (One Time Pepto x Love Em N Lena) owned by Camela Essick. The pair have a 219.0 in the Herd work, 216.5 in Rein and 219.5 in the cow work. Bergen is leading the Rein Work with a 224 riding Shiners Dun Juan (Smart Shiner x Cremes Chic Olena) owned by Janiejill Tointon. Third in the composite with a 654.5 is a tie between Todd Crawford riding Cat Can Dew (WR This Cats Smart x Dew It Flo) owned by Julie Gibbons and former NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion and Hall of Famer Les Vogt who also has the composite lead of the Intermediate Open with a 654.5. Vogt is riding Nic It Smartly (Nic It In The Bud x Shinning Smartly) for Luke Jones, Allerton, Iowa. The Intermediate Open Cow work is led by Ron Emmons riding Wright Stylish (Lenas Wright On x Stylish Little Lady), owned by Emmon's wife LaDona. The pair scored a 221.5. However, it's , are also sitting in a third-place tie to make it back to the Open finals. Riding Savannahboonsmal for the Circle Y Ranch, Benton Bland has the high cow work score of the Limited Open with a 218. Savannahboonsmal, by Peptoboonsmal out of Savannah Hickory, is an NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Select 2-Year-Old Sale graduate. In fact, Savannahboonsmal was the high-seller for 2010. There is currently a tie for the lead of the Limited Open composite between Trent Pedersen and Stylish Herbie and Nick Dowers and Little Plain Chex. Both entries have a composite score of 644. Pedersen is competing on Stylish Herbie, by Stylish Rey Gay and out of Gees A Shining Star, who is owned by Quail Run Ranch of Bend, Ore. Dowers is riding Little Plain Chex, by Just Plain Colonel and out of Smart Little Chex, who is owned by Curt and Kelli Van Nest of Bishop, Calif. To earn a spot in the Cinch Intermediate Open Finals, riders have to be one of the top 17, and the top 10 will advance to the Limited Open finals. The Finals of the Cinch Intermediate Open and the Limited Open will be run concurrently on Saturday, October 1. Complete results can be found by visiting www.nrcha.com. The entire event is being webcast live thanks to NRCHA Official Videographers Galloping Video. To view the webcast, visit www.gallopingvideo.com. BOYD RICE WINS NRCHA CIRCLE Y RANCH DERBY ON BOONIE TUNES AT NRCHA CELEBRATION OF CHAMPIONS ROBBIE BOYCE AND MR PLAYINSTYLISH LEAD 2011 NRCHA WORLD’S GREATEST HORSEMAN HERD WORK PRELIMINARIES Courtesy NRCHA
The NRCHA Celebration of Champions, featuring the Circle Y Ranch Derby, the World's Greatest Horseman and the NRCHA World Championship Show presented by John Deere, is in full swing at the First Community Credit Union Spur Arena in San Angelo, Texas. Boyd Rice, Spearman, Texas, and Boonie Tunes won the NRCHA Circle Y Ranch Derby title, while the NRCHA World's Greatest Horseman Herd Work preliminaries are currently being led by Robbie Boyce and Mr Playinstylish.. Although delayed several times by bad weather, the show must go on! NRCHA
DERBY: “He was good in the cutting,” said Rice, who has won nearly $3 million in NCHA competition. “We cut some soft cattle but he worked well. He was the best he’s ever been in the rein work and we were a 147.5.” Rice and Boonie Tunes have shown in all the major NCHA events; however, when Rice “started to have some trouble with him,” they decided to show him in cow horse competition. The pair won their first cow horse event at Ardmore, Okla., and were finalists in the Open Hackamore at the 2010 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity. The Circle Y Ranch Derby is only the stallion’s third cow horse event. The Reserve title and $7,369 went to Lyn Anderson, Madera, Calif., riding Tuckers Smart Cat (WR This Cats Smart x Smoke Time Tuck), owned by David Archer, Clovis, Calif., to a close 440, after winning the Cow Work with a 151. The pair also won the Intermediate Open for an additional $2,240. The Limited Open went to Canadian John Swales, a two-time NRCHA World’s Greatest Horseman finalist, riding CD Ben (Soula Jule Star x CD Precious Gem), owned by Mary Reti, Elnora, Alberta, Canada. The pair took home close to $5,000 after collecting $2,240 for their Ltd. Open championship, plus $1,612 for a 10th-place tie in the Open division and $1,075.20 for fourth in the Intermediate Open. The Novice Horse Open was won by NRCHA Hall of Famer Doug Williamson, Bakersfield, Calif., riding Moon Me Pepto (Peptoboonsmal x Lenas Sissy Moon) owned by Barbara Hastings, Glendale, Calif. The pair netted $2,266 for their win plus $4,066 for a fourth-place tie in the Open Division. Williamson was also the 2010 NRCHA World’s Greatest Horseman Reserve Champion with Hes Wright On and will be taking another shot at the title this year. The Non-Pro Derby was won by Tammy Jo Hayes, Nocona, Texas, riding Moonstruck Nic (Nic It In The Bud x Moonstruck Cat), owned by Hayes and her father Walter Greeman. The pair, who scored a composite of 431.5, also were finalists in the 2010 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity. In 2010, Hays won the NRCHA Derby on another Nic It In The Bud gelding, Nics Get Smart. The pair took home $3,098 for their win plus $590 for having the high score of the Non-Pro cow work. The Reserve Champion of the Non-Pro Derby went to 18-year-old Chase Trahern riding Smart Little Laredo (Laredo Blue x Smart Little Spring), scoring a composite of 425.5. The pair also won the Intermediate Non-Pro division. The Amateur Champion was 15-year-old Morgan Holmes, Sarasota, Fla., riding Dunbuds Comet, nicknamed Lambchop (Dun It Big x Comets Gold Lena) also finished third in the Int. Non-Pro and fourth in the Non-Pro. Lambchop is owned by her parents Jay and Rhonda Holmes.
Twenty-six of the nation's top
horses and riders converged on the 1st Community Credit Union Spur
Arena, all vying for one of the coveted finals positions and the
chance to be crowned the World's Greatest Horseman. Boyce and Mr Playinstylish are a formidable team who have each had success in the show pen. Boyce, whose lifetime NRCHA earnings exceed $560,000, is a former NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Intermediate Open Futurity Champion, and has been a finalist in the World's Greatest Horseman competition several times. He's also earned major titles in the National Reining Horse Association. Mr Playinstylish, owned by Kit and Charlie Moncrief, Fort Worth, Texas, is by Playin Stylish and out of Tari Chick Gay. With lifetime earnings of approximately $100,000, the 6-year-old stallion was the 2009 AQHA Junior Working Cow Horse World Champion. The top 10 from the preliminary competition, which ends Friday, Feb. 4, will advance to the clean-slate finals on Sunday, Feb. 6. The World's Greatest Horseman Champion will receive a bevy of prizes and awards, highlighted by a check for $30,000! The event can be seen free of charge thanks to NRCHA Official Videographer Galloping Video. To view the live webcast, visit the NRCHA website at www.nrcha.com or Galloping Video's website. Full. Results with earnings are also published on the NRCHA website. ANNE REYNOLDS WINS RECORD SIXTH NON-PRO TITLE, PLUS RESERVE, AT 2010 NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY JAYSON FISHER TAKES NON-PRO; SHAWN MCCARTY TOPS INTERMEDIATE AND LYNN ANDERSON WINS LADIES DIVISION Press release from
NRCHA Anne Reynolds, of King Hill, Idaho, finished the preliminary composite in spots one through three - all on offspring of her stallion, Very Smart Remedy. She also claimed the top three spots in the Finals. Her record sixth Non-Pro Championship ride came aboard Very Smart Playmate, out of Gunna Be Mine, owned by her mother Joyce Pearson. Reynolds began the day with a 214.5 on the mare, followed that with a 213.5 in the rein work, and claimed the Championship title with a 215 in the cow work for a 643 composite. "It's unbelievable! I just can't believe it - it was great!" She added, "I was 1-2-3 in the preliminaries, and I didn't think we could do it again, and couldn't believe that we could win the Futurity again. I had given the lecture on positive thinking, but the doubt crept in about what could happen. I just tried to do a good job." The win netted a check for $17,780; a C.R. Morrison cow horse bronze sponsored by Arcese Quarter Horses; a Bob's Custom Saddle sponsored by Holy Cow Performance Horses; a Gist Silversmiths buckle from Jon and Jody Semper; a custom handmade hat from Shortys Hattery; an ESP pad from Classic Equine; a Cinch vest sponsored by Bob's Custom Saddles; a C.R. Morrison trophy; Platinum Performance; and a C.R. Morrison commemorative medallion. Reynolds won the Reserve Championship
on Smart As Sister, out of Teena Cash Flo, and collected an additional
$14,224; a Gist Silversmiths buckle sponsored by Dominic Conicelli;
a Cinch monogrammed vest sponsored by Bob's Custom Saddles; Platinum
Performance, and a C.R. Morrison commemorative medallion. Smart
As Sister is also owned by Pearson. The 1-2-3 finish not only netted Reynolds over $42,000, it added even more credibility to Very Smart Remedy's prowess as a sire of outstanding cow horses. "I'm just so proud of the colts that he's producing. They're great show horses and are what you really want for this event," she said. Reynolds added, "It's very rewarding. We've been at this a long time and it's really nice to be proving him and our mares as well. I'm really blown away by it." NON-PRO
& INTERMEDIATE FINALS: But weeks before the start of the Snaffle Bit Futurity, it looked like Hearts Willowy Fox would be unable to compete. A persistent hoof abscess almost kept the Heart Of A Fox mare, out of Satin Playboy, out of the event. "I kept looking at the clock and seeing that Futurity was getting closer.About 10 days before it started we opened it up and found another abscess," he explained. With the help of long-time friend and horse shoer Shawn Renshaw, the hoof began to heal, and Fisher was back in the saddle after a few days. "She had about a month off, but she got better and came back like she hadn't missed a beat. Shawn built a special plate for her, and it really helped," he said. Fisher thanked his wife Teresa and son Wyatt for their support, as well as his trainer Roger Bias, and Ted Robinson. Earlier in the week Fisher won the Intermediate Non Pro Bridle on his first Snaffle Bit Futurity Non Pro entry, Nu Cash Cutter. Shannon McCarty and Gangsta Gal,
by Gangster Chic out of Primos Bar Gal, won the Intermediate Non
Pro Reserve Championship. Along with a check for $5,896, McCarty
and owner Cheryl Schuyler were presented with a Gist Silversmiths
buckle sponsored by Cross Lazy PH; a monogrammed Cinch vest from
Bob's Custom Saddles, Platinum Performance; and a C.R. Morrison
commemorative The first of those was the Ladies Championship of the 2010 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity, which she won with Tuckers Smart Cat, owned by David Archer. The Ladies Championship came with a check for $1,485; a Gist Silversmiths buckle sponsored by Larry and Sharon Rose; a custom handmade hat from Shorty's Hattery; an ESP pad from Classic Equine; a monogrammed Cinch vest from Bob's Custom Saddles; Platinum Performance; a C.R. Morrison trophy; and a C.R. Morrison commemorative medallion. Tuckers Smart Cat is by WR This Cats Smart, out of Smoke Time Tuck - a mare whose offspring Anderson has had much success with."I've made the Open finals of the Snaffle Bit Futurity with four of the five horses out of that mare that I've competed on," Anderson said. "They are very nice horses and I'm thrilled that I could make the finals on this one for David." But the Ladies Championship is not all that Tuckers Smart Cat has won. Because he is NRCHA Stakes eligible, and was purchased during his yearling year at the Snaffle Bit Futurity Sales and paid into the Fairlea Ranch/Silver Gun Yearling Sale Incentive, Tuckers Smart Cat received an additional $14,500! "That was the best $250 entry fee that I could ever have paid. I had no idea it would be that kind of money. Knew we'd be eligible and was going to try for it. It is a great encouragement to buy a horse here. It's a great return on your money," she said. "Thank you to Fairlea Ranch for giving us even more of an incentive to buy at the Snaffle Bit Futurity." Along with the Ladies Championship and the Fairlea Ranch/Silver Gun Yearling Sale Incentive check, Anderson was presented another special honor - the President's Award from NRCHA President Kathy Gould. It came as a surprise to the Madera, California, trainer, who attended the banquet with her father, Arlyn Carr. "That was a surprise. My father isn't at every banquet so it was good timing. It was very nice of Kathy to think of me for the President's Award," she said.medallion. Snaffle Bit Futurity action continues Saturday, Oct. 2, with the Cinch Intermediate Open and Limited Open Finals, which will be followed at 4 p.m. by the Open Bridle and Open Hackamore finals. FIVE TOP CUTTERS COLLECT OVER $167,500 AT RENO’S NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY BOYD RICE TAKES HOME $107,500 By
Glory Ann Kurtz Zane Davis and Reymanator, a Dual Rey gelding may have taken home the top Open Division prize of $100,000 from the 2009 National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) Snaffle Bit Futurity, and veteran Non-Pro Champion Anne Reynolds, riding Shiney And Very Smart, may have collected this year’s Non-Pro winning check of $22,300. However, the cutting industry faired exceptionally well during the event, held Sept. 21–Oct. 4 in Reno, Nev., with five regular cutters earning over $167,500. Top cutter and all-around cowboy Boyd Rice, Spearman, Texas, the 2007 Champion of the NRCHA Open Snaffle Bit Futurity, who has earned over $2.6 million in NCHA competition, qualified two horses for the Open Finals, finishing in a tie for Reserve riding Picka Patcha Pepto owned by Larry Hall Cutting Horses, and placed sixth riding Desire Rey. He collected $70,000 for the Reserve title and an additional $37,500 for sixth – for a total of $107,500. Experiencing his first competition in the prestigious reined cow horse event was Cookie Banuelos, Las Vegas, Nev., riding Nitrocat (Nitro Dual Doc x Cinder Cat Annie) to the championship of the Limited Open Division, taking home a $7,110 paycheck – as well as third place in the Intermediate Open for an additional $10,428. His total take-home paycheck came to $17,538. Cookie, who trains horses for the Gaughans, has won close to $367,000 in NCHA competition. In the Non-Pro Division, McKenzie Merrill, Dallas, Texas, riding Ill Be Skeets (Skeets Peppy x Oak Ill Be) finished as the Reserve Champion for $16,725 and won the Intermediate Divisision for an additional $6,270. – for a total take-home paycheck of close to $33,000.McKenzie has won over $142,000 in NCHA contests and is the daughter of past AQHA President Frank Merrill and his wife, Robin. Also the versatile husband/wife team of Bill and Michelle Cowan, Ardmore, Okla., picked up close to $20,000 in the Non-Pro when Michelle finished third and and 13th for close to $16,200 and Bill won $3,345 – for a total of over $19,500. Bill has over $283,500 in NCHA lifetime earnings, while Michelle has collected over $128,000. OPEN
DIVISIONS: In the finals, Davis, the son of three-time PRCA World Champion Saddle Bronc rider, Shawn Davis, and his wife Jeanne, piloted his horse to the championship of the Cow Work, with a 220 score, and the Herd Work with a 218.5 and finished in a tie for eighth in the Rein Work, scoring a 214. Boyd Rice, who made the finals on two head, tied for the Reserve title with a 646.5 riding Picka Patcha Pepto, a red roan stallion by Peptoboonsmal out of Patches Of Blue by Smart Little Lena, owned by Larry Hall Cutting Horses, Weatherford, Texas, represented at the event by Elaine Hall, who owned the stallion’s sire Peptoboonsmal when he won the 1995 NCHA Open Futurity with Gary Bellenfant in the saddle. Boyd also rode Desire Rey, a son of Dual Rey out of Playguns Desire, owned by Kevin Knight and Sydney Rice to sixth place, scoring a 637.5. Todd Crawford, Blanchard, Okla., was riding Shiners Nickle, a buckskin stallion that was bred by Carol Rose, the owner of his sire, Shining Spark, and Lyle Lovett. He is out of Shesa Lota Nic by Reminic, and is now owned by Michelle Cannon, Venus, Texas. Brad Buttrey and Good Old Times, a Yellow Roan of Texas gelding out of Seems Like Old Times, owned by Natall Melo, won the Intermediate Non-Pro Division and a paycheck for $18,486. When Brad Buttrey began training Good Old Times, he had every intention for the talented gelding, nicknamed Radar, to become a Non-Pro entry for Melo; however, the horse progressed so fast, Melo talked Buttrey into showing him. "I'm just very thankful that Natall talked me into showing this horse here,” said Buttrey. The Intermediate Open Reserve Championship went to Phillip Ralls and Very Smart Smoke (Very Smart Remedy x Lil Brown Freckle), owned by Billie Jo Baxley, Paso Robles, Calif., collecting $14,220. Third place went to a first time Snaffle Bit Futurity exhibitor. Cookie Banuelos and his horse, Nitrocat also won the Limited Open Championship and collected over $17,500 for their finals performance. While visiting the Snaffle Bit Futurity in 2008 with his Katie and her parents, he decided to try his hand at showing cow horses. "I told Katie that I wanted to try it," said Cookie. "But that wasn't what I had originally purchased Nitrocat for." While visiting with Grant Mitchell of Marshall Chesrown's Black Rock Ranch, Banuelos mentioned that he wanted a pretty stallion to take back to Mexico so he'd have a horse to ride when he visited his home country. Mitchell knew just the horse - a black stallion by Nitro Dual Doc that had fallen behind in training because of injuries. "I hadn't seen the horse, but I said I would take him,” said Banuelos, “But that was in May of 2008, and Nitrocat was not being ridden. He finally got a ride to Las Vegas in October, and I fell in love with him, but I didn't begin seriously riding him until February of 2009," But thanks to good friends, including former Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Champions Todd Bergen and Boyd Rice, Nitrocat and Banuelos were ready for their NRCHA debut. "He's definitely going to get a break after this,” said Cookie. “We had to work really hard to get him ready to show, and he deserves a break," said Cookie. "He's definitely not going to go to Mexico anymore!" Craig Boyd and Royal Tipster also achieved a 636.5 score, tying Banuelos in the Limited Open Division. However, ties are determined by the higher cow work score, so Boyd and the Royal Fletch 3-year-old, owned by Mike and Kristine Le Grande, took home $5,688 for the Reserve Championship. Also entered in the Intermediate Open, their finals performance garnered an additional $10,428 for their third place tie. NON-PRO
DIVISIONS: Shiney And Verysmart is the product of Reynolds breeding program - one that has been successful time after time. He is by her stallion, Very Smart Remedy, a former World's Greatest Horseman Champion and sire of five 2009 Open Futurity finalists and two Non-Pro finalists. The maternal line is one that began before Reynolds was even born. Her aunt had a mare named Nevada Miss, who she bred to Poco Tivio to produce a filly named Poco Rhythm. When her aunt died, she gave Reynolds that mare – Anne was 6 years old at the time. At the end of her high school years, Reynolds and her mother bred Poco Rhythm to Tripolay Bar, resulting in a mare named Music And Rhythm. Music And Rhythm was the dam of Shirley McLain, who was bred to Shining Spark and had Shirley Shine - Shiney And Verysmart's dam. For the most Non Pros, the end of the finals means a chance to relax, but for Reynolds, the show was far from over, as she qualified Very Smart Magic for the Open Finals, finishing 12th for an additional $18,000. She also owned Very Smart And Sure, ridden by Lord in the finals. McKenzie Merrill claimed the Intermediate Non-Pro Championship and the Non-Pro Reserve Championship on Ill Be Skeets. She collected $32,995 in the finals competition alone, after topping the herd and rein work preliminaries. "I'm kind of in shock,” said McKenzie, who usually competes in cutting horse aged events. “This was my first year to show a Futurity horse here. I brought one two years ago and the day before I showed in the herd work she tore a suspensory, so that was tough," she explained. "I showed a hackamore horse last year, and then was able to come back this year and compete in the Futurity." She and Ill Be Skeets, (Skeets Peppy x Oak Ill Be), began the finals with a 216.5 in the herd work. "My horse is really cowy - I don't have to make him do anything and I can leave him alone," she said. "My horse is a show horse, and he was just great. I think I did everything I needed to, and we marked a 217." When it came down to the cow work, she knew she had to lay it on the line. "I knew I had to be aggressive, and that it would either work or not. I just knew I had to go out there and be aggressive and really go for it." Karey Franz, the 2008 NRCHA Snaffle
Bit Futurity Amateur Champion, won the Intermediate Non-Pro Reserve
title on Hy Rollin Hollywood with a 631. The Reserve title garnered
a check for $5,016. ZANE DAVIS, WINNER OF NSHA FUTURITY LEADS FIELD OF 25 OPEN FINALISTS AT NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY NEWCOMER CASEY BREANQUINHO TOPS INTERMEDIATE AND LIMITED OPEN Sept.
26, 2009 – Reno, Nev. The pair are obviously trying hard for a repeat of the National Stock Horse Association (NSHA) Futurity, held Aug. 18-23 in Paso Robles, Calif., where the Whitehall, Mont., trainer rode the gelding out of Savannah Hickory by Doc’s Hickory to the championship and $24,000 paycheck that went with it. At Reno, the pair dominated the preliminary competition with a total score of 661. After marking 220 in the herd work, which was good enough for second place, and following that with a respectable 217.5 in the rein work, Davis could have taken it easy to make the Open finals. Instead, the son of three-time PRCA World Champion Saddle Bronc rider, Shawn Davis, and his wife Jeanne, piloted his horse to the cow work high score - a 223.5 –distancing himself from the rest of the field by seven points. Second going into the finals is Jay McLaughlin riding A Shiner Named Sioux (Shining Spark x Docs Sulena) owned by Carol Rose, Gainesville, Texas. The pair, scoring a total of 654 points, won the Rein work with a 221.5. McLaughlin also finished fourth riding Sippin Boonshine (Shining Spark x Peppys From Heaven), also owned by Rose. The 2006 Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion Todd Crawford, finished third with a 652.5 riding Shiners Nickle (Shining Spark x Shesa Lota Nic) owned by Michelle Cannon. The second- through sixth-place horses were all sired by Shining Spark, last year’s leading reined cow horse sire. Todd Bergen, who won the event In 2001 riding Boonlights Dancer, qualified four horses for the finals, including Shiney Miss Marker (Shining Spark x Smart Miss Marker), owned by Arcese Quarter Horses, that he tied for the Rein work with a 221. Boyd Rice, the 2007 Champion, qualified two – Picka Patcha Pepto (Peptoboonsmal x Patches Of Blue) owned by Larry Hall Cutting Horses and Desire Rey (Dual Rey x Playguns Desire), owned by Kevin Knight & Sydney Rice. John Ward, who was last year’s champion riding Black Pearl, barely squeaked into the finals, tying for 23-24 with a composite score of 641, riding Mister McLovin (Mister Dual Pep x Peppy Nic Remedy), owned by the Ward Ranch.
Making his first appearance during the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity was Cookie Banuelos, Las Vegas, Nev., riding his own horse, Nitrocat (Nitro Dual Doc x Cinder Cat Annie) to the finals of the Intermediate and Limited Open. He just missed the Open Finals after he tied for second in the Cow work in the Open preliminaries with a 221, scoring a composite of 636.5. It took a 640.5 to make the Open Finals. Casey, along with the other Intermediate and Limited Open finalists, will begin the finals for those divisions on Thursday, Oct. 1, with the herd work, and will compete in the rein and cow work finals on Friday, Oct. 2. Those lucky enough to earn a ticket to the big dance will compete on Sunday, Oct. 4, in a clean-slate competition for the Open Championship and a piece of the $655,000 Open finals payout.
JAY MCLAUGHLIN AND CAROL ROSE TEAM UP TO WIN SWRCHA FUTURITY, DERBY, STALLION STAKES By Glory Ann Kurtz OPEN
FUTURITY: A close second, scoring a 429 and taking home $6,240, was Boyd Rice, Spearman, Texas, riding Dual Star Cat (Dual Pep x Lenas Star Cat) for the Bar H Ranche, Weatherford, Texas. He was also third on Desire Rey (Dual Rey x Playguns Desire), owned by Kevin and Sydney Knight, for an additional $5,200. He won the Cow work on Desire Rey, with a 148. He also tied for fourth with a 144, earning $3,466.50, riding Peptoroansmal (Peptoboonsmal x Smart Little Remedy), owned by Earl Velarde. Rice was the big money winner in the Open Futurity, with his horses earning $14,906.50. The Intermediate Open Futurity was won by Docs Working Lady (Doc O Wena x Hickorys Fancy Lady), owned and ridden by Rob Leach, to a 424 for a $1,890 paycheck. The Reserve title went to Andy Adams riding Shiney N Sporty, owned by the Salt Fork Cattle Co. The pair scored a 420.5 and took home $1,512. The Limited Open Futurity was won by Jeremy Knoles riding Shiners Star Illina (Shining Spark x Squeak Toys Lady), owned by Kitty Boeddeker. The pair scored a 417.5, winning the Rein Work with a 139.5 and the tied for the top score in the Cow Work – a 141 – winning $2,223. The Reserve title went to Justin Tolle riding Gun Slingin Suzanna (Real Gun x Seven Zans Suzy) owned by the Lochow Ranch. The pair scored a 415, which included the top score of 139 in the Herd work, and took home $1,778. NON-PRO
FUTURITY: OPEN
DERBY: The Intermediate Open Derby title went to Robert Chown riding TR Miss Graygun (Playgun x JK Carlita Bruce) for the WW Ranch LLC. The pair scored a total of 429, winning the Rein Work with a 145 and placing second in the Cow Work with a 143. The pair won $1,155. The Reserve title was taken by Andy Adams riding Mister Smart Chic (Smart Chic Olena x Lois Montana) for the Salt Fork Cattle Co. The pair scored a 428 and won $963. The Limited Open Derby Champion was Circle Six Spark 205 (Shining Spark x Begay 295), owned by Phoebe Cooke and ridden by Jeremy Knoles to a 427. The pair won the Rein work with a 144 and the Cow Work with a 145, earning $1,785. Reserve was Rising Starlight (Little Bay Starlight x Peppys Hot Star), owned by Brett & Rachel Eells, scoring a 413.5 and earning $1,488. The Novice Horse Champion was Shiners Supermodel, owned by Don Hiscox and ridden by Shawn D. Hayes to a 427.5, sweeping the Herd, Rein and Cow Work for a $1,218 paycheck. Reserve was Chulas Fancy Pistol (Chula Dual x Miss Silver Pistol, owned by the Anderson Cattle Co., and ridden by Bozo Rogers to a 405.5, earning $812. NON/PRO
– AMATEUR DERBY: Reserve went to Jerry Alvord riding Smartlight Dot Com (Ill Be Smart x Dotta Starlight), owned by Jerry and his wife Shelly. Taking home $889, the pair scored a total of 424.5, taking second in the Cow Work with a 144. The pair also won the Intermediate Non-Pro Derby for an additional $613. Reserve in the Intermediate went to Bozo Rogers riding BJ Chula Mula (Chula Dual x BJ Tari), owned by Karla Rogers. The pair scored a total of 422, winning the Herd Work with a 140 and the Cow Work with a 144 – for a $368 paycheck. Judy Fortenberry won the Amateur Derby riding Boon Doc Pepto (CTR Peptolena x Clabbers Stripper) to a 404.5, winning the Herd and Cow Work and finishing second in the Rein Work. The pair took home $788. The Reserve title went to The Shiners Smokin (Shiners Lena Doc x Smokin Annie Okley), ridden by Rick Thompson and owned by Rick or Nora Thompson. The pair scored a 385.5, winning the Rein Work, and taking home $473. STALLION
STAKES FUTURITY & DERBY The Stallion Stakes Derby
was won by BJ Chula Mula (Chula Dual x BJ Tari), owned by Karla
Rogers. The pair scored a 422 and won $3,375. Reserve went to Cookin
Merada (Meradas Money Talks x Cookies Cookin), owned by Matacorp
Ltd., scoring a 421 and winning $1,687.50.
NRCHA DERBY BEGINS – ENTRIES UP June
16, 2009 – Paso Robles, Calif. The most dramatic increase in entries
comes in the Open division of the Derby. Sixteen more Open horses
have brought the total to 117 entries, all competing for a Championship
paycheck that last year exceeded $42,000. A staggering half-million
dollars will be paid out during the show, which will be held through
June 21 at the Paso Robles Event Center in Paso Robles, Calif. RUSSELL DILDAY REPEATS WORLD’S GREATEST HORSEMAN VICTORY Feb. 8, 2009 –
San Angelo, Texas Photo by Primo
Russell Dilday made reined
cow horse history on Feb. 8 at the JAKE TELFORD IS A SURVIVOR IDAHO TRAINER WINS OPEN BRIDLE AND HACKAMORE TITLES AT NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY Oct. 5, 2008 –
Reno, Nev. OPEN
BRIDLE: “He’s been really good to me,” said Telford. “He’s great minded and easy to train. He can do anything you ask him to do.” The reigning World’s Greatest Horseman Champions Russsell Dilday and Topsails Rien Maker earned the Reserve title with 433.5 points. Owned by Dilday and Kevin Cantrelle, the 9-year-old stallion by Topsail Cody out of Jameen Bay, earned a check for $5,488. OPEN
HACKAMORE: The partnership began after Miller purchased Cottonwood Springs Ranch from White. Spark N Loulena took the Reserve title at the Hackamore Classic and won the Open Hackamore class. The partnership also had an entry, Dual Deuces, which made the Open Futurity finals with Telford and missed the Open finals by a point. “Getting involved in the reined cow horses has been a great experience, and a lot of fun,” said Miller. “I really have to thank Newt because without him, we wouldn’t have gotten involved. Carol Rose has also been a great influence on us – she has great horses and is a great horsewoman. And really, Jake Telford has done great things for our program. Tying for Reserve was Shining Lil Nic (Smart Shiner x Dig A Lil Nic), owned by Bill and Janiejill Tointon and ridden by Kevin Stallings and Kiss My Shiny Lips (Shining Spark x Lipschic) owned by Holy Cow Performance Horses, ridden by Telford. Both marked scores of 427 and collected checks of $4,966. The event, held at the Reno Livestock Events Center in Reno, will pay out over $1.3 million. The triathlon concludes Sunday, Oct. 5, with the Open Finals. HE LATEST FROM THE NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY Sept. 28, 2009 -
Reno, Nev. BUERGER, REYNOLDS AND HAYS TIE FOR NON-PRO PRELIMINARY REIN WORK With every point critical to earning a finals berth, Gusti Buerger and Tiny Dancer, Anne Reynolds and Peptos Smart Style, and Tammy Jo Hays and Nics Get Smart marked identical scores of 215.5 in the rein work. Reynolds and Peptos Smart Style, by Peptos Stylish Oak and out of Smart Chicy Dee, also marked the high score in the herd work with a 216, and are leading the composite scores of preliminary competition by five points, with a total of 431.5. Reynolds, of King Hill, Idaho, has the distinction of being not only the NRCHA’s only female million dollar rider, but also the Association’s only Non Pro Million Dollar rider. Second in the composite scores, with a 426.5, is Kristi Locatelli riding Last To Dance (Boonlight Dancer x Lassie Doc) owned by Robert E Locatelli. A rising star in the NRCHA, Buerger, Silt, Colo., has been riding horses since she was 12. Along with numerous youth titles, she has also amassed many aged-event wins. Her horse, Tiny Dancer, is by Boonlight Dancer and out of Smart Blue Frost. Tammy Jo Hays, St. Jo, Texas, recently earned the Intermediate Non-Pro Championship at the Hackamore Classic. She is a former American Quarter Horse Association Amateur World Champion, and NRCHA Non Pro Bridle World Champion. Nics Get Smart is by Nic It In The Bud and out of Chelsea Lena. JAKE
TELFORD WINS OPEN TWO-REIN CHAMPIONSHIP ON SHADY LIL STARLIGHT Coming in 12th in the draw riding Shady Lil Starlight, a 6-year-old stallion, nicknamed "Bentley," sired by Grays Starlight out of Shady Little Cat, he earned a 294 total to take the Championship by a half-point. Telford has been riding the stallion for two years and in February, they earned the 2007 Open Hackamore World Championship, and followed that with Two Rein wins at the Stallion Stakes and NRCHA Derby. Bentley is owned by Holy Cow Performance Horses, who purchased him as a 2-year-old. “I have been absolutely in love with him ever since we bought him,” noted owner Nancy Crawford-Hall. “He’s so beautiful, and bred so well – he really catches your eye when he shows. He is one you can’t help but watch.” Bentley was shown at the Snaffle Bit Futurity, but an injury kept him out of competition for over a year. “I was so worried that he wouldn’t be able to live up to his potential,” said Crawford-Hall. “But since Jake has gotten him, and they have just been doing so well. They’re a great team.” Ted Robinson, the winningest rider in NRCHA history, rode Shiners Diamond Girl to win the Reserve title for San Juan Ranch. Robinson and the Shining Spark mare marked a 293.5 to win $3,330. TISH
WILHITE AND HESA SMOKIN INDIAN WIN NON-PRO TWO-REIN BRODY
FITCH WINS YOUTH BRIDLE CHAMPIONSHIP ON FROSTED PISTOL CHEX “I couldn’t believe it,” admitted the college freshman after his award photo. “I was a little disappointed with the Reserve, just because I’ve wanted to win another saddle for a long time. I feel bad for Mary, though, because she really wanted it, too.” Last year, Fitch and Frosted Pistol Chex had a sixth place finish in the Youth Bridle. “Last year, I felt like I over rode her before the show,” he said. “So this year, I gave her some time off between the last show and this one, and I think it paid off.” Brody actually started Frosted Pistol Chex when he was only 10 years old, and has since won two all-around saddles with the mare, on which he also competes in roping events. With one more year left as a youth rider, Fitch hopes to win a little bit more on the mare before retiring her to be a broodmare. “She’s a really nice mare, and I think she’d have nice foals. I’m going to college for a business degree, and I’d like to stay around the horses, so I think it is a good plan.” Sarah Allen, Park City, Utah, earned the Reserve title on Colonel Leo Lux with a 282. Although the Reserve title that came after the score adjustment was a disappointment, Sarah still earned $975, a Gist Silversmiths Buckle sponsored by Primo Morales Photography, a Cinch monogrammed vest from Wayne Hodges 4-Star Trailers/Outlaw Conversions, and Platinum Performance. It was a big day for the budding National Reined Cow Horse Youth Association program, as the first ever NRCHYA 2-On-2 Basketball Tournament debuted. With help from NRCHA members Ramona Wold, Jackie Roeser, and Annie Roeser, the games began on the 32 team tournament. Round ball action continues on Sunday and Wednesday, and the Final Four teams will be auctioned off in a Calcutta at the Annual Hall of Fame Banquet on October 2, and will tip off on October 4. The Snaffle Bit Futurity continues through October 5. All the final’s questions will be answered on Tuesday when the Non Pro Preliminaries conclude with the cow work. The Non Pro Finals begin on Thursday, October 2, with the herd work, and finish up Friday with the rein and cow work. ANNE REYNOLDS AND PEPTOS SMART STYLE MARK HIGH IN NON-PRO HERD WORK AT SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY CHRIS MATTHEWS AND ASHLEY GOOD TAKE LEAD IN AMATEUR Sept. 26, 2008 –
Reno, Nev. Although the top Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro riders will advance to the finals, the Amateur competition is decided in one go, and two newcomers - Chris Mathews and Ashley Good - are leading the pack with identical scores of 209 after the herd work. Mathews, Santa Maria, Calif., rode
Prime Chic Olena (Smart Chic Good, Purcell, Okla., typically works behind the scenes helping her husband, trainer T.J. Good. In fact, this Snaffle Bit Futurity is one of her first shows - ever! The Amateur Championship will be decided after the cow work preliminaries on Tuesday, Sept. 30, at the Reno Livestock Events Center in Reno. The Futurity will run through Oct. 5. In the Non Pro division, former Snaffle Bit Futurity Non Pro Champion Anne Reynolds, King Hill, Idaho, marked the high score of the day with a 216 on Peptos Smart Style, (Peptos Stylish Oak x Smart Chicy Dee). Reynolds, who is also the NRCHA's only woman million dollar rider and only Non Pro million dollar rider, has won an unprecedented four Snaffle Bit Futurity Non Pro Championships. In the Intermediate Non Pro division,
John McCarty, of Gaviota, Calif., marked the high score with a 214.5
on Mister Diamond Shine (Mister Dual Pep x Shinersdiamondjackie). JAY MCLAUGHLIN AND GENUINE MASTERPIECE TOP REIN WORK AT SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY BOYD RICE LEADS COMPOSITE RIDING MR PLAYIN STYLISH Sept. 26, 2008 –
Reno, Nev. It was a first for McLaughlin, who had never won a preliminary go-round at the prestigious event - and the high score may have eased the pain of the low score of 190 he earned in the herd work. “My horse really wanted to work in the herd work,” said McLaughlin, “but we cut a bad cow. He really showed well in the rein work, so I’m pretty happy with how things turned out this go.” Coming close to the top spot in the rein work were Todd Bergen and Shinin Train by Shining Spark and Todd Crawford riding Son Shining Rooster by Gallo Del Cielo. Both scored a 221. Rice, Spearman, Texas, led the pack of 283 entries in the Herd work on Mr Playinstylish, a son of Playin Stylish out of Tari Chick Gay owned by Kit and Charlie Moncrief, Fort Worth, Texas. Rice was the 2007 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion riding Oh Cay N Short, a son of Oh Cay Quixote, owned by Kevin and Sydney Knight, Peoria, Ariz. INTERMEDIATE
OPEN: Leading the composite of the Intermediate Open is Ed Robertson, a "catch rider" for CD Rocks, a stallion by CD Lights out of Shiney Tari, owned by Robbie Humphreys, Clovis, N.M. The pair had finished second in the Herd work with a 218.5 and scored a 216 in the rein work for a total of 434.5 – good enough for third in the Open composite and first in the Intermediate Open. CD Rocks was scheduled to be ridden by Brandon Staebler, a former Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion who was sidelined by a fractured leg. LIMITED
OPEN: In the lead in the composite of the Limited Open is Andy Adams riding Shine Happens (Shining spark x Sannie Olena), owned by Salt Fork Cattle Co. The pair scored a 215 in the Herd Work and a 214 in the rein for a total of 429. Second is Tina Fry riding Pitchforks Lil Pistol (Sweet Lil Pepto x Pitchforks Lena) owned by Dominic L. Conicelli. The pair had a 214.5 in the Herd Work and a 212.5 in the Rein Work, for a total of 427. The Preliminary competition continues on Friday, Sept. 26, with the Non-Pro Herd Work. The show goes until Sunday, Oct. 5 when the Finals will be held and over $1.3 million in checks will have been awarded – at the show. Three sales, featuring 382
head of top-bred performance horses, will be held during the event.
The Open Futurity Horse Sale is scheduled for 2:15 p.m., Thurs.,
Oct. 2; the Yearling & Broodmare Horse Sale will be held at
11 a.m., on Friday, Oct. 3 and the Performance Horse Sale will be
held at 12 noon on Saturday, Oct. 4.
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“He’s
the best prospect I’ve had for Reno,” said Ron Ralls
about Solano Cat after his win of the Kalpower Open Futurity held
during the Southwest Reined Cow Horse Association (SWRCHA) Summer
Classic held Aug. 14-17 in Waco, Texas. The pair scored a combined
score of 438, taking home a $7,515 paycheck for Mexican owner Elizabet
Hernandez Rodriguez. Ralls, Gainesville, Texas, also won the Intermediate
Open division. He also won the Texas Star Bank Open and Intermediate
Open Derby, riding Peptos Spooky Storm for Sue Koenig, Weatherford,
Texas, for a total of $15,589.
