The NRCHA acknowledges horses through incentives and awards.
130 Winter Prep
Through snow and sleet, many face challenges preparing for winter horse shows.
and
EVENT COVERAGE
42 Super Sarah and Selvary Smoke ‘Em
Sarah Dawson and Selvarey make the history books.
56 One Tough Hick
Bret Paulick and his homegrown gelding powered to two Futurity champion titles.
66 Snaffle Bit Futurity Horse Show Champions
84 Can’t Touch This
MC Cowhammer and Trevor Carter hammered down to win the NRCHA Hackamore Classic.
94 Sale Sizzle
Two days of sales saw bids top $100,000 for performance horse prospects.
On the cover:
CIRCLEUP
10 From the Judge’s Chair
Quotable
MEMBERROUNDUP
26 Know the Pro: Jeremy Knoles 32 Notable Non Pro: The Holowaths 35 Behind the Buckle
38 Meet Mark & Kim Rausch
IN EVERY ISSUE
4 From the Executive Director
NRCHA President’s Letter
Dennis Moreland’s Tack Tips
NRCHA Committee Directory
Affiliate List
Suspended List
NRCHA Approved Events
96 Teaming Up in Cowtown
A large payout drew hundreds of team ropers to the third annual ARHFA World Championship.
100 Little Bit of Sparkle
Matt Koch defends his title at the AQHA Ranching Heritage Challenge.
106 Hillary’s Big Win
Cow dogs rule at the 2020 MARS EquestrianTM National Finals Rodear.
114 Thomas Repeats Win in Cowboy Class
For the second year, Kelsey Thomas takes top honors.
118 Cheering on the Cutters
Makayla Cowan makes a bold cow horse debut.
Riding Sheri Jamieson’s mare, Selvarey, Sarah Dawson earned the Snaffle Bit Futurity® Open Champion title (page 42).
Photo by Primo Morales.
Nick Dowers
High Stressin Cat take another Open Bridle win in 2020.
MAGIC MOMENTS
It came down to the cow work—as it always does—and the third to the last run of the night, at that. Kelby Phillips laid down a smoking 223 run, and Zane Davis and Clay Volmer were tied for the lead in the composite with a 656.5 each. And then Sarah Dawson rode in on Selvarey, and the rest is history. History making, in fact, as Sarah became only the second woman in the 51 year history of the National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity® to win the Open. Even at a limited capacity, the crowd in the historic Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum was deafening as it cheered Sarah and Selvarey on to would become the winning run of the night.
I can feel the energy in the Coliseum that night even now, weeks later, as I write my first letter as incoming NRCHA Executive Director. I can see Chris Dawson cheering so hard for his wife he nearly fell over the second-level railing. I can hear all of us cheering right alongside him, our voices taking days to recover. I can see photographer Primo Morales doing his best to wrangle an extended NRCHA family for the win photo. It was an electric evening, to say the least.
That’s the magic of our sport, of our association. The genuine camaraderie between competitors; the welcoming nature of our experienced exhibitors to those newer to the arena; the magnetic attraction of watching a horse make a massive fence turn; the collective celebration of the successes of breeders, owners, trainers and exhibitors—it’s special, and we know it. We don’t take it for granted.
This year I watched the Snaffle Bit Futurity Finals through a new lens, readying to join the team responsible for making this an event that honors the work of those who spend years preparing to compete in it. It’s a responsibility that I take seriously, and one that I’m honored to assume. I look forward to working side by side with the outstanding NRCHA staff, NRCHA Board of Directors, members, sponsors and fans to ensure each year of the Snaffle Bit Futurity builds on the magic of the years that came before.
As we enter into the holiday season I hope you each find time to reflect on a year of accomplishments, celebrate and spend time with your family and loved ones, and take a breath before setting your sights on 2021. I wish you all health and happiness as we close out 2020, and I will see you in Fort Worth in February 2021 for the Celebration of Champions and NRCHA World’s Greatest Horseman! Together, there is more magic to be made.
Best wishes,
Volume 25, Number 6
Official Publication of the
National Reined Cow Horse Association
Published by Morris Equine Group a division of MCC Magazines, LLC
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Reined Cow Horse News (ISSN 23803975) is published six times a year by Cowboy Publishing Group. Known office of publication: 2112 Montgomery Street, Fort Worth, TX 76107. All contents are copyright of the National Reined Cow Horse Association. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without prior written permission from the NRCHA. Opinions expressed in articles and advertising in Reined Cow Horse News do not necessarily reflect the positions or opinions of the NRCHA or its officers and members. Accuracy of material is the sole responsibility of the authors. Unsolicited materials are submitted at the sender’s risk and the NRCHA accepts no responsibility for them. Please address all submissions to: Reined Cow Horse News, 256 North Hwy 377, Pilot Point, Texas, 76258. Subscription rate is $25 a year. Periodical postage paid at Pilot Point, Texas, 76258 and additional mailing offices. USPS number, 024-906. Postmaster: Send address changes to Reined Cow Horse News, 256 North Hwy 377, Pilot Point, Texas, 76258.
Dr. Anna Morrison
POSITIVE PERSPECTIVE IN THE MEDIA SPOTLIGHT
To our fans all over the world, this letter is for you. Not only is the National Reined Cow Horse Association the best association and best sport, but we also have the best fans. They are passionate about the sport, at all levels and vocal about their thoughts on event locations, which we heard as each premier event was planned in this unusual year.
Undoubtedly, the NRCHA Board of Directors and staff were prepared for the 51st Annual Snaffle Bit Futurity® to be a little different this year given the pandemic, health and safety guidelines, etc. However, we were not prepared for how special our fans would make the Futurity feel.
Corey Cushing, NRCHA president
While we could only fill the Will Rogers Coliseum to 50 percent capacity this year, it felt like a full house on the final Saturday night. No matter if you were sitting in the stands or blessed enough to be a Finalist showing in the iconic arena, the cheering and noise drove the excitement and energy to a whole new level. To those who could not make the trip to Cowtown but had watch parties at home, thank you for tuning in. We could hear you yelling at your TV! To our international fans who faithfully travel to the Futurity each year, we missed you and hope you can join us, again, soon.
Our members work hard in the shadows for a chance to shine in the arena, and those efforts also gained notice from this year with the extensive media coverage from multiple outlets. By now, you know the NRCHA hosted the hit TV series, Yellowstone, during the Snaffle Bit Futurity. Ultimately, the show’s presence will only shine more light on our ath-
letic horses and grow passionate fan base when it features cow horses in the upcoming season.
Fans may also notice our increased presence in RFD-TV and the Cowboy Channel. Horse of the West hosts four shows per year, aired six times each, featuring insider training tips, premier event coverage, the NHSRA Finals and much more. The crew at Western Sports Round Up, and Rural Radio have interviewed many of our members, me included, to discuss the trials of the year, premier event coverage and what is in store for the NRCHA. The coverage and viewership from 2020 has been through the roof. We are honored to provide such exciting events for people to watch. I believe this sport is gaining the media recognition it deserves and I’m looking forward to the positive impact it will have on our industry.
Despite the challenges of 2020, every aspect of the association prevailed, our shows, our sponsors, our fans, our affiliates and much more. I, for one, am counting this year as a great success, and cannot wait to see what 2021 has in store for the NRCHA!
Sincerely,
Corey Cushing
FROM THE JUDGE’S CHAIR
There is never a dull moment from the judge’s chair at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®.
Just about when you think you’ve seen it all, something different always seems to pop up, especially at the National Reined Cow Horse Association’s biggest show.This year in the Open Hackamore class finals was a case in point. A Yellowstone banner— the television show that was filming scenes with Metallic Cat, the Snaffle Bit Futurity® presenting sponsor—w as added to the arena before the finals but after the warm-ups were over. This spooked some of the horses in the first set of the finals.Before the second set of finals was started a solution was decided upon which would be fair to the first set.Then, Taylor Sheridan, the producer of Yellowstone, got on the microphone and apologized for the inconvenience and the problem that the sign caused.His solution was to leave the sign up and pay everyone first place money. How about that!
There is something to be learned from the reaction of the exhibitors in the first set. A representative is appointed to be a liaison between exhibitors and management/judges. The proper procedure would be to go to the “rep” and explain the situation, then he/she takes it from there. It is easier to come up with a well thought out, fair solution, when it comes from the rep to a small group of leaders.That’s just food for thought for the next time something unusual happens.
The Snaffle Bit Futurity itself seems to get deeper and more competitive every year. The judges thought it would be
helpful, in the Will Rogers Coliseum, to move the one- and two-point penalty markers farther towards the end of the arena for the fence works.
In theory this would give the exhibitors a better chance to make longer first run and turns, which would allow them to make a good second and maybe even a third turn and finish with the circles in the open part of the arena. Morgan Tweedy, the assistant show manager, and Ben Baldus, the show rep, were consulted and it was decided to give it a go.
With the depth of competition it’s the little things that usually make a difference on how well you place. This year the exhibitors that could maneuver their cattle a ways past the middle marker usually ended up in a
better position in the arena to finish their fence works.Some of the cattle seemed reluctant to go very far past the middle marker before they headed back towards the in-gate, this made the exit to the first turn very important to keep good position and control.
The luck of the draw packs a lot of weight in any cattle event.Our event is no different.There were quite a few “slow lopers” this year.The question to the judges was whether to award a new cow or not?If the exhibitor got in behind the animal to get it to go and it was still reluctant to go beyond a slow lope, it was a fairly easy new cow call. If the exhibitor didn’t get behind it, the call was more difficult because the judge didn’t know if the animal would run sufficiently or not.The idea is to show the judge that the animal doesn’t allow you to have a fair chance to compete on it.
Billy Allen, a great roper and judging mentor of mine, always used to say, “Ee’ve got a good winner.” I think every one felt like that this year in Sarah Dawson.She seems to trust her horses and they respond equally. She had a good draw with enough degree of difficulty, stayed close to the animal, which is good position and control and hard to do, and finished well.Good job, Sarah! We’ve got a good winner.
Good Luck to All!
Bill Enk NRCHA Director of Judges
Open Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion Sarah Dawson worked her given cow on winner Selvarey, but prior to that run, accepted a new cow on mount Smart Chic An Tari.
KATE BRADLEY BYARS
QUOTABLE
I love the industry and I love the NRCHA! I feel like it is a family. I think the owners are supportive and support each other; I think they are generous in spirit and are gracious of each other with praise. Things don’t always go well in reined cow horse, it is a tough [event] to do.
“What I always gravitate toward is what athletes these horses need to be and the kinds of minds they have to have in order to do it. A cutting horse can cut, and I appreciate that discipline, but a cow horse horse that is a tri-athlete, and when I won the World’s Greatest [with Sonita Lena Rey and Corey Cushing in the saddle], a quad-athlete, their stamina, heart, grit, grace and ability to have the courage to do what the rider asks of them amazes me. I am fascinated by what it takes to make a reined cow horse. This industry has my heart. I’ve had a wonderful journey to this place where I find myself and all I have is gratitude for everybody that has helped me get here.”
—Sheri Jamieson said moments after receiving the award for the 2020 National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity® Open Championship for her horse,Selvarey (read more on page 42).
Sheri Jamieson (far left) with Sarah Dawson, holding her 6-month-old daughter, Hadley Grace in her lap. Pictured is Dawson’s husband, Chris, Sarah’s parents Cheryl and Richard Winters, and Chris’ father Ron Dawson with Carolyn Goodloe.
Bettin Yer Smart
Blue Boons)
TRADE SECRETS
Zane Davis follows a systematic approach to keep confidence in the show pen.
By Kate Bradley Byars
Atop a bridle horse or piloting a first-time shown 3-year-old Futurity prospect, Zane Davis looks the picture of confidence. Yet, on the inside he said he fights nerves that many riders are familiar with feeling.
“My biggest challenge, and I still work at it, is not to panic. You spend however long preparing a horse for a competition, and for whatever reason, the horse doesn’t want to perform,” Davis explained. “After a lot of years of trial and error, I’ve come up with a system to combat that feeling of wanting to panic—because I do panic. What happens when we go in panic mode, we do things faster and harder then it gets worse. I guess I finally got older, maybe wise, and learned it wasn’t the best way to go about it.”
Davis said his system he’s got in place to conquer the mental mind game that threatens to derail a rider before an event helps him get by.
FUNDAMENTALS FIRST
If Davis feels like the horse is falling apart, instead of pushing harder right before going into the show pen, he takes steps back. All the way back to the maneuver’s fundamental start.
“I see if there is a body part sticking out, do we have our position right, are all the cues right, and see where to go
from there,” he explained. “When I used to rodeo, I remember J.C. Trujillo, a world champion bareback rider, he helped me a lot and always told me to go back to the basics. If you go back to basics, you will find the problems. We go back to suppling to see if there is stiffness and to get the horse warmed up.”
With a horse that is mentally ready, warmed up well and performing, Davis said it should be ready to show. A regular sight at a horse show is riders performing a final check before going into the show pen—and that is one way many riders take a hammer to their confidence, smashing it before show time.
Davis said to stop acting and start thinking. Don’t follow the immediate reaction: panic.
“A plus-one turner at home who stops turning at the show, or a minus-half, has to get at least back to correct. Now, I have to go to my alternative plan,” he said. “You need to think through what used to work, what isn’t working now and how you can get something to change. Nine times out of 10, if the horse was good at home you can get it back to doing at least a zero maneuver. Start problem solving to get through the run.”
Mentally, Davis said that as soon as an unresolved problem arises, he
prepares himself for less than he initially expected in the show pen. He thinks about the entire run and how, if he forces the troubling maneuver, the entire pattern could be ruined.
“I need to go with what I have and accept what the horse will do without resistance,” Davis said.
It is a hard pill to swallow sometimes, but mentally, he is more ready to show than if he stayed in panic mode.
“When you feel panic hit, what do you do? Go in with the mentality that you will panic,” Davis said. “What are the steps to take to calm down? First, acknowledge you’re in panic mode. You can feel the change in yourself that say, ‘there is a problem!’ Second, think about how to fix it. And last, go with what you got and when you do that, it usually works out.”
Focus on fundamentals and ensuring his horse is properly prepared helps Zane Davis feel assured in the arena.
KATE BRADLEY BYARS
HERE’S TO OUR YOUTH!
Dedicated supporters brought new, exciting events for even the youngest cow horse enthusiast during the 2020 Snaffle Bit Futurity®.
Photos by Primo Morales
Though there are several classes for young riders to compete in at all levels of National Reined Cow Horse Association events, the smallest of our association’s supporters can’t showcase their enthusiasm. That changed at the 2020 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®, presented by Metallic Cat.
Four new classes offered children and youth of all ages an opportunity to show off on one of the NRCHA’s biggest stages. On Saturday, October 17, the first of the special event classes kicked off, the Leadline and Buckaroo Flag Class in the John Justin Arena. A fierce and fast Stick Horse Race was held on Saturday the 17th, in the Will Rogers Coliseum.
Finally, the “Everyone Plays” Bouncy Horse Races on Wednesday, the 21st saw a big crowd gather. And indeed, there were bouncy horses for all sizes, toddlers to parents, who wanted to have some fun on the John Justin Arena dirt.
Each event brought out the competitor in both children and their parents. For parents like Phillip and Teresa Ralls, who entered daughter Josey in the leadline, it was a chance for their daughter to make friends.
“She can be a little shy at times so it was a great confidence booster,” said Teresa. “All of these kids go to every show so to be able to have a class for them it gives them something to look forward to. The build up of practicing, new chaps and show shirts was all very fun to watch!”
Thank you to class sponsors Kathryn Phillips with stallion Bet He Sparks for supporting our growing youth membership.
PLAYIN WITH CHER LTE: $35,554
(Mr Playinstylish - Bella Cher, by Peptoboonsmal)
Novice Non-Pro Champion
Non-Pro & Int. Non-Pro Reserve Champion
Amateur - 3rd
Owned and Shown by Joshua C. Briggs
MR STYLISH CAT LTE: $108,884
(Mr Playinstylish - Lil Sally Cat, by High Brow Cat)
Int. Non-Pro & Novice Non-Pro Bridle Champion
Non-Pro Reserve Bridle Champion
Owned and Shown by Tylor Todd
PLAYINLIGHTSOUT LTE: $51,162
(Royal Fletch - Lil Sally Cat, by High Brow Cat)
Int. Open Bridle - 3rd and Open Bridle - Top 10
Owned and Shown by Chad Blaisdell
PEPPYS ROYAL OUTLAW LTE: $79,625
(Royal Fletch - Peppys Tachita, by Peppy San Badger)
Int. Non-Pro Bridle Co-Reserve Champion
Non-Pro Bridle - 4/6th
Owned by Desiree or Jeff Westfall • Shown by Nicole Westfall
ALL-ACCESS
The National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity®, presented by Metallic Cat, can be a marathon. Even attendees have a hard time taking it all in, so we are sharing some behind-the-scenes moments from the event.
Champion prizes prior to awards on Saturday night.
Above the entry gate at Will Rogers Coliseum hung wise words from a Snaffle Bit Futurity founder, Bobby Ingersoll, who also judged the event. No sour grapes from NRCHA Hall of Fame rider Ron Ralls’ wife, Patty, over his Open Hackamore class finals run when the now-infamous Yellowstone banner caused quite a stir. Rather, Patty made it her statement piece for Saturday night’s Open Futurity finals.
Prior to the first run of the Non Pro Futurity finals, NRCHA past Open
Snaffle Bit Futurity
Champion Nick Dowers blessed the riders and led the Coliseum in prayer.
Riders in the Non Pro divisions, the Intermediate Open and Limited Open divisions all lined up for introductions on Friday for the finals.
Jake Berry and Keltic Kat were making a cow run to watch until the horse took a tumble. Both Berry and the gelding were able to walk away, boosted by fellow riders there to lend encouragement, like NRCHA President Corey Cushing and his son, left, and Taylor Gillespie, right.
It was Sarah Dawson’s time to shine as she and 2017 mare Selvarey, owned by Sheri Jamieson, earned the Open Futurity win.
Trainer Phillip Ralls leads his daughter, Josey, in the special event youth leadline class, one of four special events held during the show. “All of these kids go to every show so to be able to have a class for them it gives them something to look forward to,” said Teresa Ralls.
KNOW THE PRO
Ultimately settling near where he grew up in Nebraska, Jeremy Knoles’ cow horse journey came full circle.
Interview and photograph by Kate Bradley
Byars
Raised in the agricultural community of Maywood, Nebraska, south of North Platte, Jeremy Knoles grew up knowing he leaned more toward the cowboy saddle than the tractor seat. Luckily, his uncle, Randy Moline, raised horses. At age 13, Knoles began starting colts, which led him down the path to becoming a horse trainer and now, settled south of North Platte, he’s back where his horsemanship journey started.
Knoles, his wife, Jennifer, and four kids—9-year-old twins Jessie and Jeremiah, 5-year-old Carlie and 3-yearold Justin—are all integrated into the cow horse lifestyle.
If Knoles could pick a theme song for his life, it would be “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys.”
“All of my family farms and ranches, and I always wanted to be a cowboy,” said Knoles. “My first real horse job was I went to work for Brad Wilson up in Arthur, Nebraska. He is a Ray Hunt-focused [natural horsemanship] guy and starts a lot of colts. When I was working for Brad, that is when RFDTV was coming out, and we watched the finals of the Snaffle Bit Futurity. I thought, ‘holy cow, they are doing this on 3-year-olds!’ That is how I got interested in it and started to check it out.”
Knoles was handy starting a young horse, but had not yet shown. His lack of industry knowledge didn’t stop the
eager young horseman from calling up Texas breeder Carol Rose when he heard she was looking for a colt starter.
“I didn’t know her and she didn’t know me, so she had me come down and try out, and she hired me. I started all of her colts for the next three years, and I started showing. That was in 2007.”
The day before he left for Texas, Knoles married his wife, Jennifer. He whisked his bride straight south to work under the watchful eye of Chris Dawson, Rose’s then head trainer.
Knoles was also influenced by Zane Davis, who now lives in Idaho, was the head trainer to follow Dawson at Rose’s facility.
Jeremy Knoles and his wife, Jennifer, live south of North Platte, Nebraska, with their four children.
“When Zane got there, I really learned a lot; we clicked,” recalled Knoles. “His program was easy for me to follow. He left and Jay McLaughlin got there. I learned a lot from Jay, too, about showing horses. I showed my first [Snaffle Bit horse] in 2009 for Carol. The first time I went to Reno was in 2008, as a groom and just loping horses.
“I remember being there and just watching those guys, everybody help ing everybody. There was a million dollar rider in there working horses and getting advice from someone else. I thought that was really cool and just fell in love with it. The next year, I was there showing.”
He notched his first National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity® entry in 2009 in the Limited Open riding two daughters of Shining Spark (Genuine Doc x Diamonds Sparkle x Mr Diamond Dude). He worked for Rose for three years, then moved to Amarillo, Texas, to work with horseman Boyd Rice.
AQReined Cow Horse News: What does it mean for you to be part of this Western lifestyle?
Knoles: It means a lot; it is part of my identity and what gives me confidence. It is hard to put your finger on it. Going to the house to eat dinner everyday and watching my kids growing up with the opportunity to go to brandings and everybody is fired up, that is everything. My kids growing up, being out here to do this with my kids brings me happiness. It means a lot and it is special to me. I hope I always get to do it.
Today, Knoles has nearly $140,000 in lifetime earnings, including money earned in NRCHA and American Quarter Horse Association events. Without knowing it, he built a facility located within easy driving distance of multiple NRCHA affiliates.
“This was just where I wanted to be and I got lucky! When I came back here, I had one show horse and I knew a bunch of people that showed as friends,” Knoles said. “We can go to a derby in Colorado, McCook [Nebraska] or South Dakota once a month. I just came home and didn’t even know it.”
Living out his childhood dream of being a cowboy—truly a horseman— drives Knoles daily. His goal is to continue to make quality horses for the cow horse arena.
Did you ever question your decision to be a
No, no there was never a time. It is not an easy way to make a living, but once I got the cow horse bug, saw it and experienced it, its been my only goal. It is such a challenge; all three events contradict the
What is the most rewarding part of training horses?
When a horse is 2, we saddle it the first time around and then we get to ride a finished product down the road. Feeling that finished product is the most rewarding. When it all comes together after the ups-anddowns, it is great. Horses change so much.
What is your favorite pen to show in and why?
It is hard to single out one in particular. I always liked going to Pueblo [Colorado]. It is outside, the pen is big and the ground good, and the atmosphere is always good. That is one place I always seem to do well. We’ve had the Mid-America there, the Colorado State Fair and the [NRCHA] Hackamore Classic was there one year.
If you didn’t train horses, what would you do?
I would be a rancher. We have some yearlings, and we try to be ranchers, but without a real [big] ranch.
If you could ride any cow horse, living or dead, who would you choose? It’s hard to pick just one horse out of so many great ones. I’d have to say Travelin Jonez (Smart Chic Olena x Travelin With Sass x Travalena). I love the look of him, and I always remember Chris [Dawson] running him like a bulldog to his stops and that horse would drag his butt.
NOTABLE NON PRO
Husband-wife team Bart and Terri Holowath follow a unique strategy that has garnered much success in the reined cow horse industry. In addition to their wins, their commitment to the industry runs deep, and they have been instrumental in the growth of the Alberta Reined Cow Horse Association.
By Katie Navarra
If Smart Lookin Nurse (WR This Cats
Smart x Nurseware x Dual Rey) followed in the hoofprints of the horses that came before him—he would transition from showing under Bart Holowath to competing with Terri Holowath. The dynamic husband-wife duo has a successful history of sharing horses, with Bart specializing in limited-age events and Terri saddling them up for their two-rein and bridle years.
But, that’s not going to happen with “Finn,” the horse that won the Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro Derby championships at the 2018 National Reined Cow Horse Association Jack and Phoebe Cooke Memorial Derby and at that year’s NRCHA Cow Horse Classic Derby. He’s also won the 2018 Hackamore Intermediate Non Pro, and also has earned several open titles with Canadian trainer John Swales in the saddle.
“There is absolutely no hope that I will ever get Finn; 2018 was a once-in-alifetime year,” Terri said laughing. “Bart told me he is keeping him forever.”
Terri’s career as the managing partner/CEO of an accounting firm makes it difficult to campaign younger horses and the couple’s succession strategy has paid dividends. The 2009 sorrel gelding Red Hot Jade (Smart
Little Pepinic x Miss Nica Dual x Mister Dual Pep) was the first horse they shared, winning $60,334.48 in lifetime earnings, including a World and National Championship in the tworein. SDP Blue Rey (TR Dual Rey x Sues Lil Dusty x Meradas Blue Sue), a 2011 blue roan, was another they both accumulated numerous Canadian and American titles including Terri’s 2018 NRCHA Non Pro Two Rein Spectacular Championship at the NRCHA Derby in Paso Robles.
“So, my run of stealing Bart’s horses is over,” Terri said laughing.
RODEO ROAD
Both Bart and Terri started their competition careers at rodeos. Terri grew up around horses in southern Alberta riding as early as age 4. Her father worked on a nearby cattle ranch and she remembers watching a roping for the first time around age 10 or 11. She competed as a youth, taking a short break to attend university and establish a career. Bart’s family owned a mixstock ranch in central Alberta. Though he was around horses, he was more interested in cattle, entering steer riding contests. He later began roping.
Terri got back into horses in the early 1990’s participating in cattle pennings
and ropings. Before the decade was through, she transitioned to reined cow horse events with the help of trainer Vance Kaglea. In 2002, she purchased then 3-year-old Pickachiclet (Fantaschic x Stratos Pick x Strato Chief).
“I was green as grass. I could always ride really well because of being a team roper and I can read cattle. Bart can really read [cattle]—he knows what a cow’s going to do before he does it,” she said. “But good Lord, like I didn’t know what a lead change was or the finer points. Reined cow horse requires, demands, a better style of riding.”
In 2003, the couple began dating. Bart the dutiful boyfriend sat in the stands cheering her on. Sitting on the sidelines
In addition to competing in reined cow horse, the Holowaths’ enjoy the roping arena.
lasted about three shows—he wanted to get in on the action. Kaglea helped Bart find his first reined cow horse, Precision Dee.
“That horse taught him a whole lot about being competitive,” Kaglea said. “And that competitive spirit really ignited between them and at practice and shows.”
Today, the couple live on a 160acre ranch with a view of the Rocky Mountains to the west. Their property encompasses two outdoor arenas and plenty of open areas to ride. Bart manages the property, and on summer days he draws the lucky straw, calling the outdoors his office. In the middle of winter, when it’s below zero, Terri is thankful to be working indoors.
“We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful setting,” she said. “We don’t have an indoor arena, but we have one that is really close by where we can go and ride in the winter.”
CHAMPIONS OF THE SPORT
The Holowaths have earned multiple titles and championships through the years and collectively the couple has NRCHA lifetime earnings of more than $214,000. For the Holowaths, it’s more about promoting the sport and ensuring its long-term success. The couple was instrumental in having the Alberta Reined Cow Horse Association recognized as an NRCHA affiliate. The organization was founded in 1981, but wasn’t part of NRCHA for nearly two decades.
In 2009, the husband-wife team had two goals—to launch an inaugural Canadian Derby and to officially bring NRCHA into Canada. Together, with a group of friends, they organized the Cowtown Derby and Stock Horse Show. Now in its 12th consecutive year, the event was held Oct. 1- 4, 2020, pay-
ing out $48,000 in added monies and a generous budget for prizes.
“It’s one thing to contribute financially, and sponsors are certainly very, very important, but what these clubs really need is volunteers and people time,” Terri said. “It’s really easy to get sheltered in your own little world and what’s going on with your horses and your riding and, you know, where you need to go to the next show, but a big thing for us is looking at the big picture and giving back to make sure it keeps moving forward.”
Kaglea says that if the Holowaths could be cloned, the reined cow horse industry would be all set. He recognizes that the couple has always gone above and beyond to make sure there are shows for Canadian exhibitors to compete at, and that there is prize money offered at every event.
“They are really the ones who helped take a grassroots organization and step it up by playing on the bigger NRCHA stage,” he said. “They started putting on that Cowtown Derby every spring and it is snowballing.”
LOOKING AHEAD
Since Terri won’t be taking on Finn, she is searching for her next horse while Bart also looks for another derby prospect. Interestingly, to date their horses have been more different than alike. Red Hot Jade was nothing like “SDP” or Finn. Without a doubt they all have cow sense and are powerful, but how they handle themselves is very different, according to Terri. More than
A rare glimpse of Bart and Terri out of the saddle.
A good, solid reined cow horse works for the Holowaths both in and out of the arena. Here, the couple helps at a friend’s branding.
bloodlines, the couple looks for horses that are cowy and athletic, but also well-trained and easy to deal with.
“We’re both pretty good riders, but we’re not by any stretch as talented as the trainers ,and so we need horses that can adapt to our program and deal with our quirks,” Terri said.
That’s not to say lineage isn’t important to the couple. They prefer their horses have a little Dual Rey in them somewhere, either the top or the bottom. They own about 14 horses, including five mares, on their ranch and breed ranch horses that they sell to the local ranching community.
They are looking forward to the first crop of foals by SDP Blue Rey to start under saddle. They gelded the blue roan in early 2019, but are excited to see his offspring develop. The couple
hadn’t intended to buy a stallion when they purchased him and were afraid that if they gelded him it would change his grittiness in the show pen, opting to wait until after his limited aged years.
“He’s got one 4-year-old baby that is doing really well in the derbies and Bart has a 2-year-old coming up that’s going to be quite nice,” Terri said. “There are other babies of his in the show world that are going to be nice next year so that’s kind of exciting.”
There are many aspects of the discipline that Bart and Terri enjoy. They appreciate the athleticism of the horses, and because the horses are versatile, they ride their horses on their ranch. And of course they thrive on the challenge cattle add to the event. More than the livestock and competition, they choose to participate in reined
cow horse because of the connection between riders.
“I enjoy cow horse because it’s something we can do together and I think that’s important,” Bart said. “I also enjoy the social aspect, whether it’s taking lessons at John Swales’ barn or camping at the shows.”
The couple has made countless good friends through the years traveling across Canada and the United States to compete in reined cow horse events. Their friendliness and positivity are noticeable among veteran exhibitors and newcomers alike.
“They are the type people when they take a step out of the saddle and take moment to breathe, they are always so positive,” Kaglea said. “If you’re new to show they will be first to embrace you and acknowledge you at the show.”
BEHIND THE BUCKLE
Compiled by Kate Bradley Byars
For Kelby Phillips, the feeling of winning the World’s Greatest Horseman is one he wants to stay with him, which is why he wears that buckle.
The youngest and newest National Reined Cow Horse Association Million Dollar Rider, 32-year-old Kelby Phillips has quite a long list of accomplishments. However, one sticks out as a win that he cherishes just a little more than others. Phillips proudly wears his 2018 NRCHA World’s Greatest Horseman champion buckle on his belt each day. Phillips, of Scottsdale, Arizona, rode Hickory Holly Time (One Time Pepto x Hickory Hollys Cee x Docs Hickory), owned by DT Horses, to the victory.
“If you go back through the years, a lot of great horse trainers—people I’ve looked up to—and great horses have won it,” he said. “I think it is so prestigious because you have to have a very special horse to compete in that event. To win it on the horse I also won the Intermediate Futurity on, that is pretty special to me.”
For Phillips, that moment is one he believes can’t be repeated.
“The Futurity [Champion 2013] buckle and that [World’s Greatest] buckle, I won’t say either is better, but wearing the World’s Greatest buckle reminds me of how special it was,” he said. “Winning those two events the first time is pretty special and not a feeling you could do over again.”
MEET MARK & KIM RAUCH
The Rauches bought their first reined cow horse in 2014 and have never looked back.
By Allison Armstrong Rehnborg
The first time Kim Rauch of Arlington, Washington, saw Metallic Cat, she knew she was going to own one of the $37-milliondollar sire’s foals someday. Fast forward to 2020, and Kim, 44, and her husband, Mark Rauch, 51, own not just one, but three offspring by the legendary sire. One of those babies, One Metallic Spark, known as “Titus,” is the Rauches’ first home-bred horse.
“Titus is special,” Mark said. “He’s out of our mare, One Sparking Time, and by Metallic Cat. He’s probably the best horse I’ve ever had. I think he’s a rock star.”
The Rauches’ trainer, National Reined Cow Horse Association Million Dollar Rider Justin Wright, of Santa Maria, California, shares Mark and Kim’s sentiments about the talented 2-year-old.
“He’s a lot like his mother, One Sparking Time, and she’s brilliant,” Wright said. “He has an easy time doing everything. We’re really excited about him because he came out as a neat colt, he’s started as a neat colt, and we hope he continues in that trend for his 3-year-old year.”
Wright piloted One Sparking Time (One Time Pepto x Sparking Train x Shining Spark) to multiple victories for the Rauches in 2018, with earnings totaling $28,589.02 for the year.
Even before that, the Rauches were so impressed with the mare’s precocity as a 2-year-old that they opted to perform embryo transfer for an early breeding to Metallic Cat. The recipient mare foaled out on Wright’s ranch in Santa Maria in April 2018, and Titus has been living up to Mark and Kim’s hopes ever since.
Seeing their special home-bred horse succeed in Wright’s capable hands is a cherished goal for the couple, and one that they hope includes victories at the 2021 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® and beyond.
“I want to see Titus go. I want to see Justin have one of our horses from start to finish and see him do well,” Kim said. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be winning a championship, although that would be wonderful. I’d just love for him to be successful on one of our horses.”
FIRST STEPS
When Mark and Kim first began exploring the horse industry in 2004, breeding horses and winning NRCHA futurities were the last things on their minds. In fact, their initial foray into horses came when Mark gifted Kim with horseback riding lessons.
“Our daughter, Hailey, was around two or three years old when Mark surprised me with some horseback rid-
ing lessons,” Kim remembered. “When Mark and I were dating, I told him I had always wanted a horse, but that my parents wouldn’t let me have a horse on our farm because they weren’t ‘functional’ farm animals that produced meat or other by-products. That’s why he surprised me with lessons. I’d go once a week, and he’d work from home on that day and stay with Hailey. It was really fun.”
During one of Kim’s weekly visits to a local barn, she made friends with other women who enjoyed riding with their husbands. Soon, Kim had coaxed Mark into joining her horseback. The Rauches had purchased a small farm in
Mark and Kim Rauch support the NRCHA as enthusiastic owners.
Arlington in 2002. While Mark worked as a program manager for a large technology solutions provider, Kim worked on the farm and began raising their own livestock for meat, fiber and other by-products. So when Mark and Kim began going to local team penning and sorting competitions with their friends, it was only a matter of time before they bought their own penning and sorting horses.
One day, their new friends invited them to attend the 2014 Snaffle Bit Futurity and Horse Sale in Reno, Nevada.
“We didn’t know anything about NRCHA or the Snaffle Bit, so on a whim, we just decided to go,” Kim said.
Drawn into the excitement of the event, the Rauches bought their first reined cow horse, Light And Sassy (CD Lights x Dual Sass x Dual Pep). During their first few years of competition, the Rauches’ team penning trainer, Roger Braa of Ellensburg, Washington, piloted Light And Sassy in the show pen while they watched and cheered from the sidelines. As they learned about their
newfound sport ringside, Mark and Kim also began making friends with other NRCHA owners and trainers.
“There were a couple of things we loved about the industry, right off. The first thing was the athleticism of the horses. It was just unbelievable to watch these horses at work. Plus, the organization was so kind. We were total newbies, and everyone was so friendly and kind to us,” Kim said. “That’s why we stayed with NRCHA.”
METALLIC DECISIONS
As the couple continued learning about the world of reined cow horses, one horse caught Kim’s eye again and again: Metallic Cat.
“Metallic Cat was a little newer on the scene then,” Kim said. “I love roans, so I told Mark if I could have one goal, I’d want to own one of his babies. I didn’t have big dreams of winning the Snaffle Bit or anything like that. I just loved that horse. And that’s what started driving us to our goal of having one of those horses.”
A few years later, at the 2016 Snaffle
“There were a couple of things we loved about the industry right off. The first thing was the athleticism of the horses. It was just unbelievable to watch these horses at work. Plus, the organization was so kind. We were total newbies, and everyone was so friendly and kind to us.That’s why we stayed with NRCHA.”
—Kim Rauch
Bit Futurity Horse Sale, Kim found herself in love with another roan horse: a yearling named One Sparking Time. Busy running his own business, INNO4 LLC, which provides systems integration and cyber security for corporations, Mark couldn’t attend the sale himself.
“I called Mark from the sale and said, ‘Can I please have this horse?’ And he said yes!,” Kim said. “So we got that horse, which our daughter nicknamed ‘Paris,’ and she was so fancy and cool. Then, of course, we had to figure out who could train that caliber of horse.”
With a promising yearling in tow, Mark and Kim began hunting for the right trainer. Pretty soon, they zeroed in on just one man: Justin Wright.
“Picking [a rider] to invest in isn’t easy, but as I was learning about the industry, I liked what I was hearing about Justin,” Mark said. “He was still up and coming at that time. We’d actually been watching him for about two years. Then after we bought Paris, we cold-called him and said we wanted to send him a horse.”
Youngest daughter, Hailey Rauch, team penning
Wright had watched Paris go through the sale, so when the Rauches offered him the chance to train the filly, he was thrilled.
“I had watched her sell and thought she was beautiful. I just loved her,” Wright said. “It was really neat to receive that phone call. They asked me to do the whole process with her and start her in the futurity and turn her into a derby horse and then a bridle horse.”
That call has blossomed into a fruitful partnership between the Rauches and Wright.
“Mark has given me more advice than he’ll ever know about how to build my business and make smarter decisions. I’ve learned a lot from him in the past four years,” Wright said.
According to Kim, watching Paris— and now Titus—succeed in Justin’s hands is one of her favorite accomplishments.
“It’s been so fun to watch Justin ride, and it’s been an exciting time to learn from someone who is so knowledgeable and has really helped us get better caliber horses,” Kim said. “Watching Titus growing up and heading to the 2021 Snaffle Bit is super exciting for us.”
HIGH HOPES
As 2020 draws to a close, the Rauches are looking forward to 2021. In the spring, Kim plans to graduate with her bachelor’s degree in agriculture and soil sciences from Oregon State University.
“Next year, I’ll get to all the shows because I won’t have as many tests,” Kim said with a laugh. “The last day of every show is my favorite. That’s when they’re going down the fence, and it’s all on the line. Scores are close. The atmosphere is crazy. It’s a great day.”
Play Some Metallicat (Metallic Cat x Starlight Playmate x Grays Starlight) was a gift to Kim from Mark for Christmas 2015. “Parker” is at home on the Rauches’ farm and Kim continues to ride him.
The competitive nature of the sport appeals to Mark as well, and he’s looking forward to watching the reined cow horse industry evolve.
“The trainers keep growing and I love watching that happen,” Mark said. “Success is never final to me. I want to see progression and I think the person who puts in the most work with the best athletes should win. I love watching NRCHA trainers because of their ability to continue to learn and improve. Plus, the athleticism of horse and rider is incredible to watch.”
Pleased with Titus’s development as he heads into his 3-year-old year, Mark and Kim opted to breed Paris back to Metallic Cat a second time via embryo transfer. That foal is due in 2021.
“I hope I get a roan this time,” Kim said. “When we bred Paris the first time, I was hoping for a roan. Titus was born on April Fool’s Day, so when Justin called and said he was a solid chestnut horse, I thought they were teasing us.”
UPER SARAH AND SELVAREY SMOKE ‘EM S
In a competitive finals, Sarah Dawson and Selvarey took top honors with a cow work that drew raucous applause from the crowd and high marks from the judges.
By Kate Bradley Byars
Fort Worth, Texas – October 10-24, 2020 Horse/Rider/Pedigree/Owner/Score/Money
1. Selvarey; Sarah Dawson; 17M (Dual Rey x Shine Smarter x WR This Cats Smart); Sheri Jamieson; 660.5 (H:216/R:220.5/C:224); $125,000.
2-3. SnapDragons; Zane Davis; 17S (Gunnatrashya x Catnaps x High Brow Cat); Shane Law; 656.5 (H:215.5/R:219/C:222); $80,000.
2-3. Ricato Suave; Clay Volmer; 17S (Metallic Cat x Hip Hip Sue Rey x Dual Rey); Madeleine Claire Fountain; 656.5 (H:223/R:217.5/C:216); $80,000.
4. Smart Chic An Tari; Sarah Dawson; 17M (Smart Chic Olena x Shiney Tari x Shining Spark); Aaron Ranch; 656 (H:219/R:220/C:217); $50,000.
5. CR Woody Dig It; Corey Cushing; 17G (Woody Be Tuff x Cat Digs Lucinda x High Brow Cat); Dave Benson; 655.5 (H:221.5/R:214.5/C:219.5); $40,000.
6. DT Hickorys Playtime; Kelby Phillips; 17M (Hickory Holly Time x Play Like Clay x Freckles Playboy); DT Horses LLC; 654.5 (H:216/ R:215.5/C:223); $30,000.
7. Son Of A Mitch; Phillips Ralls; 17G (Call Me Mitch x Jackies Sparkle x Nic It In The Bud); The Trust/ Billie Jo Ralls; 653 (H:216.5/R:217.5/C:219); $28,000.
8. Bad To Tha Boon; Erin Taormino; 17G (Peptoboonsmal x Bet On Merada x Bet On Me 498); Brazos Cowhorse Partnership; 652.5 (H:215/ R:217/C:220.5); $23,000.
9. Thomas E Treble; Todd Bergen; 17S (Thomas E Hughes x FMR Double The Pepto x Peptoboonsmal); Bit Of Heaven Ranch; 652 (H:220/R:215/C:217); $20,000.
10-12. Holly Cat Carrera; Zane Davis; 17M (Hickory Holly Time x Carrera Cat x Metallic Cat); Lightning 7 Cattle Co LLC; 651.5 (H:215/R:220/C:216.5); $15,358.37.
10-12. Teles Were Dreamin; Ben Baldus; 17S (Meteles Cat x Reys Dreamgirl x Dual Rey); Catelyn Walker; 651.5 (H:215.5/R:217/C:219); $15,358.37.
10-12. Sweet VooDoo Mama; Gusti Buerger; 17M (Shiners Voodoo Dr x Very Smart Sweetheart x Very Smart Remedy); Joyce Pearson; 651.5 (H:216/ R:218/C:217.5); $15,358.37.
Saturday night in Cowtown was electric at the 2020 National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity®, presented by Metallic Cat. Though only a 50 percent capacity crowd was seated inside Will Rogers Coliseum, it felt fully alive for the Open Futurity finals, especially with composite leader Sarah Dawson entered the arena. Of the two mares Dawson qualified for the finals, it was Selvarey, owned by Sheri Jamieson, who took the coveted title and helped Dawson take her place in history as only the second woman to ever win the Open Futurity.
Sandy Collier was the first woman to win the Open Futurity when she showed Miss Rey Dry in 1993. Coincidentally, Collier was Dawson’s first cow horse employer.
“I competed here [at the Snaffle Bit Futurity] as a youth with my dad, and he would show and I would show, but I was still pretty heavy into the [three-day] eventing at that time,” Dawson recalled. “When I graduated high school, I knew I wanted to do something with horses but not sure if it was the eventing or cow horse route. A cow horse trainer, Sandy Collier, offered me a job before an eventer did.”
The challenge of guiding a reined cow horse through three events was one Dawson yearned to tackle after watching Collier train. She put her heart into learning to master the sport, riding for Collier, then NRCHA Hall of Fame trainer Jon Roeser before moving to Texas to train for breeder Carol Rose. Today she and her husband, NRCHA Million Dollar Rider Chris Dawson make their home in Perrin, Texas. With a resume to envy that includes titles in the hackamore, bridle and Derby events, Dawson now adds Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Champion.
“My parents, Richard and Cheryl Winters, always told me that they didn’t
care what I did [for a career], but whatever I did, I better do it well,” she said. “So I guess winning would be doing it well!”
Dawson did more than well. She and Selvarey laid down the finals high scores in the rein and cow work on their way to a composite 660.5 (H:216/R:220.5/C:224) and the $125,000 payday for owner Jamieson. Coming into the finals, many eyes were on Dawson’s other mount, Aaron Ranch-owned Smart Chic An Tari (Smart Chic Olena x Shiney Tari x Shining Spark), the composite preliminary leader and high score fence horse (225.5) that ultimately finished fourth, earning $50,000 with a composite 656. However, accepting the judge’s offering of a second
cow that turned out too soft for a big run turned the tide for Smart Chic An Tari.
There is something special about Selvarey that Dawson didn’t see until the horse show. The 3-year-old mare by Dual Rey and out of Shine Smarter, by Shining Spark, was always special because she is out of the mare that Dawson says truly boosted her career with major NRCHA titles at premier events. Her parents bred Selvarey, too.
“[Selvarey] has always been super, ultra talented,” said Dawson. “I always thought, that she would be a better Derby horse than a 3-year-old because she tries so hard on a cow and in the herd. Down the fence she has been so feely that it is hard for her running up next to it. They
Sarah Dawson and Selvarey earned a big win, but Dawson believes the mare is just getting started in the show pen.
say the mark of a good horse is that they show up when it counts, and she showed up tonight. That makes her a pretty great one in my opinion.”
Ultimately it was a super “S” team—Sarah, Selvarey and Sheri—that impressed the Snaffle Bit Futurity judg-
es Tom Buckingham, Bobby Ingersoll, Cayley Wilson, Jim Spence and Dan Roeser. As the Dawson’s friends and family swarmed the arena for awards, NRCHA President Corey Cushing—himself finishing fifth aboard CR Woody Dig It—was beaming.
“We knew this day was coming [for Sarah] and for it to come for her and Sheri, that is amazing,” said Cushing. “What a great finals! It is special to the cow horse industry to see owners have horses with different trainers. You don’t see that in other associations. I won the World’s Greatest on Sheri’s horse, Sonita Lena Rey, and she told me when she bought this horse for Sarah that it was staying with Sarah. Sheri is all about giving everyone a fair shot. She will put a horse underneath you and not be afraid to follow your direction [as a trainer] and your leadership.”
Jamieson, an investor from La Jolla, California, has been enchanted and fascinated with reined cow horse for some time. When she visited the Dawson’s facility to look at perspective Snaffle Bit Futurity horses, the bond between Dawson and Selvarey was apparent.
“The mare was very talented as a 2-year-old and I felt her best chance [for success] was to stay with the trainer she started with because there was a significant bond there,” Jamieson recalled. “I would have felt like I was not doing the mare a good service to take her into a new environment with a new set of rules when she was [already] doing as well as she was. I think this mare has a special mind and a big heart, which I never wanted to take away from her.”
Wearing the colors of MARS EquestrianTM, the sorrel mare bested the tan cow. In the last circle of her 2019 Snaffle Bit Futurity finals run aboard Cee Me Travelin, Dawson’s mount fell. While it wasn’t on her mind when she rode into the arena with Selvarey, the fall had “crushed” Dawson.
She followed her own advice moving forward, and especially after returning to riding after giving birth only six months before finals night to Hadley Grace Dawson.
“You work so hard to get here and
Doug Williamson tips his hat to a standing ovation on Open finals night. The 78-year-old horseman and Meradas Holly Time worked a cow to 24th-place finish, earning owner Pamela Heitz $10,000.
when they fall a circle before you are done, it is pretty crushing,” she said. “Never give up. If you work hard enough at something it will happen for you on one level or another. Keep pushing; keep pounding on doors. It will happen.”
When she completed the final circle and the horn blew, none in the stands cheered louder than Dawson’s husband, Chris. He had stood above where each rider boxed, cheering every single one on in the final cow work runs.
“The thing I’ve learned is that the more you win, the more you want to win,”
Dawson said. “You have to have something else in life to make you content. You have to find your happiness outside the show pen—my family and my faith and believing we are here for a bigger and better purpose than ourselves, that is it for me.
“My husband, Chris… we work together all day long and keep eyes on each other. We will say when something is terrible or it’s great, and without that and his support this wouldn’t be happening right now. He is a genuinely passionate person cheering on others. Other people
will cheer, but it comes from deep inside him when he cheers. As a competitor, that is a very special attribute to have.”
For now, Dawson and Selvarey will take a rest before the mare returns to the show pen for her Derby aged years. While Dawson has achieved a feat that many Open level trainers strive for, she isn’t done reaching for success. This win, though, may stick with her for some time.
“I’m curious to know when it will sink in. This is the biggest win I’ve ever had,” she said. “In the past, with wins, 15 minutes later you kind of forget about them and think about the next horse show. I’m curious to see if this has the same feel or carries over.”
Based on their preliminary high score, Dawson and Smart Chic An Tari were also awarded the Ladies Champion honor, earning a Sherri Gilkerson Memorial Saddle, CR Morrison bronze finish trophy and multiple other prizes.
The night included big fence runs, including a 222 scored by Zane Davis and SnapDragons (GunnaTrashYa x CatNaps x High Brow Cat), helping the pair earn the co-Reserve Champion title with a composite 656.5 (H:215.5/R:219). Bred by the Flying V Ranch, owner Shane Law took home $80,000. Clay Volmer rode Flag Ranch, LLC-bred Ricato Suave (Metallic Cat x Hip Hip Sue Rey x Dual Rey) to tie for reserve with a composite 656.5 (H:223/R:217.5/C:216), earning owner Madeleine Clair Fountain $80,000.
INTERMEDIATEOPEN
“Permission to win” was printed on the note shoved into Todd Fitch’s pocket as he rode into the arena in the Intermediate Open finals at the Snaffle Bit Futurity. The Arbon, Idaho, trainer knew his horse was ready and well trained, but he needed to give himself a pep talk to go for it. Sure enough, after the last cow was circled, Fitch and SJR Smooth Caddy (Smooth
Todd Fitch worked on his mental game more than his horse’s abilities preparing for the pair’s final run, and ultimately, it paid off with the Intermediate Open Champion title.
As A Cat x Sumkinda Pinkcadilac x Peptoboonsmal) took the title.
“Smoothie” scored a composite 653 (H:216.5/R:217.5/C:219) for the top spot, earning $30,000. Considering Fitch went over budget purchasing the horse at the National Cutting Horse Association Futurity Sale in 2019, the payoff for owner Stan Rowlan should do just fine. Rowlan and Fitch were grade school friends who hadn’t seen each other in decades when Rowlan stopped by the barn and asked if Fitch wanted to ride a horse for him. Now, the friends since their teen years can both add a Snaffle Bit Futurity title to their records.
For Fitch, attending the Snaffle Bit Futurity in Fort Worth, Texas, was a leap of faith. While Smoothie trained like a champ, the luck of the show pen has not been kind to the young horse.
“He’s been really good in the cutting and reining, and kept getting better every show,” Fitch said. “But, I hadn’t got him shown down the fence. I’ve been drawing some really tough cows and just bad luck. In Vegas and in Reno I bombed out even though I was sitting good in both places. I worked on the fence work a lot.”
///// SPONSOR
TheWith encouragement from Salmon, Idaho, Non Pro Ty Cole, who encouraged Fitch, the pair left Fitch’s ranch roundup early to show in Texas. In fact, Fitch is headed home to ship cattle after the show with his wife, Juli, who he credits as his main support system. While the cattle
impact of Metallic Cat on the reined cow horse industry is easily seen in the list of horses entered in premier events, which is why owner Bobby Patton of Rocking P Ranch lent his support yet again as the presenting sponsor of the Futurity. Metallic Cat sired the co-reserve champion in the 2020 National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity® Open, Ricato Suave, ridden by Clay Volmer for owner Madeline Clair Fountain.
The largest and most prestigious event in the NRCHA schedule, the Snaffle Bit Futurity is one show where Metallic Cat offspring have earned wins that helped the sire reach $2 million dollar status within one year of joining in the NRCHA Million Dollar Sire Club. In his own right, Metallic Cat (High Brow Cat x Chers Shadow x Peptoboonsmal) cut his way to more than $637,000 and the 2008 National Cutting Horse Association Open Futurity champion title, among others.
Through Metallic Cat, Rocking P Ranch has long supported the reined cow horse industry. The horse stands in Weatherford, Texas, and Patton is a Fort Worth, Texas, native, making the choice to host the premier event in his hometown an easy decision.
At the 2020 event, Metallic Cat was present during the Open Hackamore finals to film a part in the television show Yellowstone and be on-hand when Erin Taormino and Jittery were crowned the Open Hackamore Champions. For more information on the presenting sponsor, Metallic Cat, visit metalliccat.com.
may ship late, he has a good excuse—a championship.
Fitch added that two other fellow Idahoans were in his corner—Annie Reynolds, who boosted his confidence through her sports psychology book Mind Gym, and Jake Telford, who assisted with coaching.
“Jake just stayed so positive and helped me, even for the fence work. He’s just been a great friend for a long time,” Fitch said. “I didn’t even think I had a shot. I thought, my horse is dirty and there is no sense in even washing him because that will jinx me for sure!”
With the dust flying on their final fence turn, the cleanliness of his horse was the last thing the judges were worried about when marking the duo. In fact, dirt helps flowers grow, and that is exactly how Fitch sees his win.
“If you just wait, one day your flower will bloom,” said Fitch. “I’ve been at this for a long time. My goal and dream has been to win the big one and this is the first time I’ve ever even made the finals.”
Gusti Buerger only took the reins on Sweet VooDoo Mama a short time before the Futurity, but the pair clicked, earning the Limited Open Champion win.
In reserve was Texas trainer Erin Taormino aboard Brazos Cowhorse Partnership’s Bad To Tha Boon (Peptoboonsmal x Bet On Merada x Bet On Me 498), bred by the Aaron Ranch. The pair scored a composite 652.5 (H:215/R:217/C:220.5), earning $22,500 in the Intermediate Open. The score also placed them eighth in the Open finals, earning an additional $23,000.
LIMITED OPEN
Making the most of her first Snaffle Bit Futurity finals qualification, Gusti Buerger piloted Sweet VooDoo Mama (Shiners Voodoo Dr x Very Smart Sweetheart x Very Smart Remedy) to a composite 651.5 (H:216/R:218/C:217.5).
The palomino mare and the 33-yearold from Idaho won the Limited Open division, and placed in the Open and Intermediate Open finals.
Bred and owned by Joyce Pearson, Annie Reynolds’ mother, the mare called “Cream” was no puff. She slid and worked a cow with grit to add $16,269.66 to her record for winning the Limited Open. Buerger also tied for third in the Intermediate Open to earn $13,000 and finished tied for tenth in the Open, earning an additional $15,358.37.
Not bad for a duo that paired up just before the Reno SBF in September. Originally, Reynolds, Buerger’s boss, intended to pilot the mare.
“I rode her all year and worked her in the herd, but as far as fully riding her, it was only the last two months,” Buerger said. “It took a week or two to get into the groove and get on the same team, but after we got to understand each other it’s been pretty fun.”
Buerger describes the mare as “sweet with the cutest little head,” but it was all try and heart working in a finals night packed with the sport’s top riders.
did it,” she said. “To be there with that group of horses, horsemen and –women, I felt honored.”
For the last 10 years, Buerger has been training cutting horses in Texas but moved back to Idaho to once again work for Reynolds. Her passion for reined cow horse never waned even with the industry shift.
“I worked for Annie in 2010 and again now. I was out of the cow horse until 2018, when I showed a Snaffle Bit horse for the first time since 2010,” Buerger said. “I just love the cow horse. I think it is an awesome sport and the people are amazing, and the horsemanship. It is humbling, and you can’t not appreciate everybody else competing.”
Reserve Champion CJ Shopbell piloted Dr Boonalena (WR This Cats Smart x Badabing Badaboon x Peptoboonsmal), bred by Gallegos Performance Horses LLC and owned by Ann Matthews,
to a 650 (H:212/R:218/C:220). The pair earned $13,015.73 in the Limited Open. Tying for seventh in the Intermediate Open, they earned another $5,566.67, and for 15th in the Open, earned $10,000.
LEVEL ONE LIMITED OPEN
Ricky Piggott rode his way to his first Open level finals during the 2020 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity, presented by Metallic Cat, aboard a horse originally destined to be a cutter. CWR Sanntonio (Sannman x Surfin Calie x Cat Ichi) fittingly also topped the Level One Limited Open herd work with a 218.5. Yet, it was the composite 645.5 (R:213.5/C:213.5) that earned the win and $13,138.50 for owner Jane Owens.
“He was so cowy and very physical, and I knew he would be my best colt this year,” said the trainer. “I had four 3 year olds for this year but he was so talented.
“It felt amazing to make the Open finals in the first place; I was shocked I RIcky
Piggott rode Jane Owens’ CWR Sanntonio to the Level One Limited Open Champion title.
I told Miss Jane if she wanted a horse for this year that he would be a good one to take.”
Piggott previously rode in the Non Pro finals, so he had an idea of what it would be like to hit his original goal of making another finals. Winning the Level One Limited Open was a surprise.
“My goal, I try not to set them so high I get let down, but it was to make the Limited Open finals,” he said. “To win the Level One is special to me and I didn’t realize how prestigious it was to win it. It was an awesome moment.”
Piggott set his sights on training horses early in his life, attending Lamar Community College in 1994 for the school’s horse-training program. Though he stepped away from training for five years to handle his deceased mother’s estate, he knew training was still his passion.
“My goal, I try not to set them so high I get let down, but it was to make the Limited Open finals. To win the Level One is special to me and I didn’t realize how prestigious it was to win it. It was an awesome moment.” —Ricky Piggott
In 2017, then eligible to show Non Pro after not publicly training since 2011, Piggott made the Futurity Non Pro finals.
“After I made the finals in the Non Pro, all my old customers asked me to train again,” he said with a laugh. “It opened a window and opportunity to train fulltime again. It’s always been a dream to train, and to train reined cow horses has always been a goal. Achieving that goal has been a highlight.”
With carte blanche to show CWR Sanntonio where he wishes, Piggott
OPEN CO-RESERVE CHAMPION
Zane
plans to compete in NRCHA limited aged events with the stallion, including attending the 2021 Celebration of Champions.
Level One Limited Open Reserve Champion Tyus Olson and his mare Sista Jackson (Brother Jackson x Hickorys One Time x One Time Pepto) are no strangers to winning. The duo topped the NRCHA Stallion Stakes pre-Futurity division on their way to taking reserve in Fort Worth. The composite 644.5 (H:211/ R:217.5/C:216) earned Olson $9,681.
OPEN CO-RESERVE CHAMPION
Ricato Suave (Metallic Cat x Hip Hip Sue Rey x Dual Rey), ridden by Clay Volmer for owner Madeleine Claire Fountain, scored a 656.5 (H:223/R:217.5/C:216) and earned $80,000.
Davis rode SnapDragons (Gunnatrashya x Catnaps x High Brow Cat), owned by Shane Law, to a composite 656.5 (H:215.5/R:219/C:222) for the co-reserve title and a $80,000 payday.
INTERMEDIATEOPEN RESERVE CHAMPION
Erin Taormino and Bad To Tha Boon (Peptoboonsmal x Bet On Merada x Bet On Me 498) owned by Brazos Cowhorse Partnership, marked a 652.5 (H:215/R:217/C:220.5) to earn $22,500 for the Intermediate Open and also place eigth in the Open for another $23,000.
LEVEL ONE LIMITED OPEN RESERVE CHAMPION
Tyus Olsen and Sista Jackson (Brother Jackson x Hickorys One Time x One Time Pepto) earned $9,681 for reserve with a 644.5 (H:211/R:217.5/C:216).
LIMITED OPEN RESERVE CHAMPION
CJ Shopbell rode Dr Boonalena (WR This Cats Smart x Badabing Badaboon x Peptoboonsmall), owned by Ann Matthews, to a 650 (H:212/R:218/C:220) for reserve and $13,015.73. Tying for seventh in the Intermediate Open, they earned another $5,566.67.
Open Special Awards, continued from page 47.
HIGH SCOREREIN W ORK – three-way tie with a score of 223.
HORSE RIDER O WNER
Smart Time Out Nick Dowers Jerry Beukelman
Smart Chic An TariSarah Dawson Aaron Ranch
DT Hickorys PlaytimeKelby PhillipsDT Horses LLC
HORSE RIDER O WNER
I Got Cow Issues Geoffrey “Spud” Sheehan Randy Massey
Smooth Cat Player 17 Corey Cushing Lynne Faust
Smooth Lil DreamJustin Wright Suzanne Rodoni Silverberg
Teles Were Dreamin Ben Baldus Catelyn Walker
Naked Lies Clay Volmer Bradley Rogers
HIGH SCORE HERD W ORK – five-way tie with a score of 219 .
Bret Paulick and his gelding IllBeYourHickleberry hustled to the Non Pro Futurity Champion title.
NE TOUGH HICK O
Bret Paulick and his homegrown gelding IllBeYourHickleberry powered to the Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro Futurity champion titles.
By Abigail Boatwright
Photos by Primo Morales
Bret Paulick’s 2020 National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity®, presented by Metallic Cat, was marked by thankfulness for his team of support. Towing 2017 stallion IllBeYourHickleberry (Hickory Holly Time x Miss Slic Smoke x Chick N San) Paulick drove back to Erda, Utah, with the Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro Futurity Champion titles, and over $33,676 from the show.
This is not Paulick’s first Snaffle Bit Futurity. He’s made the finals several times. And Miss Slic Smoke, the dam of Paulick’s “Hick,” has produced four finalists. So being at the event with a horse he and his wife, Amie, raised was special.
Paulick’s goal for the Futurity was to simply to do their best, starting with the herd work.
“I was really, really late in the herd—my original draw was last,” Paulick said. “So I was able to know exactly the cows I wanted. We got really good cuts and made it work.”
In the finals round, Futurity judges Tom Buckingham, Bobby Ingersoll, Cayley Wilson, Jim Spence and Dan Roeser scored Paulick a 214.5 in the herd, 215.5 in the rein work and a 222 in the cow work—top of the class. Their cumulative score of 652 landed them the Non Pro title and $25,000, as well as Intermediate Non Pro, for an additional $8,676.
Paulick was moved by the help given by so many friends, trainers, veterinarians and fellow competitors.
“It’s amazing—after 25 years of grinding,” Paulick said of his accomplishment. “I have great friends that support me. It was a team effort. If you can listen to every word and put it all together, everybody has something to teach you in this industry.”
Fort Worth, Texas – October 10-24, 2020 Horse/Rider/Pedigree/Owner/Score/Money
1. IllBeYourHickleBerry; Bret Paulick; 17S (Hickory Holly Time x Miss Slic Smoke x Chick N San); Bret & Amie Paulick; 652 (H:214.5/R:215.5/C:222); $25,000.
2. Playin With Cher; Josh Briggs; 17M (Mr Playinstylish x Bella Cher x Peptoboonsmal); Josh Briggs; 651 (H:216.5/R:218/C:216.5); $18,223.20.
3. Stylin Cat; Tammy Jo Hays; 17M (Kit Kat Sugar x Stylin Tonette x Docs Stylish Sam); Tammy Hays & Walter Greeman; 649 (H:216.5/R:218.5/C:214); $15,186.
4. Dual Smarty; Julia Winders; 17S (Dual Smart Rey x Cats Gabriella Acre x Docs Stylish Oak); Julia R. Winders; 648.5(H:213/R:216/C:219.5); $12,148.80.
5. Hughes This Chic; Debbie Crafton; 17M (Thomas E Hughes x Smart Playing Chic x Smart Chic Olena); Debbie Crafton; 647.5 (H: 213.5/R:215.5/C:219); $9,111.60.
6.-7. Makin A Seen; Eric Freitas; 17S (Woody Be Tuff x CR Dees Boon Meow x Peptoboonsmal); Eric Freitas; 645.5 (H:212/R:217.5/C:216); $6,681.84.
6.-7. Boon On A Tuesday; Parke Greeson; 17G (Boon Too Suen x Arc Little Rubylena x Smart Little Lena); Sarco Creek Ranch; 645.5 (H: 218/R:214/C:213.5); $6,681.84.
9. Seven S Razzberry; Lanham Brown; 17M (Blind Sided x Seven S Valentina x Playgun); R. A. Brown Ranch; 641.5 (H:210/R:216/C:215.5); $4,252.08.
10. SS Genuine Metal; Karey Louthan; 17M (Metallic Masterpiece x Miss Genuine Zanoita x Genuine Doc); Karey Louthan; 639.5 (H:212/R:217.5/210); $4,252.08
Paulick is grateful to his wife Amie and his kids, Laramie, Bodee and Payton, for helping make this dream come true, and also gave credit to his Lord and savior.
NOVICE NON PRO CHAMPION
Josh Briggs’ first time showing a 3-year-old at the Snaffle Bit Futurity was memorable aboard 2017 stallion Voodoo Whiskey, as well as his brandnew horse of a month, Playin With Cher (Mr Playinstylish x Bella Cher x Peptoboonsmal), nicknamed “Sis.” The pair of horses took home a slew of awards.
Playin With Cher, bred by Kit and Charlie Moncrief, came in as the reserve Non Pro Champion, earning $18,223.20; and the reserve Intermediate Non Pro Champion, for an additional $6,940.80. She also topped the Novice Non Pro division.
The 20-year-old from Gainesville, Texas, and the 2017 mare trained by Ben Baldus quickly got in sync. His goal was clean rides, and to make the finals.
///// SPECIAL AWARDS
“It’s amazing—after 25 years of grinding. I have great friends that support me. It was a team effort. If you can listen to every word and put it all together, everybody has something to teach you in this industry.”–Bret Paulick
“I just tried my best every day to get to know her,” Briggs said. “It seemed like it really clicked for me the day before the cutting finals. By then, we understood each other’s buttons, so I was really happy with her.”
Briggs’ two horses were neck-in-neck in the Futurity, placing so closely that they tied for first with scores of 216.5 in the herd work.
“They both worked really good—they work very similar,” Briggs said. “In the
NOVICE
Aboard Playin With Cher (Mr Playinstylish x Bella Cher x Peptoboonsmal), Josh Briggs rode his way to the Novice Non Pro Champion title and the Reserve Champion hole in the Non Pro and the Intermediate Non Pro divisions.
Josh Briggs and Voodoo Whiskey rode to
Walter Greeman/ 219/ Horse Tammy Jo Hays Stylin Kat Tammy Jo Hays 653
Non-Pro Bridle Champion
Sired by
Non-Pro Two Rein Co-Reserve Champion
Owned by Tom McBeath • Shown by Katy Thomison
JILLS LAST BET
Youth Limited Reserve Champion
Owned and Shown by Jubilee K. Stringfellow
HESA DUAL BET
Open Hackamore – 5th
Owned by Kent Blough • Shown by Matt Koch
BET HE SPARKS
Open Two Rein – 5th
Owned by Phillips, LLC • Shown by Clayton Edsall
(Peptoboonsmal - Meradas Little Sue, by Freckles Merada) LTE: $262,009 NCHA World Champion Stallion
An NCHA & AQHA World Champion Sire
A 2018, 2019 & 2020 NCHA Leading Sire
Average earnings per performer is more than 9-times his stud fee!
(Metallic
LTE: $73,749 (High Brow Cat - Bet Yer Blue Boons, by
Playboy) LTE: $272,151 NCHA Open World Champion A 2020 NCHA, NRCHA & Ranch Horse Leading Sire A Leading NCHA & NRCHA Sire Since 2016
One of Only 3 Stallions to Sire an NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion & Reserve Champion in the Same Year!
BET HESA CAT
Fee: $3,500 + Chute Fee
SCR BETTHISTIME
Non-Pro Hackamore Champion
Non-Pro Hackamore Classic Champion
Owned by Sarco Creek Ranch Shown by Parke S. Greeson
JJ CAT O LENA
Novice Non-Pro Bridle – 3rd
Owned and Shown by Allyson Dee Tapie
SHESA STYLIN CAT
$7,500 Limited Open Top 20
Transported Cooled & Frozen Semen Available Owned by Bet Hesa Cat Syndicate
BOON ON A TUESDAY
Owned by Dickie Wayne and Gail Scott Shown by Trey Pool
BOON ON A TUESDAY
Non-Pro – 6/7th and Gelding Reserve Champion (Non-Pro Herd Work Champion)
Owned by Sarco Creek Ranch • Shown by Parke S. Greeson
SUEN TO LOVE
Non-Pro Hackamore Classic Top 15
Owned and Shown by McKenzie S. Merrill
BOON TOO SUEN
Fee: $3,000 + Chute Fee
Transported Cooled & Frozen Semen Available Owned by Creek Plantation
SS GENUINE METAL
NRCHA Intermediate Open Derby Reserve Champion First Foal Crop to Show!
Non-Pro – 10th and Intermediate Non-Pro – 7th Owned and Shown by Karey Louthan
METALLIC MASTERPIECE
Fee: $1,800
Transported Cooled Semen Available Owned by Silver Spur Ranch
Cat - Kings Masterpiece, by Peppy San Badger)
Freckles
reining tonight, this mare [Sis] had it, giving me the ability to run a little faster. She’s a little better in circles and slows down better. And she stops big.”
The pair scored a 218 in the reining. Sis drew a stronger cow in the cow work, and Briggs noted she did a good job staying close and finishing—rewarded with a 216.5, for a composite score of 651. They won $3,560.40.
“She really gave her heart every single run she had, and every ride got just a little bit better,” Briggs said. “I’m really happy with her.”
Briggs thanked the Baldus crew and his family for their support getting him ready to show, as well as the NRCHA for hosting the event.
“It’s been a dream of mine to get to show a 3-year-old here, and then the first time it went well,” Briggs said. “I’m really thankful.”
Briggs’ horse Voodoo Whiskey (Shiners Voodoo Dr x Whiskey On Wheels x Paddys Irish Whiskey) scored composite 650.5 (H:216.5/R: 220.5/C:213.5) and the
“She really gave her heart every single run she had, and every ride got just a little bit better. I’m really happy with her.”–Josh Briggs
Novice Non Pro Reserve Champion title. They received $2,848.32.
AMATEURCHAMPION
Lindsey James of San Luis Obispo, California, bred and raised 2017 gelding Quit Your Mitchin (Call Me Mitch x Masters Nu Fox x Master Merada), but she hadn’t planned on showing “Logan” at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity. But just after a pre-futurity event, her trainer
Phillip Ralls suggested she show him.
“I’d never shown a Futurity horse before,” James said. “I have a bridle horse, but two hands is a whole different thing on a three-year-old.”
Getting to know her horse was the big focus for James, so the prelims were helpful, even though she was nervous. They qualified for all of the levels, including Non Pro, of which they were finalists.
In Amateur, the pair scored a 213 in
AMATEURCHAMPION
Riding Quit Your Mitchin, a horse she bred and raised, Lindsey James competed in and won at her first NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity, marking a composite 644 to earn $6,612.50 and the Non Pro Gelding Incentive for an additional $2,580.
the herd work, tying for third and earning $100. In the reining, they ran a 218 pattern to win and earn $500. And their herd work score of 213 put their composite score at 644, winning the Amateur title, $6,612.50 and the Non Pro Gelding Incentive for an additional $2,580.
“I’m feeling pretty proud of him and myself for doing it,” James said. “He’s just such a nice, fun horse, so relaxed so fun to show, and on one that I raised, just super special. It’s exciting.”
Cutter McLaughlin, of Clarendon, Texas, guided 2017 gelding Sannman (Sann Slinger x Pinch Of Doc x Doc Freckles Leo) to the reserve Amateur title. His parents, Jay and Wendy McLaughlin, own the horse. They scored a 213.5 in the herd work, 214 in reining and 212.5 in the cow work for a composite score of 640. They took home $5,290 for their efforts.
AMATEUR RESERVE CHAMPION
Cutter McLaughlin and Sann Slinger (Sannman x Pinch Of Doc x Doc Freckles), owned by his parents Jay and Wendy McLaughlin, won the Amateur Reserve Champion title thanks to a composite score of 640, earning $5,290.
NON PRO LIMITED CHAMPION
Hope Mitchell and her cutting horse trainer husband, John, raised 2017 mare Wing Anda Prayer (Meteles Cat x Wings Ofa Lena x Quejanaisalena), bred by Marcus Vinicius T. Guimaraes. They sent “Wings” to cow horse trainer Ricky
Nicolazzi last year to train for the Open Futurity this year. Nicolazzi showed the horse in the herd work and reining, but a low score spurred a change in plans. John asked Hope if she wanted to show, and when she agreed, he entered her the night before the Non Pro began.
641.5 topped the class that brought home $6,045.
Although she’s been cutting since she was 8 years old, Mitchell had never shown in cow horse before—other than the 2019 Cow Horse For Cutters invitational class held during the Snaffle Bit Futurity.
“I ride horses every day, and I understand the concepts of the maneuvers, but doing everything on the spot is a bit different, and the turns are different,” Mitchell said. “I had some pretty rough moments during our reining practice. Maybe a few tears involved, but we got through it.
“I ride horses every day, and I understand the concepts of the maneuvers, but doing everything on the spot is a bit different, and the turns are different.”–Hope Mitchell
The pair excelled in the herd work, scoring a 214 to place second and $200. Their reining pattern scored a 211 to place third for $200. Mitchell and Wing’s boxing in the cow work brought a 216.5 to placed first for $500.
“She was excellent in the boxing and I was lucky enough to get a really good cow,” Mitchell said.
Their composite score of 641.5 topped the class and brought home $6,045.
“It’s very surreal—it feels like quite an accomplishment, with a little bit of luck involved,” Mitchell said. “It really worked out, and I hope I get another chance to do it again.”
Reserve Champion Lori Crafton piloted SJR Starlit Cat to the reserve Amateur Champion title. The 2017 mare sired by Smooth As A Cat, out of A Starlit Diamond, by CD Lights, scored a composite 639.5 (H:212/R:211.5/C:216) to win $4,836.
NON PRO LIMITED CHAMPION
Not expecting to sit in Wing Anda Prayer’s cow horse saddle, Hope Mitchell rode her way to the Non Pro Limited Champion title with a composite score of
NON PRO LIMITED RESERVE CHAMPION
Lori Crafton was crowned Non Pro Limited Reserve Champion aboard SJR Starlit Cat thanks to a composite score of 639.5. The pair earned $4,836.
Kit Kat Kangaroo
2020 Cascades Futurity
Open CHA mpiON
2020 idaho Futurity Open Finalist
Shown by monty Buntin
Owned by Sherry Stryker
Scooter Kat
2020 NRCHA Stakes
Open CHA mpiON
2020 NRCHA Derby
Open CHA mpiON
Shown by Justin Wright
Owned by Eric Freitas
Kidd Kat Sugar
Sugrspiznevrthingniz
2020 pCCHA Classic
Open CHA mpiON
2020 Cascades Classic
Open CHA mpiON
2020 idaho Classic
Open Finalist
Southern Cutting Futurity
Owned by Belle Terra Ranch
Open & Non pro CHA mpiON
Shown by Rodrigo Taboga & missy Jean Etheridge
Shown by matt Gaines
Owned by James Vangilder
SNAFFLE BIT HORSE SHOW UCCESS
During the 2020 National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity®, presented by Metallic Cat, held October 10-24, 2020, at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas, competitors vied for wins in multiple horse show classes. Horse show class judges were Chele McGauley and Morgan Lybbert.
Photos by Primo Morales
OPEN BRIDLE RESERVE CHAMPION
Sarah Dawson rode Shine Smarter (WR This Cats Smart x Shiney Tari x Shining Spark) to a 441 (R:219.5/C:221.5), taking reserve for owner Linda Mars who earned $8,704.
OPEN BRIDLECHAMPION
Nick Dowers piloted High Stressin Cat (WR This Cats Smart x Playguns Melody x Playgun) to a 443.5 (R:223/C:220.5), earning owner Clinton Marshall $10,880.
INTERMEDIATEOPEN BRIDLE 1ST PLACE
Coloradoboonsmal (Peptoboonsmal x Miss Playboys Josie x Freckles Playboy) and Keith Vogel took the win with a 295 (R:147/C:148) to earn $1,904 for owner Conrad Swanson.
INTERMEDIATEOPEN BRIDLE 2ND PLACE
Peptos Smart Cookie (Cookin Merada x Uvaldes Cow Smart x Peptosmart) took Shane Steffen to a 295 (R:147/C:148) to earn reserve and $1,496 for owner Finally Farm Paints.
LIMITED OPEN BRIDLE RESERVE CHAMPION
Quails Dun Remedy (Very Smart Remedy x Quails Dun Holly x Quials Dun Berry) and rider Cody Patterson marked a 289 (R:143.5/C:145.5) for reserve. Owner Christopher Bethune earned $1,375 for the class.
LIMITED OPEN BRIDLECHAMPION
Cash Master T (Cat T Masterson x Nu Cash Box x Shining Spark), ridden by Andrew Steiger for owners Scott and Darnell Trueblood, earned the win and $1,650 with a 293.5 (R:145 /C:148.5).
NON PRO BRIDLECHAMPION, NON PRO TW O REIN RESERVE CHAMPION (TIE)
Katy Thomison and Betcha Like That (Bet Hesa Cat x Girl Like That x Playgun) took the Non Pro Bridle win with a 295 (R:146/C:149), earning owner Tom McBeath $3,996.25. In the Non Pro Two Rein, the pair marked a 284 (R:144/C:140) for a three-way tie for reserve and a $1,400 check.
NON PRO BRIDLE RESERVE CHAMPION, INTERMEDIATE NON PRO BRIDLECHAMPION, NOVICE NON PRO BRIDLECHAMPION
Mr Stylish Cat (Mr Playinstylish x Lil Sally Cat x High Brow Cat) took Tylor Todd to the pay window with the Non Pro Bridle Reserve win ($3,127.50), the Intermediate Non Pro Champion ($2,310), and Novice Non Pro Bridle Champion ($1,758.40) titles. The pair marked a 295 (R:147/C:148), losing the tie for the Non Pro based on lower cattle score.
INTERMEDIATE NON PRO BRIDLE RESERVE CHAMPION (TIE)
With a 293.5 (R:145.5/C:148), Nicole Westfall and Peppys Royal Outlaw (Royal Fletch x Peppys Tachita x Peppy San Badger) tied for reserve, earning her parents and the owners, Desiree and Jeff Westfall, $1,608.75.
INTERMEDIATE NON PRO BRIDLE RESERVE CHAMPION (TIE), NOVICE NON PRO BRIDLE RESERVE CHAMPION
Tying for reserve, Elizabeth Clymer rode her Mister Dual Pepinic (Mister Dual Pep x Colonel Pepinic x Smart Little Pepinic) to a 293.5 (R:145.5/C:148) to earn $1,608.75 for the Intermediate Non Pro. For reserve in the Novice Non Pro Bridle, the pair added $1,381.60 in earnings.
OPEN HACKAMORE CHAMPION
In an unusual Open Hackamore finals, Erin Taormino piloted an unfazed Jittery (Metallic Cat x Jitters Brown x Smart Little Lena), owned by the Smith Cattle Co., to the win with a score of 441 (R:218/C:223). Taormino, as well as all other finalist entries, earned $13,224.
MARTIN PERFORMANCE
COWHORSE
OPEN HACKAMORERESERVE CHAMPION, INTERMEDIATE
OPEN HACKAMORE 1ST PLACE
With a 438 (R:217/C:221), MCCowhammer (Metallic Cat x GunSmart Gay x Playgun) and Trevor Carter took reserve in the Open Hackamore, earning owner Bogle Brothers LLC $10,440. Winning the Intermediate Open with a 444 (R:221.5/C:222.5), Carter piloted the stallion to an additional $2,040 in earnings.
LIMITED OPEN HACKAMORE CHAMPION
Wilson McCray rode Heart Shaped Box (Smart Boons x Rica Olena x CD Olena), owned by Aileen McCray, to a 431.5 (R:217/C:214.5) to earn the win and $2,170.
INTERMEDIATEOPEN HACKAMORE 2ND PLACE
Half Past Boon (Half Time Report x Boonalicious x Peptoboonsmal) and Jesus “Chuy” Roman took second place with a 437.5 (R:216.5/C:221), earning owner Rocking J Ranch $1,632.
LIMITED OPEN HACKAMORERESERVE CHAMPION
Alex Alves rode Smart With Chicks (Smart Chic Olena x Shining Donna x Shining Spark) to a 430 (R:1215/C:215.5), earning owner A&S Performance Horses, LLC $1,705.
NON PRO HACKAMORE CHAMPION
SCRBet This Time (Bet Hesa Cat x PRF One Time Candi x One Time Pepto) carried Parke Greeson to a 436 (R:216.5/C:219.5), earning Greeson’s family’s Sarco Creek Ranch $2,702.50.
OPEN TW O REIN CHAMPION
Nick Dowers rode Trigg Marquiss’ Still Get Jealous (One Time Pepto x ARC Cat Her Please x Chic Please) to a 297 (R:147/C:150) to take the win and earn $4,800.
NON PRO HACKAMORERESERVE CHAMPION
Toni Hagen Heath piloted Smokum Every Time (One Time Pepto x Smokums Dream x Smokums Prize), owned by her husband Daniel Heath, to a 435.5 (R:218.5/C:217) and earned $2,115.
OPEN TW O REIN RESERVE CHAMPION
Chris Dawson piloted Reyzinette (Dual Rey x Sheza Shinette x Shining Spark), owned by Holy Cow Performance Horses, Texas, to a 296.5 (R:147.5/C:149) for reserve and a $3,840 payday.
NON PRO TW O REIN CHAMPION
Lia Savas piloted her Metallic Nickel (Metillic Cat x Nickel N Dime Smart x Smart Little Lena) to the win with a 290.5 (R:144.5/C:146), earning $2,100.
NON PRO TW O REIN RESERVE CHAMPION (TIE)
WR This Cats Sporty (WR This Cats Smart x Shiney N Sporty x Shining Spark) and Cutter McLaughlin tied with a 284 (R:136.5/C:147.5), earning Cutter’s parents and owners Jay and Wendy McLaughlin $1,400.
NON PRO TW O REIN RESERVE CHAMPION (TIE)
Legend De Lena (Smart Peppy Doc x My Legend Del Cielo x Gallo Del Cielo) and Toni Hagen Heath joined a three-way tie for reserve with a 284 (R:141.5/C:142.5), earning Toni’s husband Daniel $1,400.
BEGINNING FENCE W ORK 1ST PLACE, NON PRO LIMITED RESERVE CHAMPION
(TIE)
Dr. Julie Gibbons and Unos Blue Lightening (Uno What Time It Is x Miss Vibrant Chex x Nu Chex To Cash) marked a 288 (R:144/C:144) for the win and a $748 payday. In a tie for Non Pro Limited Reserve Champion, Gibbons earned $1,875 for a 290 (R:144/C:146) score.
BEGINNING FENCE W ORK 2ND PLACE
Little Bunny Foo Foo (Meradas Money Talks x Lucky Baylite x Grays Starlight) and Melissa Ann Miller earned $623.75 for their 287.5 (R:143.5/C:144).
NON PRO LIMITED RESERVE CHAMPION (TIE)
Oh Cay Meriah (Light N Lena x Meradas Oh Cay x Freckles Merada) and owner/rider Monica Duflock tied for reserve with a 290 (R:144.5/C:145.5) and earned $1,875.
NON PRO LIMITED CHAMPION
Jordyn Hall rode Chicaroo Sam (Hick Chicaroo x Zacks Lady x Zack T Wood) to a 292.5 (R:143.5/C:149) and $2,500 for the win.
$5K NON PRO LIMITED CHAMPION, SELECT NON PRO LIMITED 1ST PLACE
Kathleen Pinkley rode her Shes Divine (Metallic Cat x Shesa Show Stopper x Peptoboonsmal) to a 292 (R:145/C:147) to win the class and earn $816.50. In the Select Non Pro Limited, the pair earned an additional $345.
$5K NON PRO LIMITED RESERVE CHAMPION (TIE)
With a 290 (R:143/C:147), Chelsea Edsall and Skeets Oak Peppy (Skeets Peppy x Oak Ill Be x Ill Be Smart), owned by her husband Clayton Edsall, tied for reserve and earned $520.67
$5K NON PRO LIMITED RESERVE CHAMPION (TIE), YOUTH LIMITED CHAMPION, YOUTH LIMITED 13 & UNDER 1ST PLACE
Laney Fjelstad rode Mini Mes Mercedes (Mini Me Merada x Spooks Hickory x Olenas Command), owned by her mother Addison, to a 290 (R:141/C:149) and $520.67 in the three-way tie in the $5K Non Pro Limited .She also rode Mini Mes Mercedes to the win in the Youth classes with a 293.5 (R:143.5/C:150).
$5K NON PRO LIMITED RESERVE CHAMPION (TIE), SELECT NON PRO LIMITED 2ND PLACE
Kelly Warner rode Metallic Pearl (Metallic Cat x Precious Lil Pearl x Travalena), co-owned with her husband Mike, to tie with a 290 (R:144.5/C:145.5) and earned $520.67. In the Select Non Pro, the pair earned another $287.50.
$1K NON PRO LIMITED CHAMPION
MJG Gotta Dry Gun (Dun It Gotta Gun x Dock And Dry x Dry Doc) and owner/rider Amy Diener rode to a 288.5 (R:142.5/C:146) to earn $471.50 for the win.
$1K NON PRO LIMITED RESERVE CHAMPION
KR Ima Electric (Jacs Electric Spark x KR Ima Tejon x Tejons Peppy Doc) and owner/rider Renate Finley rode to reserve with a 288 (R:145/C:143) to earn $369.
YOUTH FENCERESERVE CHAMPION
LooksLikeLuckToMe (Smart Boons x Dual Lookin Pep x Dual Pep) and Lannie-Jo Lisac earned reserve with a 291.5 (R:145.5/C:146) score and her grandparents, owners Timothy and Katherine Miller, took home $1,237.50.
YOUTH FENCE CHAMPION
Trail Townsend rode TRR Lucky Playgun (Pepcid x TRRMs Lucky Gun x ), owned by his father Tripp, to a 293.5 (R:145/C:148.5) for the win and $1,575.
YOUTH FENCE 13 & UNDER 1ST PLACE
Just Makin A Scene (Very Smart Remedy x Catinthehat x High Brow Cat), owned by Circle CRanch, and Dani Cox rode to a 286.5 (R:139.5/C:147) for the class win.
YOUTH FENCE 13 & UNDER 2ND PLACE
ShortShotOfSmarts (Peptosmart x Shotys Shania x Shorty Lena) and owner/rider William Akin rode to a 276.5 (R:137.5/C:139) for second place.
YOUTH LIMITED 13 & UNDER 2ND PLACE
TR Princess At Heart (Heart Of A Fox x TR Cash Prescription x Nu Cash), owned by Tucker Gillespie, and Reese Gillespie rode to a 285 (R:139.5/R:145.5) to take second.
YOUTH LIMITED RESERVE CHAMPION
Jubilee Stringfellow rode Jills Last Bet (Bet Hesa Cat x Shiners Diamond Jill x Shining Spark) to a 290.5 (R:145/C:145.5) for reserve and $858.
By Kristin Pitzer
AN’T TOUCH THIS C
MCCowhammer and Trevor Carter hammered down to win three Open divisions at the 2020 NRCHA Hackamore Classic.
When Trevor Carter entered MC Cowhammer (Metallic Cat x Gunsmart Gay x Playgun) in three divisions at the National Reined Cow Horse Association Hackamore Classic, held in conjunction with the 2020 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®, he had no idea what a roller coaster ride it would be. Shortly before showing in the rein and cow work, Carter had three bridles, handmade by a friend 15 years ago, stolen from his tack room. The experience provided for a rough morning, but Carter pushed it to the back of his mind and focused on showing the stallion.
His afternoon got a lot better when he and “Cowhammer” scored a 667 composite (H: 223/R: 221.5/C: 222.5), which topped the Open, Intermediate Open and Limited Open divisions. By the end of the day, they were the champions in all three, collecting more than $30,000.
“It was unreal. I’ve known a long time that he’s a really special horse, and it was fun for him to really showcase what he can do,” Carter said.
Leading up to the Hackamore Classic, Carter focused on the herd work at home, hoping to eliminate any mistakes at the show. Since Cowhammer is his first reined cow horse to compete with, Carter admitted sometimes his lack of experience can put them at a disadvantage.
“I think I beat myself up quite a bit trying to figure out what I should not do, because I know he’s going to be really good if I present him well,” Carter said. “My main priority in the herd was to really showcase what he can and will do if he’s presented with the right scenario.”
Cowhammer is a homebred 5-year-old stallion belonging to Donald and Stuart Bogle’s Bogle Brothers LLC. Donald has shown Cowhammer some too, and Carter said he’s contributed a lot to the horse’s training.
Photos by Primo Morales
Trevor Carter was proud to pilot MC Cowhammer to the Hackamore Classic Open, Intermediate Open and Limited Open championships. He said it was a deserving prize for the stallion, who is truly soft and great-minded in the hackamore.
“I’m just excited that their horse got the recognition that he deserves,” Carter said. “He’s been a real pleasure to train. I don’t even want to think he gets trained at the house; it’s more like he’s training me to get ready for the show. I’ve never felt anything like it before.”
Carter thanked his wife, Tara, for helping run the business and taking care of their kids; Callie Heinle for doing the bodywork on Cowhammer; Katie Kirsch for her assistance at home and on the road; and the whole cow horse family for their support.
Reserve Champion Wares The Nurse, ridden by Nick Dowers, scored a composite 666.5 (H: 220/R: 223/C: 223.5) to bring home the Open Reserve Championship for owner Brigitte Belin of Genolier, Switzerland. The Wagonhound Land and Livestock-bred stallion picked up a check worth $13,955, plus another $1,662 from the rein and cow works.
OPEN RESERVE CHAMPION
Wares The Nurse (WR This Cats Smart x Nurseware x Dual Rey), a 2015 stallion ridden by Nick Dowers, scored a 666.5 (H:220/R:223/C:223.5) and collected $13,954.52 for owner Brigitte Belin.
INTERMEDIATEOPEN 2ND PLACE
After scoring a 653 (H:216/R:220/C:217), Tabasque O (Metallic Cat x Nievas x Cats Merada) and Ron Ralls brought home the Intermediate Open Reserve Championship and also tied for 10th in the Open. The 5-year-old gelding collected $7,226.71 from both divisions for owner Richard Bell.
LIMITED OPEN RESERVE CHAMPION
A 652 composite (H:221/R:217.5/C:213.5) gave Hes Pistol Packin (Smooth As A Cat x Shiners Lil Pistol x Shining Spark) and Clint Allen the Limited Open Reserve Championship. The 2015 gelding also tied for 14th in the Open and third in the Intermediate Open, netting owners David and Stacie McDavid $6,914.
LEVEL
1 LIMITED OPEN CHAMPION
Smarter Than Nic (Shining Lil Nic x Smart N Katsi x Smart Little Pepinic), ridden by owner Reanna Dillman, scored a 649.5 (H:215/R:218/C:216.5) and won $4,150.60. The 5-year-old mare garnered another $231 for winning the rein work in the division.
OPEN NOVICE HORSECHAMPION
Annies Smart Cat (WR This Cats Smart x Shiney Nu Annie x Shining Spark) and Lance Johnston won with a 662 composite (H:218/R:220/C:224). Owner Rocking BS Ranch collected $2,445 for the title, plus $10,715 for the 2016 stallion’s third-place tie in the Open. He additionally amassed $1,237 for topping the Open and Open Novice cow work.
LEVEL 1 LIMITED OPEN RESERVE CHAMPION
Four-year-old mare Heart Shaped Box (Smart Boons x Rica Olena x CD Olena), ridden by Wilson McCray to a 645.5 composite (H:214/R:217/C:214.5), banked $3,320.48 for owner Aileen McCray.
OPEN NOVICE HORSE RESERVE CHAMPION
The 2016 stallion Metallic Wizard (Metallic Cat x Smart Chuka Lena x Smart Chic Olena), ridden by Todd Fitch to a composite 648.5 (H:215/R:220.5/C:213) for owner Stan Rowlan, also tied for eighth in the Intermediate Open and won the Novice rein work, accumulating checks worth $3,421.
FOR EVERY EQUINEDISCIPLINE
As with all drugs, side effects may occur. In field studies and post-approval experience the most common side effects reported were signs of discomfort, nervousness, and colic. Other signs reported were: renal insufficiency/failure, anorexia, lethargy, hypercalcemia, behavioral disorders, hyperkalemia, hyperactivity, recumbency, hyperthermia, injection site reactions, muscle tremor, urticaria, hyperglycemia, and fracture. In some cases, death has been reported as an outcome of these adverse events. The safe use of OSPHOS has not been evaluated in horses less than 4 years of age or breeding horses. OSPHOS should not be used in pregnant or lactating mares, or mares intended for breeding. NSAIDs should not be used concurrently with OSPHOS. Concurrent use of NSAIDs with OSPHOS may increase the risk of renal toxicity and acute renal failure. Use of OSPHOS in patients with conditions affecting renal function or mineral or electrolyte homeostasis is not recommended. Refer to the prescribing information for complete details or visit www.dechra-us.com.
CAUTION: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of
Bisphosphonate.
For use in horses only.
Brief Summary (For Full Prescribing Information, see package insert)
CAUTION: Federal (USA) law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.
DESCRIPTION: Clodronate disodium is a non-amino, chloro-containing bisphosphonate. Chemically, clodronate disodium is (dichloromethylene) diphosphonic acid disodium salt and is manufactured from the tetrahydrate form.
INDICATION: For the control of clinical signs associated with navicular syndrome in horses.
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Horses with hypersensitivity to clodronate disodium should not receive OSPHOS. Do not use in horses with impaired renal function or with a history of renal disease.
WARNINGS: Do not use in horses intended for human consumption.
HUMAN WARNINGS: Not for human use. Keep this and all drugs out of the reach of children. Consult a physician in case of accidental human exposure.
PRECAUTIONS: OSPHOS has been associated with renal toxicity. Concurrent administration of other potentially nephrotoxic drugs should be approached with caution and renal function should be monitored. Use of bisphosphonates in patients with conditions or diseases affecting renal function is not recommended. Horses should be well-hydrated prior to and after the administration of OSPHOS due to the potential for adverse renal events. Water intake and urine output should be monitored for 3-5 days post-treatment and any changes from baseline should elicit further evaluation. As a class, bisphosphonates may be associated with gastrointestinal and renal toxicity. Sensitivity to drug associated adverse reactions varies with the individual patient. Renal and gastrointestinal adverse reactions may be associated with plasma concentrations of the drug. Bisphosphonates are excreted by the kidney; therefore, conditions causing renal impairment may increase plasma bisphosphonate concentrations resulting in an increased risk for adverse reactions. Concurrent administration of other potentially nephrotoxic drugs should be approached with caution and renal function should be monitored. Use of bisphosphonates in patients with conditions or diseases affecting renal function is not recommended. Administration of bisphosphonates has been associated with abdominal pain (colic), discomfort, and agitation in horses. Clinical signs usually occur shortly after drug administration and may be associated with alterations in intestinal motility. In horses treated with OSPHOS these clinical signs usually began within 2 hours of treatment. Horses should be monitored for at least 2 hours following administration of OSPHOS. Bisphosphonates affect plasma concentrations of some minerals and electrolytes such as calcium, magnesium and potassium, immediately post-treatment, with effects lasting up to several hours. Caution should be used when administering bisphosphonates to horses with conditions affecting mineral or electrolyte homeostasis (e.g. hyperkalemic periodic paralysis, hypocalcemia, etc.). The safe use of OSPHOS has not been evaluated in horses less than 4 years of age. The effect of bisphosphonates on the skeleton of growing horses has not been studied; however, bisphosphonates inhibit osteoclast activity which impacts bone turnover and may affect bone growth.
Bisphosphonates should not be used in pregnant or lactating mares, or mares intended for breeding. The safe use of OSPHOS has not been evaluated in breeding horses or pregnant or lactating mares. Bisphosphonates are incorporated into the bone matrix, from where they are gradually released over periods of months to years. The extent of bisphosphonate incorporation into adult bone, and hence, the amount available for release back into the systemic circulation, is directly related to the total dose and duration of bisphosphonate use. Bisphosphonates have been shown to cause fetal developmental abnormalities in laboratory animals. The uptake of bisphosphonates into fetal bone may be greater than into maternal bone creating a possible risk for skeletal or other abnormalities in the fetus. Many drugs, including bisphosphonates, may be excreted in milk and may be absorbed by nursing animals.
Increased bone fragility has been observed in animals treated with bisphosphonates at high doses or for long periods of time. Bisphosphonates inhibit bone resorption and decrease bone turnover which may lead to an inability to repair micro damage within the bone. In humans, atypical femur fractures have been reported in patients on long term bisphosphonate therapy; however, a causal relationship has not been established.
ADVERSE REACTIONS: The most common adverse reactions reported in the field study were clinical signs of discomfort or nervousness, colic and/or pawing. Other signs reported were lip licking, yawning, head shaking, injection site swelling, and hives/pruritus.
POST-APPROVAL EXPERIENCE (December 2018): The following adverse events are based on post-approval adverse drug experience reporting. Not all adverse events are reported to FDA/CVM. It is not always possible to reliably estimate the adverse event frequency or establish a causal relationship to product exposure using these data.
The following adverse events are listed in decreasing order of reporting frequency: renal failure, polyuria, polydipsia, abdominal pain, anorexia, lethargy, hypercalcemia, behavioral disorder, discomfort, hyperkalemia, hyperactivity, recumbency, hyperthermia, injection site reactions, muscle tremor, urticaria, hyperglycemia, and fracture. In some cases, death has been reported as an outcome of the adverse events listed above.
INFORMATION FOR HORSE OWNERS: Owners should be advised to:
• NOT administer NSAIDs.
• Ensure horses have access to adequate water before andafter administration of OSPHOS.
• Observe their horse for at least 2 hours post-treatment forsigns of colic, agitation, and/or abnormal behavior.
• If a horse appears uncomfortable, nervous, or experiences cramping posttreatment, hand walk the horse for 15 minutes. If signs do not resolve contact the veterinarian.
• Monitor water intake and urine output for 3-5 days post-treatment.
• Contact their veterinarian if the horse displays abnormal clinical signs such as changes in drinking and urination, appetite, and attitude.
NON PRO
In 2019, Parke Greeson rode SCR Playin One Time to the NRCHA Hackamore Classic Intermediate Non Pro Championship. He returned this year with the gelding’s half-brother, SCR Betthistime (Bet Hesa Cat x PRF One Time Candi x One Time Pepto), to capture the Non Pro title with a composite 652 (H: 216/R: 216.5/C: 219.5).
“He’s a good little horse and tries hard,” Greeson said. “He’s just one of those horses that when I get in the arena and take a deep breath, he takes a deep breath with me and kind of calms down.”
Greeson said SCR Betthistime, who his family’s Sarco Creek Ranch bred and raised, took some time to come around in his training. Still, Greeson added he’s the cowiest colt out of his dam, noting he likes the 4-year-old stallion in the cutting best.
At the Hackamore Classic, the pair tied to win the herd work, then slid to sixth place in the reining. As they went into the cow work immediately after, Greeson knew he had a shot at a decent run if he could stay in position and minimize any separation.
“He’s just one of those horses that when I get in the arena and take a deep breath, he takes a deep breath with me.”
—Parke Greeson
“That cow came out and pushed on me the whole time,” Greeson said. “I’ve had some cows like that in the past, and it seems like if you get the chance to stop them a couple times and then go, you ‘re better off going because they’re probably going to run over you before too long.”
Following that instinct, Greeson and “Pablo” successfully turned and circled up, tying for third in the cow work. With only one point to spare, their composite score held for the championship. Along with the $4,360.30 winner’s check, they banked $363 from the herd and cow works, and picked up an additional $2,703 for winning the Non Pro Hackamore horse show class.
Greeson and Pablo were awarded a custom saddle byJeff Smith’s Custom Saddles sponsored by Equine Sports Medicine, a Gist custom buckle sponsored by Just Stitch It, as well as an array of other prizes and products.
Reserve Champions Hope Mills, of Brush Prairie, Washington, and Seven S Prettysmart (Dual Smart Rey x Lena Pretty Playboy x Freckles Playboy), the 2018 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Non Pro Champions, stayed neck-and-neck with Greeson throughout but ended up with a 651 composite (H: 216/R:218.5 /C:216.5). They collected $3,488, plus $404 from the herd and rein work. They were also third in the Non Pro Hackamore horse show class for another $1,763.
Parke Greeson and SCRBetthistime didn’t stop after tying for first in the herd work. The pair used that momentum to win the 2020 NRCHA Hackamore Classic Non Pro.
NON PRO RESERVE CHAMPION
Hope Mills and Seven S Prettysmart (Dual Smart Rey x Lena Pretty Playboy x Freckles Playboy) snagged Reserve with a 651 (H:216/R:218.5/C:216.5). Mills and the 2015 mare collected $3,488.24, plus an additional $222 for tying to lead the herd work.
INTERMEDIATE NON PRO RESERVE CHAMPION
Mike Miller and 2015 stallion Saturdaynightfever67 (Playboys Buck Fever x Streak Of Flick x A Streak Of Fling) also scored a composite 645.5 (H:213/R:216/C:216.5), but their lower cow work score landed Reserve and $1,676.90. They also tied for fourth in the Non Pro for another $2,180.
INTERMEDIATE NON PRO, NOVICE NON PRO & AMATEUR CHAMPION
Nicole Westfall and Gotta Smoker (Gotta Go Get It x Miss Smokin It x Smart Little Pepinic) landed the Intermediate Non Pro, Novice Non Pro and Amateur championships with a 645.5 (H:210/R:215/C:220.5). Westfall and the 5-year-old stallion, owned by Desiree or Jeff Westfall, collected a total of $5,276 for their titles, plus $2,180.15 for tying for fourth in the Non Pro.
NOVICE NON PRO & AMATEUR NON PRO RESERVE CHAMPION
Erin Mendes rode her mare Jans Shiney Rey (Jans Rey Cuatro x Shiney Bit O Ivory x Shining Spark) to a 642.5 (H:214/R:209/C:219.5) for the Novice Non Pro and Amateur Reserve championships. The titles brought Mendes and the 5-year-old mare $2,531. They garnered another $1,526 for placing seventh in the Non Pro and $1,258 for third in the Intermediate Non Pro.
NON PRO LIMITED CHAMPION
A composite 641.5 (H:210/R:216/C:215.5) landed the Non Pro Limited Championship for Lori Frampton-Crafton and Stylish Reys (Mr Playinstylish x Dual Reys Belle x Dual Rey), a 4-year-old stallion owned by Debbie Crafton. The pair collected $2,052.30.
NRCHA & EVENT SPONSORS
NON PRO LIMITED RESERVE CHAMPION
Calley Ray Satriana rode her 4-year-old mare Smooth Cat Voo (Smooth As A Cat x Voodoo Chic x Smart Chic Olena) to the Non Pro Limited Reserve Championship with a 637 (H:211/R:215/C:211). The duo collected $1,641.84 for the reserve title and another $127 for winning the herd work.
WESTERNBLOODSTOCKHOSTED
By Sally Harrison, provided by Western Bloodstock LLC
The season’s first cold front blew through Fort Worth on Friday, October 23, but the 2020 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Sales® at Will Rogers Equestrian Center was red hot.
The day’s offering included the Performance Horse Sale, the Select 2-Year-
Old Sale, and Session I of the Select Yearling and Broodmare Sale and averaged $17,660 overall. The Yearling and Broodmare Session realized 94 percent completed sales, while all (100 percent) of the Performance Horses sold, and the Select 2-Year-Olds averaged $24,082 with 87 percent sold.
SESSION I HIGH-SELLING HORSES
• ARC Cat N The Mist, with an embryo by Hickory Holly Time, was the highselling Performance Horse at $50,000. The 7-year-old NCHA earner of $37,907 was consigned by Amy Jones and purchased by Barbara Deering/Cross Roads Logistics, LLC, Camanche, Iowa.
Photos provided by Western Bloodstock LLC
Arosesuchaclatter was the Session I high seller at $91,000.
SNAFFLEBITFUTURITYSALES® SIZZLE
Sired by Dual Rey, cutting’s #2 AllTime Leading Sire, ARC Cat N The Mist is a half-sister to earners of over $860,000 and sold in training with Michael Cooper.
• CR Tuff Diggin Louie, consigned by Center Ranch and purchased by Melissa Fischer, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was the high-selling Select 2-Year-Old at $88,500. In training with Boyd Rice, the Woody Be Tuff son is a full brother to NCHA Futurity finalists CR Tuff Digs Lucinda LTE $71,133 and CR Tuff Diggin Cat LTE $39,969.
• CR Swiss Be Tuff, by Woody Be Tuff, brought $75,000, the second-highest price of for a 2-year-old. A half-brother to Dual Cat Pepto LTE $149,633, in training with his consignor, J.D. Garrett, CR Swiss Be Tuff sold to Susan Steward, Las Vegas, Nevada.
• Consigned by Fazenda Barrinha Corporation and purchased by Bob Day, agent, Buffalo, Wyoming, Arosesuchaclatter LTE $324,707 was the day’s high seller at $91,000. The 16-year-old Smooth As A Cat daughter has produced the earners of over
$200,000 and sold with a foal in utero by Hickory Holly Time.
On Saturday, October 24, Session II of the Select Yearling and Broodmare Sale saw 93 percent of the horses offered sold for an overall average of $18,633 – a 21 percent increase over 2019 – and with a two-day total of 16 selling horses for $50,000 and up.
SESSION II HIGH-SELLING HORSES
• Stevey Nix, the high-selling yearling filly and overall high-seller at $110,000. Consigned by Gardiner Quarter Horses and purchased by Ty Smith, Edmund, Oklahoma, Stevey Nix is a daughter of 2015 NCHA Futurity champion Stevie Rey Von and out of Soula Jule Forever LTE $34,751, a 2020 AQHA Top 10 Dam of Money Earners and an All-Time Dam of RCH Money Earners, including Bet Hes Black LTE $142,703, the 2017 NRCHA Open Futurity Champion.
• Breakn Bad, the high-selling yearling colt, sold at $85,000, was consigned by Chappell-White Partnership, and purchased by Russel and Tiann Keagan, Washoe Valley, Nevada. Sired by 2010 NCHA Futurity champion One Time Royalty, Breakn Bad is out of NRCHA Open Futurity and Derby finalist Camilla The Cat LTE $93,461, by WR
This Cats Smart.
For the complete catalog and results from the 2020 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Sales, as well as consignments and catalog for the upcoming 2020 NCHA Futurity Sales, December 7 through 12, go to westernbloodstock.net.
Session II and overall high selling horse Stevey Nix sold for $110,000 to Ty Smith of Edmund, Oklahoma.
EAMING UP IN COWTOWN T
A large payout drew hundreds of team ropers to the third annual ARHFA World Championship Rope Horse Futurity.
Ropers took the spotlight during the 2020 American Rope Horse Futurity Association World Championship Rope Horse Futurity, held Oct. 22-24 during the National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity®, presented by Metallic Cat. The event paid out $587,700, which includes a $50,000 incentive payout sponsored by DT Horses, LLC.
OPEN HEADING
Prior to the ARHFA Open Heading short go, Dakota Kirchenschlager had never won a futurity event. Though seasoned in the professional rodeo arena, he’d tried his hand several times at the ARHFA World Championship, thinking the heeling — not the heading — was closer within grasp.
But Kirchenschlager surprised himself while in Fort Worth. For starters, he got
By Kristin Pitzer
two horses into the heading short go, but none in the heeling. Then, with a fellow previous National Finals Rodeo qualifier Cesar de la Cruz heeling, he rode X My Ich (Cat Ichi x Stylish Sana x Docs Stylish Oak) to a 236.18 finals score, which, added to his 682.39 total on three, gave him a winning 918.57 total for the heading championship.
X My Ich’s owner, Darren Johnson, collected $20,000. The 4-year-old gelding also won another $12,000 for the 3/4-Year-Old Incentive.
The gelding has been in training with Kirchenschlager for four months. He had never been roped on in the arena when
Kirchenschlager first got him but progressed quickly.
“A lot of horses don’t take the pressure, but you can push him pretty hard and he can take it,” Kirchenschlager said. “I think that’s what separates him from a lot of other 4-year-olds.”
Kirchenschlager thanked Johnson; Lund; de la Cruz; girlfriend, Emily Ramsey; daughter, Bryln; and the rest of his team for their support.
OPEN HEELING
Wesley Thorp set a goal to show at the American Rope Horse Futurity, but he decided to wait until he had a mount
Photos by Bar H Photography
Timothy Drummond-bred X My Ich and Dakota Kirchenschlager banked a total of $35,000 after winning the Open Heading and 3/4-Year-Old Incentive, and placing second in go two.
Bottom: After coming in with a 448.53 total on two, Danielle Wray rode Gin Eyed Jack (The Duke Of Jacks x Honey Jack Ginger x Joe Jack Honey Bar), a 2007 gelding owned by Mark Wray, to a 225.61 finals score. Their 674.14 total on three took the Non Pro Heading Championship, and they won $5,525, plus another $1,000 for topping go two.
Right: Steve Shurbet rode his 2012 stallion Spooky Foolin Cat (High Rollin Cat x Starlight Caper x Grays Starlight) to a 443.32 total on 2, then garnered a 225.75 in the short go. With a final score of 669.07, the pair won the Non Pro Heeling Championship and a check worth $4,508.
that could be competitive with the other talented horses the event draws. He believed he found that partner in Juiced Up Cat (Jazarell Cat x Juiced Up Jordie x Short Of Santana), a 6-year-old gelding he owns in partnership with Chris Pomeroy.
“Juice,” who was bred by Everett Goodwin Jr., proved Thorp’s faith in him by leading the field with a 696.62 total on three going into the heeling short go. There, they scored a 237.22 for a 933.84, winning the Open Heeling Championship.
“There was [a lot of pressure] just because there’s so many horses that are talented, but I think a lot of this horse,” Thorp said. “I think he proved today that he’s a horse that anyone could ride. He’s not too much horse for anybody. For him to show that flashy but also be that easy, I think that’s pretty cool.”
The pair received a $20,000 paycheck for the Championship. They also picked up $3,000 for placing third in go one and another $4,000 for placing second in go three.
Top: Wesley Thorp made his first time to the World Championship Rope Horse Futurity count by riding Juiced Up Cat to the Open Heeling Championship.
30 Million reasons to breed to him.
Smooth As A Cat has just reached another milestone – his offspring have now earned $30 Million!
PHOTO BY MEGAN PARKS
Although we’re leaving 2020 behind, we
Smooth As A Cat’s discounted stud fee of $2500 was meant to be a temporary measure in 2020 to counter the economic e ects of COVID-19 on our customers. However, as the pandemic rages on, we felt the need to continue the discount. As always, we will o er an a ordable stud fee on Smooth As A Cat, and the reduced price of $2500 will remain in place for the 2021 breeding season.
ITTLEBIT OF SPARKLE L
Matt Koch defends his title at the AQHA Ranching Heritage Challenge in Fort Worth.
The American Quarter Horse Association Ranching Heritage Challenge, held October 16 in Fort Worth, Texas, offered a relaxed atmosphere for the competitors riding broke-yet-athletic horses bred by AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeders. It was the perfect break from the high-stakes competition happening in the arena next door in the same Will Rogers Memorial Center during the National Reined Cow Horse Association’s Snaffle Bit Futurity®. But the AQHA Ranching Heritage Challenge, held concurrent to the Futurity, is a qualifier for the 2021 AQHA Zoetis Heritage Challenge Finals. Awards included $15,000 and prizes from NRCHA, John Deere, Nutrena, Ranch Horse Journal, Martin Saddlery and BOXO Quarter Horses.
The American Quarter Horse Association an NRCHA alliance partner. For more info about AQHA Ranching Heritage events, go to aqha.com/ranching.
By Abigail Boatwright
5- & 6-YEAR-OLD W ORKING RANCH HORSE WINNERS
Smart Ladies Sparkle (WR This Cats Smart x Shiners Diamond Lady x Shining Spark) is the definition of a family ranch horse. Ridden by both Matt Koch in Open classes and his wife Brianna in Amateur, “Sparkles” is owned by Koch’s mother, Myra Koch of Seneca, Kansas. And Matt and Brianna’s young children also ride the mare at home in Elizabeth, Colorado.
Bred by Wagonhound Land & Cattle Company, the 2015 sorrel mare has been
with the Koch family since she was 2 years old.
“You can do whatever you want on her,” Koch said. “She packs anybody around, you can use her on the ranch or anything you need to do with her. You can team rope both ends with her and break her out.”
Koch was preparing Sparkles for the DT Horses and the American Rope Horse Futurity Association Rope Horse Futurity leading up to the Ranch Horse Challenge event, and simply maintained the skills
Photos by Primo Morales
Matt Koch rode to another AQHA Ranching Heritage Challenge win in 2020, this time aboard Smart Ladies Sparkle in the 5- and 6-Year-Old class.
In oducing the
HORNS
The Texas Dally horn is roper-friendly and tall enough to go down the fence or cut on. Or choose from our #21, DL or Cutter OD horns.
Front end height
Choose the height of your front end: 8”, 8 1/2” or 9” tall.
NEXT-GEN COWHORSE
Newly designed close-contact skirts combine with a 2 3/4” cantle and a Texas Dally horn for our newest generation of cowhorse saddle.
seat savvy
start with THE FOUNDATION
Our di erent bar styles give us the ability to fit a wide range of horses.
fender design
Though we have multiple fender designs, we often use the Ft. Worth (pictured), KR or Avila. Make sure you have the correct fender length for optimal leg position.
Choice of seat style—Texas Cutter, DL or California—and seat padding including slick seat or single padded.
Cantle height
Choose between a 2 3/4” (pictured), 3”, 3 1/4” or 3 1/2” cantle height.
B20-294
skirt & cut-up
Our new Weatherford skirt pattern features a large, close-contact cut-up.
“[RHC events] are just getting more and more fun— it’s a good way to blow off some pressure and do something non-stressful.”
—Matt Koch
the mare has for ranch horse classes. The mare won the 4-Year-Old Working Ranch Horse title at this same event last year, and she’s won more than $29,000 in NRCHA competition.
“She’s pretty well-seasoned to all of this,” Koch said. “I just wanted to go in there and have fun.”
Koch said the Ranching Heritage Challenge events are a good time, and he enjoys competing alongside cow horse competitors such as Chris Dawson and Luke Jones.
“[RHC events] are just getting more and more fun—it’s a good way to blow off some pressure and do something non-stressful,” Koch said. “You get the chance to rope something, and we’re always looking for that. Do something a little different.”
Low-key atmosphere aside, Koch and Sparkles put in the work during their performance in the working ranch horse class. They scored a 75 in the rein work and a 73 in the cow work, for a composite score of 148 and $1,200 in prize money.
“In the reining, we went first, and she was a bit slow going, so I pushed there and we got stopped good all three times there,” Koch said. “In the cow work, she’s usually always pretty good down the fence—we got two good turns, and she rolled up there right where she needed to for the roping and did her job.”
4-YEAR-OLD W ORKING RANCH HORSECHAMPION
COWBOY W ORKING RANCH HORSECHAMPION
Hot Night In Rio (Cats Desire x MCC Travalin Riostar x Bobs Hickory Rio) and Luke J. Jones won the 4-YearOld Working Ranch Horse class scoring a composite 146.5 to win $1,280. The 2016 sorrel mare was bred by Jeff or Sue Dawson, and is owned by Kris Klingman and Dave Albrecht of Fairbank, Iowa.
Ranch Rooster (Gallo Del Cielo x PCMiss Smoakum x PC Fire N Smoak), ridden by Orren Koontz, won the Cowboy Working Ranch Horse Class and $1,770 thanks to their composite score of 142.5 (R:69.5/C:73). The 2016 bay gelding was bred and is owned by Durrett Cattle Co. of Wildorado, Texas.
AMATEUR W ORKING RANCH HORSECHAMPION
Amy Bailey and Electra Tuff, a 2012 sorrel gelding, won the Amateur Working Ranch Horse class. With a composite score of 146.5 (R:73/C:73.5), the duo earned $1,150. Electra Tuff (Woody Be Tuff x Electras Boots x Doc OBoots) was bred by the W.T. Waggoner Estate, and owned by Paul and Amy Bailey of Sparta, Tennessee.
YOUTH W ORKING RANCH HORSECHAMPION
Benjamin Self and 2009 sorrel mare Smart Kwackin Boon (Peptoboonsmal x Smart Crackin Chic x Smart Chic Olena) won the Youth Working Ranch Horse class. Their composite score of 144 (R:71/C:73) gained them $228. They also won the Level One Youth Working Ranch Horse for an additional $105. The mare was bred by Singleton Ranches and is owned by Birgit Self of Pilot Point, Texas.
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ILLARY’S BIG WIN H
Kansas Rancher Sonny Mahurin captured the Open title at the 2020 MARS EquestrianTM
For the fourth time, the Rodear America Cowdog Association brought top dogs to Fort Worth, Texas, alongside the top cow horses in town for the National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity®, presented by Metallic Cat. And the Open stock dog title went to Kansas rancher David “Sonny” Mahurin and his Border Collie, Hillary, in their first year of rodear competition.
The culmination of the competition year, the MARS EquestrianTM National Finals Rodear featured the top 20 dogs and horseback handlers of 2020 in each of Rodear America’s three divisions: Open, Non Pro and Green. The event’s added-money purse of $37,500 was the largest in the organization’s history. Held October 17-20, the competition ran in two preliminary go-rounds, with the finals showcased in an evening performance in
the John Justin Arena at the Will Rogers Memorial Center.
First up in the Open finals, Mahurin riding his buckskin gelding Poncho and Hillary scored a perfect 150 points, getting their three cattle through the course of five obstacles in just 6 minutes and 38 seconds, well inside the 11-minute time limit.
“She’s a strong dog,” Mahurin said. “We had some calves that wanted to move, and she really wants to shut things down. She’s predominantly a head dog— she hunts for that nose.
“She controls the runaway, yet doesn’t get herself in trouble. Some dogs get so strong they get themselves in trouble. She’s very intelligent and clever about how to handle the cattle and keeps the pressure on when she needs to.”
He added, “She has been exceptional this week. The first go, she dropped a few
points, but she won the second day.” Mahurin admitted he wasn’t keen on his dog’s name at first. The 4-year-old was whelped right around the 2016 United States presidential election. Mahurin bought her from his longtime friend and mentor, Lyle East of Clinton, Missouri, who named the pup Hillary.
“When we got her at 8 weeks old, we could call her from a half mile away, and she would come to her name,” Mahurin said. “I am a [Donald] Trump supporter, but she loved her name, so Hillary it is. I started her and brought her along.”
Although relatively new to Rodear America, Mahurin is no stranger to stock dog trials and is the current president of the National Cattledog Association. Handlers are afoot for most NCA classes, he explained, although there is a horseback class. Mahurin ranches in Thayer, Kansas, alongside his wife, Audrey, son
National Finals Rodear.
Story and photos by Christine Hamilton
NON PRO Dog: Steele Handler & Owner: Kevin Lippe, Blue Eye, Missouri Score: 150 points in 10:06
GREEN
Dog: Zara
Owner: David Hall, Palestine, Texas Score: 150 points in 7:33
Seth, 18, daughter Abby, 16, and son Gavin, 12. They use their dogs every day in their operation backgrounding calves.
“We trial for fun, to just show our dogs,” Mahurin said. “We’re about promoting our dogs and having a good time running them. My kids love the dogs. It’s part of our life.”
Rodear competition has its roots in ranchers using dogs and horses to help
work cattle in Western rangeland. The Spanish word rodear means to surround or encircle. In the early 2000s, late Oregon rancher Ambrose McAuliffe originated the idea of showcasing the skills of a horseback cowboy and a stock dog working cattle. He held the first rodear competition at his ranch in 2005. The sport has since expanded nationwide, now organized under Rodear America.
The competition involves two parts: the handler and dog first sort off a small bunch of cattle from a herd, and then maneuver the bunch through a series of obstacles, quietly and efficiently. Each obstacle offers points to earn, and handlers have a time limit to complete the course.
For more information on events, go to rodearamerica.com.
Available Now STALLION REGISTER 2021
and Quarter Horse News are proud to release the 2021 edition of Stallion Register, the most comprehensive resource for breeders, owners and trainers in the Western performance horse industry.
To order theprint publication, visit Shop.QuarterHorseNews.com or call 817-737-6397. Be sure to visit the Online Stallion Directory at www.stallionregisterdirectory.com.
Handler: Merle Newton, Grand Saline, Texas
OPEN Dog: Hillary Handler & Owner: Sonny Mahurin, Thayer, Kansas Score: 150 points in 6:38
e Premier Performance Horse Stallion
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BREEDER DIRECTORY
Rogers Heaven Sent Ranch of Tucson, Arizona, was founded by the Rogers family in 2005, starting out with just two personal horses. Since then, Rogers Heaven Sent Ranch has grown into a full service facility, breeding and showing some of the best Quarter Horses the industry has to offer.
Rogers Heaven Sent Ranch also maintains an rganic Alfalfa operation and they raise Certified Organic Black Angus Beef. Learn more about them on the web at www.RogersHSR.com.
Manion Ranch and Smooth As A Cat are proud to team up with the NRCHA. Already producing NRCHA offspring earnings in excess of $1. million dollars (as of 01/01/20) and named an NRCHA elite sire is only the tipping point of what is yet to transpire for this stallion who has NCHA lifetime earnings in excess of $500,000. He was an NCHA Horse Of The Year, is an NCHA Hall of Fame Horse; he also won multiple NCHA Championships and was a Finalist times. Smooth As A Cat is the only Horse Of The Year to sire two NCHA Open Horses Of the Year.
Smooth As A Cat has been ranked 4th or higher of NCHA leading sires for 9 consecutive years. Smooth As A Cat’s offspring have won in excess of $28.8 million dollars and he has sired champions and money earners out of mares by 40 + plus different bloodlines and the list of accomplishments goes on. Smooth As A Cat stands at Weatherford Equine Breeding Center.
Western Bloodstock is the trusted name in performance horse sales, and is proud to produce and manage this year’s National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity Sales! Visit them on the web at wwww.WesternBloodstock.net.
Metallic Cat (High Brow Cat x Chers Shadow x Peptoboonsmal , owned by Rocking P Ranch, is a $ Million Dollar Sire. “Denver” was also crowned National Cutting Horse Association Open Horse of the Year, 2016, 2017, 2018 NCHA Sire of the Year and 2017, 2018 NRCHA Leading Sire. He is the second highest money earning stallion in the history of the NCHA. His latest milestone is becoming an NRCHA Million Dollar Sire, with more than $ million in cow horse offspring earnings. For more information on Metallic Cat, visit metalliccat.com.
SDP Buffalo Ranch Where the Elite Are Found For nearly 50 years, SDP Buffalo Ranch has paved a path of success in the horse industry. We know what it takes to be successful in breeding and performance at the highest levels. SDP Buffalo Ranch is all about the people. They are really in the people business, horses are just the product. SDP Buffalo Ranch are committed to excellence in stallion service, horsemanship and customer relations. Your success is their success! We offer full service Equine Reproductive services. See their stallion line up at http://www.SDPBuffaloRanch.com
BadBoonaRising, owned Plantation Farms LLC, is sired by Million Dollar Sire nce n A Blu Boon and out of Show
Bi Kitty, by High Brow Cat. n 201 , BadBoonaRising captured the National Cutting Horse Association Open Futurity reserve championship title, under the guidance of Adan Banuelos. The 2015 stallion has gone on to become a multiple time finalist and 201 daho CHA pen Derby Champion, earning more than $2 ,000. BadBoonaRising stands to the public at Brazos Valley Stallion Station, in Stephenville, Texas. For more information, visit badboonarising.com and follow him on Facebook.
Here Comes The Boon nce n A Blue Boon X Stay Outta My Shorts, by Shorty Lena) is a bay roan stallion owned by Rocking BS Ranch. n
2019, Here Comes The Boon captured the coveted title of NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity pen & ntermediate Open Champion, under the guidance of Lance Johnston. That same year this duo also topped the leader board and claimed the NSHA Pre Futurity pen & ntermediate pen Championship. Now with earnings over $210,000, this 4 year old is just coming into his stride. Here Comes The Boon stands at Pacific Crest Equine, Exeter, California. For more information, visit herecomestheboon.com, follow him on Facebook or call Brent Steward at 02 10.
Brother Jackson (Peptoboonsmal x Shes cing nthe Cat x High Brow Cat) is a 2009 AQHA Sorrel Stallion with multiple
titles to his credit including 2017 CD Memorial Bridle Spectacular Champion. Dan Perez owns the stallion that has earnings of more than $140,000, he also has more than 100 AQHA points. He is trained and shown by Ken
and stands at Wolds’ Training Stables & Stallion Services in Wilton, California.
Holy Cow Performance Horses LLC, with locations in Santa Ynez, California, and Weatherford, Texas, has become a leading breeder and owner of reined cow horses, reining horses, and cutting horses. Breeding, raising and showing quality performance Quarter Horses is a passion at Holy Cow dedicated to raising quality performers that are world class in their respective fields. Holy Cow is home to some of the finest broodmares in the industry, including top reined cow horse producer Sheza Shinette. Their sponsorship and support of the NRCHA includes the $25,000 added to the Open Bridle Spectacular at the NRCHA Stallion Stakes, $25,000 added to the CD Survivor Memorial Open Bridle Spectacular at the NRCHA Derby and $25,000 added to the Open Bridle class at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity.
Learn more about Holy Cow Performance Horses at www.HolyCowPerformanceHorses.com.
Hickory Holly Time is a 2010 red roan stallion sired by One Time Pepto and out of Hickorys Holly Cee owned by DT Horses with LTE well over $225,000. His achievements span all the NRCHA disciplines Snaffle Bit 201 NRCHA ntermediate Open Futurity Champion, 2014 NRCHA Open Derby Champion, Hackamore – 2015 NRCHA Open Hackamore Champion and now Bridle, 2018 World’s Greatest Horseman Champion. He is tested as 5 Panel N/N and is currently standing at Oswood Stallion Station. Visit him on the web at http://oswoodstallionstation.com/ hickoryhollytime, or on Facebook HickoryHollyTime or at www.dthorses.com/stallions.
The skill and experience of Jeremy Barwick, Dr. Charlie Buchanan and staff make Brazos Valley Stallion Station in Stephenville, Texas, unique among breeding and performance horse establishments, and a vital center for horse owners, competitors and breeders. Find them on the web at http://www.brazosvalleystallionstation.com
Time For The Diamond (One Time Pepto x Diamonds With Style x Playin Stylish), owned by Triple D Ranches, is the 201 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion. Trained and shown by NRCHA Professional Nick Dowers, Time For The Diamond has career earnings of nearly $150,000. Time For The Diamond stands at Oswood Stallion Station in Weatherford, Texas. For more information, visit www.NickDowers.com.
Wold
Stevie Rey on Metallic Cat x Miss Ella Rey x Dual Rey , owned by Fults Ranch LTD, has $ 20, 2 in lifetime earnings. This sire’s outstanding pedigree matches his moves in the show pen. At the 201 NCHA Super Stakes, Stevie set an arena record breaking score of 2 1 to win the class along with many other championship titles, including the 201 NCHA pen Futurity. Stevie’s first foal crop arrived in 201 , and they are definitely looking the part. For more information on Stevie follow him on Facebook or visit steviereyvon.com.
Reyzin The Cash (Dual Rey x Spookys Cashx Miss N Cash), owned by Iron Rose Ranch, won six open championship titles throughout his show career. The most impressivewins were earningback-tobackchampionship crowns at the201 and 201 National Cutting Horse Association Derby.Reyzin The Cash is a multiple time limitedaged event finalist, bringing his lifetime earnings to $278,381.The 2011 sorrel stallion’sfirst limited foal cropwillhit the show penin thefallof 2020. Theyall have promising futures, carryingthe positive traitsof their sire.
Bet He Sparks (Bet Hesa Cat x Sparking Train x Shining Spark) is a 2014 stallion owned by Kathryn & Layn Phillips. His many titles include 201 NRCHA pen Derby Champion and 201 pen Hackamore Classic Champion. Trained and shown by Clayton Edsall, Bet He Sparks has earned more than $200,000+ in the NRCHA and NCHA. Sparky is versatile and talented in and out of the show pen. He will be standing at 808 Ranch in 2021. He is genetic tested as Panel N N. For more information, follow Bet He Sparks on Facebook.
Rollz Royce has captured the horse industry’s attention in the show pen like no other, with the captivating and charismatic way he moves through the pen. Royce has multiple championship titles to his name, including back-to-back wins in the big pen at Fort Worth.
The 2014 sorrel stallion by Dual Smart Rey and out of Show Biz Kitty, by High Brow Cat, is now starting his transition from the show pen to the breeding barn, after earning $2 , . Royce’s first foal crop has now hit the ground, showing the same quality he possessed as a weanling. For more information on this amazing stallion go to beaugalyean.com/rollz-royce and follow him on Facebook.
Kit Kat Sugar (High Brow Cat x Sugar N Dulce x Smart Lil Ricochet) has lifetime earnings of $2 0, 0 . He earned six limited aged event championships and was named the 2012 National Cutting Horse Association Horse of the Year as a 4-yearold. Skeet has passed on his athleticism, style and character to his offspring, who have already amassed more than $1. million in the cutting and cow horse arenas.
Skeet is owned by Barbara Allsup and stands at Bra os alley Stallion Station in Stephenville, Texas. For more information on Kit Kat Sugar, follow him on Facebook or visit www.bra osvalleystallionstation.com.
Smooth Talkin Style (Smooth As A Cat x Stylish Play Lena x Docs Stylish Oak), owned by Holmes and Hill, was a force to be reckoned with in the show pen, claiming numerous coveted titles including National Cutting Horse Association pen Horse of the Year, NCHA pen Futurity Reserve Champion, Super Stakes Open Co-Champion and Breeders nvitational Champion. Stylish Play Lena, his dam, has produced more than$1. milliondollars in earnings, with a staggering $ ,000 average earnings per offspring. Smooth Talkin Style is Stylish Play Lena’s leading stallion offspring with earnings in excess of $ 0 ,2 . According the NCHA, Talker is a record setting Open Horse of the Year, accumulating more than 00 points in less than months of showing thus, securing the coveted title of Horse of the Year by August of his 4-year-old year. Smooth Talkin Style retired to the breeding barn, completely sound, at the end of his year old year. This sire’s first foal crop arrived in 201 andare set to hit the show pen in 2020! Smooth Talkin Style is panel genetic tested as N N. Follow Talker on Facebook nstagram SmoothTalkinStyle,and visit him at www.smoothtalkinstyle.com.
Metallic Rebel (Metallic Cat x Sweet Abra x Abrakadabracre) is owned by Tom and Lisa Guinn, and trained by NCHA Multi-Million Dollar Rider Beau Galyean. Rebel’s accomplishments include 2017 NCHA Open Horse of the Year, NCHA World Champion stallion, 1 aged event championships, three reserve championship titles and is a time event finalist accumulating over $ 20,000 in lifetime earnings. As he transitions from the show pen to the breeding barn, this sire’s first offspring, arriving in 201 , are displaying not only his tremendous character, but also his incredible confirmation. For more information, visit metallicrebel. com and follow him on Facebook.
wned by Beverly Servi, BET HESA B N Bet Hesa Cat x Flo N Blu Boon x Pretty Boy Boon is a 201 homo ygous roan with LTE of$ 2, 0 dollars.His outstanding pedigree and demeanor match his impressive conformation and performance record. Boon was a finalist at every premiere NRCHA Derby event, and is a two time National Stock Horse Association Derby Champion. Cow horse, cutting, reining, ranch versatility he can do it all Boon is six-panel N/N genetic tested.Add a little Boon to your breeding program! He’s guaranteed roan! Look for Boon in the show pen with Clayton Edsall and check him out on Facebook, www. 0 ranch.com or at swood Stallion Station.
Legendary Quarter Horses and superior Black Angus cattle are hallmarks of the Four Sixes, a historic Texas ranch that is part of Burnett Ranches, LLC. The ranch stands some of the most well-respected Quarter Horse stallions in the industry, with elite broodmares that produce superior individuals for work and racing.
Hashtags (Metallic Cat x Dual Rey Tag) has lifetime earnings of $478,571. A 2018 NCHA Open World Champion and World Champion Stallion trained and shown by Tatum Rice, Hashtag’s first foal crop arrived in 201 . Hashtags is ust a great individual, said Rice. “He makes it easy! Mind, heart, cow sense and strength. The stallion is owned by Hashtag entures LP and standing at Bra os alley Stallion Station in Stephenville, T . For more information on Hashtags, follow him on Facebook or visit www.bra osvalleystallionstation.com.
Matthews Cutting Horses, ownerd and operated by Jeffrey and Sheri Matthews, is the home of NRCHA $3 Million Dollar Sire One Time Pepto (Peptoboonsmal x One Time Soon x Smart Little Lena).
Matthews Cutting Horses is well known for superior performance horse bloodlines. The Matthews breeding program is built on extraordinary pedigrees and exceptional performances. His first foals came of show age in 2010, an in 2014 One Time Pepto was the No. 1 NRCHA Sire. In 2015, he was the leading sire of NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Sale horses. ne Time Pepto’s performing foals have earned more than $1 million in all disciplines. Learn more about One Time Pepto at www.onetimepepto.com.
THOMASREPEATSWIN IN COWBOY CLASS
For the second year, Kelsey Thomas took top honors in the Cowboy Class held during the Snaffle Bit Futurity®.
For spectators watching the Cowboy Class held for the second time at the 2020 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®, presented by Metallic Cat, they may have thought they were experiencing a case of déjà vu.
Last year, Kelsey Thomas won the inaugural event. She repeated the feat in 2020, however, the Rising Star, Texas, horsewoman said her victory in Fort Worth, Texas, on October 18 was quite dissimilar from her 2019 title. For one, she showed 5-year-old gelding Dualshot At Midnite, and last year she rode 4-yearold mare Kit Kat Jerrie.
“They’re completely different horses in that he’s real busy and nervous in the show pen, especially without a cow,” Thomas said. “‘Elvira’ is easy to get ready; she stays with you really well.”
On Dualshot At Midnite (Dual Shot Doc x Sassy Peppy Dual x Mister Dual Pep), Thomas scored a 71 in both the reined work and the roping, which meant she had to mark a bigger score in the cow work in order to win the class.
By Ross Hecox
“Last year I won the first two events, the reining and the roping,” Thomas recalled. “This time I had decent runs [in those two events], so I knew the fence work had to be a good run. They say it comes down to the fence work, so I went into it with that mindset.”
The black gelding stepped up under pressure and recorded a 73.5 run. His cumulative score, a 215.5, earned Thomas a $1,095 check. She and her husband, Buddy, purchased Dualshot At Midnite as a yearling at a sale held during the National Cutting Horse Association Futurity. Both trained the horse and have shown him in ranch horse competitions.
rodeos.
“He can do a lot of neat stuff,” Thomas said. “He can run and slide really well, and he’s cute and has a big personality.”
The Cowboy Class is designed to attract working cowboys and cowgirls to reined cow horse competition. It allows them to polish their show skills while also offering events similar to ranch work, particularly the roping. That portion of the class includes boxing a cow, driving it to the other end of the arena, and then roping it.
“On a ranch, you have to drive sick cattle out of a herd, and then you need to be able to shape them up for a good shot
Thomas has also ridden him in ranch
Photos by Primo Morales
For the second year, Kelsey Thomas topped the Cowboy Class, this time aboard black gelding DualShot At Midnite.
$16,700+ has been paid out in CHROME CASH at NRCHA and APHA cow horse events in 2020!
Don’t miss out on your chance to participate in this class within a class at upcoming 2021 NRCHA & APHA events.
If your AQHA horse has as little as two inches of solid white hair in the qualifying area, you may eligible for APHA registration. APHA registration is all you need to enter the CHROME CASH class at participating events.
2021 CHROME CASH class participating events
(as of 11/15/2020)
$2,000 ADDED
Celebration of Champions
February 11–20, 2021, Fort Worth, TX
Sponsored by McSpyder Ranch
The Stakes
March 26–April 3, 2021, Las Vegas, NV
$2,000 ADDED
The Derby
June 2–12, 2021, Scottsdale, AZ Sponsored by McSpyder Ranch
$7,500 ADDED
The Chrome Cash Working Cow Horse Challenge June 28–July 11, The APHA World Show, Fort Worth, TX
Enter the CHROME CASH class thru the NRCHA office. For more info on CHROME CASH events and how to register your horse, call Sunny Bates at 817-219-7985 or visit www.apha.com/programs/chromecash
The Eastern Derby
July 10–17, 2021, Cordova, TN
$2,000 ADDED
The Snaffle Bit Futurity
October 8–23, 2021, Fort Worth, TX Sponsored by McSpyder Ranch
when you’re going to rope and doctor them,” said Russell Dilday, who judged the class. “So here, you have to control that cow with your horse when you’re boxing, and then be able to drive it down past the marker. Then your horse needs to go to that hip and rate the cow to set up your shot. And then you’re judged on how well your horse stops.
“The goal of this class is to get cowboys here to compete, get them interested in it, and then it’s a launching pad for our regular [NRCHA] classes.”
In addition to prize money, Thomas received a custom Preston Williams Hardware headstall, bit and set of romal reins.
The Cowboy Class, sponsored by New Mexico owned and bred stallion MC Cowhammer, awarded a reserve champion title to Elwyn McClesky aboard TRR Justa Lil Pep (Pepcid x TRR Justa Pady x Paddys Irish Whiskey), a mare owned by the Tongue River Ranch of Paducah, Texas. McClesky returned to the ranch with $912 for his cumulative 213 (R:69.5/C:71/S:72.5).
///// SPONSOR
At the 2020 event, the Cowboy Class gained an enthusiastic sponsor group in MC Cowhammer’s connections, brothers Donald and Stuart Bogle, and their partners in the stallion, Trevor and Tara Carter. A 2015 red roan stallion, MC Cowhammer (Metallic Cat x Gunsmart Gay x Playgun), was raised on the Bogle Ranch in Dexter, New Mexico, and trained for competition by Trevor Carter, and the pair successfully more than $50,000 in lifetime earnings.
“With a Cowboy Class, you work with someone who has the same background and it is a good introduction to get into the show pen,” said Trevor Carter, who piloted MC Cowhammer to the 2020 Open Hackamore Classic win. “It is a way for folks to come on over to NRCHA. It is important for Tara and I because we want to grow the sport from where we came from in the ranch horse community.”
A two-time NRCHA Stallion Stakes Limited Open Champion, two-time NRCHA Derby Limited Open Reserve Champion, the inaugural 2020 NRCHA Eastern Derby Limited Open Champion and the Stock Horse of Texas Open Versatility Ranch Horse Champion, Carter and Donald Bogle share time at the reins. For more information, visit mccowhammer.com.
Riding Tongue River Ranch-owned TRR Justa Lil Pep, Elwyn McClesky took reserve honors.
HEERINGON CTHECUTTERS
Champion cutting competitor Makayla Cowan made a bold cow horse debut in the Cow Horse for Cutters Invitational.
Watching horsemen and -women compete in a new-to-them event, the audience in John Justin Arena cheered heartily. Reined cow horse is a difficult sport, even if working with cattle is the rider’s area of expertise. So when 18 cutters tried their hand at reined cow horse during the Cow Horse for Cutters Invitational class at the 2020 National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity®, presented by Metallic Cat, the crowd was supportive.
One competitor blazed her way through the reining pattern and the boxing like she’s done it all her life. When the dust settled, Makayla Cowan of Ardmore, Oklahoma, and her borrowed partner Shes Divine were the winners.
Although she’s a National Cutting Horse Association Youth World Finals
By Abigail Boatwright
Photos by Primo Morales
Aboard Kathleen Pinkley’s Shes Divine, 16-year-old cutter Makayla Cowan won the Invitational Cow Horse for Cutters event.
Show Champion, Makayla’s first time to compete in reined cow horse was during this class. But she watched the event last year, and her parents, Equi-Stat $1 Million rider Bill Cowan and Michelle Cowan are experienced in both NRCHA and NCHA competition. Michelle contacted Erin Taormino, and the trainer connected the 16-year-old with Kathleen Pinkley’s 2015 mare Shes Divine (Metallic Cat x Shesa Show Stopper x Peptoboonsmal). Two days prior, Cowan rode the horse for the first time.
Makayla’s strategy was simple: Get through every maneuver the best they could.
“I was more worried about the reining, I kind of knew how to work the calves,” joked Makayla. “I just wanted to hit all my markers and make it flow.”
Makayla’s pattern went better than she’d hoped, scoring a 143. Boxing the cow was more in her wheelhouse—the pair scored a 147—for a composite score of 290.
“It was awesome, it was so much fun,” Cowan said. She credits her win to the steadfast performance of Diva.
“She’s so sweet, she just carried me around that whole run and took care of me,” Cowan said. “Thanks so much to Erin Taormino and [the mare’s] owner for letting me show this horse.”
Amy Novacek, riding Garth and Amanda Gardiner’s 2012 mare You May Be Wright (Hes Wright On x Sue C Shiner x Shining Spark), secured the reserve title in the class with a rein work score of 143, cow work 143.5 for a composite score of 286.5.
Aboard Garth and Amanda Gardiner’s You May Be Wright, Amy Novacek earned second place in the special event.
XCELLENCEAWARDED AT SNAFFLE BIT® FUTURITY E
Through the National Reined Cow Horse Association and other affiliated associations, multiple horses earned paychecks based on their breed, sex or incentive program. Additionally, the association recognized Trey Neal, recipient of the President’s Award during the event.
Photos by Primo Morales
PRESIDENT’S AWARD
The current National Reined Cow Horse Association president recognizes an individual who has helped the president—and the association—the most that year. The first known recipient of the President’s Award was given in 1987. In 2020, Corey Cushing recognized NRCHA owner, breeder and NRCHA Board of Directors’ Treasurer Trey Neal with the award.
Neal retired from banking in 2013 and resides in Weatherford, Texas. Also an Executive Committee member, Neal and his wife, Sandra, support the NRCHA through sponsorships. Their daughter, Mattie Alexander, and stallion, Genuine Masterpiece, have earned NRCHA championships over the years.
Cushing said that he was honored to present the award and shine the spotlight on a man not widely known to the membership.
“Behind the scenes, this man is professional, thoughtful and does not shy away from a challenge,” Cushing said. “His business mind and sense is an asset to not only the board, but to the entire association. We can’t thank him enough for all he has done and continues to do to make our sport the best in the business.”
Corey Cushing presents NRCHA supporter and Board of Directors member Trey Neal with the President’s Award.
CHROME CASH
The American Paint Horse Association paired with the NRCHA to reward Paint horses through the Chrome Cash incentive which adds $2,000 for entries at the 2020 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®, presented by Metallic Cat, that are registered by the American Paint Horse Association. Sponsored by McSpyder Ranch,the Open Chrome Cash incentive was awarded to Lil Bit O Diamonds (Time For The Diamond x Lil Bit Bar Pep x Colonel Doc Bar Chex), ridden by Trevor Carter and owned by Carter Ranch Horse, to a 645.5 (216 rein/213.5 herd/ 216 cow), which earned them $1,110. The breeder of Lil Bit O Diamonds is Randy William Harris. Winning the Non Pro Snaffle Bit Futurity Chrome Cash Incentive, sponsored by McSpyder Ranch, was Josh Briggs and Playin With Cher (Mr Playinstylish x Bella Cher x Peptoboonsmal), bred by Kit and Charlie Moncrief. Briggs earned $900 for the win.
GELDING INCENTIVE
Geldings competing in the Snaffle Bit Futurity were eligible to enter the rider-sponsored Gelding Incentive. Earning $7,002 as NRCHA Open Gelding Incentive champion was CR Woody Dig It(Woody Be Tuff x Cat Digs Lucinda x High Brow Cat), ridden by Corey Cushing for owner Dave Belson. CR Woody Dig It was bred by Center Ranch. As the high scoring gelding of the Snaffle Bit Futurity prelims, CR Woody Dig It and Cushing were awarded a custom saddle by DC Cow Horse Gear.
Lindsey James and Quit Your Mitchin(Call Me Mitch x Masters Nu Fox x Master Merada) secured the Amateur Snaffle Bit Futurity championship to earn $6,613. James and Quit Your Mitchin achieved a 644 composite (213 rein/ 218 herd/ 213 cow). Quit Your Mitchin was bred by Lindsey James and is owned by LMJ Enterprises, LLC. Thanks to their solid composite, the team of James and Quit Your Mitchin also emerged as winners of the Non Pro Snaffle Bit Futurity Gelding Incentive to earn an additional $2,580.
Gelding
Lil Bit O Diamonds, ridden by Trevor Carter for his and wife Tara’s Carter Ranch Horse, earned $1,110 from the program.
The $900 Non Pro Chrome Cash check went to Josh Briggs and Playin With Cher.
Lindsey James rode her gelding to the Amateur Futurity win and the Non Pro
Incentive top spot, earning $6,613.
CR Woody Dig It, ridden by Corey Cushing, earned $7,002 for owner Dave Belson.
NRCHA WESTERN BLOODSTOCK SALE INCENTIVE
The NRCHA/Western Bloodstock Sale Incentive continues to grow each year. All weanlings, yearlings and 2-year-old horses sold at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Sales® are eligible to be enrolled in the NRCHA Western Bloodstock Sale Incentive Program. This year, Justin Wright piloted Open high scoring horse Smooth Lil Dream (Smooth As A Cat x Dream A Lil Drem x One Time Pepto), consigned to the sale by Jason J. Parker and purchased by Suzanne Rodoni Silverberg, to a 658. The incentive paid $21,126. The Open Incentive paid five spots and there were 23 horses eligible.
In the Non Pro, Myles Brown rode Playguns Pepto, a mare by One Time Pepto and out of PG Special Edition, by Playgun, to the high score of 652. Consigned by breeder Flag Ranch, LLC, Rob A. Brown purchased the horse and took home a check for $9,054. Of the ten horses eligible for the Non Pro Sale Incentive, four took home checks.
Piloting Smooth Lil Dream, Justin Wright rode to the NRCHA/Western Bloodstock Sale
owner
TOP PLACING AQHA RANCHING HERITAGE BRED HORSE
American Quarter Horse Association recognizes the top scoring horse bred by an AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeder in both the Non Pro and the Open Snaffle Bit Futurity.
Top Open AQHA Ranching Heritage Bred Horse in the preliminary composite was CR Woody Dig It (Woody Be Tuff x Cat Digs Lucinda x High Brow Cat), ridden by Corey Cushing for owner Dave Belson. CR Wood Dig It was bred by Center Ranch and also earned the Open Gelding Incentive award with a composite 665.5. (pictured in Gelding Incentive results)
The Top Non Pro AQHA Ranching Heritage Bred horse was Seven S Razzberry (Blind Sided x Seven S Valentina x Playgun), ridden by Lanham Brown for R.A. Brown Ranch. Brown rode to a 649 composite score in the preliminary rounds. RT Stuart Ranch LLC bred Seven S Razzberry.
Incentive’s Open high score, earning
Suzanne Rodoni Silverberg $21,126.
Riding Playguns Pepto for owner Rob A. Brown, Myles Brown earned the top Non Pro Sale Incentive spot and a check for $9,054.
Lanham Brown and Seven S Razzberry earned the top spot for AQHA Ranching Heritage Bred horses with a preliminary composite of 649.
2020 SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY OWNERS FUND DONORS
Alvin & Becky Fults
Bet He Sparks / K & L Phillips
Bet Hesa Cat Syndicate
Brazos Valley Stallion Station
Carol Rose
Dual Smart Rey / Strawn Valley Ranch
Ellen & Larry Bell
Fulton Quien Sabe Ranches LP
Gardiner Quarter Horses
Hat 6 Ranch / Walter & Jocelyn Greeman
Hooray Ranch / Eric & Wendy Dunn
Matthews Cutting Horses
Kevin & Sydney Knight
Kit & Charlie Moncrief / Moncrief Quarter Horses
Kit Kat Sugar / Barbara Allsup
Larry & Kathy Barker
Meteles Cat
Shiney Outlaw / Cannon Quarter Horses
Oswood Stallion Station
Roxanne Koepsell Performance Horses
San Juan Ranch / Santa Cruz Animal Health
Shining CD Light / Ophir Creek Stables LLC.
Silveira Produce Sales Inc.
Stuart Ranch
WR This Cats Smart
ERIN TAORMINO
This NRCHA Reserve Open Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion recognizes the power of nutrition. She’s been a Platinum client since 2008. The nutrition supporting Erin’s team includes:
Results don’t happen overnight. It takes passion, dedication, hard work and the right nutrition to reach your goals. For over 20 years, Platinum Performance® has been improving the lives of horses by impacting health, from the inside, through advanced nutrition. No matter the level of achievement we seek, the love and care for our horses start from a place deep inside of us all.
THE POWER OF NUTRITION STARTS WITHIN.
BY LARRI JO STARKEY
WINTER PREP
While snow might not be a detriment to all cow horse competitors, many do face challenges preparing for winter horse shows.
Picture the training landscape: Snow swirls around a horse and rider as they crunch through snow banks in an endless blizzard. Frost forms icicles on the horse’s chin hairs and the rider’s eyebrows. The rider is bundled in a parka and only the eyes show out of the hood—hence the iced eyebrows.
The snow is piled to the horse’s knees, and it lifts its chestnut knees high with each step as it walks slowly toward the waiting cow.
This rider is preparing for the National Reined Cow Horse Association Celebration of Champions, held annually in February in Fort Worth, Texas; no cost is too high and no snow too deep.
The challenges facing many NRCHA members headed from winter to the
Winter can offer a variety of challenges for cow horse riders in and out of the arena.
Celebration of Champions vary, but here, northern members outline steps they take to ensure their horses are ready to compete in the spring.
WINTER WEATHER RIDING
John Swales, who hails from Millarville, Alberta, scoffs at the southern speculation that northern cow horse preparation is always done in snow and ice.
“A lot of times, we don’t even have snow,” said the two-time NRCHA World’s Greatest Horseman. “We get Chinook winds, and it warms the snow.”
Instead, Swales avails himself of the same modern amenities people in more southern parts of the world use.
“We keep [horses] under lights in a heated barn at home,” he said. “We just blanket them and away we go. Nothing too serious, really.”
Swales prepares for the Celebration of Champions in the same way he prepares for closer shows. His Non Pro clients visit his facility to practice with him, and he rides his horses the same as always.
“I don’t think it’s much different than getting ready [at home],” Swales said. “But most of the time we can’t ride outside, so we’re stuck in an indoor. But it’s not that much different.”
NRCHA horseman Jim Spence said while the weather often prevents him and his customers from riding outdoors in Yamhill, Oregon, he has a covered arena that allows them all to practice year-round.
“We do the best we can,” Spence said. “It would be good to be in a bigger pen, but we just deal with the limitations we have.”
Technical drills are important to prepare horses for competition when they can’t be worked outside.
“A lot of counter-cantering in a smaller pen seems to help those horses,” Spence said. “Those smaller pens seem to make [horses] want to lean in more.”
Another useful indoor exercise is tracking cattle, Spence explained.
“We track cattle around the whole arena instead of just making runs down the fence,” he said. “I might run down the fence and rate my horse around the end, then run down the other fence and get a turn, work on [getting the rate consistent] a lot.”
Even with a covered arena, the temperatures can be low, and Spence layers up, most recently with a pair of woolie buffalo hide chaps made from one of Spence’s own buffalo.
“I showed in them up in Montana last weekend, and they were a big hit,” he said.
Because the horses aren’t wearing warm woolie chaps, Spence emphasizes long warm-ups and long cool-downs to ease the transition from his heated barn with lights to the cool covered arena.
In Idaho, Dr. Katherine DeHaan, an equine veterinarian and Non Pro cow horse competitor, keeps her horses outside. She was the Intermediate Non Pro Bridle and Novice Non Pro Bridle champion at the 2019 NRCHA Celebration of Champions aboard Shiners Nickle (Shiners Nickle x Lil Lena Long Legs x Smart Little Lena).
Like all her horses, Shiners Lil Nickle spends his days outside and is ridden outside consistently.
“I know a lot of people have various opinions, but my horses live in a stall with a big paddock,” DeHaan said. “I don’t lock them in or keep them under lights; I do keep them blanketed. They have sheets or blankets on pretty much all the time. We try to protect that hair
coat, but I like for them to be able to go outside during the day and night, so I don’t lock them in.”
Like Spence, DeHaan is a fan of layering, including thermal underwear, heated jackets and pulling heavy socks over the tops of her boots.
“I like to ride outside and do a lot of getting them in physical shape, so trotting and loping,” she said. “Usually, we can ride outside. It’s just cold.”
THE TRIP SOUTH
Show horses might be comfortable at home, but keeping them comfortable on the road is important to achieving the goal of arriving in Fort Worth, Texas, ready to compete.
The trip from Alberta to Texas is 28 hours, Swales said.
“We make sure when we first leave they have lots of blankets on and usually [around] southern Colorado, the blankets start coming off,” he said.
With a laugh, Spence suggested packing tire chains for the trip south, because in February, at least one leg of the twoor three-day trip might include snowpacked roads.
“Last year, we saw temperature swings from 21 below where we laid over in Utah, and by the time we got to Moab, [in southern Utah], it was 70 degrees. So, we stopped there and took all their blankets off,” Spence said. “We opened the windows a little bit and let some air in. By the time we got to Amarillo, [Texas], it was about zero again, and we had to blanket them back up.”
DeHaan recommends anti-inflammatories before horses get on a trailer for a long ride, as well as planning out the route, including gas station stops with available water faucets, before embarking.
“It’s pretty hard on their muscles to ride in the trailer for that long a duration,” she said. “I don’t think we realize that being on the trailer is a workout for them. Giving them a little extra break time, stopping for gas and maybe having a bite to eat for 30 minutes or so — it makes it a lot more comfortable for them.”
John Swales uses lessons he learned from years of traveling thousands of miles to his advantage when hauling to shows. In 2020, he won the NRCHA World’s Greatest Horseman title for a second time.
Jim Spence rides through winter to help his horses and his clients prepare for big cow horse shows.
DeHaan watches water intake carefully, offering fluids at every stop, and she carries five extra gallons of water from her home well in case one of the horses refuses to drink gas station water.
“My biggest thing is shipping fever and pneumonia when they’re on the trailer,” DeHaan said. “I always tell my clients to get their horses off the trailer or at least untied every three to four hours to let [the horses] get their heads down and cough if they need to.”
“Horses like it a little cooler than we do. If you think it’s a little colder in the trailer, that’s OK.” —Dr. Kat DeHaan
The lack of airflow inside a trailer combined with hay debris can lead to horses aspirating the hay, she explained.
At every stop along her route south, she refills buckets from the gas station’s faucet and offers water to every horse. She also checks the horses to see whether they are sweating and opens a window if needed.
“Horses like it a little cooler than we do,” DeHaan said. “If you think it’s a little colder in the trailer, that’s OK.”
And at every stop, she checks the temperature of the trailer floor. That’s not as big of an issue in winter as it is in summer, but the habit remains to make sure it’s not too hot to touch with her hand. If it is, she purchases ice at the gas station and scatters the ice among the shavings.
“If [the floor is] hot to the touch, put more shavings down or more bags of ice to protect their feet, especially when they have shoes on,” she said. “Those shoes can get hot, too.”
AT THE SHOW
The more serious concern on the move from the True North to Fort Worth is the humidity, Swales said.
“We are really dry at home,” Swales said. “That [humidity] bothers them more than winter does for some reason.”
Hydration is the key to making sure horses don’t suffer in humid climates, DeHaan confirmed.
“My horses will start to sweat a lot more in that type of weather,” she said. “Watching the water carefully, adding electrolytes, or you can even add a tea-
spoon of table salt to their grain to help water intake. If they don’t eat the salt, I’ll mix it with applesauce in a dosing syringe and give it in the mouth daily.
“For the increased sweating, I always have a fleece cooler around. It goes on right after I get done working or showing them down there, or if they start to sweat in their stalls.”
Before the February trip, Spence also starts giving his horses electrolytes.
That’s a good idea, DeHaan said. And, if a horse develops a really heavy winter coat, she might body-clip the horse.
“They don’t seem to mind,” she said. “They’ve gone back and forth a lot, so I think they just settle into another horse show. It takes me a couple of days to get acclimated.”
DeHaan takes her heated buckets from home to the show, so her horses always have access to lukewarm water. If one won’t drink, she tips about a half-cup of her favorite Mountain Berry Powerade into a gallon of the horse’s water.
“It makes it a bit sweeter,” she said. “They don’t have to drink a ton during the trip, because it’s a stressful ordeal. But they do have to drink at least five to 10 gallons a day for me to be comfortable.”
Spence tries to arrive for an event early to help the horses acclimate to their new environment.
“There have been times when we got down there [to Texas], and it was colder down there than it was here, but usually it’s a little warmer, so we’ll go down to Ardmore, [Oklahoma,] with Don Murphy and hang out there for about a week ahead of time — at least four or five days,” he said.
Once in Fort Worth, the horses from the colder climates do well in competition, DeHaan pointed out.
“I think they like it, going to warmer weather for a week,” she said.
Bundled against the Idaho cold, Katherine DeHaan continues to get rides in during winter. Her horses, like stallion Shiners Lil Nickel, was ready to win at the 2020 Celebration of Champions.
NATIONAL REINED COW HORSE ASSOCIATION
CORPORATE PARTNERS
MARS Equestrian™ Sponsorship by Mars, Incorporated, is the link between our iconic brands and the equestrian community. For generations, Mars has celebrated a rich equestrian heritage, and through purposeful partnerships, MARS Equestrian™ is committed to the sport and building an enduring legacy. From world-class competitions across all equestrian disciplines, to stewarding the power of horses on society and sustainability, MARS Equestrian™ is dedicated to our purpose to improve the lives of horses, pets, and the people who love them.
As the official equine insurance company for the NRCHA, Markel has provided uninterrupted coverage for horses and horse-related risks for over four decades. Sharing your passion for horses and committed to the horse industry, Markel is an experienced company whose associates are horse people first and insurance people second. Their insurance products focus on protecting your horses, home, barn, tack and equipment. Whether you have one horse or an entire stable, board or train horses, Markel can fully protect you. Visit www. horseinsurance.com for more information on Markel’s products.
Platinum Performance is the Official Nutritional Supplement of the NRCHA! Platinum Performance, Inc. is the manufacturer of Platinum Performance Equine Wellness and Performance Formula, a comprehensive supplement rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, bioavailable trace minerals, amino acids and joint protective anti-inflammatory nutrients. This formula is designed to support the immune system, joints, bones, muscles, and provide sustained energy and enhanced performance. It is excellent for performance horses of all ages, broodmares, stallions and foals. Platinum Performance nutritional supplements were originally developed to decrease rehabilitation time after orthopedic surgeries, to speed bone growth and tissue healing, and reduce swelling complications. For more information, visit Platinum Performance at our website at www.PlatinumPerformance. com.
San Juan Ranch, a Division of Santa Cruz Animal Health, is rapidly becoming an industry leader in the distribution and development of Veterinary and Animal Health Care Products. As the official animal health and breeding supplier of the NRCHA, the company offers a wide range of products for the optimal care of performance horses, livestock and companion animals. The Animal Health product line includes a comprehensive, high-quality, affordable line of UltraCruz™Animal Health Supplements for horses, dogs and cats.
PEDIGREE® Food for Dogs. Everything we do is for the love of dogs. As the world’s largest dog food brand, our passion is to make the world a better place for dogs. We champion causes to help dogs find loving homes, and we are dedicated to understanding dogs’ needs to make sure every dog is fed well, because every dog deserves great nutrition. PEDIGREE® products include a wide variety of treats including DENTASTIX®, MARROBONE®, and JUMBONE®. PEDIGREE® brand is proud to be a corporate partner and the Official Pet Food of the National Reined Cow Horse Association. To find out more about PEDIGREE® brand visit www.pedigree.com.
Marty and Dustin Latta wanted to create a brand that creates custom items that are truly a legacy so that the items could be passed down from generation to generation. The Western Legacy Co. creates legacy items such as custom hats, custom boots, custom bags, custom belts and custom sports coats. All of our products are truly custom made with the best quality. We are proud to be a Texas legacy brand that is owned by a father and son duo. Legacies are earned, not bought.
Dennis Moreland of Dennis Moreland Tack started his hand made tack business when he was a young cowboy. He realized there was a need for safe, well made, functional horse tack to be readily available to horsemen & horsewomen. This is Dennis’s 41st anniversary in the handmade tack business! He works closely with professional trainers and horsemen to design and test his equipment for functionality, fit and durability. From bridles to cinches, horse bits to spurs, he works hard to make this the best tack you’ve ever ridden. You can find everything you need for your horse at www.DMTack.com.
The Saddle House is proud to offer the finest collection of quality cow horse saddles and gear. Our Saddle House Custom Saddles are all handcrafted in Texas from the finest materials and ridden by top hands all over the country. We offer an impressive selection of hackamores, romels reins, bits, chaps and leather goods from the top makers. Owner Adam Schwalm is an active cow horse competitor and knows what you need to succeed the show pen or the branding pen. Visit www.thesaddlehouse.com.
Team up with Classic Equine and PLAY TO WIN! Classic Equine is the official horse boot and saddle pad brand of the NRCHA, and there is a reason we are the standard equipment of performance champions. Just ask the professionals. Serious competitors care about their horse’s health and soundness. Classic Equine offers a variety of innovative and protective products including saddle pads, cinches, support boots and bell boots. All products are manufactured to the highest standards for quality and value. After all, the creation of a product line that satisfies the serious competitor’s high expectations of performance is what Classic Equine is all about. With input from many of today’s leading riders, each product is designed and tested for function, fit, durability and value. That is why when it comes to the horse’s protection and comfort for training and competition, champions prefer Classic Equine. For more information visit our website at www.classicequine.com or call 1-800-654-7864.
We at Martin Saddlery are dedicated to giving you the most fit, function and value in a saddle. Martin saddles are built by professionals, for professionals. Our saddles are designed to provide a better fit for your horse and specialized by discipline with the rider’s needs in mind. Each Martin saddle is hand-crafted and individually assembled by the finest of craftsmen. Often imitated, never matched. www.MartinSaddlery.com
Jeff Smith’s Custom Saddles offers you quality and affordable products you can count on. There specialized Cutting, Ranch Cutters, Cow Horse and Cowboy saddles are made with the finest Hermann Oak Leather and American made materials and workmanship by saddle makers with 36 years of custom western tack manufacturing. Go to www. JeffSmithsCustomSaddles.com to shop online, and to follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
DT Horses, “The Elite Brand,” owned and operated by Dean and Leslie Tuftin, is located in beautiful Bend, Oregon. They are proud to be the presenting sponsor of the NRCHA World’s Greatest Horseman. Already an established breeding and training program for world champion rope horses, DT Horses has strengthened its reined cow horse industry presence with the addition of NRCHA Champion Hickory Holly Time to its stallion roster in 2016. Under the guidance of DT Horses’ resident trainer, leading NRCHA Professional Kelby Phillips, the DT Horses program seeks out the best genetics in the performance horse industry, to create versatile champions for every arena. Find them on the web at www.DTHorses.com.
The Nutro Company is a leading manufacturer of natural pet food products sold exclusively at pet specialty stores, and the Official Pet Food food of the National Reined Cow Horse Association. The company has been making premium pet food for more than 80 years and is dedicated to quality, excellence and innovation in dog and cat nutrition offering healthful formulas for every pet’s life stage, activity level and size. The Nutro Company’s family of brands includes MAX® dog and cat food, NATURAL CHOICE® dog and cat food, and ULTRA™ food for dogs in addition to the GREENIES® brands, which include the #1 veterinary recommended pet specialty dental chews, and PILL POCKETS® and JOINT CARE® treats. For more information, please visit www.thenutrocompany.com and www.greenies.com.
For animals, health and happiness go hand in hand. Both are a result of the quality of care they get from owners raising them to be their best. And much of that comes from the quality nutrition they’re being fed. Our feed sustains the animals you care for. What’s inside them, literally, counts. That’s why our feed isn’t just grown—it’s crafted. Real science goes into putting the nutrients animals need into each Nutrena® feed product. Because, what’s inside the feed counts. Since 1921, we’ve been making Nutrena horse feeds that are specially developed to provide the right blend of nutrition and energy for your horses at every age and activity level. Whether you’re caring for working horses, hard keepers, or athletes, there’s a Nutrena horse feed that’s right for them. To find the right product that matches your horses’ needs, visit us at www.nutrenaworld.com.
Nutrena is proud to be the Official Equine Feed of AQHA, WPRA, and an AAEP Educational Partner as well as the Official Feed of the NRCHA. “What’s Inside Counts.”
American Paint Horse Association - Marked For Greatness! We inspire, nurture, promote and provide meaningful experiences to generations interested in preserving the versatile Paint Horse. The APHA is proud to be an alliance partner of the National Reined Cow Horse Association. Learn more about the breed and the benefits of membership at www.APHA.com.
The NRCHA is happy to continue our partnership with Shorty’s Caboy Hattery. Shorty’s takes pride in creating custom hats, hand-made with dedication to the true tradition of the Western cowboy. The entire Shorty’s team stands by the value and tradition that defines the spirit of cowboys and cowgirls everywhere. They make cowboy hats the right way: from top-quality materials and loving care in every hat. Find them on the web at shortyshattery.com.
Complete oral care is important for your dog’s total body health and can add years to their lifespan. GREENIES™ Canine Dental Chews are proven to clean dogs’ teeth by fighting both plaque and tartar buildup, freshening breath, and maintaining healthier teeth and gums. Designed for daily treating, our dental chews are low in fat and nutritionally complete for adult dogs.
Don Rich Custom Saddles are specifically designed for use in the Western performance horse industry with an emphasis on reined cow horse, cutting, ranch horse, and reining events. Choose from our beautiful selection of saddles in stock, or place a custom order.
The American Quarter Horse Association, located in Amarillo, Texas, is the world’s largest equine breed registry and membership organization.
AQHA members share a passion for the American Quarter Horse and the vast lifestyle created by the world’s most popular horse. The AQHA is an alliance partner of the National Reined Cow Horse Association. Explore the AQHA’s many resources on the web at www.AQHA.com.
Gist Silversmiths: Crafting a Legend Piece by Piece - Gist Silversmiths is proud of its partnership with the NRCHA as its “Official Silversmith”. For 40 years, Gist has been considered the industry leader in customized trophy and award buckles for champions of all disciplines. Gist Silversmiths believes there is no substitute for the finest in quality, superior craftsmanship and reliable service. Attention to detail is evident in each of their finely sculpted motifs and logos; quality enhanced by unique buckle designs. An award buckle is presented to commemorate a significant achievement and each recipient should be honored with a buckle reflecting the pride of a champion. For more information, visit the Gist Silversmiths website at www. gistsilversmiths.com.
Wear Cinch to Win! It’s the Official Clothing of the NRCHA! Lead...don’t follow and wear the choice of champions - Cinch jeans and shirts. When performance counts, the members of the NRCHA turn to Cinch jeans. Cinch is the brand of choice for some of the world’s best horse trainers like Bob Avila, Teddy Robinson and Todd Bergen. Why? Because Cinch jeans offer the kind of fit and comfort that allow riders to focus on the work at hand. Plus Cinch jeans and shirts always look good. You’ll find Cinch jeans and shirts at your favorite Western store or via catalog. Or, visit www. cinchjeans.com to find the retailer nearest you. “Cinch up” with Cinch jeans and shirts. Wear the choice of champions.
Bloomer is the “Official Horse Trailer” of the NRCHA. Bloomer Trailers has raised the bar in the horse trailer industry. “If you can dream it, we can build it,” is the company slogan. Bloomer offers the highest quality standards of any trailer manufacturer and backs it up with a 10 year structural warranty. For information, see your local Bloomer Trailer dealer or visit www.bloomertrailers.com.
Rios of Mercedes, the Official Boot of the National Reined Cow Horse Association, is one of the last truly handmade all leather boots produced in the United States. There is no secret to making top quality boots. All you need is the finest leather and true bootmakers with years of experience and the desire to be the best at their craft. Rios has remained true to its roots by making boots for folks who are involved in performance and working horses, raise livestock and in general make their living outdoors. Rios has never cheapened their product by taking shortcuts, lowering standards or chasing fashion trends. We make boots for people who know what a pair of boots is intended for: all day comfort whether horseback or afoot. Visit www. riosofmercedes.com to see some of the styles we offer through our retailers.
Bob’s Custom Saddles are ridden and endorsed by the best of the best in competitive Western riding sports today. Our superior craftsmanship and attention to detail have made our reining, barrel racing, cutting, roping, ranch, trail and show saddles the preferred choice of professional riders from around the world. Saddle up with us on the web at www.BobsCustomSaddles.com.
THE LOW DOWN ON SLOBBER STRAPS
Learn how to attach a mecate to a snaffle with slobber straps.
The name slobber straps make you think the purpose of these straps, which are used to connect a mecate to a snaffle bit, is to protect the rein from slobber. Although they can help keep your mecate out of the water when your horse takes a drink, the main purpose for slobber straps, in addition to connecting the rein to a snaffle, is to add extra weight and feel to the bit ends of a mecate.
The added weight causes the bit ends of the rein to drop more quickly when either side of the mecate is released. In turn this releases the pressure on the bit sooner which gives your horse a quicker reward for giving to a pull. The weight and stiffness of the slobber straps gives you more feel whenever you make contact with the horse.
Once you get the hang of it, attaching slobber straps is quick and easy. Follow along with the pictures to see how to put a mecate on your snaffle with slobber straps.
1. Lay your bridle down on a table with the back facing up. You can hang it up to do this if you prefer. Starting on the right side, put one of the slobber straps on the right snaffle ring behind the curb. Thread the tail (end without a tassel) of your mecate through both slits in the slobber strap starting from the outside. Pull the tail end almost all the way through, leaving about 8-12 inches on the tassel end.
2. Thread the 8-12 inches of the tassel end under and back up over the slobber strap and through the loop you’ve just formed. Pull both ends of the mecate rope down snugly against the slobber strap. The tassel end should now be facing downward.
3. Put the other slobber strap on the left snaffle ring. Thread the tail end of the mecate through the slits in this slobber strap starting from the inside. The rope between the slobber straps will be your rein loop. The tail end will become your lead. Pull the tail end through the slobber strap far enough to leave only enough length in your rein loop to be the length you’d like it to be. The rein length is personal preference and can be adjusted after you put it on your horse, if necessary. I like to make my rein loop sides about an arm’s length long.
4. To make the knot around this slobber strap thread the tail end under and back over the slobber strap. Thread the end through the loop you’ve just made.
5. Pull both ends of the mecate rope down snugly against the slobber strap. You’ll now have both a rein loop and a lead.
Horses understand and respond best to cues when release of any cue occurs at the exact time the horse has given the correct response. Slobber straps can help reach that goal by increasing the speed of the release on reins that are connected with them.
///// MEET DENNIS MORELAND
member Dennis Moreland, owner of Dennis Moreland Tack, has been making quality working and show tack since 1976. Visit www. dmtack.com or call 817-312-5305 to see how Dennis can help you with your tack needs. Dennis Moreland Tack is a full line manufacturer of quality handmade tack and is here to help you!
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COMMITTEE DIRECTORY
AFFILIATES
Chairperson: Frank Prisco archapresident@gmail.com 631-478-7022
Lia Savas • indianheadranch@aol.com
Andres Sanchez • andresgccha@gmail.com
Roy Rich • roy_rich6@yahoo.com
Jim Wilson • wilson@myomnitel.com
Barb McCaughey mccaugheybarbara@gmail.com
ANIMAL WELFARE
Chairperson: Dr. Joe Carter, DVM jcarterdvm@aol.com • 405-288-6460
ETHICS
Chairperson: Bill Tointon billtointon@msn.com • 303-530-2443
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Chairperson: Paul Bailey paulb@cb-trucking.com • 931-260-3909
Frank Prisco • archapresident@gmail.com
Trey Neal • trey@treyneal.com
Todd Bergen bergenperformancehorses@gmail.com
Boyd Rice • boydrice1965@gmail.com
HALL OF FAME
Chairperson: Dan Roeser roeserstables@gmail.com 208-841-2052
Ted Robinson • ted@tedrobinsoncowhorses.com
Bobby Ingersoll • bobby@bobbyingersoll.com
Smoky Pritchett • pritchettl@att.net Ken Wold • ken@kenwold.com
NRCHA membership privileges will be suspended for the second offense of bad checks, per rule 1.1.6.2 and for non payment of debt to NRCHA Show Management or NRCHA Approved Show Management. Additionally, all amounts for advertising in the NRCHA publication, Reined Cow Horse News, are due and payable within 30 days of receipt.
Agricultural Foundation, Fresno, CA
Desert Spring Ranch, Queen Creek, AZ
Keetch Ranch, Waddell, AZ
Del Rey Paint & Qtr Horses/Aneka
Schelbeck, Cotton Wood, CA
Bynum Farms/Blair Bynum, Palm City, FL
Donnie Boyd, Sarasota, FL
Robyn Bush, Visalia, CA
Marcy Campbell, Creston, CA
Pompeo Capezzone, Castrocielo 03030, ITALY
Riccardo Capezzone, Castrocielo 03030, ITALY
Cody Christensen, Heber City, UT
Tom Daughetee, Kemmerer, WY
Shad DeGiorgis, El Dorado Hills, CA
Laura Delfino, Martine , CA
Pat Faitz, Lakeland, FL
Robert Frobose, Modesto, CA
Miguel Gonzalez, Miami, FL
A finance charge of 1. per month 1 APR will be added to all past due amounts. Membership privileges shall be suspended on accounts greater than 90 days past due and this information will be published in Reined Cow Horse News. There will be a membership reinstatement fee of $75.
November 1, 2020
Babcock Ranch/Jim Babcock, Sanger, TX
Brandon Johnson, Nebraska City, NE
Bridgette Lanham, Eastover, SC
Thera Myers, Oxnard, CA
Steed Training/ Rick Steed, Okeechobee, FL
Jill Serena, Castaic, CA
Vernon Smith, Santa Maria, CA
Dream Cross/Susan Ray, TX
Lazy T Shamrock Ranch/ Terry Malarkey, Star, ID
Elizabeth Winkle, Sarasota, FL
Don Stockman, Dayton, TX
Kinsey Dodson, Cleburne, TX
Oasis Ranch/Pete & Marilyn Bowling
– Purcell, OK
Bill Anderson – Merino, CO
Roy Hockensmith – Frankfort, KY
Brian & Cynthia Holthouse –
San Juan Bautista, CA
Rita F. Ward – Canyon, TX
SHOW SCHEDULE
Dec 4-6 Holidazzle Futurity
Dec 5-6 Winter Classic
Jan 7-10 Winter Show
HS/LAE/Cat 1/Cat 2 Winona, MN North Central RCHA Jennifer Fjelstad (641) 590-1014 jenfjelstad@gmail.com
HS/LAE/Cat 1 Amite City, LA Southern RCH Alliance Tina McCleary (979) 218-0633 stillcreektina@gmail.com
Dec 5-6 Appreciation Show HS/Cat 1 Queen Creek, AZ Arizona RCHA Connie Hay (623) 869-8576 chayazqha@aol.com
Jan 17-18 Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo - CANCELED HS/Cat 1 Fort Worth, TX Nelle Murphy (580) 276-0761 whoanelle75@gmail.com
Jan 31 Santa Ynez Valley Cow Horse #1 HS/Cat 1 Santa Ynez, CA
Feb 3-5 Dirt & Diamonds Derby LAE/Cat 1 Rancho Murieta, CA
Jan 23 CRCHA Horse Show #1 HS/Cat 1 Paso Robles, CA California RCHA Laura Norman (559) 760-2769 crcha@saddle-upenterprises.com
Carol Sutton (805) 260-4535 info@syvch.org
Debbie Tweedy (580) 668-5423 info@teemshows.com
Feb 27 CRCHA Horse Show #2 HS/Cat 1 Paso Robles, CA California RCHA Laura Norman (559) 760-2769 crcha@saddle-upenterprises.com
Apr 14-18 CRCHA Paso Robles Derby & Horse Show #3 HS/LAE/Cat 1 Paso Robles, CA California RCHA Laura Norman (559) 760-2769 crcha@saddle-upenterprises.com
Apr 24 Santa Ynez Valley Cow Horse #2 HS/Cat 1 Santa Ynez, CA Carol Sutton (805) 260-4535 info@syvch.org
May 29 Mid State Cow Horse Association Show #1 HS/Cat 1 Paso Robles, CA
May 21-22 CRCHA Spring Spectacular & Horse Show #4 HS/Cat 1 Tulare, CA California RCHA Laura Norman (559) 760-2769 crcha@saddle-upenterprises.com
