2021 November/December RCHN

RIDING FOR ZAK

Aboard Zak 34, named for owner Melissa Fischer’s son, Justin Wright was lifted to the top of a 30-horse Final to earn the Open Snaffle Bit Futurity® Champion title

SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY®

74 The Weight of the Ride

Zak 34 carried more than rider Justin Wright to the championship.

86 Hail to the Chief

Abbie Phillips and TRR Dual Smart Olena earned the Non Pro Futurity title.

100 Horse Show Headlines

Horse show class champions from the Snaffle Bit Futurity.

114 NRCHA Futurity Sales

116 AQHA Ranching Heritage Champions

120 MARS Equestrian™ National Finals Rodear Results

124 Leathers tops Cowboy Class Invitational

128 Cow Horse for Ropers Rocks the Futurity

130 Cow Horse for Cutters Returns

144 ARHFA Results

HACKAMORE CLASSIC

132 To the End

Lance Johnston piloted Annies Smart Cat to the Open Hackamore Classic title.

138 Red Holly Time Rules Run-Off

Two horses duked it out for the Non Pro Hackamore Classic win, and Myles Brown came out on top.

FEATURES

148 Million Dollar Milestones

154 Sponsor Spotlight: PulseVet

IN EVERY ISSUE

4 From the Executive Director

8 NRCHA President’s Letter

156 Dennis Moreland’s Tack Tips

157 NRCHA Committee Directory

158 Affiliate List

159 Suspended Member List

160 NRCHA Sanctioned Events

CIRCLE UP

10 From the Judge’s Chair 14 From the NRCHYA 18 Empty Stalls

Black stallion Zak 34 was named for the deceased son, Seth, of owner Melissa Fischer (in black). The horse was a lifeline for her family and now, a Futurity Champion with pilot Justin Wright.

NRCHA News 38 Trade Secrets 46 All-Access from the Futurity

MEMBER

ROUNDUP 50 Behind the Buckle: Russell Dilday

Know the Pro: Jason Patrick 58 Notable Non Pro: Polly Bremel

Meet Clinton Marshall 70 Faces of the NRCHA

On the cover:

Zak 34, owned by Melissa Fischer, carried NRCHA Million Dollar Rider Justin Wright to his first NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® championship. [Page 74]

PRIMO MORALES

As I write this, we are less than a week out from completing the 2021 National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity®, presented by Metallic Cat, and I still haven’t come off of the high. What a show—and what an Open Finals—friends! If you were lucky enough to be one of the thousands of people who watched our Open finalists lay down 220+ rein and cow work run after run, you know exactly how electric it was in the historic Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas, on the night of October 23rd.

A huge congratulations goes out to all of our finalists, and of course, to Justin Wright for his Championship aboard Zak 34 for owner Melissa Fischer. Many of you now know the story behind this special 3-year-old’s name, and there was no doubt that Melissa’s son, Seth, was there in spirit that evening as Justin and “Zak” took their victory lap.

The Open Finals were an exciting cap on an outstanding 17-day event, and those last runs always stick in our memories. Equally memorable and important were the accomplishments of our Non Pro division finalists, as well as our Intermediate Open and Limited Open finalists. Congratulations to each of our finalist riders and owners on your successes, and don’t forget to give thanks to those special horses who offered the heart and try to get you there. We’ll all look forward to watching you in the Derbies next year!

In addition to our hundreds of Futurity contenders, we also celebrated the accomplishments of our Oswood Stallion Station-supported Hackamore Classic exhibitors, and enjoyed cheering on those who showed in our Horse Show classes and special events, like the Cow Horse for Cutters and the inaugural Cow Horse for Ropers. The time, effort and resources of so many members went into making the Snaffle Bit Futurity a success, and we’re thankful to each of you.

As we ease toward the end of another show season, and I cap my first year in the role of executive director, I would like to extend a thank you to each and every person who participated in our 2021 NRCHA events, whether at an affiliate or sanctioned show or at a premier event. I would like to thank each of you who offered words of encouragement or advice; you helped our team to find our footing and stay on track as we’ve worked on your behalf. Thank you to our sponsors for your trust and support of this special organization. And thank you to our Board of Directors, members and staff for your dedication and commitment to NRCHA. Have a wonderful holiday season, and we’ll see you in the New Year!

Anna Morrison, Executive Director

Volume 26, Number 6

Official Publication of the

National Reined Cow Horse Association

Published by Morris Equine Group a division of MCC Magazines, LLC

NRCHA

256 North Hwy 377 | Pilot Point, TX 76258

Phone: 940-488-1500 | Fax: 940-488-1499

info@nrcha.com | www.NRCHA.com

NRCHA OFFICERS & DIRECTORS:

President: Corey Cushing

Vice President: Paul Bailey

Secretary: Frank Prisco

Treasurer: Trey Neal

NRCHA Foundation: MJ Isakson

NRCHA STAFF

Executive Director: Dr. Anna Morrison

Premier Event Manager: Emily Konkel

Accounting Manager: Kasydi Valentine

Communications Manager: Kate Bradley Byars

Program Manager: Elizabeth Ellis

Director of Judges: Bill Enk

Official NRCHA Photographer: Primo Morales

Official NRCHA Videographer: Equine Promotion

REINED CO W HORSE NEWS

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Editor: Kate Bradley Byars

Managing Editor: Jennifer Denison

Production Manager: Sherry Brown

Art Director: Susan Sampson

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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

KEEP REACHING

The high from another outstanding National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity® is still with me even as I reflect on the event. Looking back at the more than a year it takes to get to the point of showing at the Snaffle Bit, I see a lot of peaks and valleys along the road, and I know I’m not alone.

The Snaffle Bit Futurity, presented by Metallic Cat, is a pressure-filled event. First, there is the pressure to simply train a horse to get to show there, then there the pressure is on to make the Finals, and you hope that you apply the right amount of pressure on a horse that allows it show the best it can. At times, it’s building to a peak and things are going good. Then, you hit a valley when you could have done better or a cow didn’t help you out.

Look at Justin Wright’s highest peak. His mount, Zak 34, came from a valleylike moment in his owner’s life. Missy Fischer bought that horse because she felt like her son, Seth, who had passed on, was urging her to buy him. From that low point in her life, she has also now felt highest of highs winning our biggest limited age event. Justin’s been bridesmaid before and understands that everyone walks through valleys, but the peaks are what keep us going.

This year’s Snaffle Bit Futurity saw peak after peak: near-record entries, new All-Time Leading Sire Metallic Cat, we celebrated Million Dollar Sire Lenas Wright On and Million Dollar Rider Ron Ralls; at the event, we saw a new Two Million Dollar Rider with Jake Telford and, on Finals night, a new Million Dollar Rider in Clayton Edsall.

It is obvious that our cow horse family creates an atmosphere that foster success. It motivates others to join our association. We saw that in the enthusiasm of the cutting competitors who jumped at the chance to ride in the third annual Cow Horse For Cutters. And the roping stars sure came out for our first ever Cow Horse For Ropers—talk about fun! That is what is so appealing about reined cow horse—we have fun and we ride great horses.

As we head into winter, many of us have our eyes on next year’s goals. We see those peaks we want to stand on top of, like a Futurity Champion title. Don’t be discouraged by the valleys you walk through to reach the peaks. Keep reaching and we will see you on the way!

Corey Cushing

Corey Cushing, NRCHA president

FROM THE JUDGE’S CHAIR

The judge’s score reflects the whole run, from start to finish.

Ifind myself saying the same thing every year when the National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity® is over:“WOW!” It’s all about competing to win and having the horseflesh to accomplish it.This year, Justin Wright had both going for him, but the part that stands out to me most was when he drew a borderline cow to work and he attempted to compete on it like it was the only one he was going to get. It makes the new cow whistle a lot easier to blow when the exhibitor stays in position and the cow lets you know it wouldn’t give you a fair shake to compete on it.In this case, that’s exactly what happened. Congratulations Justin—job well done!

As the competition increased, there were maneuvers that helped separate runs from the judges’ perspectives. In the herd work there seemed to be more cases of excessive herd help than in years past.Excessive herd help is assessed on the judges’ cards when the herd help cuts the arena down or saves a major penalty.In either case, it detracts from the work by not allowing the exhibitor to attempt to control the cow without help.Also noted in the herd work was a horse’s lack of ability to work the cow with semiloose reins.These are snaffle bit horses and reining them is allowed, but the horse that works a cow correctly with semi-loose reins demonstrates more eye

appeal and cow sense than a horse that is shown with tighter reins.

In the rein work prelims it seemed like there were more out of lead and break of gait penalties than usual.Also noted when transitioning from the large fast to small slow circles, slowing down too early or speeding back up too late basically eliminates some degree of difficulty from the maneuver score. Slowing down two strides before the center and speeding up two strides after the center are in the credit-earning ranges. Excessive over-canting when slowing down also eliminates some degree of difficulty.There is more risk assumed to the horse that stays straighter during the transitions and, with all things equal during the rest of the circles, probably should be scored higher. Body alignment has always been important when exhibiting a horse. Excessive speed and lack of body alignment during the turnarounds is very hard to judge. Correctness is important when evaluating maneuvers. Correctness with speed is the ultimate goal and should not be overlooked by attempting to go fast without being correct.

The fence work usually shows off horses that are comfortable and confident with speed.Missing the entry to a turn by less than a length basically eliminates credit from that turn.It can still be a check turn if it has some form and the exit is good.Averaging the turns

allows you to gain back credit if the rest of the turns are on the money. The whole run is what is important, and the final score should reflect that from start to finish.

To the judges and exhibitors, these reflections are just food for thought on our never-ending journey to try to get better at what we’re attempting to do.

Until Next Time,

Bill Enk NRCHA Director of Judges

FROM THE NRCHYA

By Tylor Todd

The National Reined Cow Horse Association Youth had tons of activities to keep them busy at this year’s Snaffle Bit Futurity®, held in Fort Worth, Texas, October 7-23, in the Youth Activities Center room, presented by Terri and Joe Carter. Starting on October 8, Youth of all ages were invited to take part in the decorating of good luck

posters for their favorite Open riders, a scavenger hunt around the facility and a field trip to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. This museum is home to an extraordinary collection of history and was a great way for the kids to see Native American art, as well as learn more about science.

Costume lead line was a real hit with kids and parents alike! Kids got to dress up as anything they liked, and they were led around in the John Justin arena on October 19. This was my favorite Youth activity and all of the little kids loved it. For older kids, there were Buckaroo Classes where kids could be assisted by an adult and do a simple reining pattern followed by working the flag. The participants and winners received trophies sponsored by Bet He Sparks. Lastly, stick horse decorating and the relay races were popular among the kids. There was an activ-

ity for everyone! A huge thank you to K&L Phillips, owners of Bet He Sparks, the Carters, and all of the parents for organizing and supporting the Youth activities throughout the show.

While at the show, the annual stallion auction to benefit the NRCHYA was held during the Western Bloodstock Snaffle Bit Futurity Sales®. Stallion owners donated a 2022 breeding to their studs, and, in turn, donated the proceeds to the Youth association. This money helps us put on free Youth clinics and NRCHYA promotional events. The auction raised $45,300, and the high-selling breeding was to Metallic Rebel for $4,700. This year’s auction brought in $10,000 more than last year’s auction. We cannot thank the buyers enough for their support of the Youth. We also say a big thank you to the stallion owners who donated a 2022 breeding to their fabulous studs.

EMPTY STALLS

Two top reined cow horse producers passed on to greener pastures.

The reined cow horse industry lost Million Dollar Sire Mister Dual Pep and also Stay Outta My Shorts, the dam of the 2019 National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Champion, this year.

With NRCHA earners of more than $1,420,000, 1993 sorrel stallion Mister Dual Pep (Peppy San Badger x Miss Dual Doc x Doc’s Remedy) leaves a lasting legacy in reined cow horses. Bred by Greg and Laura Ward of Tulare, California, the full brother to Dual Pep was shown to more than $43,000 in lifetime earnings by Greg. However, his impact in not only reined cow horse but reining and cutting was most felt in the breeding barn.

At the time of his death in August, Mister Dual Pep had 240 competing reined cow horses, with the top money earning offspring Mister Smart Remedy (out of Ima Smart Remedy), a 2001 stallion that has $119,443.20 in NRCHA earnings.

He transferred hands through the years, but his final home was with Wayne and Melissa Hanson at Hanson Quarter Horses in Creston, Iowa. The Hansons enjoyed the personable stallion in his golden years, even watching daughter Emily Gravlin show him in high school rodeo events when the stallion was 23 years old.

“It was a fluke we even bought him,” said Michelle Hanson. “We really had no idea [the impact] he has had. He [was] quirky but he’s one of the coolest

horses we have ever known. Even at 22 or 23 years old, he had to be ridden down for two hours before going in the cutting pen! To have him and love on him, and the older he got the more lovey he was when he realized he was finally in a home. We loved him, a lot.”

Mister Dual Pep’s ashes were laid to rest at the Hanson’s in Iowa. At the time of his death, “Mister” was the 14th highest earning sire in the NRCHA.

The Brown family lost Open Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion producing and NRCHA Dam of the Year Stay Outta My Shorts this year. The mare, by Shorty Lena and out of Oaklynn (by Doc’s Oak) was 24 years old. Owned by Rob A. Brown, Myles Brown made the purchase for the family in 2015 when Stay Outta My Shorts was in foal to Once In A Blu Boon. The resulting

foal, 2016 stallion Here Comes The Boon, would see the Brown’s breed an NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Champion with Lance Johnston aboard the roan in 2019.

Here Comes The Boon has amassed $224,217.26 (as of September 27, 2021) in earnings; BBR Short On Time, a 2003 mare also out of Stay Outta My Shorts, helped put the mare’s total NRCHA produce earnings at $226,748.96. The Brown family has a foal they hope to watch in the show pen from their bay mare.

The NRCHA offers condolences to Mister Dual Pep’s and Stay Outta My Short’s connections.

Here Comes The Boon, Stay Outta My Shorts’ 2016 foal by Once In A Blu Boon, helped her earn the 2019 NRCHA Dam of the Year title.

Even in his 20s, Mister Dual Pep was a competitor, as see here with NRCHA professional Luke Jones.

COURTESY OF MICHELLE HANSON

ZANE DAVIS AND RUBYS RADAR ZERO IN TO WIN THE RUN FOR A MILLION FENCE WORK CHALLENGE

By Kate Bradley Byars

Achance to be the first champion of The Run For A Million Fence Work Challenge, presented by Teton Ridge, brought some of the National Reined Cow Horse Association’s best bridle horses to make a run in Las Vegas, Nevada, on August 20 with the top Open NRCHA earning riders in the saddle. When the last cow was circled, Zane Davis and Rubys Radar (One Time Pepto x Ruby

Bagonia x Peppy San Badger) topped the 15-horse field to earn $60,000 and the title.

The second The Run For A Million event held August 18 through 20 at the South Point Hotel and Casino once again brought out sold-out crowds to the Arena and Equestrian Center for the Fence Work Challenge on Friday and the Run For A Million on Saturday night. Open riders were invited to

the first Fence Work Challenge based on their sum of three-year NRCHA earnings. Riders had the opportunity to compete on any bridle horse they selected.

Aboard “Radar,” owned by Billie Filippini’s C Ranches Inc of Battle Mountain, Nevada, Davis received plusses from the judges on crisp reining maneuvers to score a 224.5 before the pair made the high-scoring cow horse

An electric cow work helped Zane Davis and Rubys Radar seal the win at the inaugural Run For A Million Fence Work Challenge.

run of the event with a massive 229.

“When Taylor Sheridan included reined cow horse in The Run For A Million we were thrilled for the opportunity to share the spotlight at this groundbreaking event,” said Anna Morrison, NRCHA executive director. “Our riders and horses did their part to share the thrill of our sport with the audience. They gave it their all in the arena, and we couldn’t be prouder of them. I think it’s fair to say there are more than a few new cow horse fans today!”

The event was sanctioned late in July, following the announcement that riders would be completing a reining pattern with the fence work. That allowed for the event manager, Amanda Brumley, to apply for NRCHA Category 2 approval. A Category 2 competition approval indicates an event doesn’t meet Category 1 criteria for reasons such as restricted entry. In this instance, participation is restricted to the 15 riders invited to compete due to their ranking in the top 15 NRCHA Open riders for the last three-year show total earnings.

“The ability to sanction the event and record the earnings makes this even sweeter, and is so meaningful to the riders and owners participating,” said Morrison.

For Davis, the addition of reining meant switching from his first choice, NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Champion Reymanator to Rubys Radar, a stallion that had only come home from the breeding barn days before the announcement of the reining addition.

“It was a rush job on him because he’d been at the breeding farm, out of shape and really fat a month ago,” explained Davis. “We had about a month [to get him in shape] and he just got in what looked like show shape five

days ago. He was performing well and he’s a happy show horse. He performed well tonight.”

Davis, from Blackfoot, Idaho, is an NRCHA Million Dollar Rider and past NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Champion. The NRCHA reining pattern 4 is one Davis approaches with determination, and that paid off.

“This pattern is a very difficult pattern,” said Davis. “You come in run and spin, and do hard fast running first, then you have to lope off in a small, slow circle and then change to a small, slow circle after running a large fast one. I am familiar with this pattern [because] it is the first pattern I’ve ever run and I destroyed it. When they said we were going to run it, I knew I needed to practice every little element of it. He and I practiced bits and pieces of it every day for a month.”

As draw seven, Davis watched what he deemed as “slower cattle” work, and knew his needed to be fast with an aggressive work to mark high on the cards of NRCHA judges Todd Crawford, Russell Dilday, Wade Reaney, Brady Weaver and Cayley Wilson. The event utilized the NRCHA’s five judge system, where the high and low scores are removed so the middle three count toward the score.

“The left turn [first] for him is a better turn. I’d watched some others go with pretty slow cows. It turned out that red cow, by its first move, I thought we had more cow than some others I had seen. I knew this horse could handle about any cow so I was excited,” Davis said.

“I grew up in rodeo so I am used to the crowd, and I am always concerned with how my horse handles the crowd. This horse, I think he performs better when the crowd is screaming. Though, I am glad I wasn’t first—there was intensity in the air!”

When Erin Taormino and Im So Stunning, the final draw of the night, wrapped up, the crowd rewarded the entire event with raucous cheers. The reined cow horse Fence Work Challenge made a positive and lasting impression on attendees and those watching through the livestream and pay-perview options.

The Fence Work Challenge paid 12 holes, and Reserve Champion Sarah Dawson rode Travelin Miss Jonez (Travelin Jonez x Playin With Rubies x Lectric Playboy) to a 223.5 in the rein work and a 226.5 in the cow work for a composite 450, earning $22,500. With a composite 446, CSR Lay Down Sally (Dual Spark x Look At Her Glo x CD O Cody), owned by Meredith Graber, and Chris Dawson tied for third with Clayton Edsall and Metallic Train (Metallic Cat x Sparking Train x Shining Spark), owned by Beverly Servi. Both earned $16,500. Rounding out the top five was Corey Cushing aboard TheCrowdLovesMe (Smart Chic Olena x Shine Smartly x Shining Spark), owned by Lindsay Wadhams, marking a 441 to earn $12,000.

Davis said it is a game changer for the sport to be included in the event, a sentiment echoed by others involved in the Fence Work Challenge.

“For us, it was super exciting to be a part of it because it introduces our sport to a whole new audience that we don’t get to be in front of,” said Sarah Dawson. “The cow horse has a ton to offer as far as entertainment value and getting it out there, it was fun to take part. Everybody brought their best horse, so from a spectator aspect, you saw the best of the best. It was another venue for us to showcase these bridle horses that are, in my opinion, still underappreciated but most loved by the crowds.”

(High Brow Cat - The Smart Look, by Smart Little Lena)

ANNIES SMART CAT

LTE: $74,628 (Shiney Nu Annie, by Shining Spark) Open Hackamore Classic Champion & Open Hackamore - 4th

Owned by Rocking BS Ranch • Shown by Lance B. Johnston Bred by Wagonhound Land & Livestock LLC

LTE: $54,475 (Sunspot Flo, by Mr Peponita Flo) Open Two Rein Reserve Champion

Owned by Cayley Wilson Performance Horses Inc

Shown by Cayley Wilson • Bred by Matthews Cutting Horses LLC

SADDLING AT SUNRISE

LTE: $72,323 (Sunshine Ingredient, by Mr Sun O Lena)

Ranching Heritage Open Working Ranch Horse 5/6-Year-Old 3rd & Open Hackamore Classic Finalist

Owned & Bred by Burnett Ranches LLC

Shown by Boyd J. Rice

LTE: $58,744 (Shiney Nu Annie, by Shining Spark) Open Futurity Finalist & Futurity Sale Incentive Open Champion

Owned by Clinton J. Marshall • Shown by Nicholas S. Dowers Bred by Wagonhound Land & Livestock LLC

SMART LADIES SPARKLE

LTE: $54,312 (Shiners Diamond Lady, by Shining Spark) Ranching Heritage Open Working Ranch Horse 5/6-Year-Old Champion & Ranching Heritage Open Ranch Riding - 3rd

Owned by Myra J. Koch • Shown by Matt J. Koch Bred by Wagonhound Land & Livestock LLC

BRIMS CAT

(Brims Fever, by Playboys Buck Fever) L1 Youth Working Ranch Horse Champion & Ranching Heritage Youth Ranch Riding Reserve Champion

Owned by Burnett Ranches LLC • Shown by Spur Leathers Bred by Burnett Ranches LLC

LTE: $236,514

SMART AND DRIVEN

LTE: $14,480 (Purpose Driven, by Peptoboonsmal) Ranching Heritage Cowboy Working Ranch Horse & Cowboy Class Invitational - 4th

Owned by Casey and Ashley Zboril

• Shown by Casey Zboril

Bred by Cowan Select Horses LLC

SMART NICHOLAS

LTE: $13,520 (Secrets Lil Liz, by Lizzys Gotta Player)

Intermediate Open Futurity - 11th

Owned by L & K Barker Family Trust

• Shown by Robert Chown Bred by Cows & Horses Etc.

LTE: $156,621 (Opus Chic, by Smart Chic Olena) Select Non-Pro Bridle Champion, Ranching Heritage Amateur Ranch Riding Champion, Non-Pro Bridle Reserve Champion, Ranching Heritage Open Ranch Riding - 5th

Owned by Box O Quarter Horses • Shown by Jecca Ostrander Bred by Wagonhound Land/Livestock LLC

CAT WALKS INTO A BAR

LTE: $42,592 (Sue C Shiner, by Shining Spark) Youth Cow Horse 13 & Up Champion, Novice Non-Pro Bridle - 3rd & Lim. Non-Pro Finalist

Owned & Shown by Landri Lisac Bred by Garth and/or Amanda Gardiner

THIS CATS SINFUL

LTE: $42,376 (Sinful Playgirl, by Freckles Playboy) Ranching Heritage Amateur Working Ranch Horse Champion

Owned by Matt Koch • Shown by Brianna Koch Bred by Cowan Select Horses LLC

PRF PEPTOS SMART CAT

LTE: $82,807 (Wild Francine, by Peptoboonsmal) Open Hackamore Classic Finalist

Owned by Tori Simons • Shown by Jared Jones Bred by Peter W. De Leeuw

LIL SMART LIL SWEET

(Sweet Lil Nurse, by Sweet Lil Pepto)

Intermediate Non-Pro Futurity & Novice Non-Pro Futurity - 6th

Owned & Bred by D & S Performance Horses

Shown by Danielle Quinn

LOST CREEK HEAVEN

LTE: $380 (She Cat Seven, by Seven From Heaven)

Cowboy Class Invitational - 5th

Owned by Rob A. Brown • Shown by R. A. Brown II Bred by Wagonhound Land & Livestock LLC

DR BOONOLENA

LTE: $45,615 (Badabing Badaboon, by Peptoboonsmal)

Intermediate Open Hackamore Classic - 6/7th

Owned by Ann Matthews • Shown by Clifton J. Shopbell Bred by Gallegos Perf Horses LLC

FLOKI

LTE: $9,116 (Who Rey, by Dual Rey) Open Two Rein -7th

Owned by Lee Humble Baldock • Shown by Brandy Johnson Bred by Jim and Jo Anne Carollo

$100,000 (Shiners Diamond Lady, by Shining Spark) Consigned by Wagonhound Land & Livestock LLC pictured

(WR This Cats Smart - Gracielights, by CD Lights) LTE: $93,079

2021 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity AQHA Ranching Heritage Open Working Ranch Horse 5/6-Year-Old Reserve Champion, Open Hackamore - 6th, Open Hackamore Classic - 7/8th

Top 10: NRCHA Celebrations of Champions

Open Derby (twice), NRCHA Open Stakes, NRCHA Western Open Derby, NSHA RCHA Open Derby, Idaho RCHA Open Futurity

in

Fee: $1,200 + Chute Fee

Transported Cooled Semen Available

(High Brow Cat - Bet Yer Blue Boons, by Freckles Playboy)

BET SHESA LAYMATE

LTE: $8,995

(Very Smart Playmate, by Very Smart Remedy) Amateur Futurity Reserve Champion & Non-Pro, Intermediate Non-Pro, Novice Non-Pro Futurity Finalist

Owned by Preston Williams • Shown by Garrell L. Reilly Bred by Yellow Creek Ranch

HESA WEE BET

LTE: $5,071

(Wee Quejana Gal, by Quejanaisalena) Non-Pro Hackamore Champion & Non-Pro Hackamore Classic - 4th

Owned by Debbie Crafton • Shown by Debbie R. Crafton Bred by Molly Mae Mirassou

BET SHESA LENA

LTE: $10,629

(Shiners Miss Lena, by Shining Spark) Limited Open Futurity 4/5th & $7,500 Limited Open Futurity Finalist

Owned by Linda A Mars • Shown by John M. Love Bred by Linda A Mars

HE A ROWDY CAT

LTE: $53,670

(Dear Little Boon Bar, by Boon Bar) Open Hackamore Classic - 9/11th

Owned by Kim Basterrechea • Shown by Clayton M. Edsall Bred by Clyde Wilmott

SE EN S HESA CAT

LTE: $32,661

(Seven S Shady Cat, by CJ Sugar Lena) Youth Working Ranch Horse Champion, Cowhorse for Cutters - 4th & Youth Cow Horse - 6/7th

Owned & Shown by Madeline Horton • Bred by Terry Stuart Forst

BETCHA LIKE THAT

LTE: $20,746

(Girl Like That, by Playgun)

Intermediate Non-Pro Bridle - 7/8th

Owned & Shown by Katy Thomison Bred by Amy Doris Bell Estate

BET SHES WRI HT

LTE: $13,381

(Just Wright Lilly, by Hes Wright On) Non-Pro Futurity - 4/5th

Owned by Debbie Crafton • Shown by Debbie R. Crafton

Bred by Garth and/or Amanda Gardiner

BET HE A LAYBOY

LTE: $6,257

(High Style Cavio, by Docs Stylish Oak)

Limited Open Bridle Co-Reserve Champion

Owned by Elizabeth Poor

Shown by Melvin Helmuth

Bred by Carolyn Reynolds

BET SHES A DELI HT

LTE: $2,361

(Holly Cees Delight, by CD Lights)

Limited Non-Pro Futurity - 5th

Owned & Shown by Kristy McKinney

Bred by Dallas and/or Beverly Talkington

SCR BETTHISTIME

LTE: $42,218

(PRF One Time Candi, by One Time Pepto)

Limited Non-Pro Hackamore Classic - 3/4th & $5,000 Limited Non-Pro - 7/9th

Owned by Sarco Creek Ranch • Shown by Heather Greeson

Bred by Milton and Bridey Greeson

(Miss Lucky Starlight, by Grays Starlight)

Owned & Shown by Alexi Connell

Bred by James L Eakin

(Ms Freckled Star, by Freckles Smokin Doc) Cowhorse For Ropers Reserve Champion Owned & Bred by John O. or Kay L. Coltharp Shown by Lane Ivy

QUAHADI

• NRCHA, from Derby to Bridle Events

• AQHA Versatility Ranch

• AQHA Ranching Heritage

• Tie-Down and Team Roping

Earner of 127 AQHA Points in 6 events: Working Cow Horse, Versatility Ranch Horse, Barrel Racing, Heeling, Heading, and Tie-Down Roping

BAMACAT

(High Brow Cat - MH San Tules Dually, by San Tule Freckles)

Fee: $2,000 + chute fee

DOC SEAS WHISKEY

(Paddys Irish Whiskey - Tos Miss Twelve Four, by Ten O Sea)

Fee: $2,000

METALLIC MASTERPIECE

(Metallic Cat - Kings Masterpiece, by Peppy San Badger) Fee: $1,800

SADDLING AT SUNRISE

(WR This Cats Smart - Sunshine Ingredient, by Mr Sun O Lena)

Fee: TBA

BOON TOO SUEN

(Peptoboonsmal - Meradas Little Sue, by Freckles Merada) Fee: $3,000 + chute fee

GUTHRIE CITY LIMITS

(Sixes Pick - Jim N Nicks Di, by Els Scottish Nick) Fee: $1,000

CD SON OF MAGNOLIA

(CD Olena - Eye of the Magnolia, by Smell The Magnolias)

Fee: $1,000 + chute fee

KREYZY HORSE

(Dual Rey - Shes Twice As Smooth, by Smooth As A Cat)

Fee: $2,000 + chute fee

NATURAL BOTTOM

(Playboys Buck Fever - Natural Ingredient, by Peppy San Badger) Fee: $1,000

THE BOON

(Peptoboonsmal - Boon San Kitty, by High Brow Cat)

Fee: $2,000 + chute fee

ROCKIN W

(Dual Rey - Boon San Kitty, by High Brow Cat) Fee: $1,500 + chute fee

TETON RIDGE PARTNERS WITH NRCHA AS A NEW CORPORATE SPONSOR AND THE TITLE SPONSOR OF THE STALLION STAKES

The National Reined Cow Horse Association is excited to announce new corporate sponsor Teton Ridge. As part of their sponsorship, the second premier event of the 2022 show season is now the Teton Ridge Stallion Stakes. An event for 4- and 5-year-old reined cow horses annually held in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Stallion Stakes Derby is an event where eligibility to enter is restricted to offspring of stallions enrolled in the NRCHA’s Subscribed Stallion Program. As the owner of NRCHA Breeder Sponsor stallion Smooth Talkin Style (sired by Smooth As A Cat), Teton Ridge is positioned to support this ever-growing event that shines a light on the reined cow horse breeding industry.

“Teton Ridge has made a significant impact on the equine industry in a short time,” said Anna Morrison, NRCHA executive director. “This partnership with NRCHA links the momentum behind Teton Ridge with one of the fastest growing, most adrenaline-filled horse sports today.”

Teton Ridge, owned by visionary entrepreneur Thomas Tull, has made its presence felt in the Western equine world of late as the multi-platform brand has stepped into the rodeo and performance horse arenas. The brand’s focus on classic Western sports could

not have found a better home than with NRCHA. With the title sponsorship of the NRCHA’s Stallion Stakes, Teton Ridge invests in the most traditional of all Western performance events, as reined cow horse traces its roots to Vaquero horsemen who originally settled the West.

The Teton Ridge Stallion Stakes will be held at the South Point Hotel & Casino’s Equestrian Center March 25 through April 2, 2022. In addition to supporting the Open Derby event, Teton Ridge’s title sponsorship helps showcase all ages and levels of the NRCHA membership competing in horse show classes. Additionally, 2022 will be the first year that the NRCHA Hall of Fame Banquet will be held during the Stallion Stakes.

“A high energy brand that is focused on highlighting the way of life our members honor and live daily is a natural fit for our association,” Morrison said. “Shared values make for a powerful partnership, and we’re grateful to Thomas Tull and Teton Ridge for putting their support behind NRCHA and the Stallion Stakes.”

With the Teton Ridge title sponsorship of the Stallion Stakes, the NRCHA has a full slate of premier events supported by outstanding brands and companies invested in the growth and sustainability of the NRCHA. Entries at all premier events in 2021 were between 15 and 30 percent higher than previous years, proving that reined cow horse is drawing members interested in having fun horseback while competing in events that require horse and rider to bring plenty of skill, courage, and grit.

Teton Ridge is a multi-platform brand devoted to the iconic American Western way of life and western equine sports. Teton Ridge was created with the singular focus of elevating Classic Western Sports and America’s Western Culture on the world stage, while broadening audiences around the globe as well as at home. Additionally, Teton Ridge operates a philanthropic foundation which provides invaluable funding for land stewardship; fosters community by preserving the cultural heritage of America’s western culture; and ensures the future of ranching and riding sports. For more information about Teton Ridge, please visit tetonridge.com or @tetonridge on Instagram @tetonridgeusa on Facebook. For more on the 2022 Teton Ridge Stallion Stakes visitwww.nrcha.com.

2022 Brazos Valley Super Stallion Incentive

$500 will be allocated to a purse from each breeding from each eligible BVSS Stallion. The purse is for foals competing in either the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity or the NCHA World Championship Futurity!

Sample of Money Distribution based off of 2021 Breeding Season -

NRCHA Open Futurity$80,600 Total Purse!

1st: 23% = $18,538

2nd: 16% = $12,896

3rd: 14% = $11,284

4th: 11% = $8,866

5th: 9% = $7,254

6th: 8% = $6,448

7th: 7% = $5,642

8th: 5% = $4,030

9th: 4% = $3,224

10th: 3% = $2,418

Badboonarising

Once In A Blu Boon x Show Biz Kitty

Bama Jelly

Bamacat x Wood She Be Neat

Dual Rey

Dual Pep x Nurse Rey

Dual Reyish

Hottish x A Little Reylena

Dual Smart Rey

Dual Rey x The Smart Look

Catolena Cashin In

Reyzin The Cash x Dual Catolena

Cool N Hot

Hottish x Donas Cool Cat

Countin Hot Checks

Hottish x Cat Countin Checks

CR Gotcha Covered

Dualin Boon x The Catattac

Hashtags

Metallic Cat x Dual Rey Tag

Hit Tha Flo

Dual Smart Rey x Miss Woody Two Shoes

Metallic Cat

High Brow Cat x Chers Shadow

Metallic Rebel

Metallic Cat x Sweet Abra

Meteles Cat

Metallic Cat x Teles Lies

Rollz Royce

Dual Smart Rey x Show Biz Kitty

Shining CD Light

CD Lights x Jennys Spark

Smooth Talkin Style

Smooth As A Cat x Stylish Play Lena

Spots Hot

Chula Dual x Sweet Shorty Lena

www.brazosvalleystallionstation.com

STOCK HORSE OF TEXAS BECOMES NRCHA ALLIANCE PARTNER

In September, an agreement between the versatile Stock Horse of Texas association and the National Reined Cow Horse Association formed an Alliance partnership to the benefit of both groups’ members.

Supporting the reined cow horse industry through growth in purses as well as growth in all member groups is one of the cornerstones of NRCHA’s mission. To that end, the association and Stock Horse of Texas agreed on an alliance to support each other’s member bases. Stock Horse of Texas (SHTX) caters to versatile competitors with a focus on fundamental cow work. It began as a grassroots organization that now includes affiliate groups in multiple states and members that reach across the country.

Together, NRCHA and SHTX pledged to work together to develop programs to attract enthusiasts to compete in reined cow horse.

“Stock Horse of Texas is excited to partner with NRCHA. There are some members that show in both associations and we are excited to watch the growth in the Western performance industry through this alliance,” said Jill Dunkel, SHTX executive director. “Ranching and cow horse go hand-in-hand, and our membership has a solid footing in both. NRCHA and SHTX complement each other and we can’t wait to see where this partnership goes in the future.”

SHTX and NRCHA will work together in order to allow concurrent class entry at events.Competitor cross-over between associations will be highlighted when SHTX World Champions are invited to the NRCHA Celebration of Champions.

Along with SHTX, NRCHA works with the American Paint Horse Association, American Quarter Horse Association, National Reining Horse Association and National High School Rodeo Association to align class and association rules so that multi-sanctioned events can benefit all memberships.

“Our industry is experiencing remarkable growth across multiple organizations,” said Anna Morrison, NRCHA executive director. “Strong partnerships with other industry organizations benefit our collective membership by giving enthusiasts more opportunities to show and enjoy their horses. We are excited to continue to make it easy for riders from all disciplines to find their way to the cow horse arena and discover and grow their love for our sport.”

As the saying goes, a rising tide raises all ships and so it is in the Western performance horse industry. Strong partnerships and collaboration between associations allow for easier cross-over and overall industry growth. In 2022, look for events to offer the APHA’s Chrome Cash incentive, SHTX co-sanctioned shows and more opportunities to show reined cow horses than ever before!

2022 Brazos Valley Super Stallion Incentive

$500 will be allocated to a purse from each breeding from each eligible BVSS Stallion. The purse is for foals competing in either the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity or the NCHA World Championship Futurity!

Sample of Money Distribution based off of 2021 Breeding Season -

NCHA Open Futurity - $435,240 Total Purse!

1st: 23% = $100,105

2nd: 16% = $69,638

3rd: 14% = $60,934

4th: 11% = $47,876

5th: 9% = $39,172

6th: 8% = $34,819

7th: 7% = $30,467

8th: 5% = $21,762

9th: 4% = $17,410

10th: 3% = $13,057

NCHA Non-Pro Futurity - $181,350 Total Purse!

1st: 23% = $41,711

2nd: 16% = $29,016

3rd: 14% = $25,389

4th: 11% = $19,949

5th: 9% = $16,322

6th: 8% = $14,508

7th: 7% = $12,695

8th: 5% = $9,068

9th: 4% = $7,254

10th: 3% = $5,441

NCHA Amateur Futurity - $108,810 Total Purse!

1st: 23% = $25,026

2nd: 16% = $17,410

3rd: 14% = $15,233

4th: 11% = $11,969

5th: 9% = $9,793

6th: 8% = $8,705

7th: 7% = $7,617

8th: 5% = $5,441

9th: 4% = $4,352

10th: 3% = $3,264

Breeding the Future of Our Industry!

STALLION INCENTIVES SUPPORT NRCHA EVENTS

Two private stallion incentives benefit premier event entries.

Separately, two of the National Reined Cow Horse Association’s sponsor partners announced incentives for stallion offspring competing in reined cow horse events. The Brazos Valley Stallion Station Super Stallion Incentive is set to bolster entries in the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®, presented by Metallic Cat, starting in 2022, and Reyzin The Cash’s connections offer a six-figure incentive for his offspring in the NRCHA Teton Ridge Stallion Stakes, which is set to be held March 25 through April 2, 2022, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Brazos Valley Stallion Station (BVSS), located in Weatherford, Texas, announced the BVSS Super Stallion Incentive in early October. Designed to “support an added purse” to the Open division in the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity beginning in 2022, the incentive is applied to horses sired by stallions managed at BVSS. This includes NRCHA Breeder Sponsor stallions Badboonarising, Dual Smart Rey, Hashtags, Metallic Cat, Metallic Rebel, Rollz Royce and Smooth Talkin Style. Additional stallions are included.

The BVSS Super Stallion Incentive adds to other private stallion incentives for the Futurity, including the San Juan Ranch CD Diamond Incentive and the Hickory Holly Time Incentive from DT Horses. The BVSS program will pay out money at both the Snaffle Bit Futurity and the National Cutting Horse Association Futurity. The payout distribution will be based off the breeding season for the stallions, and specifics can be found at brazosvalleystallionstation.com.

The stakes are raised by the $100,000 incentive offered by Iron Rose Ranch, owners of Reyzin The Cash (Dual Rey x Spookys Cash x Miss N Cash). Offspring of Reyzin The Cash are eligible to compete in the Teton Ridge Stallion Stakes through the sire’s enrollment in the NRCHA’s Subscribed Stallion Program, but are now also eligible for a bonus purse in both the Open and Non Pro divisions.

According to the press release, Open finalists compete for $60,000; Non Pro finalists for $30,000 and $10,000 to Non Pro Limited riders in the top ten. More information on the Reyzin The Cash incentive can be found at reyzinthecash.com.

The Teton Ridge Stallion Stakes features a Derby for 4- and 5-year-old horses in the snaffle bit or the hackamore. Teton Ridge became the title sponsor of the event in early October. In addition, the event has horse show classes and Spectacular classes. For more information, visit NRCHA.com/ nrcha-stakes/.

TRADE SECRETS

Luke Jones employs a set of tools to help nail his markers in reined work.

By Abigail Boatwright

While the cow work and fence work are exciting parts of reined cow horse, your rein work is equally as important. But if you’re not precisely hitting your markers for circles, spins and stops, you’re leaving points on the table—and you could incur penalties. Trainer Luke Jones says missing markers is common, but with intentional practice, you can easily improve this element of your pattern.

SCOPEOUT THE PEN

If you’re riding in a new show pen, Jones suggests taking time to look around the arena before you show to pick out landmarks above the ground. Maybe it’s a sign on the wall or the announcer’s stand.

“It’s much easier to tell yourself ‘I’m just going to run toward the John Justin sign,’ and that also helps keep your shoulders back and keeps you back in the saddle, which is where you should be,” Jones said. “When we look down, that gets our shoulders forward, and it’s harder for the horse to stop. So finding that spot and saying ‘I’m going to try to run up to that announcer stand,’ it helps me quite a bit.”

Jones recommends watching other riders while they warm up, and check again a couple of horses before you are

up in the competition. That way you can get a better idea of where you’d like to point your horse in your pattern, particularly for stops.

“A lot of times you’ll see different spots in the arena where the ground might be just a little bit better or a little bit worse,” Jones said. “That may change a bit, and if you’re late in a drag,

you might want to move over a little bit to some fresher ground.”

KEEP YOUREYES UP

Riders looking down at the ground to navigate the arena can negatively affect their performances, says Jones. This is especially true for stops

“When we do that, we actually start

At the 2021 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®, presented by Metallic Cat, Luke Jones rode to the Open rein work preliminary co-high score, tying with a 223.5 aboard Tuff Tuesday Cat.

slowing down, and we need to be gaining speed at the end of our stops, not slowing down,” Jones said. “We need to use our peripheral vision to know where we are in the arena and to get past our markers. This will help us get a bigger stop, as well as avoid a two-point penalty for not hitting the markers.”

GO LONG

For stops, Jones recommends finding a spot high up in the arena and riding toward that spot, rather than homing in on the ground. And think about running to the fence when you stop, says Jones. Not completely fencing, but don’t let your horse fade out before the end cones.

“It’s easy to let them do the run in short and hit those markers,” Jones said. “So I try to tell everybody to go

long. You’re better off going long anyhow, just to keep your horses going. Not enough to incur a penalty, but long enough that you for sure get past those markers.”

CIRCLE UP

Hitting the center marker for circles is really important, says Jones.

“If you get off center in your circles, and you’re not running them exactly, it’ll be really hard for the judge to plus your circles,” Jones said. “I really try to hit the center marker; I’m always looking for the marker.”

To help nail the center of your circle, Jones says to keep looking forward, about a quarter of a circle ahead of you. And again, avoid looking down.

“If you look down, it’s easy to get lost in the circles, but if you look up where you’re going, you’ll stay on

course,” Jones said. “It’s like driving a car. If you look off to the side of the road at a hazard or something, you’re going to send your car that way. It’s the same way with your horse. If you look straight up ahead, you’re going to run straighter in your stops, and you’ll also be able to hit the center better in your circles.”

If you don’t show all the time, navigating the pattern in relation to your cones can be tricky. That’s why Jones recommends practicing with cones when riding at home.

“Getting your sense of whereabouts in the arena and knowing where those markers are is important,” Jones said. “I think there’s some nerves involved when you’re showing—I think we get focused on what we need to do, like an upcoming stop, and it’s easy to forget where you are in the arena.”

ANOTHER VIEW

There was a lot going on at the National Reined Cow Horse Association 2021 Snaffle Bit Futurity®, presented by Metallic Cat, both in and out of the arena.

Artist Bobbie Walton created a pastel of Metallic Cat, which the NRCHA presented to Debbie Roberts in appreciation for her work with the association.

The Awards Happy Hour, hosted by Royal Wealth Partners, lets groups such as Lance Johnston’s barn celebrate big like on the day they swept the Open Hackamore Classic.

The best seat in the house for herd work is behind the bucking chutes.

No matter the score from the judges, the youngest reined cow horse enthusiasts always rewarded the run with high-fives!

Cutter McLaughlin and CD Dee Vee Dee started the Open Finals in style by carrying Old Glory in the Coliseum.

Katy Keenie Merrill sang the National Anthem, and NRCHA professional Ben Baldus gave the invocation that started our Open Finals.

The Metallic Cat Snaffle Bit Futurity After Party had exhibitors dancing the night away to Bubba Bellin and his band.

Justin Wright and Zak 34 made a triumphant victory lap that wrapped up Finals night in the arena.

BEHIND THE BUCKLE

A buckle from more than 15 years ago brings a chuckle to NRHA Million Dollar Rider Russell Dilday.

Compiled by Katie Frank

Photos by Kate Bradley Byars

National Reined Cow Horse professional Russell Dilday has paid his dues—literally and figuratively. The three-time World’s Greatest Horseman champion has his hands full juggling his training operation, cattle, family and a podcast, “Cowhorse Full Contact,” which he hosts with fellow trainer Chris Dawson. Still, amid all his notable reined cow horse wins, he recalls a specific buckle with admiration.

Back in 2005, Dilday threw for the win in the steer stopping at the Glennville Round-Up Rodeo in Glennville, California. He was riding Miss Plain Plain (Just Plain Kernel x Miss Master Blaster x Master Remedy).

“I’d beat Kyle Lockett and Tanner Watt to win that buckle,” Dilday said. “The only reason I’d beat Kyle was because he missed, but I told him for the rest of our lives I would tell everyone I beat him not that he beat himself.”

As for future goals, the horseman has his sights set on another World’s Greatest Horsman title and would like to make the finals again at the Snaffle Bit Futurity®, presented by Metallic Cat. Even with multiple major titles to his name, Dilday stays humble with a great sense of humor.

“When you start in this business, you have to fight for any horse and business you can get,” he said. “Well, now I’m trying to figure out how I knew so much about everything when I was young, because now I can’t remember!”

KNOW THE PRO

Born and raised in the West, Jason Patrick and his family are pursuing new adventures in the East. And they’re doing it all from the backs of reined cow horses.

Interview by Allison Armstrong Rehnborg

Ranching is a way of life for Jason Patrick, but it’s not all he’s ever known. Born into a Colorado ranching family, Patrick learned to ride horses, work cattle and develop the cowboy skills he’d carry with him for the rest of his life. Then, just as he was graduating from high school, everything changed.

“The cattle market in the ’80s smoked a lot of people, and we were some of them,” Patrick reflected. “[My family] lost the ranch, and I really didn’t know what to do or how to regroup. So I became a police officer at age 19.”

For the next eight years, Patrick worked in law enforcement—first in Hobbs, New Mexico, and then in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Along the way, he met his future wife, Brandy, who’d grown up riding and showing Western pleasure horses. As with Patrick, Brandy had also pursued a career in law enforcement. The couple met on the job, but their mutal love of horses brought them together.

“About six years into my career in law enforcement, I started training mounted patrol horses,” Patrick said. “Then I got back into training horses on the side and decided it was time to go back to ranching. After that, I just kept trying to learn and find out more about being a horse trainer.”

That’s when he encountered reined cow horses and discovered just how much he had to learn about his new profession. In 2008, Patrick showed at the National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity® in Reno, Nevada.

“I showed two horses and never marked above a 190,” Patrick recalled. “I was horrible. And people knew I was horrible and were still nice to me!

I decided I liked those people. Those were also the best horses I’d ever seen.

I couldn’t believe how athletic and willing those horses were. I felt like I’d found the coolest thing ever.”

Patrick began riding with reined cow horse trainers located in and around Colorado, including Lavert Avent, Dave Dillman, Matt Koch, E.J. Laubscher, Jack McComber, Darren Miller and Terry Wegner. He soaked up everything he could and trained horses as he went along. Eventually, the Patricks began working out of Whispering Willows Ranch in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. In addition to training horses, the couple built a successful horse breeding program around the stallion This One Time (One Time Pepto x Katie Starlight x Grays Starlight), with the owners of Whispering Willows Ranch. They

From left to right: Jayden, Jason, Brandy and Jasper Patrick.

also raised their two sons—Jasper and Jayden—there. It didn’t take long for the younger Patricks to follow in their parents’ footsteps.

“They’ve been addicted to horses since day one,” Patrick said. “Honestly, I’m most proud of my wife and kids and the success they’ve had in the show pen. Being able to pass on what I’ve learned to my sons is probably the biggest success I’ve had in the industry. I’m most proud of watching how good they are at what they do.”

In November of 2020, the Patrick family pulled up their Colorado roots and moved to Reading, Pennsylvania, to pursue a new adventure in ranching and training at Sheerlund Farm.

“We call it a ‘franch,’ because it’s always been a farm, but we’re working with the owners now to turn it into a working ranch,” Patrick said. “I’m teaching a whole new group of kids here and it’s really fun. Earlier this year, we had four people show in their first reined cow horse event and then, last month, they won their first checks. It’s a lot of fun. I love watching new people find this sport. I’m excited about the opportunities here.”

The Patricks plan to spend the next few years building Sheerlund Ranch, but they also want to spend time with their sons.

“We’re enjoying seeing a new environment, meeting new people here and building this program, but we also want to spend time doing other stuff with our boys, too,” Patrick said. “We raised them in the show pen at cow horse shows, and they’d just as soon keep doing that. But we want to do some other things with them. I bet when they’re adults, we’ll all meet back in the show pen again. That’ll be fun.”

AQWhat is the most rewarding part of training horses?

I like seeing progress. I like when the horse licks its lips and drops its head and you go, “Oh, wow. He understood what I was saying there.” I like that feeling when you and the horse have a conversation, and the horse understood what you said and did something really cool with little pressure from you.

What do you enjoy about teaching and coaching others?

I enjoy the excitement! In the beginning, everything is something you’ve never felt before, and it’s so stunning and awe-inspiring. That’s what it was like when I started riding for the first time, too. I love seeing someone laugh, giggle, whoop or holler uncontrollably about something they just felt on a horse for the first time, and they didn’t know it was possible. I think that’s awesome.

How do you keep your passion and stay fresh without getting burned out? I keep changing things. We are always tweaking and learning and trying to do something new. Maybe someone showed you a new little thing, or maybe you saw something in a video, or maybe you saw something that somebody did in the warm-up pen at the show, and you can’t wait to go home and see if it works. I like to keep continuing to learn and progress and find new things. Part of what keeps me going is knowing that I certainly haven’t got it all figured out. Some of the most successful trainers out there are always talking about learning new things and progressing. I think always trying to get better is what keeps you going.

What does it mean to you to be able to compete in reined cow horse events?

I’ve been so lucky. When I look at all the places that horses have taken me and the experiences I’ve had, it’s just incredible. It’s an amazing thing to realize where horses have taken my family and me. We’ve just been blessed.

What makes you smile every day?

I wake up smiling. I look forward to what new adventure is going to be out there because every day is different.

with NRCHA Pro Jason Patrick

NOTABLE NON PRO

Polly Bremel rarely buys her cow horses. Instead, she breeds what she rides, one generation at a time.

By Abigail Boatwright

Watching her homebred cow horses compete at the 2021 National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity®, Paula “Polly” Bremel of Kingsburg, California, was as proud as can be. Slowly breeding one generation and then another, Polly has elevated the quality of horses she owns, rides and sells. Although she’s taken the long way to get there, that suits her just fine.

Polly’s parents weren’t involved with horses, but she and her sister, Laura Norman, were crazy about horses since they were children. They rode bareback everywhere and competed in every class at the local horse shows and playdays.

While attending high school at a boarding school in Arizona, she was introduced to cow horse legends such as Al Dunning and Shorty Freeman, and experienced working horses on ranches in the area.

“I developed a really big interest in cow horse then, and I bought my first horse that was really reined cow horsebred,” Polly said. “It was a Vandy II

mare, and she was bred to Bueno Chex. I raised her baby. That was my first colt that I started.”

When Polly went to college at University of California, Davis, she worked for Jim and Wendy Vaughan, who had stock horses and trained youth riders. Polly went with them to watch

the 1978 Snaffle Bit Futurity®, and that was a catalyst for her getting into cow horse.

“I’ve been hooked ever since,” Polly said. “But my first one I competed in wasn’t until 1999. So, it took me 20 years from wanting to do it, to actually doing it.

“I love the people,” Polly said. “I love how open all the trainers are with everyone. They’re so helpful. The Non Pros are supportive of each other. The horses are amazing—there’s no better horses anywhere. They’re phenomenal creatures. We’re so blessed.”

BREEDING TORIDE

After college, Polly worked as a CPA, and, on the side, became successful in marketing and sales. She married her husband, Dave, and they had two daughters, Alana and Amarie.

Lacking the funds to buy a trained horse, Polly worked her way up, learning from each horse she rode on a determined trajectory that taught her how to improve her horsemanship. As Polly bred more horses, she improved her program.

Polly’s homebred gelding, Shiney Little Rock, earned two Open Division Futurity titles in 2021.

“Each year that I bred [horses], my goal was to have that year’s baby be nicer than the year before,” she said. “And then, whenever I got a mare that was good, I would keep that mare and move up with her. I didn’t have very many mares, I just bred to good [stallions], raised the babies, started the babies and showed them.”

Before 1999, Polly only raised and sold the foals she bred. She has started her share of colts the past 20 years but gets the greatest satisfaction from building her horses from the ground up. She usually keeps two mares, but she hasn’t had a show-caliber horse every year. She sells one of the two horses she breeds every year to hopefully pay the bills for the other one. When she does have a good one, she has lots of horse folks to lean on for help.

“It was a lot of fun, and it’s always been my dream,” Polly said. “My goal was for each year, to have my horses be a higher quality than the year before. I have always bred to make a horse that I wanted to ride, because I couldn’t afford to buy one. So, I would just breed the ones that I wanted.”

Around 2001, Polly had a coming 3-year-old out of Chex Out This Remedy. Since NRCHA Million Dollar Rider Jon Roeser had Chex Out This Remedy, Polly got up the nerve to call him and ask for help.

“I’ve ridden with him about 17 years—until he moved to Idaho,” Polly said. “He’s amazing. He has helped me a ton.”

OVERCOMING TRAGEDY

In 2003, Polly had her best Futurity prospect to date, the 2000 bay mare Uno Smart Starlight (Smart Little Pepinic x Shotgun Lizzy x Badger Starlight). Polly took her to the Santa Ynez, California, pre-futurity, and they won the Amateur

division. But while they were at the show, Polly’s 12-year-old daughter, Alana, felt sick and was subsequently diagnosed with leukemia.

“I freaked out—it was 20 years getting to this horse, and she needed to go to the [Snaffle Bit Futurity® in a couple of weeks],” Polly said. “She’s finally the one that can go and win the show.”

“My goal was for each year, to have my horses be a higher quality than the year before. I have always bred to make a horse that I wanted to ride, because I couldn’t afford to buy one.”

—Paula “Polly” Bremel

Polly determined the best thing to do was sell the mare to an interested buyer, thinking someone else would be able to take her to the show.

“When a prospective buyer called and wanted to come see the mare, my daughter had taken a turn for the worse, and I just felt like I couldn’t sell

her, it had been too long getting there,” Polly said.

One of Roeser’s former assistant trainers, Erik Martin, agreed to take Uno Smart Starlight to the Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity® and show her at that year’s event. With just 28 days in the saddle with the mare, he was a halfpoint out of making the Finals. Polly was so pleased her horse had achieved so much.

Sadly, however, Alana passed away during the Reno show. Laura said Polly’s faith, her husband and her friends in the cow horse world helped her through that difficult time.

“It was the cow horse community that really rallied around her and supported her,” Laura said.

Not feeling ready to ride herself after losing her daughter, Polly decided to let Martin continue to show the mare, and she went on to win more than $6,000 at the Idaho Reined Cow Horse Association Futurity—the first of Polly’s horses to win any kind of money.

Polly showed the mare at the Triple Crown that year, a big Non Pro show in Paso Robles, California, followed by all

Left: Amarie and Polly at Amarie’s track meet. Right: Polly’s husband, Dave, and Amarie.

PLAYIN MOTOWN LTE: $71,727

(Mr Playinstylish - Mo Flo, Mr Peponita Flo)

NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity

Youth Cow Horse Champion

Owned and Shown by Catelyn Walker

Bred by Kit & Charlie Moncrief/Lee Tennison

MR COMIN IN HOT LTE: $64,188

(Mr Playinstylish - Lil Sally Cat, by High Brow Cat)

AQHA World Champion Senior Working Cow Horse

NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity AQHA Ranching Heritage Open Working Ranch Horse 5/6-Year-Old - 4th & Open Bridle - 6th

Owned and Bred by Kit & Charlie Moncrief

Shown by Luke Jones pictured left by ©Shane Rux Photography &

INDELIBLE STYLE LTE: $12,857

(Mr Playinstylish - Lil Sally Cat, by High Brow Cat)

NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity

Intermediate Non-Pro Futurity & Novice Non-Pro Futurity - 4th ,

NRCHA Non-Pro Futurity - 9th

Owned and Shown by William E. Lewis

Bred by Kit & Charlie Moncrief pictured right by ©Primo Morales Photography

(Mr Playinstylish - Playboys Vixen, by Hickoryote)

NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity

Novice Non-Pro Futurity - 8th

Owned and Shown by Isabelle L. Gonzalez Bred by Lee L. Tennison

the major shows her 4- and 5-year-old years, taking reserve or third just about every time they went out. At Reno in 2004, Polly showed her in the Non Pro Hackamore class and took the top spot.

“That was my first big win, and it was really special, especially with that horse, who got me through it with my daughter passing,” Polly said.

Ultimately, Uno Smart Starlight won more than $45,000 before Polly started breeding her at 6 years old. She produced 14 foals, only one of which was a filly. That filly, sired by That CD Rocks (CD Lights x Shiney Tari x Shining Spark), is the 2013 sorrel mare Rockstar Lights. Not only was she Polly’s first bridle horse, but she became special for other reasons.

Rockstar Lights was born the year Polly’s youngest daughter, Amarie, went away to college on the East Coast. Polly started the mare herself and did most of her own training. But when she moved into competing in the bridle, she realized she needed more help, especially since Roeser had moved away.

“Recently, when it was too hard to go to Idaho to get help from Jon, I’ve ridden a lot with Cara Hencratt. I’ve been to Jo Anne Carollo. I went to Jake Gorrell, I went to Tracer Gilson, so many people have helped me and been so generous,” Polly said. “So, finally, I got the steering, and in Reno last month I showed in her in the Non Pro Bridle and I won the class.”

Laura became interested in cow horse because of Polly, and today she’s an NRCHA show secretary. She says she’s proud of her sister’s tenacity in breeding.

“She has these generations of horses that are showing that she’s bred and trained herself—I think it’s really awesome she’s stuck with it and had that vision, always wanting to improve,”

Laura said. “And if she has a problem, then she finds the best person she can to help her, while still doing it herself for the most part.”

LOOKING FORWARD

Proud of the horses she’s produced, Polly is carefully planning the next generations of her breeding program. While she says her horse showing days are nearly behind her, Polly is excited to see others compete on the horses she’s bred. Her best friend’s daughter, Cara Hencratt, has been showing two Pollyraised horses in the Open and had an exceptional 2021 show year.

“My goal now is to have enough money to breed to a name-brand horse and see what happens,” Polly said.

The horse Polly brought to the 2021 Snaffle Bit Futurity is Shiney Little Rock (That CD Rocks x Uno Smart Starlight x Smart Little Pepinic). The 2018 chestnut gelding, trained and ridden by Hencratt, placed first in the Limited Open and the Level 1 Limited Open, and was sixth in the Intermediate Open, taking home two saddles and a total of $42,937.50. Adding in the $2,400 the two won at the Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity just

before heading to Fort Worth, the gelding has earnings of $45,337.50. The first offspring to exceed the dam’s earnings in Bremel’s program.

“It’s so awesome,” Polly said of Shiney Little Rock’s performance at the Snaffle Bit Futurity. “Cara has done a fabulous job of training [Shiney Little Rock]. She’s a natural showman and is really smart and aware of her horses. I’m so proud of her and feel that she’s like a second daughter to me.”

Polly also has a 2-year-old in training for Open competition that she’s also excited about. She says the sense of accomplishment she gets from doing well on her own horses, and breeding horses that others do well on, are equal.

“Those really go together,” Polly said. “Because if you breed them but never compete, you don’t really know what you have, and they’re so fun to be around. They’re such a joy to me every day. But while I love showing, and I love competing, it’s really, really fun to watch someone go out and show a horse that I raised. I’m as much of a proud parent of those horses as I am happy and fulfilled when I do it myself.”

Above: Uno Smart Starlight drives Polly’s program. Right: Polly Bremel showing Rock Star Lights.

COURTESY OF POLLY BREMEL

MEET CLINT MARSHALL

Clint Marshall had to bide his time before getting into reined cow horse, but several successful horses later, the wait proved worth it.

By Kristin Pitzer

The proverb “good things come to those who wait” is certainly true for Clint Marshall of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He had dreamed of owning cow horses since he was young, but life took him on a different path for a while. However, he never forgot his goal.

Eventually, Marshall became acquainted with a trainer he believed was “the real deal,” bought his first horse and put it in training. He has lived his dream ever since, owning several successful reined cow horses that have pushed his ownership earnings to more than $270,000, according to the National Reined Cow Horse Association.

Looking back, Marshall and his trainer, NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Open Champion Nick Dowers, joked that it all started about eight years ago with a “vague, but intriguing” Facebook message.

WAITING FOR HIS MOMENT

For nearly 40 years, Marshall’s dream of owning cow horses had to wait. During that time, he helped his wife, Kim, raise their children— Clayton, 24; Thea, 22; and Chelsea, 17—while managing his pharmaceutical company, Unicep. He also kept an eye on the cow horse pen, studying dif-

ferent equine bloodlines and the people involved in the industry.

Eventually, Marshall had the money and time to invest in the sport. He followed cow horse closely, so he knew Dowers was who he wanted to contact

about finding his first horse. He had seen Dowers start colts for clients in northern Nevada and was a big fan of his horsemanship.

“I wanted a trainer who wasn’t just a show pen guy; I wanted someone who was kind of the real deal,” said Marshall. “It was just very intriguing to me that a ranch guy, a colt starting guy, was kind of making waves in the show pen, so I thought, this might be my guy. Then, once I got to know him, it was a slam dunk. Don’t tell him I said this, but he’s a great human being.”

Marshall sent Dowers a Facebook message—possibly the only social media message he’s ever sent—asking Dowers to call him about training some horses for him. Dowers, who said he usually receives “essays” from people wanting him to work with their horses, knew Marshall was serious because his message was so simple.

“It was just vague enough that it was super intriguing,” Dowers said, with a laugh. “I called him back, and he said, ‘I’d like to get into this, but I don’t know much about it. I’m just a farm kid from Idaho that has a business now, and I’ve always really liked [reined cow horse], but I’m going to rely on you to be the professional,

NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Open Champion Nick Downers (left) and Clint Marshall collaborate on finding winning cow horses.

and I’m going to be the owner that supports.’ ”

A few months later, Dowers found Marshall’s first reined cow horse. The trend has continued every year since, with Dowers and Marshall collaborating to find the next year’s prospect.

“He’s involved in it but ultimately lets me choose the horse I want to purchase, and I think that works really well. We’ve had a very high success rate that way because I know what fits me at this point, and he relies on my knowledge there and trusts it,” Dowers said. “Our track record has been really strong that way.”

BUYING THERIGHT HORSES

Three different geldings have made up the majority of Marshall’s ownership earnings. The first two, High Stressin Cat and Santiago Time, were both purchased in 2016. High Stressin Cat (WR This Cats Smart x Playguns Melody x Playgun) won Marshall’s first big paycheck when he carried Dowers to the 2018 NRCHA Hackamore Classic Open Championship. He also won the CD Survivor Memorial Open Bridle Spectacular Championship at the 2020 NRCHA Derby.

Santiago Time (One Time Pepto x Reymanising x Dual Rey), conversely, was a lesson in patience, as he was a bit of a late bloomer. After a couple of years, though, he picked up the Derby Open title at the 2018 Idaho Reined Cow Horse Association Futurity and the Open Two Rein Spectacular Championship at the 2020 NRCHA Stallion Stakes.

“One of the lessons there was I learned a lot about sticking with it,” Marshall said. “These young horses, you can’t always tell what’s in them right off the bat. Some of them develop

This year, Dowers showed Smart Shiney Playboy, owned by Marshall, in the Hackamore Classic, presented by Oswood Stallion Station.

In 2020, Marshall’s bay gelding, High Stressin Cat, carried Dowers to the CD Survivor Memorial Open Bridle Spectacular Championship.

In 2017, Marshall purchased Smart Shiney Playboy (WR This Cats Smart x Sinful Playgirl x Freckles Playboy), the youngest of his top three. The then-yearling didn’t immediately appear to be a top contender, but he quickly proved himself, winning the 2019 Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Championship.

“He was one that, based on a lot of counsel and mentoring with other peoples’ input, I really liked the way he moved but wasn’t sure if he was the one,” Marshall said. “We got him for a pretty good deal. He was the diamond in the rough that it seemed like nobody paid any attention to, but he has been outstanding. He’s my ‘little engine that could’ kind of horse.”

In 2019, Marshall broke his streak of buying only colts and purchased his first filly, Cats Nu Shine (WR This Cats Smart x Shiney Nu Annie x Shining Spark). Marshall liked her movement, flash and eye appeal, along with the fact that she had several sisters that had done well in the show pen. He was excited to see what she could do at the

2021 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®

Marshall admitted he can’t keep every horse he’s purchased, but he still owns and competes on all of the aforementioned horses. He was proud that the ones he has sold were still sound and able for ranch work, the show pen or for kids to ride.

“I’m very much an advocate for showing these horses through the bridle,” Marshall said. “I think a lot of people over time, and that’s just an incredible thing to watch.”

get really fixated on the 3-year-olds, which is cool and it’s a tremendous amount of fun. That’s where all the whiz-bang money is, but there’s something pretty spectacular about showing aged horses.”

With all of the success he’s had in a short time, Marshall has remained humble, Dowers noted. He is one of his most generous and thoughtful owners when it comes to giving back to those that have helped in his success.

“I’ve never had an owner as devoted to the program as much as he is,” Dowers said. “Obviously, he wants to see his horses win, but he’s probably just as happy to see another horse in the program win, whether it’s his or not. I think that speaks volumes just to have somebody behind me like that.”

NRCHYA

STALLION AUCTION

FACES OF THE NRCHA

Jeremy Olson is the man behind Equine Promotion and the NRCHA’s official videographer.

Debuting as official videographer of the National Reined Cow Horse Association at the 2014 Celebration of Champions in Fort Worth, Texas, Equine Promotion’s proprietor Jeremy Olsen has been a staple at premier events ever since.

“We do the video production delivery at all major NRCHA events,” said Olsen, of Whitesboro, Texas. “We started the first or second year the World’s Greatest Horseman was here in Fort Worth, and we’ve been at it ever since.”

Olsen, who founded the full-service video production company in 2005, coordinates the NRCHA premier event webcasting that allows owners and reined cow horse enthusiasts from all over the world to enjoy high-quality video content at the shows, from the run replays offered on a video screen in the warm-up area, to the free, live webcasting, thrilling moments that come with NRCHA competition and much of the footage fans enjoy on highlight reels. Equine Promotion proudly offers its easily searchable high-definition database at the shows to ensure ease of ordering for their customers who wish to purchase videos as well.

Olsen says the most personally impactful moment for him during his time with NRCHA was being presented with the prestigious Directors Award several years ago at the Snaffle Bit Futurity®.

“The Director’s Award was a great honor that I was fortunate to receive in 2018,” he said. “I also can’t go without saying that I’m fortunate to have a good crew that’s been with me for a long time.”

With prior experience as the official videographer for the National Reining Horse Association and covering major National Cutting Horse Association events, and his personal experience as a team roping competitor, Olsen’s wealth of experience in the equine industry stems from an appreciation of the horses and the exhibitors who show them.

Olsen has two sons and a daughter and says that when he’s not busy working he can likely be found at a team roping, “just about anywhere that they have one.”

Interview by Bonnie Wheatley

Reined Cow Horse News: Tell readers about your personal background?

Olsen: I grew up on a ranch in South Dakota. I came to Texas and worked for Carol Rose for six months in 1997, then went back to South Dakota for a while. In 2000, I moved back to Texas and went to work for Pete Kyle. I spent five years there working for Pete. That’s when I got hooked on the show side. I took the job initially in order to become a better roper, and then I just never roped anymore for a while. Now, I rope a lot. The draw to this industry for me was all about the horses and training. When I worked for Pete, he had sale horses and that was in the days of VHS—of rewinding and fast forwarding to splice the tapes—and he hired me to edit his sale videos, and that’s where it started.

RCHN: What is the most challenging and/or rewarding aspect of your job at NRCHA events?

Olsen: I don’t feel like there’s been any real awkward challenges because everyone’s been so easy to work with when we have ideas. Everyone shares a passion for the horses and the people we interact with at the shows.

I’m pretty proud of the video delivery concept we came up with where everyone gets a complementary video of their run. Exhibitors get something more for their video fee because we provide a link to their video from the show via email at no additional expense because of the partnership we’re able to do with a sponsor. That, and I like to think that a big part of our job is judge-centric, which is something that a lot of people don’t think about. The judge piece involves the way that we archive the videos in such a way that we can build the judges their pre-show material and their educational material.

RCHN: What do you enjoy the most about your role with the NRCHA?

Olsen: It’s the people, from the staff to the exhibitors. I really enjoy the folks we interact with at NRCHA events.

nCha Futurity 2-Year-old Sale

nCha

2-Year-

Yearlings, Broodmares & Breeding Stallions

HEWEIGHT OF THE RIDE T

More than only Justin Wright rode on Zak 34’s back, as the stallion earned incredible scores on his way to the Open Champion win.

By Kate Bradley Byars

by Primo Morales

The 2021 National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity® Finals on Saturday, October 23, at the Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas, might go down as the loudest and the most intense in many years. A clear front-runner didn’t emerge until the last set of cow work. When Darren Moore called out an incredible judge’s score of 226 for Zak 34 and NRCHA Million Dollar Rider Justin Wright’s fence run, it was clear who would add an Open Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion to his résumé.

“I’ve had dreams of this for as long as I can remember. It’s consumed my life to win the Snaffle Bit Futurity,” said Wright of Santa Maria, California. “It’s emotional, but it’s everything I’ve ever dreamed of.”

Wright has been close to winning the championship before, taking the Open Reserve Champion title in 2018 aboard Scooter Kat. This year he had three Open Futurity Finalists in the field of 30 horses. The cream of that crop was “Zak.”

At the 2020 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Sales®, Wright saw a 2-year-old named, at that time, R Tuff Diggin Louie (Woody Be Tuff x Cats Dig Lucinda x High Brow Cat), bred by Center Ranch, go through the sale pen and something made him speak to the buyer, Melissa “Missy” Fischer of Wagner, South Dakota.

“I didn’t recognize her, and I asked if she had a trainer. One thing lead to another and he came home with us,” Wright said.

What drove Fischer to attend the sale was a need to be in an environment that felt “second nature,” she says. In reality, the mother had just lost her son, Seth.

2021 NRCHA OPEN SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY®

PRESENTED BY METALLIC CAT TOP 10

Fort Worth, TX – October 7-23, 2021 Horse/Rider/Pedigree/Owner/Score/Money

1. Zak 34; Justin Wright; 18S (Woody Be Tuff x Cat Digs Lucinda x High Brow Cat); Melissa Fischer; 670 (H:221/R:223/C:226); $125,000.

2. Jule Smart Rey; Dustin Mills; 18G (Dual Smart Rey x Soula Jule Forever x Soula Jule Star); Shawna Miller; 666.5 (H:222/R:219/C:225.5); $100,000.

3. SJR Royal Diamond; Justin Wright; 18S (One Time Royalty x Shiners Diamond Girl x Shining Spark); San Juan Ranch; 664 (H:219/R:220.5/C:224.5); $75,000.

4. Juliette Jonez; Sarah Dawson; 18M (Travelin Jonez x Shine Smarter x WR This Cats Smart); Linda Mars; 663 (H:216.5/R:223.5/C:223); $50,000.

5. Chittchatt; Chris Dawson; 18G (Smooth Talkin Style x Bet On Nurse x Bet On Me 498); Russ Mothershead; 661.5 (H:216/R:218.5/C:227); $40,000.

6. Metallic Casanova; Clay Volmer; 18S (Metallic Cat x Dark And Sultry x Spots Hot); Sandra Kuntz; 660.5 (H:218.5/R:222.5/C:219.5); $35,000.

7. Boons Sticky Spot; Todd Crawford; 18M (Once In A Blu Boon x Sticky Spot x Spots Hot); Matacorp LTD; 655 (H:215/R:218/C:222); $30,000.

8. Metallic Little Lena; B.J. Avila; 18G (Metallic Cat x TF SmartLittleLinda x Smart Little Lena); Lorri Hollister; 654.5 (H:211.5/R:221/C:222); $25,000.

9. Major Adams; Shane Steffen; 18G (Hickory Holly Time x Dueling Chic Olena x Smart Chic Olena); McSpyder Ranch; 654 (H:218.5/R:220/C:215.5); $23,000.

10. Metallic Daisy Dukes; Todd Bergen; 18M (Metallic Cat x Scooters Daisy Dukes x Dual Smart Rey); Bit Of Heaven Ranch; 653 (H:214.5/ R:221.5/C:217); $21,000.

Photos

Aboard Zak 34, Justin Wright captured his first Futurity Champion title, but the run carried so much more than just one rider’s hopes.

“We were overwhelmed with grief and decided to take a breather,” Fischer recalled. “We just wanted to go. We looked at the catalog, but we didn’t even have ‘Zak’ on the radar. The one we looked at we did get [Time ToGet Wreckless], but before he came into the ring, I saw Zak in the back ring and fell in love with him. There was something about him.

“He was my first time to go after a stallion,” she continued. “The bids kept going higher. My dad looked at me and said, ‘That’s enough Missy.’ I said, ‘No, he has to come home.’ I put in another bid and we got him. It was meant to be.”

The Fischer family lost Seth, nicknamed Zak after one of his school teachers had a hard time pronouncing “S” names, and it shook them to the core. A farming fam-

ily from eastern South Dakota that had raised Paint Horses and Quarter Horses for decades, the horses helped anchor them.

“I had lost my faith in God after they took [Seth] from me,” Fischer said. “But it was like [Seth] was there when I was bidding. I knew Seth, God, they all had a role in that day. I knew this was Seth’s horse. He loved [football player] Walter Payton, so 34 was his number. He raced late models on the dirt track. He was an adrenaline junkie. He always pushed things to the limit, like Zak 34.”

From that moment, Wright says that the journey to bring Zak to the Futurity had a different feeling than his past attempts. When Wright brought Fischer’s first entry to the Snaffle Bit Futurity® in Fort Worth, he said it just felt like something was going to happen.

“It was a perfect storm,” Wright said as he reflected on the Finals. He and Zak rode to a 670 (H:221/R:223/C:226) on their way to the title and $125,000. With support from title sponsor Metallic Cat and the Owner’s Incentive Fund, the total purse that Open riders were riding for in 2021 was $726,000.

“Coming out draw 29, it is a lot of time to contemplate fence runs,” Fischer said. “We had a good feeling until we saw the 226. We didn’t have any expectations but

Qualifying a horse to the Snaffle Bit Futurity Finals guaranteed Clayton Edsall, of Oakdale, California, the $5,000 he needed to cross the NRCHA Million Dollar Rider mark, and he was notified in-arena following his cow work.

As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a kid and so it goes when a trainer reaches the pinnacle of Futurity wins. Justin Wright and Zak 34 are in there among a sea of friends, family and well-wishers.

knew that Justin was positive. He was leading going into the fence, then there were these big scores.

“My son always said when he died, he wanted to come back as a cat because cats have nine lives. [Our friends up top] sent down a picture of a cat that was up [by their seats] a couple runs before he went in. That cat gave us hope. Zak comes out and the song ‘Bad to the Bone’ is playing. We all had tears in our eyes. Seth had a heart of gold, but he was bad to the bone. We had a feeling that he was in Zak and riding with Justin. We all smiled, through our tears, we were smiling.”

With Seth’s memory tied to the horse, the emotion of accomplishing his lifelong goal, and the exhaustion of completing the marathon that is the Futurity, Wright was overwhelmed after the win. However, he was quick to share the credit.

“I’ve got the best team at home. There are guys that aren’t there [training with me anymore], Russell [Probert] and Nick [Howard] that have gone on to do their own programs, but they’ve all contributed so hard,” he said. “Jared’s [Jones] is there now, Lilla Bell and the Lloyds. We have a great team and I couldn’t do without them. My family is awesome. My mom came out; three kids and Gloria are here, and you know, they’ve made everything so easy. My crew and my family have done twice as much work as I have to get here.”

Wright follows his brother, 1985 Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion Greg Wright, into the NRCHA history books with the win. There were a lot of family ties coming together in one final cow work. While goals were achieved and titles earned, Fischer says that her greatest joy is people will remember Seth through Zak 34.

“Zak 34 gave us all something to cling to the past year. I think without hope, it would have been so easy for all of us to

give up and quit after Seth drowned,” she said. “Everybody is going to look at Zak and remember Seth. Seth’s two kids [Layton, 9, and Rainey, 5] will know the story of Zak and how their dad helped us find him. They will know that I believe their dad’s spirit lives within this magical horse. We are happy Zak won but overjoyed Seth’s memory will live on.”

INTERMEDIATEOPEN

Dustin Mills made the Open Finals on two of his hopefuls this year, an incredible feat for a young trainer. Aboard Jule Smart Rey (Dual Smart Rey x Soula Jule Forever x Soula Jule Star), Mills piloted to a 666.5 (H:222/R:219/C:225.5), a score that held the high composite until Justin Wright and Zak 34. When the final cow exited, Mills still stood atop the CINCH Intermediate Open and was the Reserve Open Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion.

“People told me there is nothing like being in the Open Finals and they were right. It’s pretty cool. It’s overwhelming,” said Mills. “To have two back here in my first Open Finals, it’s pretty special.”

If the Futurity had a theme in 2021, it was that the champions were not out there alone. Similarly, to Wright riding for Zak 34, Mills felt he was also carrying on a legacy.

“The guy who owned [Jule Smart Rey], Mike LaGrande, passed away. Phillip Ralls had him early in his 2-year-old year, then we bought him and we wanted to carry on his legacy,” Mills said.

However, it was not clear that the horse would make it to the show. Mills says it took a while for the 2018 gelding bred by Garth and Amanda Gardiner to understand his job.

“When he was a 2-year-old, I didn’t know if he was going to make it, to be

Dustin Mills rode Jule Smart Rey earned $100,000 for Open Reserve and an additional $40,000 for the CINCH Intermediate Open Champion win.

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2020 NRCHA Derby Two Rein Spectacular Champion

2019 NRCHA Open Derby Champion

2019 NRCHA Open Hackamore Classic Champion

2018 NRCHA Open Derby Res. Champion

2018 NRCHA Int. Open Derby Champion

2017 NSHA RCH Int. Open Futurity Champion

2017 NRCHA Futurity 2YO Open Sale Incentive Champion

2018 NRCHA Celebration of Champions Open Derby, 3rd

2017 NSHA RCH Open Futurity, 4th

2018 NRCHA Int. Open Stakes, 3rd

2018 NRCHA Open Stakes, 10th

TRAINED & SHOWN BY CLAYTON EDSALL

honest,” he said. “As soon as he understood the job, he turned into a monster [athlete]. I had to back him off a lot. It is pure talent. As soon as we broke the ice, got to the talent, he came on and he came on hard. It was cool to go through it all to get here.”

Though he rode cutting horses with his father, trainer Mark Mills, all his life, Mills only zeroed in on reined cow horse in 2014 when he started working for Todd Crawford. Today, the soon-to-bedad with wife, Hope, can add a few more titles to his list.

Owner Shawna Miller earned $100,000 for the Open Reserve Champion title and another $40,000 for the CINCH Intermediate Open win.

LIMITED OPEN & LEVEL 1 LIMITED OPEN For Cara Hencratt, it’s been a year of firsts. Today, she can say she rode her first National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity® entry to a Champion

title. Piloting Shiney Little Rock (That CD Rocks x Uno Smart Starlight x Smart Little Pepinic) for owner/breeder Paula “Polly” Bremel, Hencratt topped the Level 1 Limited Open standings by six points.

“It’s pretty cool and I didn’t think things would go this well,” Hencratt said. “You take it one event at a time and it’s pretty cool to end up on top.”

Hencratt has had success riding Bremel’s homebred horses, but this one will stick with her for awhile. The California trainer was all smiles following the awards ceremony, matching the delight seen on Bremel’s face.

“It’s so exciting and fun for me to watch my babies get shown by other people and have success,” Bremel said. “I raise my [horses] and don’t buy them. I raised his mother and showed her to $40,000 before I started breeding her. My hope with every single baby is to be a nicer baby than the year before. He’s the

PRELIMINARY HIGH SCORES

12th I’ve raised out of that mare.”

With a composite 650 (H:216 /R: 215.5 /C:218.5) Hencratt and the 2018 gelding earned $16,000. The pair was back for the Intermediate Open and Limited Open Snaffle Bit Futurity Finals on October 22. They were only one-point away from the Open Finals bubble.

“This gelding is really strong in the reining and a really great fence horse. We wanted to make a solid run out of the herd and he did,” Hencratt said. “We missed the Open Finals by one point, so that was pretty exciting to sit in the top 30 until the last go, which was pretty cool for my first Futurity! It’s so fun.”

Level 1 Limited Open Reserve Champion was Cody Hanson riding 2018 mare Shiners Voodoo Doll (Shiners Voodoo Dr x CD CR Slide x CD Lights), bred and owned by Elie Willoughby, to a 644 composite and earned $12,000.

In the Limited Open, Abigayle Mixon rode Reyzin A Princess (Reyzin The Cash x Pink Catty x Catty Hawk), a 2018 mare bred by Cowan Ranch LLC and owned by Andrea Luce, to Reserve Champion and earned $14,000.

For complete results on the 2021 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity, presented by Metallic Cat, visit www.nrcha.com/ snaffle-bit-futurity/.

Ridden by Cara Hencratt and bred and owned by Paula “Polly” Bremel, Shiney Little Rock (That CD Rocks x Uno Smart Starlight x Smart Little Pepinic) scored a 652 (H:217/R:219/C:216) to

INTERMEDIATE OPEN RESERVE CHAMPION

For reserve in the CINCH Intermediate Open, Russell Probert piloted Dan and Suzy Probert’s Getting Arround (Metallic Rebel x Dressin Up x Peptoboonsmal), bred by Beechfork Ranch. Probert rode to a 656.5 (H:217.5/R:219.5/C:219.5) to earn $20,000.

LEVEL 1 LIMITED OPEN RESERVE CHAMPION

Level 1 Limited Open Reserve Champion was Cody Hanson riding 2018 mare Shiners Voodoo Doll (Shiners Voodoo Dr x CD CR Slide x CD Lights), bred and owned by Elie Willoughby, to a 644 composite and earned $12,000.

LIMITED OPEN RESERVE CHAMPION

Abigayle Mixon and Reyzin A Princess (Reyzin The Cash x Pink Catty x Catty Hawk), bred by Cowan Ranch, rode to a 647 (H:212/R:216/C:219) to take the Limited Open second spot. Owner Andrea Luce earned $14,000.

LADIES FUTURITY CHAMPION

For the high composite score of 654.5 from the Snaffle Bit Futurity prelims, Juliette Jonez (Travelin Jonez x Shine Smarter x WR This Cats Smart), ridden by Sarah Dawson and bred/ owned by Linda Mars, received the Ladies Futurity Champion title. Twenty-five female exhibitors were eligible for the Ladies award at this year’s event that is based off of high preliminary score.

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.

RANCHING HERITAGE BRED—OPEN

The high-scoring horses bred by American Quarter Horse Association Ranching Heritage Breeders are recognized during the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity. The Open Ranching Heritage high scorer was Cats Nu Shine, a 2018 stallion bred by the Wagonhound Land & Livestock and ridden by Nick Dowers to a 659 for owner Clinton Marshall.

ADEQUAN OPEN GELDING INCENTIVE, CHROME CASH — OPEN

At Chittchatt (Smooth Talkin Style x Bet On Nurse x Bet On Me 498), a 2018 gelding bred by Double Dove Ranch and owned by Russ Mothershead, was ridden to a 654.5 by Chris Dawson to earn the Adequan Open Gelding and Chrome Cash incentives.

The Open Gelding Incentive received support from Adequan, an American Regent company. Adequan pledged $7,500 in added money, raising this year’s purse to $24,420. This Gelding-only incentive kicked off in 2020. The gelding must be registered with its breed association as a gelding in order to qualify.

The American Paint Horse Association Chrome Cash Incentive pays to exhibitors with Paint registered horses. The incentive paid $1,500 and was sponsored by McSpyder Ranch.

WESTERN BLOODSTOCK SALE INCENTIVE — OPEN

Cats Nu Shine (WR This Cats Smart x Shiney Nu Annie x Shining Spark), bred by Wagonhound Land & Livestock, ridden by Nick Dowers for owner Clinton Marshall took home the $27,874 check for the highest composite preliminary score from a horse sold at the NRCHA Western Bloodstock Snaffle Bit Sales®

2021 NRCHA NON PRO SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY® TOP TEN

Fort Worth, Texas, October 7-29 Horse/Rider/Pedigree/Owner/Score/Money

1. TRR Dual Smart Olena; Abbie Phillips; 18S (Dual Smart Rey x TRR Ms Pepcid Olena x Pepcid); Abbie Phillips; 647.5 (H:213.5/R:218/C:216); $25,000

2. Boon Boon Ur Dead; Parke Greeson; 18G (Once In A Blu Boon x Boons Coffee x Boon Too Suen; Sacro Creek Ranch; 644.5 (H:213/R:215.5/C:216); $20,000

3. Lil Purple Rein; Trail Townsend; 18G (Once In A Blu Boon x Lil Red Firecat x High Brow Cat); Tripp or Hope Townsend; 644 (H:215/R:217/C:212); $15,463.08

4-5. Bet Shes Wright; Debbie Crafton; 18M (Bet Hesa Cat x Just Wright Lilly x Hes Wright On); Debbie Crafton; 643 (H:211/R:213.5/C:218.5); $11,275.17

4-5. SJR Sumkindarockstar; Debbie Crafton; 18S (Smooth As A Cat x Sumkinda Pinkcadilac x Peptoboonsmal); Debbie Crafton; 643 (H:211/R:218/C:214); $11,275.17

6-8. Meredith Gray; Eric Freitas; 18M (Dual Smart Rey x Cattahoochie x High Brow Cat); Eric Freitas; 642.5 (H:214/ R:215/C:213.5); $6,442.95

6-8. Boon Doxx; Stefanie Wagley; 18G (Sannman x Docs Stylish Liz x Docs Stylish Oak); 642.5 (H:213/R: 217/C:212.5); $6442.95

6-8. Rok N Roll; Pam Myers; 18G (Sannman x Peek Of Faith x Peeka Pep); 642.5 (H:215/R:216.5/C:211); $6,442.95

9. Indelible Style; William Lewis; 18M (Mr Playinstylish x Lil Sally Cat x High Brow Cat); 642 (H:210/R:211.5/C:220.5); $3,865.77

10. CP Metallic Dual; Kathy Wilson; 18G (Metallic Cat x KD Sweet Corn x Dual Pep); Kathy 636 (H:208/R:214/C:214); $3,865.77

AIL TO THE CHIEF H

Abbie Phillips and TRR Dual Smart Olena focused on consistency on their way to the Non Pro Champion title.

By Abigail Boatwright

Photos by Primo Morales

Abbie Phillips took command of the 2021 National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity® Non Pro after putting in three solid performances in the Finals with TRR Dual Smart Olena. The Weatherford, Texas, resident and her 2018 sorrel stallion (Dual Smart Rey x TRR Ms Pepcid Olena x Pepcid) were rewarded handsomely for their winning performance, taking home $25,000 of the $130,046.97 total purse in the Non Pro division.

Phillips has been with “Chief,” who was bred by Tongue River Ranch in Paducah, Texas, since the beginning of his 2-year-old year. He’s a full brother to Duals Lucky Charm, the horse her husband, NRCHA Million Dollar Rider Kelby Phillips, won the 2016 Snaffle Bit Futurity and the World’s Greatest Horseman riding. The Phillipses carefully brought along the stallion prior to the Futurity, and Abbie says her strategy walking into the competition was aiming for consistency.

“In the cutting, we drew last,” Abbie said. “I had great herd help: Corey Cushing, Phillip Ralls, Brandon Buttars and my husband. They all picked phenomenal cows for me and I didn’t lose any—so that was good! We were consistent there. The reining, he was really good today. I feel like I could have gotten him stopped a little bit better, but he turned around really fast and we had good circles as well. Cow work was a lot of fun; he was just on it! He always is. He’s a great fence horse. It was just a fun ride.”

The pair’s 213.5 in the herd work, 218 in the rein work and a 216 in the cow work placed them high enough to be crowned champions with their 647.5 composite score.

Abbie Phillips guided TRR Dual Smart Olena to the top of the Non Pro Futurity, winning the championship and $25,000 cash.

“This was a goal that I’ve had for a long time, and it’s really special to do it on that horse,” she said.

In addition to the overall Non Pro win, Phillips also rode the high-scoring horse bred by an American Quarter Horse Association Ranching Heritage Breeder. TRR Dual Smart Olena’s preliminary 651.5 earned the Non Pro Ranching Heritage Award.

Parke Greeson and Sarco Creek Ranch’s Boon Boon Ur Dead placed second in the Non Pro Futurity (H:213/R:215.5/C:216) for a composite score of 644.5. Greeson, of Goliad, Texas, and the 2018 chestnut gelding (Once In A Blue Boon x Boons Coffee x Boon Too Suen), bred by Thad and Theresa Cox, pocketed $20,000.

AMATEUR, INTERMEDIATE NON PRO, NOVICE NON PRO,

Trail Townsend skyrocketed to the top of the class to handily collect the Amateur Futurity title aboard Lil Purple Rein. The 19-year-old high school senior from Earth, Texas, and the 2018 red roan gelding (Once In A Blu Boon x Lil Red Firecat x High Brow Cat), scored a composite of 649.5—13.5 points ahead of the Reserve Champion. Of the $27,859 awarded to the Amateur class, Townsend and “LP,” bred by Bettina Jary-Mathis, took home $6,962.50.

“It feels awesome—this is the first time

I’ve ever done well at the Futurity,” Townsend said. “It’s been a goal of mine for a long time, so it feels great.”

Going into the show, Townsend aimed for middle of the pack with LP, a gelding owned by his parents, Hope and Tripp Townsend. In winning the Amateur class, he also qualified for the Non Pro Finals that were held later on in the week.

“I just wanted to stay calm, it’s got to be clean,” Townsend said. “I didn’t have to be anything huge—I didn’t have to set the world on fire to make the Finals.

Our plan was just kind of go in and be smooth, yet aggressive at the same time.”

That strategy worked for the duo, with a 214.5 winning the herd work, a 217.5 tying for first in the rein work and a 217.5 to win the cow work.

“The cutting was good—I usually struggle with the cutting, so I was kind of nervous going into that one,” Townsend said. “I am really confident in the reining—I could have ran him a little bit harder, but now I know what to do for the Finals. And the cow work was perfect. I mean, there’s always room for improvement, but I can’t complain about anything.”

Townsend then went on to give an excellent Non Pro Finals performance, capturing not only the Intermediate Non Pro title, but also the Novice Non Pro Championship.

“I always get nervous with the cutting, and then when I showed him in the cutting in the Finals, it went great and I was really pumped for that,” Townsend said. “In the reining, I went for it pretty hard, and just had a few things that weren’t

Abbie Phillips was all smiles after winning the Non Pro Futurity Champion title.

Trail Townsend and 2018 red roan gelding Lil Purple Rein went home with the Intermediate Non Pro, Novice Non Pro and Amateur Futurity Champion titles, as well as more than $22,425.

quite as smooth as they were supposed to be. We still came out with a great score and I’m happy with that.”

With a herd work score of 215, a rein work score of 217 and a 212 in the cow work, Townsend and LP were given a composite score of 644. They received $15,463.08—pushing their prize money to more than $22,425.

“I’m really happy with how tonight worked out,” Townsend said. “There are a few things I wished could have gone just a little bit better, but I’m happy with it. I couldn’t ask for anything else.”

Townsend thanked his family for their support and his trainer, Jordan Williams, for training LP and coaching him.

Garrell Reilly Williams and Bet Shesa Playmate finished Reserve Champions in the Amateur Futurity with a composite score of 636 (H:214/R:214.5/C:207.5), earning $5,570. The 2018 sorrel mare (Bet Hesa Cat x Very Smart Playmate x Very Smart Remedy) was bred by Yellow Creek Ranch and is owned by Preston Williams.

Stefani Wagley, of Abilene, Texas, and Boon Doxx tied for the Reserve Intermediate Non Pro and Reserve Novice Non Pro Champions thanks to a composite score of 642.5. (H:213/

R:217/C:212.5). The 2018 red roan gelding (Sannman x Docs Stylish Liz x Docs Stylish Oak) was bred by Jeff Schieber. Wagley won $6,442.95.

Pam Myers of Parma, Idaho, and her 2018 sorrel gelding, Rok N Roll (Sannman x Peek Of Faith x Peeka Pep), bred by Dee Gragg, tied for the Reserve Intermediate Non Pro and Reserve Intermediate Novice Non Pro with a composite score of 642.5 (H:215/R:216.5/C:211). They earned $6,442.95.

NON PRO LIMITED

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, native Kelsey Delaplaine Fulmer competed at the Snaffle Bit Futurity for the first time in 2020, but her real triumph came her second trip to the show, in 2021. This time, aboard 2018 sorrel mare Lookalittlesister (Stevie Rey Von x Smart Playing Chic x Smart Chic Olena), the now-Cleburne, Texas, resident with a distinctive turquoise-hued ponytail was ecstatic to achieve her goal. The pair was crowned the Non Pro Limited Champions.

“It hasn’t even completely sunk in yet,” Fulmer said. “I knew that my horse could do it. It’s been a really good year. I’ve only been showing in the cow horse for two years now—I’ve been riding ever

since I was little, and I’ve always been super competitive. But I’ve never really got that big win. I feel like cow horse is where I’m meant to be, and it’s so cool to show a horse that’s as special as her.”

“Sister” was bred by Liz Armenta and trained by Danielle Lybbert. With Fulmer at the reins, the horse scored a 208 in the herd work, and in the reined work—their best event—they scored a 215.

“Going into the cow work, I knew I was leading it, but I was nervous because earlier this week I showed my bridle horse, and I lost my cow—I was pretty down in the dumps about that,” Fulmer said. “I was really worried that was going to happen again, so I was a little conservative at first. But when I really felt Sister take a hold of the cow, I knew I was all right, and I started being a little more aggressive.”

After a stellar boxing performance in the cow work, Fulmer and Sister scored a 215.5 for a composite score of 638.5 (H:208/R:215/C:215.5). Their efforts earned $6,675 of the $22,250 purse.

Fulmer has a multifaceted day job as an outside sales rep, graphic designer, photographer and owner of an equine therapy business. She gave a shoutout to her husband, Brett, her trainers the Lybberts, reining trainer Trey Pool, her parents and dear friends.

“I just thank God for allowing me to do this sport surrounded by so many awesome people,” Fulmer said. “I don’t want to say the stars are aligning, because we both put the work in and my horse is super talented. This win means a lot to me. It’s really a dream come true.”

Reserve Champion Lori FramptonCrafton rode One Smart N Timely, a 2018 red roan mare (One Time Pepto x Ima Smart Response x Smart Little Lena) owned by Debbie Crafton and bred by Sprig Haven Farms. Their composite score of 637 (H:208/R:209.5/C:219.5) earned them $5,340.

Kelsey Delaplaine Fulmer and LookAtLittleSister earned the Non Pro Limited Futurity title and $6,675 after receiving a composite score of 638.5.

THE DRIVE TO BECOME A CHAMPION ...

IT STARTS WITHIN.

This 2020 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Champion recognizes the power of nutrition. She’s been a Platinum client since 2013.

Results don’t happen overnight. It takes passion, dedication, hard work and the right nutrition to reach your goals. For 25 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

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The nutrition supporting Sarah’s team includes:

SARAH DAWSON

NON PRO RESERVE CHAMPION

Parke Greeson and 2018 chestnut gelding Boon Boon Ur Dead were the Reserve Champions in the Non Pro Futurity with a composite score of 644.5, worth $20,000.

INTERMEDIATE NON PRO, NOVICE NON PRO RESERVE CHAMPION (TIE); GELDING INCENTIVE—NON PRO

Pam Myers and 2018 sorrel gelding Rok N Roll tied for the Reserve Intermediate Non Pro and Reserve Novice Non Pro title after scoring a 642.5, taking home $6,442.95. Earning $2,728, Rok N Roll was also the high-scoring prelim gelding in the Non Pro division, claiming the Non Pro Gelding Incentive.

INTERMEDIATE NON PRO, NOVICE NON PRO RESERVE CHAMPION (TIE)

Riding 2018 red roan gelding Boon Doxx, Stefanie Wagley was the Reserve Intermediate Non Pro and Reserve Novice Non Pro Champion with a composite score of 642.5, winning $6,442.95.

AMATEUR FUTURITY RESERVE CHAMPION

Garrell Reilly Williams and 2018 sorrel mare Bet Shesa Playmate were the reserve champions in the Amateur Futurity with a composite score of 636, earning $5,570.

Smooth Dera Max” has been a stellar show horse. Now going into his Bridle Career, PulseVet Shock Wave Therapy has helped give him that extra edge to be competitive at the National levels. He always gives 100% in every run and by utilizing PulseVet shock wave therapy in our program,I am confident he feels 100% too! I recommend it for all of my athletic patients and use it on my own show horses.

Kat DeHaan, DVM

– Owner of Equistride Veterinary Services, LLC

Caldwell, ID

NON PRO LIMITED RESERVE CHAMPION

Lori Frampton-Crafton and One Smart N Timely won Non Pro Limited Reserve Champion title with a composite score of 637 and $5,340.

CHROME

CASH — NON PRO LIMITED

Smooth Smoke N Cat (Real Smooth Cat x Smoke N Jet Surprise x Doc N Smoke ), a 2018 mare owned and bred by Glenn and Sandy Kaplan and shown by Sandy Kaplan earned the high score of 588 in the American Paint Horse Association Chrome Cash Incentive prelim. The incentive paid $350 in the Non Pro Limited and was sponsored by McSpyder Ranch.

CHROME CASH — NON PRO

The American Paint Horse Association Chrome Cash Incentive goes to exhibitors with registered Paint Horses. Sponsored by McSpyder Ranch, the incentive paid $900 to winner OverthelegallimitRAB (One Time Royalty x Billie Travis x Continental Fly), a 2018 gelding bred and owned by Rob A. Brown, and shown to a 643 by Myles Brown.

RANCHING HERITAGE BRED — NON PRO LIMITED

In the Non Pro Limited Ranching Heritage high scoring horse was Smart Cutting, a 2018 mare bred by Ted or Deborah Zieman and ridden by Lane Birkenfeld to a 621 for owner Keith Birkenfeld.

WESTERN BLOODSTOCK SALE INCENTIVE

—

NON PRO

Hickory Smoked Ham (Hickory Holly Time x Smokum Chicy x Smart Chic Olena), owned by Brittany Factor and bred by the Dom Conicelli Estate, was the high-scoring preliminary horse eligible for the Western Bloodstock Sale Incentive, for horses that went through the NRCHA Western Bloodstock Futurity Sales®. The incentive paid $11,946.

Title & Event Sponsors

6666 Ranch Metallic Cat

Adequan Oswood Stallion Station

CINCH Scooter Kat

Holy Cow Performance Horses

Saddle Sponsor

Ellen & Larry Bell

Dustin Mills Performance Horses

Toddy & Pam Crawford in Memory of Mike LaGrande

Renee DuBois Trey & Sandra Neal

Fulton Quien Sabe Ranch Rent A Stall Mat

Jamieson Performance Horses Stephen Silva

Kaiser Creek Ranch SJ Ranch

Matthews Cutting Horses Tres Osos Performance Horses

Linda McMahon /McSpyder Ranch

Two Bit Performance Horses / Diane Edwards & Jess Garvi

Gold Sponsor

2020 Consulting LLC Melaina Middleton

The Animal Russ Motherhead

Amy & Paul Bailey Boyd & Halee Rice

Bimeda /Clark Weaver Silveira Produce Sales

Camille Courtney Texas Landmark Realtors

The Creator’s Apprentice / Mike & Kelly Warner –Carla Griffke The Final Cut Ranch

Pamela Heitz

Silver Sponsor

Todd Bergen Performance Horses Jim Gauthier / Bill & Carla McElligott

Corey Cushing Performance Horses

Bronze Sponsor

BOXO Quarter Horses

HORSE SHOW HEADLINES

During the 2021 National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity®, presented by Metallic Cat, held in October 7-23 in Fort Worth, Texas, a full slate of horse show class championships was awarded.

It was record entries at the 2021 DT Horses Western Derby, including a full course of horse show classes that included more added money than previously awarded in the Non Pro Limited class. Judges for horse show classes were, depending on the class, Mr. Smokey Pritchett of Temecula, California; Sandy Collier of Santa Maria, California; Bobby Ingersoll of Reno, Nevada; Andy Adams of Red Bluff, California; Doug Ingersoll from Lincoln, California, or the pair of Frank Craighead of Weatherford, Texas, and Terry Thompson of Aubrey, Texas, as well as National Reined Cow Horse Association Director of Judges Bill Enk from Paso Robles, California. Full horse show results are online at www.nrcha.com/cowhorseplus/.

OPEN BRIDLE RESERVE CHAMPION, INTERMEDIATE OPEN BRIDLE CHAMPION

Boyd Rice piloted Quahadi (Bet Hesa Cat x Ginnin Attraction x Tanquery Gin), a 2013 stallion bred and owned by the Burnett Ranches LLC, to a 442 to top the Open Bridle Finals. The win earned $11,224.

INTERMEDIATE OPEN BRIDLE RESEREVE CHAMPION (TIE)

SJR Reygun (Dual Rey x Plaguns King Badger x Playgun), a 2012 mare bred by San Juan Ranch, and Brady Weaver rode to the reserve spot with a 437 composite. Owner Gary Ewell earned $8,784.

Wyatt Fisher rode 2011 mare Prize Winning Gal (Smokums Prize x Ill Be A Winning Gal x Ill Be Smart), owned by Jayson and Teresa Fisher and bred by Justin Wright, to tie for reserve and earn $1,260.

OPEN BRIDLE CHAMPION

Photos by Primo Morales

INTERMEDIATE OPEN BRIDLE RESEREVE CHAMPION (TIE)

LIMITED OPEN BRIDLE CHAMPION

Brother Jackson (Peptoboonsmal x Shes Icing Onthe Cat x High Brow Cat), bred by Kenneth Jackson and owned by Daniel Perez, and Ken Wold tied for the reserve and earned $1,260.

Taylor Peters piloted 2014 mare Hot Shiney Lights (CS Lights x Shiners Hot Flash x Shining Spark), bred by Nicole Miller and owned by Scott Wagner, to the win with a 286.5 and earned $2,025.

Cole Bennet rode Heather Leeper’s 2015 stallion Streakin Irish Relic (Paddys Irish Wiskey x Guns Fancy Fling x A Streak Of Fling), bred by Leeper, to tie for reserve with a 285.5 and earn $1,417.50. LIMITED OPEN BRIDLE RESERVE CHAMPION (TIE) LIMITED OPEN BRIDLE RESERVE CHAMPION (TIE)

Tying for reserve, Melvin Helmuth rode 2015 gelding Bet Heza Playboy (Bet Hesa Cat x High Style Cavio x Docs Stylish Oak), bred by Carolyn Reynolds and owned by Elizabeth Poor, to earn $1,417.50.

OPEN TWO REIN RESERVE CHAMPION

Scooter Kat (Kit Kat Sugar x Scooters Daisy Dukes x Dual Smart Rey), a 2015 stallion bred by Taylor Carbo and owned by Eric Freitas, and pilot Justin Wright took the win with a 296 and earned $5,376.

Cayley Wilson rode WR Hotshot (WR This Cats Smart x Sunspot Flo x Mr Peponita Flo), a 2014 gelding bred by Matthews Cutting Horses, to reserve with a 293 composite. Wilson owns the horse and earned $4,224.

OPEN TWO REIN CHAMPION

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OPEN HACKAMORE CHAMPION

Lance Johnston rode

Kenneth and Karen Haugland’s 2017 stallion Lil Starlight Cat (High Brow Cat x Lil Foxie Starlight x Grays Starlight), bred by Glenn and Debbie Drake, to a 442 to earn the win and $12,407.

Goin Down For Real (Metallic Cat x Quejanapep x Dual Pep), a 2016 stallion bred by Sunrise Ranch LLC, and Corey Cushing rode to reserve with a 439 and earned owner Tallian Thompson $9,795.

NON PRO BRIDLE CHAMPION OPEN HACKAMORE RESERVE CHAMPION

NON PRO BRIDLE RESERVE CHAMPION, SELECT NON PRO BRIDLE CHAMPION

NON PRO TWO REIN CHAMPION

Myles Brown piloted One Time Legend (One Time Pepto x HR Playin Legend x Little Lenas Legend), a 2015 gelding bred by Cowan Select Horses LLC and owned by Larry Hall Cutting Horses LLC, to the win with a composite 291, earning $5,150.

Jecca Ostrander rode 2014 stallion Opus Cat Olena (WR This Cats Smart x Opus Chic x Smart Chic Olena), bred by Wagonhound Land & Livestock LLC and owned by the Ostrander’s Box O Quarter Horses, to reserve with a 289.5 and earned $4,120. For the Select Non Pro Bridle, the pair scored a 289.5 to earn $660.

Katherine DeHaan, DVM, rode Smooth Dera Max (Smooth As A Cat x Dera Dually x Dual Pep), a 2015 gelding bred by Dana or Harry DeHaan, to the win with a composite of 287 and earned $2,100.

Sirly Shine (Very Smart Remedy x Shirely Shine x Shining Spark) and Melissa Garbrick rode to reserve with a composite score of 286.5 to earn she and co-owner husband, Chris, $1,750. The 2015 gelding was bred by Anne Reynolds.

NON PRO TWO REIN RESERVE CHAMPION

NON PRO HACKAMORE CHAMPION

NON PRO HACKAMORE RESERVE CHAMPION

Debbie Crafton rode Hesa Wee Bet (Bet Hesa Cat x Wee Quejana Gal x Quejanaisalena), a 2017 gelding bred by Molly Mae Mirassou, to the class win with a 438, earning $2,850.

Also riding the reserve winner, Debbie Crafton took home an additional $2,280 for a composite 436.5 on Dualin ALittle Time (One Time Pepto x ARC Little Dualena x Dual Pep), a 2016 stallion bred by Arcese Quarter Horses USA.

INTERMEDIATE NON PRO BRIDLE CHAMPION

INTERMEDIATE NON PRO BRIDLE RESERVE CHAMPION (TIE)

Garrell Reilly Williams rode her 2012 mare Sparks On The Fence (Smart Boons x Spark Chic Olena x Smart Chic Olena), bred by CDR Farms LLC, to the win with a 288.5 and earning $2,380.

INTERMEDIATE NON PRO BRIDLE RESERVE CHAMPION (TIE), NOVICE NON PRO BRIDLE CHAMPION

Tying with a 288, Morgan Miller rode Tag Almighty (Stylish Rey x Cookie Q Lena x Quannah O Lena), a 2013 stallion bred by Double S Quarter Horses and owned by Mike Miller, to reserve and earn $1,657.50.

NOVICE NON PRO BRIDLE RESERVE CHAMPION

Tying for reserve in the Intermediate and taking the win in the Novice Non Pro, Trail Townsend rode TRR Lucky Playgun (Pepcid x TRR Ms Lucky Gun x Playgun), a 2009 gelding bred by Tongue River Ranch and owned by his dad, Tripp, to earn $1,657.50 in the Intermediate and another $1,686 in the Novice.

Cee These Guns (Colonels Smoking Gun x Dun It In The Bay x Starlights Wrangler), a 2013 mare bred by Oldenburg Farm LLC, and owner Mike Lundy rode to a 286.5 to earn $1,348.80.

SELECT NON PRO BRIDLE RESERVE CHAMPION

YOUTH COW HORSE CHAMPION

YOUTH COW HORSE RESERVE CHAMPION

Paul Wilinski rode his 2013 gelding Smooth Santanna (Smooth As A Cat x Smart Mariah x Smart Little Lena), bred by Daniel Perez, to a 287 and earned $550.

Playin Motown (Mr Playinstylish x Mo Flo x Mr Peponita Flo), a 2013 gelding bred by Kit and Charlie Moncrief and Lee Tennison, carried owner Catelyn Walker to a 289 composite. They won the class and earned to earn $1,540.

YOUTH COW HORSE 13 & UNDER 1ST PLACE

YOUTH COW HORSE 13 & UNDER 2ND PLACE

Grace Gardiner rode 2012 gelding You May Be Wright (Hes Wright On x Sue C Shiner x Shining Spark), bred and owned by her parents Garth and Amanda Gardiner, to a 287 composite to earn $1,210.

Riding her 2014 gelding Cat Walks Into A Bar (WR This Cats Smart x Sue C Shiner x Shining Spark), bred by Garth and Amanda Gardiner, Landri Lisac rode to first with a 278.5.

Chet Gorrell rode Smooth N Cash (Smooth As A Cat x Dox Gavacash x Miss N Cash), owned by Roloff Ranch and bred by Robert Lambert, to second with a 269 score.

Kim Dalton piloted her 2012 gelding Ima Heart Response (Heart Of A Fox x SPD Remedys Response x Smart Peppy Doc), bred by Clear Lake Land & Cattle Ranch, to a 290.5 to earn $4,850 in the Non Pro Limited and another $476 in the Select Non Pro Limited. NON PRO LIMITED CHAMPION, SELECT NON PRO LIMITED CHAMPION

MC Reyn Or Shine (Shiners Nickle x Tootsie Rey x Dual Rey) and Greg Lewis rode to reserve with a 289.5. The 2015 gelding was bred by Michelle Cannon and is owned by Hartwood Farms. NON PRO LIMITED RESERVE CHAMPION SELECT NON PRO LIMITED RESERVE

Daniel Perez rode his 2015 mare Jule Of A Time (Hickory Holly Time x Soula Jule Forever x Soula Jule Star), bred by Garth and Amanda Gardiner, to reserve and earned $374.

$5K NON PRO LIMITED RESERVE CHAMPION (TIE), BEGINNING FENCE WORK 2ND PLACE

Niamh Sexton rode 2016 stallion Ima Metallic Shine (Metallic Cat x Isabellena x Quejanaisalena), bred by Garth and Amanda Gardiner, to a 289.5 composite score to earn the win and $851.

Traci Witte rode her 2015 gelding Ima Prizcee Hickory (Cee Mr Hickory x Nu Prize x Smokums Prize), bred by Trystin Johnston, to the reserve tie with a 287, earning $610.50.

$1K NON PRO LIMITED CHAMPION

Tying in reserve for the $5K, Lexi Kastanis and Truckin Chics Rule (NMSU Truckin Chex x A Nic O Chic x Smart Chic Olena), bred by Rogers Heaven Sent Ranch LLC and coowned by Laure Woods, rode to a 287 to earn $610.50. For second place in Beginning Fence Work, with a 284.5, she earned another $764.40.

Angie Kilpatrick rode her 2003 mare Peppys Hickory Jane (Peppys Lil Wil x Hickorys Jane x Docs Hickory), bred by Western States Ranches, to a 287.5 score to earn $490 in the class.

$5K NON PRO LIMITED RESERVE CHAMPION (TIE)

$5K NON PRO LIMITED CHAMPION

$1K NON PRO LIMITED RESERVE CHAMPION

BEGINNING FENCE WORK 1ST PLACE

YOUTH LIMITED CHAMPION

Talen Barry rode 2006 gelding Smart Rem N Be (Very Smart Remedy x Be Bob To Reno x Bob Acre Doc), owned by Jared Barry and bred by Stan and Lynne Warren, to earn $392.

Hot Shiney Lights (CD Lights x Shiners Hot Flash x Shiney Spark) and owner Scott Wagner earned the win with a 286 to pocket $955.50. The 2014 mare was bred by Nicole Miller.

YOUTH LIMITED 13 & UNDER 1ST PLACE

Lainey Grewing rode her 2016 gelding Metallic Blaze (Metallic Cat x Blazen Tornado x Smart Mate), bred by Dan Churchill, to the win with a 290.5, earning $1,100.

Will Lewis rode Spookin Jay (Smart Spook x Ultra Jay x Master Jay), a 2011 gelding owned by his dad, William Lewis, and bred by Rosanne Sternberg, to the second place spot to earn $880.

YOUTH LIMITED 13 & UNDER 2ND PLACE

Margaret Nance and 2017 mare Queens Nu Holly (Hickory Holly Time x Nu Cash Queen x Nu Cash), bred by Gregg Lafitte and owned by her mom, Jessie Lee Nance, to the win with a 285.5 score.

Riley Friesen rode 2017 gelding Hal Jordan Star (Halreycious x Rubys Little Star x Smart Little Lena), bred by Peter De Leeuw and owned by Amanda Friesen, to second place with a 281.5.

YOUTH LIMITED RESERVE CHAMPION

N THE UP AND UP O

Western Bloodstock Snaffle Bit Futurity Sales® hit record prices, again.

Despite being late October, temperatures weren’t the only thing rising at Will Rogers Equestrian Center during the National Reined Cow Horse Association’s Western Bloodstock LTD. Snaffle Bit Futurity Sales®. Two days of sales saw a 30 percent increase in price from last year.

Topping off an already successful sale, the night culminated with the high-selling 2-year-old from the 2020 sale, Zak 34, winning the coveted Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Championship with Justin Wright.

The Snaffle Bit Futurity Sales consisted of the Performance Horse Sale and Select 2-Year-Old Sale, as well as Session I of the Select Yearling and Broodmare Sale on Friday. There was a 33 percent increase over 2020 with 93 percent completed sales for an average of $23,279.

Desires Cricket, bred to Reyzin The

By Katie Frank

Cash, sold for $105,000 to Cindy Perez of Weatherford, Texas. Alan Chappell consigned the 2015 mare, by Dual Rey and out of Playguns Desire by Playgun. She is a full sister to 2010 National Cutting Horse Association Super Stakes Open Champion Reys Desire, who has lifetime earnings of $409,603.

All seven horses in the Snaffle Bit Futurity Sales Performance Horse Session sold for an average of $28,714. The highselling horse was Metallic Look (Metallic Cat x Smart Lookin High Brow x High Brow Hickory), a 2013 gelding who sold to James and Deborah Lohrman of San Juan Capistrano, California, for $55,000. Session II of the Select Yearling and

Broodmare Sale was held Saturday and, according to Western Bloodstock LTD, saw a 28 percent increase over last year with an average of $26,262.

American Dollars lead Session II, selling for $80,000 to Cooper Smith of Whitesboro, Texas. Pro Fit Equine, as Agent for Steve and Alicia Billman, consigned the Reyzin The Cash-bred stallion, who is out of Trizana, by Taris Catalyst, an NRCHA money earner and producer of nine money earners. Tarizana’s dam, Sparkles Rosezana by Zan Parr Bar, won the 1985 National Reining Horse Association Open Futurity.

For the complete catalog and sale results, visit westernbloodstock.net.

Desires Cricket, bred to Reyzin The Cash, was the high selling broodmare.

Hip 2076, American Dollars, was the high-selling yearling.

Top placing CD Diamond -OR- SJR Diamond Mist foals in 2021 thru 2025 NRCHA Ft. Worth Futurity Finals receive $25,000 Open | $10,000 Non-Pro *Limited

ACK TO RANCHING ROOTS B

The Ranching Heritage Challenge is an exciting reminder of the origin of cow horse, and the 2021 rendition saw more than $17,000 in added money.

Building a loop and making a catch in the storied Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas, is intimidating, but more than 50 riders were up to the task in the American Quarter Horse Association Ranching Heritage Challenge on October 16.

Sponsored by Nutrena and John Deere, the event boasted $17,500 in added money, as well as prizes from sponsors Classic Equine and Box O Quarter Horses. Competing under a two-judge system in a variety of classes, including reining, cow work, boxing and ranch riding, competitors cinched up their ranching heritage-bred horses to carve themselves a piece of the pie.

Held concurrently with the National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity®, presented by Metallic Cat, the event was a change of pace from

By Lillian Kent

OPEN W ORKING RANCH HORSE—7-YEAR-OLD & UP

Chris Dawson of Perrin, Texas, rode Reyzinette (Dual Rey x Sheza Shinette x Shining Spark) to the win with a composite 290.5 (R:145.5/C:145). The 2014 stallion was bred and is owned by Holy Cow Performance Horses of both Weatherford, Texas, and Santa Ynez, California, who earned $1,700 for the win.

the intense limited-age action happening nearby in the John Justin Arena. But despite the easy-going atmosphere, the parameters tested even seasoned reined cow horse competitors with reining, fence run and steer stopping. Cowboys from

ranches such as the famed 6666 Sixes Ranch, R.A. Brown Ranch and Durrett Cattle Co. were among the entrants, and The Challenge has proved its staying power with competitors coming back from previous years.

Photos by Primo Morales

EXPECT FINISHED HORSES, BREEDING STOCK, & PROSPECTS

AR STYLISH REYS 2020 sorrel filly (Dual Rey x Stylish Bet, by Docs Stylish Oak)

$218,087, dam of 2 ME’s; has 2 foals entered in 2021

Open Futurity

6666 Ranch

Atwood Quarter Horses, Inc

Baruch Reining Horses

Ben Baldus

Thomas Bray

Calvin Campbell

Cannon Quarter Horses

Estevan Castillo

Alan Chappell

Circle Y Ranch

Coalson Acres

Chris & Barbara Cox

Crockett Sand & Gravel

Dillon Crumpler

Flag Ranch

Sean Flynn Fults Ranch

Circle C Ranch AR METALLIC MAN 2020

Beau & Ashley Galyean

Brent Haile Don Ham

Hill Ranches

Holy Cow Performance Horses

Arlan Kannas

Henry Knox Family

Bobby Lewis

Bill McFarland

Mozaun & Sara McKibben

Monty McNair

Oxbow Ranch

Marty Powers

Ivan Raber Performance Horses

Phil & Mary Ann Rapp

San Juan Ranch

Sam Smith

David Taurel

Hayden Upton

Kollin VonAhn

Paul Waters

Turner West

Mark Whitman

Kirk Smith

Mike St Clair

St-Onge Reining Horses

Jonathan Miller

Rob & Sue Stevenson

OPEN

W ORKING RANCH HORSE—5- & 6-YEAR-OLD

Bringing home the title for the third year, 2015 sorrel mare Smart Ladies Sparkle and Matt Koch earned the Overall Open Working Ranch Horse title with a composite 291.5 (R:144/C:147.5). Bred by Wagonhound Land & Livestock LLC and owned by Myra Koch of Seneca, Kansas, Smart Ladies Sparkle (WR This Cats Smart x Shiners Diamond Lady x Shining Spark) added $1,425 to her lifetime earnings.

COWBOY W ORKING RANCH HORSE

Cats Packing Heat (Cats Quixote Jack x Shes Packin Heat x Playgun) and Ryan McCoy won the Cowboy Working Ranch Horse Class with a composite 282 (R:138/C:144), winning $1,425 for owner Ryan McCoy of Miami, Texas. The 2012 sorrel gelding was bred by Colby Cunningham.

OPEN W ORKING RANCH HORSE—4-YEAR-OLD

Riding Steel Core Cat (Metallic Cat x Playin Nurse x Playgun), a 2017 gelding bred by Hal Bogle Estate and owned by Bogle Brothers LLC of Clovis, New Mexico, Trevor Carter piloted to a 275 composite (R:140.5/C:134.5), earning $2,800.

AMATEUR W ORKING RANCH HORSE

Brianna Koch and 2012 sorrel mare This Cats Sinful (WR This Cats Smart x Sinful Playgirl x Freckles Playboy) won the Amateur Working Ranch Horse Class with a composite 285 (R:142/C:143). The duo earned $1,250 for the effort. This Cats Sinful was bred by Cowan Select Horses LLC and is owned by Matt Koch of Elizabeth, Colorado.

YOUTH WORKING RANCH HORSE

Madeline Horton and Seven S Hesa Cat, a 2013 blue roan gelding, won the Youth Working Ranch Horse Class with a composite 283.5 (R:139/C:144.5), earning $260. The horse was bred by Terry Stuart Forst and is owned by Horton of Fort Worth, Texas.

2021 SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY® OWNERS INCENTIVE FUND

The Animal

Larry & Kathy Barker

Best Kept Secret Ranch

Bet He Sparks

Bet Hesa Cat Syndicate

BMW Quarter Horses

Brazos Valley Stallion Station

Call Me Mitch

Carol Rose

D Lazy K Ranch

Double F Ranch / Roy & Sheri Fisher

Dual Smart Rey / Strawn Valley Ranch

DuraPro Health

Gardiner Quarter Horses

HOCK BEHIND THE WIN C

Kevin Lippe and his Australian Kelpie, Chock, clinch the Open championship at the 2021 MARS Equestrian™ National Finals Rodear.

Qualifying with only two rodear trials under his collar, 6-year-old Australian Kelpie Chock rose to the occasion, winning the Open stock dog title at the MARS Equestrian™ National Finals Rodear for him and his handler, Kevin Lippe of Blue Eye, Missouri. This was the Rodear America Cowdog Association’s fifth year holding the event during the National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity®, presented by Metallic Cat.

The cowdog association invited the top 20 dogs and handlers of 2021 from each of its three divisions—Green, Non-Pro and Open—to compete in the semi-finals,

Hartwood Farms

Hat 6 Ranch

Hooray / Eric & Wendy Dunn

Kevin & Sydney Knight

Kit & Charlie Moncrief / Moncrief Quarter Horses

Matthews Cutting Horses

Meteles Cat/Cody Hedlund

Milum Performance Horses

Ophir Creek Ranch

Parks Bell Ranch

Shiney Outlaw / Cannon Quarter Horses

Stuart Ranch

Wagonhound Land & Livestock

Story and photography by Katie

Frank

GREEN DOG CHAMPION: Moura Maycon and Flavela; Weatherford, Texas; 190 points in nine minutes; $5,000

NON-PRO CHAMPION: Jason Runfola and Timber; Gainesville, New York; 180 points in 7 minutes, 57 seconds; $8,750

OPEN CHAMPION: Kevin Lippe and Chock; Blue Eye, Missouri; 177 points in nine minutes; $12,500

Family First

He’s all right. He’s one of us.

— Henry Hill, GoodFellas

$32.1 Million Sire

•LTE $500,037.51

• NCHA Horse of the Year

• NCHA Hall of Fame Horse

• The ONLY NCHA Horse of the Year to sire 2 NCHA Open Horses of the Year

• Sire of 15 NCHA World Champions

• Sire of 11 AQHA World Champions

• Sire of 2 NRCHA World Champions

• $1 Million NRCHA Sire with $1.6 Million in Reined Cow Horse earnings

• A #1 Sire of money earners at the NCHA Futurity

• Sire of 71 offspring earning in excess of $100,000

• His foals average earnings of $24,703

Now accepting breeding reservations for 2022.

$2,500

Because Smooth As A Cat is in extremely high demand and available at a greatly discounted stud fee, he has been booking full much earlier in the season. We apologize if you were one of those turned away in the past.

Since we are keeping his discounted stud fee at $2,500 for next year, we encourage you to act soon. Booked Full Every Year 2005-2021

held October 6-7 at Lone Star Arena in Stephenville, Texas. From there, the top five teams from each division competed in the finals October 9 in John Justin Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.

This year’s event offered $52,500 in cash and prizes to dog-and-handler teams who exemplify good stockmanship. The clock starts when the horseback handler enters a holding pen of cattle and sorts out three head. The team works

the cattle through a series of obstacles in the arena, and a judge awards points based on how well teams complete each obstacle. The goal is to earn the most points. Each run is timed and the time serves as a tie-breaker.

Chock, Lippe and his horse, Birdie, worked a set of cows through the maze of panels, marking a 177 out of 180 total points, in just nine minutes. They received a check for $12,500.

“He did a good job handling his cattle, keeping control of what I picked for him to work,” said Lippe. “Chock likes to gets amped up, kind of like a barrel horse. But when it’s his turn to work, it’s his turn.”

Lippe wasn’t expecting to enter Chock into this year’s competition.

“I had a border collie in his place, I wasn’t going to use Chock for a rodear dog,” he said. “But I gave the border collie back to the guy I got him from, so I thought, ‘Well I paid the entry fee, I’m going to go ahead and put [Chock] in there.’ And it’s worked out good.”

Lippe said the mare he was riding, Birdie, is a 7-year-old unregistered Quarter Horse who is pretty cowy.

“I really like her,” he said. “A good friend of mine, Mike Young, fixed me up with her. I can’t thank him enough because she fits me pretty good.”

Lippe is well-known in stockdog competition, having raised and competed in them in the late 1980s and early ’90s. He took a break for several years and started back about eight years ago. In 2017, Chock was the Southwest Cattledog Association futurity champion, with Lippe as the handler. In 2020, Lippe and his dog Steele won the Non Pro Finals. He raised both dogs and says he has about dozen more young dogs back home.

Lippe runs cattle and sheep he uses to train his dogs.

“Competing in rodear requires horse, dog and handler to work in combo,” he said. “It is very challenging, and I like a good challenge.”

When asked where Chock got his name, Lippe’s eyes twinkle.

“There’s no meaning behind it,” he said. “I just try to keep my dog’s name one syllable and pretty short—like Sue, Red, Spot—because I don’t like to use up the ink.”

For more information on stock dog rodear trials, visit rodearamerica.com.

Open Champion Kevin Lippe and his dog, Chock, manuever through the course.

EATHERS WINS COWBOY CLASS INVITATIONAL L

By Katie Frank

Working cowboys showcased the handiness of their ranch horses in the Cowboy Class Invitational.

Camaraderie filled the stands within the historic Will Rogers Coliseum for the third annual Cowboy Class Invitational, held during the National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity®, presented by Metallic Cat. As working cowboys executed rein work, buddies hooted and hollered with words of encouragement.

Ultimately, Cotton Leathers of the Frisco Creek Ranch Division of the 6666 Ranch, located in Guthrie, Texas, took home the win aboard Amarillo Attraction (Playin Attraction x Seven In Vegas x Seven From Heaven), owned by Burnett Ranches LLC. Judges scored them a 145.5 in the rein work and a 147.5 in the cow work, which put them at the top of the pack heading into the steer stopping.

With a smooth steer stopping run, Leathers and “George” marked a 148, for a composite of 441. They took home a check for $1,140, as well as a pair of romal reins from Traditional Rawhide Braiders, a buckle for the high reining score and a buckle for the high cow work score.

“We started out slow in the rein work,” said Leathers, whose father is longtime 6666 Ranch cowboy Joe Leathers. “I was going too slow. My good buddy Myles

For the last three years, Cotton Leathers has used his experience at the Cowboy Class Invitational to hone his skills for the show pen and on the ranch.

[Brown] told me, ‘Go faster!’ So I went faster!

“George swapped leads good—he’s always been a good lead changer. They felt smooth. And he’s a big stopper, but sometimes he doesn’t stop well at the show, and that’s mostly my fault. But it came together today.”

When it came time to work his cow, Leathers was confident in his ranch horse.

“One of the ranch’s divisions that we care for runs straight yearlings, so we’re always working the herd and sorting,” he said. “If something runs off, I just as soon circle it up and rope it. We rope all the time and doctor it. In the cow work, there’s really nothing he doesn’t do day in and day out.”

This is Leathers third year competing in the class, which is exclusively for riders who earn a paycheck on a ranch and are invited to attend an NRCHA-hosted clinic before the Snaffle Bit event. This year’s clinic was at the 6666 Ranch, with notable horsemen such as Ben Baldus, NRCHA Two Million Dollar Rider Todd Crawford, NRCHA Million Dollar Rider Kelby Philips, 6666 Ranch resident trainer Terry Riddle and Jordan Williams coaching the cowboys.

The Cowboy Class Invitational was created to encourage working cowboys and cowgirls to the sport of reined cow horse. It consists of three parts: rein work, cow work and roping or steer stopping. Ranch horses typically know how to work a cow and can execute the maneuvers in a reining pattern, so the class is an opportunity to refine their skills, bring their horses to town, and compete for NRCHA points and money.

“The class is great,” said Leathers. “There are a lot more people wanting to get in it than were here today, so I think it will grow.

“I think it’s good for the NRCHA and cowboys, and anybody who wants to show a horse who is eligible for it,” he

continued. “It’s a good time and fun. Everyone always goes home and works on their horses whenever they leave, whether they do well or not. They go home and make themself and their horse better. So, it’s good for the industry and good for horses and people.”

Leathers has ridden the 6-year-old palomino gelding since the horse’s 2-yearold year and says the best thing about him is his consistency.

“In a lot of ways, he’s the same at home as he is in the arena,” Leathers said. “He’s maybe a little calmer at home, but we’ve shown him enough now that he’s pretty calm and laid back. He’s the same every day. He’s really consistent and I can read his moods.”

Leathers has ridden George in every Cowboy Class, making a conscious effort to have improved his horsemanship and his horse’s ability each visit to Fort Worth.

“This horse has progressed a lot, especially in the last couple of years,” he reflected. “My son and I showed this last summer quite a bit in the Panhandle Reined Cow Horse Association. We’ve had several guys helping both of us along the way and getting input by good guys like Myles Brown, Russell Dilday and Todd Crawford. Those guys are always at the show helping out. Whatever they say, we listen to, and we go home and practice exactly what they said!”

Left: Buddy Thomas rode 2017 gelding Gas It Cat (Metallic Cat x CDS Starlight MS x CD Olena), owned by his wife, Kelsey Thomas, to tie for the reserve spot with a 430.

Below: Tying with a composite 430, Levi Walden rode his DD Quanah Blue (Huerfano River Blue x Quanahs Rooster x Quanah O Lena) to the reserve spot in the Cowboy Class Invitational.

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

or on the order

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.

By Abigail Boatwright

OW HORSE FOR ROPERS ROCKS THE FUTURITY C

Cade Rice set the bar for the roping contestants, and no one caught him in the special event.

It’s not every day that you see multiple-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo roping qualifiers taking a cow down the fence in a cow horse class. But they did just that in the inaugural Cow Horse for Ropers class on October 20 at the National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity®, presented by Metallic Cat. In the end, Cade Rice of Lipan, Texas, riding his sister Robbin Rice’s horse, Cat N Boon, beat seven other riders to claim first place and $1,500 of the $2,500-added purse sponsored by MC Cowhammer.

Cat N Boon (Smart Lena Boon x Dual N Cat x Wild Haired Cat) is a 2012 solid chestnut Paint Horse gelding bred by Double S Ranch. When Rice was invited to compete in this class, he turned to his family of cow horse enthusiasts to find a horse. He rode “Chavez,” trained by his dad, Matlock Rice, for the first time the day before the class.

For this class, ropers complete a reining pattern, then box a cow, drive it down the fence and rope it, steer-stopping style. In the pen, Rice focused on not missing the cow and performing each maneuver one at a time.

“I didn’t want to go too fast, or get caught in the moment— just one maneuver at a time,” Rice said.

After scoring a 146 in the rein work and a 148.5 in the cow work, Rice’s 294.5 was the highest score.

“The cow work felt really good,” Rice said. “The rein work, I could have been a little smoother. That’s something I’m going to work on in the future. I think I’m going to get a 2-year-old and try this out.”

Rice is hooked on cow horse now, he says.

“It always feels good to win,” Rice said. “My favorite part was going down the fence. There’s not another feeling like it.”

Reserve by just a half-point, NFR qualifier Lane Ivy piloted John and Kay Coltharp’s 2013 roan stallion, Bet Hesa Freckledcat (Bet Hesa Cat x Ms Freckled Star x Freckles Smokin Doc), to score a 144 in the rein work, a 130 in the cow work, for a total of 294 and $750.

OW HORSE FOR CUTTERS C

Janet Westfall makes a triumphant return to the cow horse arena.

Riders accustomed to the routines of the cutting pen tried out cow horse in the Cow Horse for Cutters class on October 20. Out of eight riders, Janet Westfall, of Granbury, Texas, rose to the top aboard Julie Gibbons-owned and -bred 2014 black gelding Unos Blue Lightening (Uno What Time It Is x Miss Vibrant Chex x Nu Chex To Cash).

Each rider completed a reining pattern and boxed for 50 seconds before having the option to go down the fence. Westfall and “Blue” scored a 141 in the rein work and a 146 in the cow work for a total store of 287. Westfall received a custom pair of Serna Boots, as did the other top four riders.

Westfall competed in cow horse decades ago, but has lately stuck to cutting alongside her trainer husband, Russ. When she had the chance to compete in this class, she connected with National Reined Cow Horse Association Two Million Dollar Rider Todd Crawford to borrow Blue. The horse-and-rider team met the day before they competed.

Her strategy was to complete as clean a run as she could. And she tried to think ahead to make sure she completed the pattern correctly.

“The romal reins felt so foreign to me because [in reining] we ride with split reins, with our reins down,” Westfall said. “So it was pretty much the complete opposite of what I do. I just tried not to embarrass myself.”

By Abigail Boatwright

Riding a seasoned reined cow horse, Janet Westfall successfully ran her reining pattern then boxed her way to the No. 1 spot in the invitational event.

After this class, Westfall is eager to try again—this time, with a bit more speed. She is thankful to Blue’s owner and Crawford for their help.

“Todd kept telling me to push him a little harder and go a little faster, and I was probably a little tentative, but if I get the chance again, that’s what I’ll do,” Westfall said. “Everybody is really nice—all of this was awesome. Showing and seeing some old faces I know was super fun. Maybe one day I’ll come back with a 3-year-old.”

Tim Drummond was reserve aboard Devon Camilleri’s Just Call Me Earl (Once In A Blue Boon x CP Peekn Sneakn Blue x Peeka Pep). The 2015 red roan gelding was bred by Lassen Land and Livestock Co. They scored a 142.5 in the rein work and a 144 in the cow work for a 286.5 total score.

“I love a good hackamore horse, and he is one,” Lance Johnston said of Annies Smart Cat after riding him to the Hackamore Classic Open Championship.

2021 OPEN NRCHA HACKAMORE CLASSIC,

PRESENTED BY OSWOOD STALLION STATION

TOP 10

Fort Worth, TX – October 7-23, 2021 Horse/Rider/Pedigree/Owner/Score/Money

1. Annies Smart Cat; Lance Johnston; (WR This Cats Smart x Shiney Nu Annie x Shining Spark); Rocking BS Ranch; 671 (H:223/R:222/C:226); $20,500

2. Ricato Suave; Clay Volmer; (Metallic Cat x Hip Hip Sue Rey x Dual Rey); Shaleah Hester & Madeline Fountain; 663.5 (H:224/R:218.5/C:221); $15,093.54

3. Hazardouz Material; Erin Taormino; (Metallic Cat x Scooters Daisy Dukes x Dual Smart Rey); Linda Mars; 663 (H:216.5/R:221/C:225.5); $12,398.27

4. Lil Starlight Cat; Lance Johnston; (High Brow Cat x Lil Foxie Starlight x Grays Starlight); Kenneth & Karen Haugland; 659 (H:217.5/R:219.5/C:222); $10,781.10

5. Goin Down For Real; Corey Cushing; (Metallic Cat x Quejanapep x Dual Pep); Tallian Thompson; 657 (H:219/R:220/C:218); $8,085.83

6. Smart Chic An Tari; Sarah Dawson; (Smart Chic Olena x Shiney Tari x Shining Spark); Aaron Ranch; 656 (H:219.5/R:217.5/C:219); $6,468.66

7. Move That Rock; Cara Hencratt; (That CD Rocks x Smokums Dual Move x Mister Dual Pep); Debbie Proctor; 654 (H:217.5/R:217.5/C:219); $4,851.50

7. Graceful Smart Cat; Justin Wright; (WR This Cats Smart x Gracielights x CD Lights); Wagonhound Land & Livestock LLC; 654 (H:217.5/R:219.5/C:217); $4,851.50

9. One Ata Time; Ryan Gallentine; (One Time Pepto x Hip Hip Sue Rey x Dual Rey); Steven Mattson; 653.5 (H:218/R:216.5/C:219); $3,054.65

9. Heza Rowdy Cat; Clayton Edsall; (Bet Hesa Cat x Dear Little Boon Bar x Boon Bar); Kim Basterrechea; 653.5 (H:216.5/R:218.5/C:218.5); $3,054.65

9. Seven S Razzberry; Kelby Phillips; (Blind Sided x Seven S Valentina x Playgun); R.A. Brown Ranch; 653.5 (H:216/R:219/C:218.5); $3,054.65

O THE TEND

Annies Smart Cat and Lance Johnston rode from the very last draw to the top of the 2021 NRCHA Hackamore Classic, presented by Oswood Stallion Station.

By Kristin Pitzer

With nearly 100 entries in the Open alone, the National Reined Cow Horse Association Hackamore Classic, presented by Oswood Stallion Station and held at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®, had four days dedicated to the herd, rein and cow works in the division. Starting with the herd work on October 9-10 and finishing with the rein and cow works October 18-19, the event proved the old adage that “it’s not over until it’s over,” with the last draw of the entire show, Annies Smart Cat and Lance Johnston, coming out as champions.

Johnston and the 5-year-old stallion (WR This Cats Smart x Shiney Nu Annie x Shining Spark), who was bred by Wagonhound Land & Livestock LLC, laid down big scores in all three works. In the herd work, their 223 ended up the second-highest of the group.

“This horse is so stylish in the herd. Everybody calls him ‘sexy,’ ” Johnston said. “I finally got him shown the way I wanted. I’ve been [2]19s, [2]20s and [2]21s, but I think this is the best I’ve ever shown him.”

Johnston said “Wilbur” had been feeling great in the rein work all week. His plan for the Finals was to run him as hard as he could, while still reserving some horse for the cow work since it followed right after their rein work pattern.

“His biggest strength is his stop and his presence,” Johnston said. “He’s a plus-1 stopper and he can plus-1 circle, but I can’t run that hard and then go down the fence. I had to leave a little bit of air. But he’ll steal points with his presence.”

Photos by Primo Morales

The pair’s score of 222 was the highest Wilbur has ever marked in the reining, and it also topped the leaderboard. As they went into the cow work, Johnston was grateful to be in the last draw position because he knew exactly what he needed to mark to land in the No. 1 spot.

“I knew it was going to be tough, but I also thought I had a shot, as good as this horse is, to beat ‘Rico’ [Ricato Suave],” Johnston said.

After scoring a 226 down the fence—the highest score in the Hackamore Classic Open cow work—the pair ended up with a huge 671 composite and the championship. They collected a $20,500 check for owner Rocking BS Ranch.

“This horse needed a signature win,” Johnston said. “He’s such a nice horse, he deserved a major win. It’s so cool to be here in Fort Worth to do it.”

Johnston expressed his appreciation to his wife, Tammy, his crew, and

Rocking BS Ranch owners Brent and Susie Steward. Johnston rode another stallion they own, Here Comes The Boon, to the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Open Championship in 2019. He was thankful for Brent’s trust in him when he told him he needed to buy Wilbur a year ago.

“They are unbelievable,” Johnston said. “Brent and Susie changed our lives and took my program to another level. I told Brent if he bought him [Wilbur], I’d win $100,000 on him in two years, and if I didn’t, I’d get a trainer that would because it would be my fault. This is getting us pretty on track right here.”

Ricato Suave (Metallic Cat x Hip Hip Sue Rey x Dual Rey), a 4-year-old stallion, held the lead through most of the show but ended up Reserve with his composite 663.5 (H:224/R:218.5/C:221). Trainer Clay Volmer and the stallion, who was bred by Flag Ranch LLC, took home a $15,093.54 check for owners Shaleah Hester and Madeline Fountain.

OPEN RESERVE CHAMPION

With their composite 663.5 (H:224/R:218.5/C:221), Ricato Suave (Metallic Cat x Hip Hip Sue Rey x Dual Rey) and Clay Volmer took Reserve for owners Shaleah Hester and M. Fountain. The 2017 stallion, who was bred by Flag Ranch LLC, collected $15,093.54.

///// MEET

In 2021, Oswood Stallion Station, located in Weatherford, Texas, recognized the importance of supporting this vital step in reined cow horse training and inked a multi-year agreement to serve as the presenting sponsor of the NRCHA Hackamore Classic. Started by Jeff Oswood in 1989 with three studs, there are now nineteen stallions that stand at the station.

“Oswood Stallion Station has been involved with the NRCHA for nearly three decades,” said Oswood. “To be a sponsor for the Hackamore Classic is really important to us.”

This year, Brock and Molly Malson entered into a five-year transition to purchase the station.

“I got the opportunity to work for Jeff Oswood and dove in,” said Brock. “He let me grow as an employee. I grew up showing reining horses so I was kind of star-struck at the quality of horses at his facility. To be able to continue on the legacy that [Jeff Oswood] created is important to us; he’s created a brand with values and core beliefs.”

The Hackamore Classic was first held in 2012. It has steadily grown in entries and this year boasts $50,000 in added money in the Open and $15,000 for the Non Pro division.

INTERMEDIATE OPEN, LIMITED OPEN CHAMPION & LEVEL 1

LIMITED OPEN CHAMPION

With a composite 654 (H:217.5/R:217.5/C:219), Move That Rock (That CD Rocks x Smokums Dual Move x Mister Dual Pep) and Cara Hencratt picked up three championships. Hencratt and the 2016 gelding, who was bred by Erin Mendes and is owned by Debbie Proctor, collected $6,588.45 from the Intermediate, $2,066.38 from the Limited and $4,226.40 from the Level 1 Limited Open.

INTERMEDIATE OPEN RESERVE CHAMPION

One Ata Time (One Time Pepto x Hip Hip Sue Rey x Dual Rey), who is a half-brother to Ricato Suave, and Ryan Gallentine rode to a composite 653.5 (H:218/R:216.5/C:219). The 2017 stallion, who was bred by Flag Ranch LLC, picked up $4,941.34 for owner Steven Mattson.

OPEN NOVICE HORSE CHAMPION

Lance Johnston also garnered the Novice Horse Open title, albeit on Lil Starlight Cat (High Brow Cat x Lil Foxie Starlight x Grays Starlight). He and the 2017 Glenn and Debbie Drake-bred stallion scored a 659 (H:217.5/R:219.5/C:222) and collected a check worth $2,709 for owners Kenneth and Karen Haugland.

LIMITED OPEN & LEVEL 1 LIMITED OPEN RESERVE CHAMPION

CWR Sanntonio (Sannman x Surfin Calie x Cat Ichi) and Trey Pool brought home two Reserve titles for owner Jane Owens after scoring a composite 650.5 (H:217.5/ R:215.5/C:217.5). The 2017 stallion, who was bred by Devlyn Drake, nabbed $1,617.17 from the Limited Open and $3,381.12 in the Level 1 Limited Open.

OPEN NOVICE HORSE RESERVE CHAMPION

Quizzicality (Magicality x Shirley Shine x Shining Spark), a 2017 gelding bred by Anne M. Reynolds, and Gusti Buerger brought home the Open Novice Horse Reserve Championship for owner Home Ranch LLC with their composite score of 653 (H:217/R:219/C:217). They banked $2,128.50.

2021 NRCHA NON PRO HACKAMORE CLASSIC,

PRESENTED BY OSWOOD STALLION STATION

TOP 10

Fort Worth, TX – October 7-23, 2021 Horse/Rider/Pedigree/Owner/Score/Money

1. Red Holly Time; Myles Brown; (Hickory Holly Time x Very Red Remedy x Very Smart Remedy); Rob Brown; 872 (H:215.5/R:216/C:217/RO:223.5); $5,500

2. Dualin Alittle Time; Debbie Crafton; (One Time Pepto x ARC Little Dualena x Dual Pep); Debbie Crafton; 864.5 (H:212/R:219.5/C:217/RO:216); $4,204.98

3. Twice In A Blu Moon; Debbie Crafton; (One In A Blu Boon x Teletrona x Little Trona); Debbie Crafton; 647 (H:214.5/R:213/C:219.5); $3,416.55

4. Hesa Wee Bet; Debbie Crafton; (Bet Hesa Cat x Wee Quejana Gal x Quejanaisalena); Debbie Crafton; 646 (H:208/R:218.5/C:219.5); $2,890.92

5. On The Reydio; Emily Kent; (Reydioactive x Bewitching Ichi x Cat Ichi); Emily Kent; 644.5 (H:215/ R:215.5/C:214); $2,365.30

6. Glamour Royallty; Kristy Kay Miller; (One Time Royalty x Kitna Rey x Dual Rey); Kristy Kay Miller; 641 (H:208/R:214.5/C:218.5); $1,839.68

7. Seven S Tuff Boots; Meg Ralston; (Blind Sided x My Boots Are Tuff x Woody Be Tuff); Meg GriffithRalston; 640.5 (H:206/R:215/C:219.5); $1,839.68

8. Voodoo Whiskey; Tylor Todd; (Shiners Voodoo Dr x Whiskey On Wheels x Paddys Irish Whiskey); Tylor Todd; 639 (H:206/R:213/C:220); $1,314.06

9. Dirtyy Little Secret; Tammy Jo Hays; (Woody Be Tuff x Catmas x That Sly Cat); Walter Greeman & Tammy Hays; 638 (H:216/R:211.5/C:210.5); $1,314.06

10. Boonafide Royalty; Jayson Fisher; (One Time Royalty x Boonafide Cowgirl x Peptoboonsmal); Jayson & Teresa Fisher; 636.5 (H:208/R:214/C:214.5); $1,051.25

RED HOLLY TIME RULES RUNOFF

The Non Pro Hackamore Classic came down to a runoff between two tough competitors.

By Kristen Pitzer

Photos by Primo Morales

During the Non Pro section of the National Reined Cow Horse Association Hackamore Classic, presented by Oswood Stallion Station and held at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®, nearly 50 Non Pros went head-to-head to compete for the title. The herd work portion was up first, held October 14, with the rein and cow work wrapping up two days later.

When the dust settled, two competitors finished with matching composite and cow work scores. A runoff was called, and after one more run down the fence, Myles Brown was named the Hackamore Classic Non Pro Champion.

Brown, on Red Holly Time (Hickory Holly Time x Very Red Remedy x Very Smart Remedy), scored a composite 648.5 (H:215.5/R:216/C:217) during his initial herd, rein and cow works. He was happy with how his horse worked and landing at the top of the pack.

“I was really pleased to get through the herd work clean. It was a tough set of cattle,” Brown said. “In the reining, I tried to run for it. I maybe

Myles Brown always knew Red Holly Time had talent, and the horse proved it by winning the NRCHA Hackamore Classic Non Pro. It was their last run together, as the horse was slated to sell in the Western Bloodstock Sale later in the week.

didn’t get him shown as good as I have in the past, but he tried hard and hopefully looked good. Down the fence, I had just a little miss on my second turn and kind of had to do a little staying alive in the circling. I was pleased to get through it and to show my horse.”

But Debbie Crafton, on Dualin Alittle Time (One Time Pepto x ARC Little Dualena x Dual Pep), had matched their composite with her own 648.5 (H:212/ R:219.5/C:217). Brown and Crafton agreed to a runoff, going down the fence a second time in the original order. Crafton marked a 216, then it was Brown’s turn.

“I got pretty nervous there for a little bit, so I went and got on my bridle horse that I’m showing tonight and trotted him around,” Brown said. “It helped me settle down and take my mind off it. I know he [Red Holly Time] can be good, and I

NON PRO RESERVE CHAMPION

After a runoff where they scored a 216, Debbie Crafton and Dualin Alittle Time, a 2016 stallion bred by Arcese Quarter Horses USA, took home Reserve and a check worth $4,204.98. The pair scored a 648.5 (H:212/R:219.5/C:217).

INTERMEDIATE NON PRO & NOVICE NON PRO CHAMPION

Emily Kent rode On The Reydio (Reydioactive x Bewitching Ichi x Cat Ichi), a 4-yearold gelding, to win two titles with a composite 644.5 (H:215/R:215.5/C:214). For the Intermediate, she and the gelding banked $2,021.63, plus another $1,010.81 from the Novice. The gelding was bred by EE Ranches Inc. and is owned by Kent.

INTERMEDIATE NON PRO & NOVICE NON PRO RESERVE CHAMPION

Taking Reserve in both divisions was Kristy Kay Miller on Glamour Royallty (One Time Royalty x Kitna Rey x Dual Rey), a 2016 mare bred by Scott Murdock. Miller scored a 641 (H:208/R:214.5/C:218.5) and collected $1,617.30 from the Intermediate and $808.65 from the Novice.

know he craves a cow and wants to circle a cow really nice, so I just decided we were going to go do the best we could.”

The pair was called off their first cow, which allowed Brown to gather himself up mentally. The next cow that came out was more “user-friendly.”

“I was a little more delicate about getting into that cow’s brain and getting him comfortable with me up next to him instead of scaring him,” Brown said. “When I go to trying to create stuff it never works, so I just have to do my best and see what happens. With that second cow, I finally got my wits about me and let that happen.”

After the horn blew, the announcer called a score of 223.5, and Brown and Red Holly Time won the championship, banking $5,500. It was a great note for the pair to end on, as Brown had entered the 2017 stallion, who was bred by Sheri

Jamieson, in the Western Bloodstock Sale on Friday, October 22.

“For this horse to win this, it’s really special to my wife and I,” Brown said. “He’s 4 and I had some success on him as a 3-year-old, but I never felt like I had as much success as I should have on him because of how talented he is. It really couldn’t end a better way. It’s always hard to sell the good ones, but we own his mother and there’s more coming. We’re really excited about the future.”

Crafton and Dualin Alittle Time took home the Reserve Champion title and a check worth $4,204.98. Crafton also placed third with Twice In A Blu Moon (Once In A Blu Boon x Teletrona x Little Trona) and fourth with Hesa Wee Bet (Bet Hesa Cat x Wee Quejana Gal x Quejanaisalena), collecting an additional $3,416.55 and $2,890.92, respectively.

AMATEUR CHAMPION

The Amateur Championship went to Tylor Todd and Voodoo Whiskey (Shiners Voodoo Dr x Whiskey On Wheels x Paddys Irish Whiskey), who scored a composite 639 (H:206/ R:213/C:220). Todd and the 4-year-old gelding, who was bred by Ricky Dusin, collected $2,241.

AMATEUR RESERVE CHAMPION

William Akin and SJR Starlit Rey (Dual Rey x A Starlit Diamond x CD Lights) won the Amateur Reserve Champion with their composite 632 (H:210/R:198.5/C:223.5), banking $1,792.80. San Juan Ranch bred the 5-year-old gelding.

NON PRO LIMITED CHAMPION

With a 642 (H:208/R:218/C:216), Lori Frampton-Crafton and Hughes This Chic (Thomas E Hughes x Smart Playing Chic x Smart Chic Olena) won the Non Pro Limited and a check worth $2,812.50. The 2017 mare, bred by Liz Arment, is owned by Frampton-Crafton.

Industry & Facility Partners

NON PRO LIMITED RESERVE CHAMPION

Cheryl Chown rode Xtra Short Trick (Shiners Voodoo Dr x Short And Royal x Short Oak) to a 638 (H:210/R:213.5/C:214.5) for the Reserve Championship. She and the homebred 2016 mare, who is owned by her and her husband, Robert, banked $2,250.

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TRONGER THAN EVER S

Drawing scores of competitors, the ARHFA Futurity saw ropers back into the box late into the night.

Returning for the fourth year and spanning three jampacked days, the 2021 American Rope Horse Futurity Association World Championship brought cow horse enthusiasts a different kind of cow work October 21-23. Taking place during the National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity®, presented by Metallic Cat, ropers descended into the John Justin Arena as the Snaffle Bit Futurity competitors moved to the Will Rogers Coliseum for their finals.

Sponsored by DT Horses, LLC, the event had so many entries that ropers competed well past midnight. Sporting $110,000 in added money and more than $650,000 paid out in go-rounds, finals and incentives, there were plenty of reasons to back into the box and give a nod.

Under the watchful eyes of five judges, ropers navigated through three go-rounds for a chance to advance to the finals. When the dust cleared in the finals, champions were determined using the composite from all four runs. The event included Limited and Intermediate divisions in the Open for both headers and heelers, as well as a 3- and 4-YearOld Incentive that paid $153,000. Ropers with a #5E or lower card were eligible for the Non Pro division, which paid $67,750.

By Lillian Kent

Born In The Boondocs and Tate Kirchenschlager put together a 233.68 run in the Open Heading Finals, bringing them to a 915.69 composite and securing the $23,000 championship check. The team also earned $3,000 in the second round, bolstering the 2016 gelding’s ledger. Owned by Tate and Terra Kirchenschlager, Born In The Boondocs is sired by Smart Boons and out of Little Doc Lady, by Lucky Little Lena.

After three go-rounds, WND Affair (Whizkey N Diamonds x Cowgirl Affair x Major Vaquero) and Joseph Harrison were sitting at a 692.85 in the Open Heeling. A score of 238.8 in the finals gave them a 931.65 composite and a $26,000 check for the championship. The 2012 gelding and Harrison collected an additional $6,000 in the first and third round, bringing their total to $32,000 for owners Treda LLC of Decatur, Texas.

MARTIN PERFORMANCE

COWHORSE

Title, Presenting & Corporate Sponsors

Breeder Sponsors

Event Sponsors

ILLION DOLLAR MILESTONES M

By Kate Bradley Byars

In addition to the prestige of exhibiting at the Snaffle Bit Futurity®, two riders and two stallions crossed major earnings marks.

The 3-year-old horses often steal the spotlight during the National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity®, presented by Metallic Cat, but there are several other achievements recognized at the association’s flagship event. During the calendar year, the NRCHA saw several milestones hit both by horses and riders.

ALL-TIME LEADING SIRE

Owned by Bobby Patton’s Rocking P Ranch, based in Patton’s hometown of Weatherford, Texas, the 2005 stallion by High Brow Cat and out of Chers Shadow (by Peptoboonsmal) supported reined cow horse before becoming the presenting sponsor of the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® in 2019. In 2018, Metallic Cat became an NRCHA Million Dollar Sire and less than a year later surpassed the Two Million Dollar Sire mark. Metallic Cat passed the Three Million Dollar Sire mark in August 2020, and again took less than a year to pass his next major sire milestone. Now, a sire of NRCHA earners of more than Four Million Dollars, he joins only Shining Spark (Genuine Doc x Diamonds Sparkle x Mr Diamond Dude), bred and owned by Carol Rose, with that honor.

For 17 years, Shining Spark reigned as the king of cow horse sires. He reached all-time leading sire status first in 2003, and remained at the top until September of this year. He was the first sire to reach Three Million Dollar Sire status in the NRCHA.

NRCHA President Corey Cushing and Executive Director Anna Morrison recognized the Patton’s and Metallic Cat and also Carol Rose and Shining Spark with custom gold Gist Silversmiths belt buckles during in-arena ceremonies on the final weekend of the Snaffle Bit Futurity.

Above: NRCHA President Corey Cushing (left) and Executive Director Anna Morrison (right) present Bobby and Sherri Patton (above) and Carol Rose (below) with their awards.

Sherri

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MILLION DOLLAR SIRE

Lenas Wright On, a 1991 stallion by Smart Little Lena and out of Slide Me Again (by Isle Breeze) is the newest NRCHA Million Dollar Sire. As of August 31, the stallion’s offspring have earned $1,004,150.40 in reined cow horse earnings. Purchased in 2006 by a group of investors dubbed the Lenas Wright On Syndicate, the stallion that won the 1994 National Reining Horse Association Open Futurity found a forever home with the syndicate’s purchase when he moved to Crawford Stallion Station in Blanchard, Oklahoma. An

///// 2021 PRESIDENT’S AWARD RECIPIENT

National

Reined Cow Horse Association President Corey Cushing annually honors an individual that goes above and beyond to assist the membership and association, and in 2021 the recipient was Jeremy Olsen. The founder of Equine Promotion, best known as the video service provider at NRCHA premier events, began in the horse industry as a trainer. Now, though, his work focuses on serving NRCHA members through website and video support. Olsen was integral in the development and implementation of the CowHorse+ program that began during the 2021 NRCHA Stallion Stakes as the Draws, Scores and Results page. Today, the program includes entry verification, draws, nearlive time scoring and official NRCHA results. The program has raised the bar on expectations from members to communicate information during the premier events. To view CowHorse+, visit nrcha.com/cowhorseplus/.

earner of $105,000-plus himself, “Ned” was an American Quarter Horse Association Junior Working Cow Horse World Champion and Junior Reining Reserve World Champion. Lenas Wright On sired multiple successful reining and reined cow horses, but his highest-earner in the NRCHA is Hes Wright On, a 2003 bay stallion out of Shesa Lota Nic by Reminic, who earned more than $158,000 and titles that included the NRCHA Reserve World’s Greatest Horseman with Doug Williamson in the saddle.

Larry and Ellen Bell with Pam and MacKinnon Crawford accept their award.

MILLION DOLLARRIDER

TW OMILLION DOLLARRIDER

Jake Telford joins an elite, and small, club as he becomes the fourth National Reined Cow Horse Association trainer to become a $2 Million Dollar Rider. Telford, of Caldwell, Idaho, is no stranger to success in the show pen, but achieving this milestone only nine years after becoming an NRCHA Million Dollar Rider left the horseman speechless.

Over the course of his NRCHA career, Telford has earned multiple titles, including 2020 World’s Greatest Horseman Co-Reserve Champion aboard Sparktilion, owned by Michelle Cannon, and 2015 Snaffle Bit Futurity® Open Champion aboard Starlight Kisses, owned by Holy Cow Performance Horses. He achieved Million Dollar Rider status in 2012.

Ron Ralls became a National Reined Cow Horse Association

Million Dollar Rider following his Intermediate Open win aboard One Time Edition (One Time Pepto x PG Special Edition x Playgun) in the Tres Osos Cow Horse Derby at the 2021 Celebration of Champions show in Fort Worth, Texas. The two-time World’s Greatest Horseman and NRCHA Hall of Fame member achieved another goal in his lengthy reined cow horse career.

Ralls’ career has spanned three decades, with his first recorded earnings in 1987, and his first entry into the Open Bridle class at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® in 1995, riding Infant Dial. Since that initial $400 won cutting, Ralls has ridden horses to top honors in every major NRCHA event, from futurity and derby-aged horses in snaffle bits, to hackamore and two-rein titles, to bridle-aged champions.

The Gainesville, Texas, based horseman thanks his wife, Patty Ralls, for keeping him rolling down the road. Achieving Million Dollar Rider status, Ralls joins 19 others in the NRCHA Million Dollar Club.

Telford’s earnings sum going into the 2021 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity, presented by Metallic Cat, was $2,009,625.86.

Joining only three others as a $2 Million Dollar Rider— Todd Crawford, achieving in 2011; Todd Bergen, achieving in 2015; Corey Cushing, achieving in 2018—Telford is part of small group of riders, but an impactful one. The NRCHA congratulates Jake Telford on this achievement!

PULSEVET

The Basics and Benefits of Shock Wave Therapy for Horses.

By PHOEBE BROWN

Originally published in The Plaid Horse. Reprinted with permission.

Horses carry the dreams, hopes, and goals of equestrians in all disciplines. Riders, owners, trainers, veterinarians, farriers, and countless others work hard to put horse welfare first. In the equine industry, various modalities are used to maintain the health and well-being of horses, including shock wave therapy.

The term shock wave is a bit of a misnomer because there is no shock delivered. The goal of any treatment is to reduce pain and improve how horses feel and heal. However, while many therapies appear similar to shock wave, they are all vastly different.

While shock wave therapy offers many health and healing benefits to horses, PulseVet’s Director of Client Education, Trudy Gage, says, “Not all shock wave is the same, and not all shock wave is created equal. Find one that is made in the U.S. and backed by science.”

Understanding shock wave therapy and where to find licensed veterinarians providing this treatment are added tools in the horse welfare toolbox.

SHOCK WAVE THERAPY BASICS

According to the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), shock wave therapy for horses, or extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), is a noninvasive treatment option which

uses sound waves to promote the healing of joints, ligaments, tendons, and wounds.

It is completely noninvasive. Instead of going straight to invasive procedures, such as injections, licensed veterinarians can deliver a safe and effective treatment that helps the horse’s body regenerate healthy tissue to promote healing from within, shock wave treatment has no negative side effects.

“Protect your

horse

and your

pocketbook.

Know what you’re

paying for because the results will not be the same if you go with an unproven, not covered treatment.”

—Trudy Gage, Director of Client Education

The goals of shock wave therapy include increasing blood flow, improving the growth of new blood vessels, providing pain relief, reducing inflammation, and promoting a healing environment in the treated area.

HOW SHOCK WAVE THERAPY W ORKS

Shock wave treatment is provided using a machine that has a trode attached to a generator unit. The unit sends the

sound waves directly to the treatment area through the trode. Typically, there are several trode sizes that penetrate different depths of tissue. This gives the veterinarians the ability to treat various indications from superficial injuries to deep injuries of the muscles, joints, or even the spine.

Because of the high-energy treatments and immediate pain relief offered, only licensed veterinarians should prescribe treatment. Be aware of anyone claiming to provide a shock wave treatment who is not a veterinarian.

Check with your governing body regarding regulations on shock wave therapy treatments before and during competition.

CONDITIONS TREATED BY SHOCK WAVE THERAPY

This type of therapy can be used for acute injuries, chronic conditions, and as a prophylactic for general wellness. Numerous studies have proven the effectiveness of shock wave therapy. Many common equine conditions (acute or chronic) benefit from shock wave therapy, including:

• Tendonitis

• Ligament injuries and inflammation

• Osteoarthritis

• Fractures and bone injuries

• Navicular disease

• Muscle pain

• Wounds

Shock wave therapy can also be used to help avoid injury, maintain elasticity in tendons and ligaments, and promote overall wellness.

In fact, PulseVet is the official shock wave therapy provider for the US Equestrian Team Vets, the NCHA, NRCHA, NSBA, and Super Sires.

THE PULSEVET SHOCK WAVE DIFFERENCE

PulseVet uses electrohydraulic-focused shock waves to deliver treatments that can reach tissue depths up to 110 millimeters, offering effective anti-inflammatory benefits, regenerative healing to spinal joints and deep muscles. While therapies utilizing light waves can help with healing, the light is dispersed across a superficial area and cannot penetrate deep tissue. Gage describes the effect like this: “When a light is shined into a pool at night, it does not reach the bottom and dissipates quickly. However, a sound made underwater at one end of the pool can be heard at the opposite side clearly.

Water (and tissue) carries sound waves effectively.”

Because PulseVet’s studied and proven electrohydraulic-focused shock waves can treat noninvasively and effectively, veterinarians only need to treat horses between one and three times, with treatments spaced out in 14 day intervals.

PULSEVET BENEFITS

The healing effects of PulseVet’s therapies include:

• 90% success in treating chronic back pain and kissing spines

• Faster healing of tendon/ligament injuries

• 81% improvement in horses with navicular syndrome

• 50% faster healing of collateral ligament injuries

Additionally, PulseVet treatments offer:

• One to three treatments for full healing

• An average treatment is 1000 pulses, which takes less than 5 minutes to complete

• Energy penetration of up to 110mm in the body

PulseVet’s shock wave treatments are generally included as a fully covered therapy with equine insurance.

With results lasting several months and insurance covering the cost, shock wave therapy is a trusted, cost-effective treatment.

As Gage says, “Protect your horse and your pocketbook. Know what you’re paying for because the results will not be the same if you go with an unproven, not covered treatment.”

USING PULSEVET TO GAIN GREATER HEALING

PulseVet’s products are made in the USA with quality materials. If a repair is needed, veterinarians can count on PulseVet to address and solve the issue promptly.

PulseVet also offers a Vet Locator online to find licensed veterinarians in their area who provide this type of treatment.

Shock wave therapy helps promote healing naturally within the body, slowing the progression of arthritis, and bringing in the good proteins to aid in cells talking to each other. Horses carry more than riders; they carry hopes, dreams, and joy. Keeping them healthy and pain-free is an important job that takes a team of dedicated people. Learn more about how PulseVet starts the healing process by contacting a PulseVet representative today at (800) 245-4417 or info@pulsevet.com.

Read more about the research at: www.pulsevet.com/research/equine.

Dr. Molly Bellefeuille treating a horse’s back.

SPLIT REIN SELECTION

Use these tips to choose between doubled and stitched and harness leather reins.

One of my favorite questions to answer for riders is “Which split reins are best for training and riding my colts?” When choosing between doubled and stitched, and harness leather reins, you must consider the functionality of each type, personal preferences, hand size, the colt’s size and the climate in which you ride.

Doubled and stitched reins are made by cutting two leather strips of equal length and width for each rein. After preparatory steps that include adding leather to the tail ends for weight, one strip is placed on top of the other (doubled), and the two pieces are tightly stitched together. The reins are edged, rubbed, oiled and rubbed again for a smooth, clean finish. Doubled and stitched reins come in a variety of weights, widths and lengths, and can be made entirely of latigo leather or with harness leather on one side and latigo leather on the other.

Harness leather reins are cut from hides that are thicker and heavier in the neck and hind ends compared to the rest of the hide. The entire length of each hide is cut with the thicker, heavier areas becoming the tail and bit ends of the split reins, which makes them naturally weighted. Like doubled and stitched reins, harness leather reins are cut and finished in a variety of widths and lengths, so you can select the reins that works best for you and your colts.

The width of rein you choose depends on the size of your hands and how the reins feel in your hands. Although this is personal preference, genreally narrower widths work well for people with smaller hands, medium widths fit almost everyone and riders with larger hands or who want a wide rein to train in prefer wider reins.

The height of the colts you ride and the amount of slack you like to have in your reins are key factors when choosing rein length. For colts in training that are 14.2 hands and smaller, I recommend reins approximately 7-foot long reins. For colts taller than 14.2 hands, reins that are between 7 and 7 foot, 9 inches work well. These lengths should provide excellent communication with your horse, and the weight in

the tail ends of the reins will keep them in place during quick starts and turns. The reins will also have good balance out of the back of your hands.

Another key factor in rein selection is the climate in which you live and ride. In freezing weather, doubled and stitched latigo reins stay more flexible than harness leather reins. In moderate to warm climates, either rein works well.

No matter the type of reins you choose, quality reins will only get better with use as the sweat and oil from your horses and your hands work into the leather. In time, they will also come to fit your hands like your favorite gloves.

///// MEET DENNIS MORELAND

www.dmtack.com

JACKIE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President: Corey Cushing Vice President: Paul Bailey

Secretary: Todd Crawford Treasurer: Trey Neal Executive Committee: Todd Bergen, Joe Carter, Boyd Rice Frank Prisco Diane Edwards Amanda Gardiner Dan Roeser Jon Roeser Jake Telford Cayley Wilson

COMMITTEE DIRECTORY

AFFILIATES

Chairperson: Frank Prisco archapresident@gmail.com 631-478-7022

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

HALL OF FAME

Chairperson: Dan Roeser roeserstables@gmail.com 208-841-2052

HORSE SALES

Chairperson: Todd Crawford toddcrawford333@gmail.com

STAFF

Executive Director: Anna Morrison anna@nrcha.com

Communications Manager: Kate Byars kate@nrcha.com

JUDGES

Chairperson: Boyd Rice boydrice1965@gmail.com • 806-282-8113

Director of Judges: Bill Enk enk.bill@gmail.com

NRCHA FOUNDATION

Chairperson: MJ Isakson mj@nrchaf.com

NOMINATING

Chairperson: Jon Roeser tanyaroeser@yahoo.com

NON PRO

Chairperson: Diane Edwards Diane2bph@outlook.com • 206-390-0715

OWNERS

Chairperson: Linda McMahon maclin@earthlink.net • 415-269-5563

PROFESSIONALS

Chairperson: Cayley Wilson cayleyrwilson@gmail.com • 604-300-0401

RULES

Chairperson: Dan Roeser roeserstables@gmail.com • 208-841-2052

SHOWS

Co-Chairperson: Todd Bergen tbergenhorses@gmail.com 541-778-0980

Co-Chairperson: Boyd Rice boydrice1965@gmail.com • 806-282-8113

SPONSORSHIP

Chairperson: Anna Morrison anna@nrcha.com • 940-488-1495

STALLION SERVICE AUCTION

Chairperson: Garth Gardiner gardinergarth@gmail.com • 620-635-5632

STRATEGIC PLANNING

Chairperson: Anna Morrison anna@nrcha.com • 940-488-1495

YOUTH

Chairperson: Sarah Clymer shubrick3@gmail.com • 719-330-1932

Programs Manager: Elizabeth Ellis elizabeth@nrcha.com

Premier Event Manager: Emily Konkel emily@nrcha.com

Accounting Manager: Kasydi Valentine kasydi@nrcha.com

Alberta Reined Cow Horse Association

Terri Holowath

250, 200 Quarry Park Blvd SE Calgary AB T2C 5E3 CANADA

Phone: 403-652-8206

Email: info@cowhorse.ca Website: www.cowhorse.ca

Arizona Reined Cow Horse Association

Bronwyn McCormick

28150 N Alma School Pkwy Ste 103-520 Scottsdale, AZ 85262

Phone: 480-510-0974

Email: info@azrcha.com Website: www.azrcha.com

Atlantic Reined Cow Horse Association

Lia Savas

53 Deerpath Rd

Central Islip, NY 11722

Phone: 631-766-0155

Email: LiaARCHA@gmail.com

Website: www.atlanticRCHA.com

Australian Reined Cow Horse Association

Jay Gordon

359 Duri-Dungowan Rd

Tamworth, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA 2340

Phone: +61 490 915094

Email: archa@outlook.com.au

Website: www.cowhorseaustralia.com

California Reined Cow Horse Association

Stacy Duesterhaus 15169 Road 223 Porterville, CA 93257

Phone: 559-999-8146

Email: califcowhorse@gmail.com Website: www.californiacowhorse.com

Central Montana Reined Cow Horse Association

Jill Roberts

1521 Parr Creek Ln

Lewistown, MT 59457

Phone: 406-538-7564

Email: vjroberts@hughes.net

Website: www.cmrcha.com

Colorado Reined Cowhorse Association

MJ Anderson PO Box 88 Trinidad, CO 81082

Phone: 719-963-4770

Email: coloradocowhorse@gmail.com

Website: www.coloradoreinedcowhorse.com

AFFILIATE LISTING

Current as of November 1, 2021

European Reined Cow Horse Association

Augusto De Fazio

via Natalia Ginzburg

1 - 11015 Ivrea (TO) ITALY

Phone: +(39) 338 8860657

Email: ercha@hotmail.it

Website: www.ercha.org

Gem State Stock Horse Association

Callee Miller

301 Market Rd

Caldwell ID 83607

541-519-4748

Cowhorse22@gmail.com

Website: www.gemstatestockhorse.com

Gulf Coast Cow Horse Association

Andres Sanchez 10227 Pittman Rd

Sarasota, FL 34240

Phone: 561-248-1437

Email: andresGCCHA@gmail.com

Website: www.gulfcoastcowhorse.com

Idaho Reined Cow Horse Association

Paxton Deal

509 S 2nd St

Homedale, ID 83628

Phone: 208-880-9066

Email: paxtondeal@gmail.com

Website: www.idahoreinedcowhorse.com

Italian Reined Cow Horse Association

Laura Ruffino ercellino

ia rilloni

22100 Como ITALY

Phone: +39 347 26 22 783

Email: segreteria.ircha@gmail.com

ebsite: https: nrchaofitaly.com

Magic Valley RCHA

Nikki Francis

3644 N 3300 E

Kimberly ID 83341

Phone: 208-539-5410

Email: vpnikki@gmail.com

Website: www.intermountaincircuit.org

Mid State Cow Horse Association

Sharon Michelucci

2500 Adobe Rd

Paso Robles CA 9344

Phone: 805-835-5014

Email: info@midstatecowhorseassociation.com

Website: www.midstatecowhorseassociation.com

Montana Reined Cow Horse Futurity, Inc

Margaret Ore PO Box 1604

East Helena, MT 59635

Phone: 406-227-7019

Email: more@mt.net

Website: www.montanareinedcowhorse.com

Nevada Reined Cow Horse Association

Aubree Englert 6600 W Rome Blvd

Las e as, N Phone: 702-290-4231

Email: aubree.rcha@gmail.com

Website: www.nvrcha.org

New York Reined Cow Horse Association

Lesa Didas

206 Main St Hornell, NY 14843

Phone: 843-441-0618

Email: lisasykes@yahoo.com

Website: www.newyorkrcha.com

North Central Reined Cow Horse Association

Jim Wilson

2409 25th Ave

Rice Lake, WI 54868

Phone: 641-420-0440

Email: wilson@myomnitel.com

Website: www.ncrcha.com

Northeastern Reined Cowhorse Alliance

Mary Baks

13 Maple Hill Rd RR #2 alkerton, N N CANADA

Phone: 519-881-8684

Email: info@walkertonequine.ca Website: www.nercha.ca

Northwest Reined Cow Horse Association

Diane Edwards PO Box 260

Maple alley, A

Phone: 206-390-0715

Email: diane2bph@outlook.com

Website: www.nwrcha.com

Panhandle Reined Cow Horse Association

Lane Arnold PO Box 1053 Canyon, TX 79015

Phone: 806-341-0941

Email: panhandlecowhorse@gmail.com

Website: www.panhandlecowhorse.com

South Dakota Reined Cow Horse Association

Deb Brown PO Box 655 Buffalo, SD 57720

Phone: 605-797-4514

Email: nphorses@sdplains.com Website: www.sdrcha.com

South Texas Reined Cow Horse Association

Tina McCleary 5290 Hearne Rd Bryan, TX 77808

Phone: 979-218-0633

Email: southtexasrcha@gmail.com Website: www.strcha.org

Southern California Reined Cow Horse Association

Shelley Schaffer

33175 Temecula Pkwy Ste A, 754 Temecula, CA 92592

Phone: 858-722-5995

Email: smal4joy@gmail.com Website: www.scrcha.com

AFFILIATE LISTING

Southern Reined Cow Horse Alliance

Larry Westmoreland PO Box 143 Tickfaw, LA 70466

Phone: 985-320-5058

Email: larry.westwindtc@gmail.com Website: www.srchala.com

Southwest Reined Cow Horse Association

Gay Lenz 11587 Hunt Lane Guthrie, OK 73044

Phone: 405-818-7556

Email: glenz@glenzenterprises.com Website: www.srcha.org

Swedish Reined Cow Horse Association

Silvio Wirth

Kyrkbyn Backagarden 1 SE-512 62 Mardaklev., Sweden

Phone: +46 70 676 7642

Email: styrelsen@srcha.eu

Website: www.srcha.eu

Utah Reined Cow Horse Association

Nikki Francis 3644 N. 3300 E. Kimberly, ID 83341

Phone: 208-539-5410

Email: vpnikki@gmail.com Website:www.urcha.org

NRCHA Suspended List

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 char e of . per month 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.

Current as of November 1, 2021

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

Roy Hockensmith, Frankfort, KY

Brian & Cynthia Holthouse, San Juan Bautista, CA

Rita F. Ward, Canyon, TX

Darren Roberts, Kent, NY