2024 November/December RCHN

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL REINED COW HORSE ASSOCIATION

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024

VOLUME 29, NO. 6

He Did It! CHRIS DAWSON won

his first NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® with LIFE BY THE DROP.

COMPLETE SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY® COVERAGE

//////////// FOOTING MAINTENANCE TIPS

NRCHA.COM

Mark your Calendars for 2025!

Celebration of Champions: February 15–March 1

W HAT TO LOOK FOR

ONLINE

World’s Greatest Horseman® Finals: March 1 Stallion Stakes: April 3–12 Hall of Fame Banquet: April 11 Western Derby: May 29–June 8 Hackamore Classic: July 21–27 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®: October 3–18

Did you miss the action in Fort Worth?

Re-watch the Open and Non Pro finals online now with Horse&Rider OnDemand.

2025 RULE BOOK Be sure to view, download and review the 2025 Rule Book before you head to the show pen!

Find it at www.nrcha.com/ rule-book.

Volume 29, 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: Boyd Rice | Vice President: Paul Bailey | Secretary: Todd Crawford | Treasurer: Trey Neal Executive Director: Emily Konkel | Director of Communications & Media: Callie Boevers Director of Judges: Bill Enk | Director of Programs: Tara Carter | Director of Sponsorship & Outreach: Jordan Tierney Premier Event Manager: Tina McCleary | Incentive Program & Marketing Manager: Patty Tiberg Membership Coordinator: Ashley Valor | Shows Coordinator: Taylor Meek | Accounting Associate: Marilee Nies Official NRCHA Photographer: Primo Morales | Official NRCHA Videographer: Equine Promotion

REINED COW HORSE NEWS Vice President: John Lunn | Editor: Jennifer Paulson | Managing Editor: Jennifer Denison Production Manager: Sherry Brown | Art Director: Susan Sampson Advertising Sales: Savanah Allen, 817-569-7106, savanah.allen@cowboypublishing.com Sales Customer Service Manager: Kaitlyn Woodman, 817-569-7114, kaitlyn.woodman@cowboypublishing.com Advertising, Fax 817-737-9633 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.

2 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

That’s how long we’ve been building boots. And we don’t just attach our name to some boots made by someone else. We pour our hearts into building them, from the ground up, in our own family-owned factories, filled with talented craftsmen whose skills have been passed down through generations.

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024 | VOLUME 29, NUMBER 6

FEATURES

ABIGAIL BOATWRIGHT

52

Arena Grooming and Maintenance Footing can make or break your training session or your run at an event. Learn a few ins and outs here.

62

Aptitude Test Determining your horse’s chosen discipline starts early on in their career. Trainer Cayley Wilson shares how he evaluates a horse’s proclivity for reined cow horse events.

76

Spotlighting the Braiders The Saddle House created a unique contest called the Makers’ Showcase to highlight hackamore braiders during the 2024 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®.

REINED COW HORSE NEWS | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024 5

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024

DEPARTMENTS 10 From the President 16 From the Judge’s Chair 18 From the NRCHYA 22 From the Foundation

EVENT COVERAGE 2024 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Presented by Metallic Cat

82 Open Futurity 96 Non Pro Futurity 114 President’s Award of the Year, 118 Assistant Presented by Rafter P Construction

CIRCLE UP

122 Rodear Dogs 128 Cowboy Class 134 Horse Show Headliners

28 NRCHA News PRIMO MORALES

MEMBER ROUNDUP

18

Snaffle Bit Futurity® 144 NRCHA Western Bloodstock Sales

Connection: 40 Cowboy Ben Lard

American Rope Horse 150 Futurity Association

MEMBER RESOURCES Committee 154 NRCHA Directory

156 Affiliate List 157 Suspended Member List Sanctioned 160 NRCHA Events

On the Cover:

6 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

82

PRIMO MORALES

40

KATE BRADLEY BYARS

Life By The Drop took Chris Dawson to his first-ever NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Open Championship for owners Holy Cow Performance Horses TX LLC. Photo by Primo Morales.

This influencer withstands the test of time.

Smooth As A Cat’s profound effect on the industry started early on, and today we still see his impact. Over the past 12 months, these performers represent Smooth As A Cat’s bloodline. They are either sired by Smooth As A Cat, out of one of his daughters, or sired by one of his sons.

2023 NCHA FUTURITY 6 CHAMPIONS 7 RESERVE CHAMPIONS 8 Semi-Finalists, including 5 in the Open 52 Finalists, including 2 in the Open

2024 NCHA SUPER STAKES 6 CHAMPIONS 4 RESERVE CHAMPIONS 99 Finalists

2024 BREEDER’S INVITATIONAL 9 CHAMPIONS 7 RESERVE CHAMPIONS 31 Finalists

2023 NRCHA FUTURITY

1 CHAMPION 5 RESERVE CHAMPIONS including the Open Reserve Champion out of a Smooth As A Cat daughter 25 Finalists

2024 NCHA SUMMER SPECATULAR 1 CHAMPION 3 RESERVE CHAMPIONS 44 Finalists These 4 major shows alone, represent earnings of 1,205,943.39 from Smooth As A Cat’s bloodline.

2023 NRCHA NATIONAL STANDINGS

15 In the top 10 including 1 in the top 5 for Hackamore Open

2023 NRCHA CELEBRATION OF CHAMPIONS

2 RESERVE CHAMPIONS 10 Finalists

2024 NRCHA WORLD’S GREATEST HORSEMAN

3 CHAMPIONS, including the Hackamore Non Pro Champion out of a Smooth As A Cat daughter, and Bridle Open Champion by Smooth As A Cat 2 RESERVE CHAMPIONS 18 Finalists

2024 THE AMERICAN HORSEMAN

WORKING COW HORSE OPEN CHAMPION

2024 NRCHA STALLION STAKES

2 CHAMPIONS 1 RESERVE CHAMPION 16 Finalists

• LTE $500,037.51 • NCHA Horse of the Year • NCHA Hall of Fame Horse • The ONLY NCHA Horse of the Year to sire 2 OPEN Horses of the Year • The MOST AFFORDABLE sire on the NCHA list of top sires.

Currently ranked by Equi-Stat in the top 5 All-Time Leading Sires, we will see that time will only boost his accomplishments as future generations contribute to his ongoing legacy.

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A Family Legacy Congratulations

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FROM THE PRESIDENT Constant learning leads to constant improvement and growth.

CAROLYN SIMANCIK

Boyd Rice, NRCHA President

10 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

IF THERE’S ONE THING training horses has taught me, it’s that if I ever quit learning, I’ll quit getting better. I’m always training my horses to get better or to keep them where they are. I’m sure you’ve experienced that as a horseman or horsewoman, too. We also see that in our premier events, as was evident at this year’s NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®—we keep learning, and the event keeps getting bigger and better!

One of the best ways to keep learning is to align yourself with people who challenge you, push you past your perceived limits and help you further your learning. We see this with everyone involved in an event and in every aspect of it. As we improve our breeding selection and sale preparation, our NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Western Bloodstock Sales keep improving, both in dollars and in horse flesh presented for sale. When we trainers and non pros learn from each other and keep expanding our knowledge, our horses look and perform better in all events, from the 3-year-old classes to the bridle classes. Our judges continue their education, too, so they can separate these exceptional horses and get them placed in the correct spots. Altogether, our breeders, trainers, riders and judges keep getting better and better, which allows our events to continue to improve.

In all of this, we can’t forget our dedicated NRCHA staff and contractors who help put on such a massive production. They continue to step it up for a seamless, entertaining show that keeps fans and those deeply involved in our sport in their seats throughout every finals. They continue to learn from other events, both inside and outside our industry, so we can keep showing, competing and winning.

Thanks to all who made the 2024 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® a memorable one, and congrats to all our champions and everyone who exhibited. Let’s keep working together to get better for our horses, ourselves and our sport!

Thank You Sellers & Buyers!

For Making

Your FOUNDATION Tuffer Than Metal

2024 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Reserve Co-CHAMPION! Owner Sandhill Steuter Ranch LLC Rider Veronica Swales

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Selling Horses that Go the Distance!

2024 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Sales

R ecords Set & R esults Delivered!

RBS Cleocatra

$162,000

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Rocking BS Ranch Buyer Cooper Smith

Sparklet $100,000 Seller Ty Smith Buyer Jay McLaughlin

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Overall Average $30,453 Top 10 Average $110,800

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FROM THE JUDGE’S CHAIR

Let’s recognize a winning run and break down the purpose and rules of the Box Drive class

C

onsistency in all three disciplines was the name of the game at the 2024 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®. Chris Dawson managed and showed his horse at a consistently high level but also left enough gas in the tank to make a strong fence work with credit-earning circles to finish their run. That’s not always easy to do. Job well done, and congratulations, Chris!

The Box Drive class was created to give boxing exhibitors another chance to show their horses and advance their expertise without actually running and turning their horses on the fence. Because it’s a fairly new class, it’s taken some time to develop our basic rules and penalties so that they are simple and easy for everyone to understand and judge.

First and foremost, in all cow events, control is the key. Position, control and form throughout the run are where credit is earned, and the Box Drive class is no different. Rate, stop and turn are the basis for the first boxing phase. The more the exhibitor can exhibit these three traits in the middle half of the end fence, the more chance for credit.

Setting up for the rate phase on the run down the fence is key for credit. When exiting the first boxing phase, the exhibitor should have his horse connected and close enough to the cow to control the pace and position when starting down the fence. Rating in good position is basically matching the speed of the cow.

The more the horse can do this on its own without too much resistance, the better. The exhibitor should release the cow to the second boxing phase before they get too close to the end fence. This gives the cow some relief and allows the exhibitor to set up the horse for this boxing phase. Done right, a couple of turns each way will show position and control. The challenge then is to get in the same kind of position to control rate as on the first fence rate.

16 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

“

The more the horse can do this on its own without too much resistance, the better.” — Bill Enk Finishing the run with the horse close enough to the cow to exhibit rate and control is a must for a winning-type run. Reading the cow correctly and “staying ahead” of the run is very important for success in the Box Drive class. It’s fun!

COMMONLY MISUNDERSTOOD PENALTIES 1. When starting down the fence after the first boxing phase, if the cow doesn’t get to the center marker two times before circling back because the exhibitor isn’t in the correct position to drive the cow, they’ll be whistled out and a score of 60 will be given.

2. The cow is driven past the center marker on the run-and-rate phase. The cow immediately doubles back and breaks the plane of the middle marker without completing either the second boxing phase or the second run-and-rate. The judge must blow the whistle to end the run. A five-point penalty is assessed for failure to make at least one boxing turn on the second end, and a negative maneuver score is applied.

A negative maneuver score is earned on the second fence rate as well.

3. It’s up to the judge to whistle at the end of the run when the cow crosses the middle marker the second time in the direction of the first boxing phase.

4. New cattle can be awarded, but the exhibitor must be in position to earn one.

Bill Enk, NRCHA Director of Judges

FROM THE Special events for kids made for a memorable NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®.

A

16-day show can be a lot for a kid to endure. Heck, sometimes even a couple of days can be more than enough.

But this year’s NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® ensured that youths had fun, entertaining activities to keep them busy. Here’s a glimpse at a few of the special events designed just for the youths of our cow horse family. Thanks to the sponsors of our special youth events: Bet He Sparks, Corey Cushing Performance Horses, Davis Boots, Rafter P Construction and Nu One Time Blues.

The kids were off to the races in the Stick Horse Race.

In the Boot Race, kids scurried in socks or bare feet to grab a pair of boots and cross the finish line before the other competitors.

With the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® being held during the spooky month of October, the leadline class became a costume class.

The Youth Buckaroo event offered another opportunity for young cow horse competitors to ride with experienced adults in the arena.

The Cow Horsin’ Around class allowed beginners in cow horse to complete a pattern and box a cow with the guidance of an adult rider.

18 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

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by Smart Mate)

Fee: $4,500 + chute fee

(Playin Stylish - Tari Chick Gay,

by Doc Tari)

DOC SEAS WHISKEY

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

Fee: $2,000 + chute fee

QUAHADI

(Bet Hesa Cat - Ginnin Attraction,

by Tanquery Gin)

Fee: $2,000 + chute fee

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FINALS BOUND

(Dual Rey - Shes Twice As Smooth,

by Smooth As A Cat)

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ROYAL FLETCH*

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FROM THE A Night at the Stockyards surpassed all expectations.

Top: The first-ever Night at the Stockyards, hosted at Billy Bob’s Texas, put the NRCHA front and center to raise funds for the NRCHA Foundation, Cowboy Crisis Fund and youth scholarships.

Left: Nearly 500 guests purchased tickets to the event, which brought the cow horse family together for a night of fun and camaraderie.

T

he cow horse family rallied to support the NRCHA Foundation at our inaugural Night at the Stockyards, held during the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®. We had a large turnout in attendance with almost 500 guests and supporters donating more items to the silent and live auctions than we ever predicted. To say it was a success is an understatement. We raised $135,000, after all expenses were accounted for, which will go toward our NRCHA Cowboy Crisis Fund and youth scholarships.

At the event, attendees were treated to a cocktail hour sponsored by Ray Shell Ranch and a delicious buffet dinner, a perfect break after being at a horse show for nearly two weeks. We presented the NRCHA President’s Award to Jim Kiser (see page 114), the first-ever Assistant Trainer of the Year Award, presented to Shannon Green by Rafter P Construction (see page 118) and the first-ever Youth Merit Scholarship to Calista Radintz from the North Central Region. Radintz is involved in many community

22 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

activities including organizing a service project for Eagle’s Healing Nest, a community for veterans who struggle with PTSD, anxiety, and depression. She also volunteers with Letters of Love to make cards for children in hospitals, is a tutor and mentor at a local middle school and is a member of her school’s coalition that works to reduce youth substance abuse and promotes a healthy lifestyle. Guests also heard from Chelsea Edsall, NRCHA six-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Foundation Chairperson bareback qualifier J.R. Vezain, who sustained a life-altering injury in the rodeo arena but now aspires to be a cow horse champion.

To everyone who purchased tickets, donated items to the silent and live auctions, and those who bought items to support our cause, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Left to right, top to bottom: Artist and NRCHA member Josey Butler captured attention with her live painting, which later brought $5,500 in the live auction for the Foundation.

Six-time NFR bareback qualifier J.R. Vezain sustained a rodeo-related injury that forever changed his life. He shared his insights and perspective—and goals to win in the cow horse pen—with attendees.

The silent auction featured tables of unique items, including experiences, tack, jewelry and photography sessions.

The live auction included luxury suites for the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Open Finals, a Longhorn steer and more.

A Night at the Stockyards turned up the dial for a unique gala event that brought exhibitors, breeders, owners, fans and sponsors together for one night during the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®.

Kadee Coffman and Jayson Jackson emceed the evening’s proceedings.

REINED COW HORSE NEWS | November/December 2024 23

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REINED COW HORSE NEWS | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024 27

///////// CIRCLE UP

PASSING OF A LEGEND

Peptoboonsmal not only left his mark on the reined cow horse industry with nearly $3 million in offspring earnings but also on the hearts of everyone he met, especially those at Aaron Ranch.

28 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

N

RCHA announces Justin Wright as the second NRCHA Three Million Dollar Rider after qualifying three horses for the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Open Finals.

Wright, 38, of Santa Maria, California, earned his first NRCHA check as a non pro in 2001 and his first money as an open competitor in 2009. During the 2019 NRCHA Celebration of Champions, Wright crossed the million-dollar threshold.

In 2021, Wright piloted Zak 34 (Woody Be Tuff x Cat Digs Lucinda x High Brow Cat) to the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Open Championship. Purchased at the 2020 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Sale by the grieving Fischer family after the loss of son Seth “Zak” Fischer, Wright recalled the horse was special all along and that the win might’ve been overshadowed by the emotion of the night.

Just one year later in 2022 at the Western Derby, Wright surpassed two million in NRCHA Lifetime Earnings after making the finals on four horses, finishing reserve champion on Zak 34. From there, his success continued. Wright and Scooter Kat (Kit Kat Sugar x Scooters Daisy Dukes x Dual Smart Rey) topped the Cow Horse Challenge at The Run For A Million in 2023. He’s landed in the top five of the NRCHA annual earnings list the past two years, earning spots in The American Performance Horseman. With his 2024 earnings, he’ll be invited again in 2025.

When speaking about Wright’s success in the cow horse pen, one can’t overlook the effect of Scooter Kat and Wright’s partnership. Together, they’ve earned over $500,000, with Scooter Kat’s earnings accounting for over 15% of Wright’s 3 million.

“We’re incredibly proud to see our riders continue to raise the bar as they compete in NRCHA events,” shared NRCHA Executive Director Emily Konkel.

“Justin Wright’s accomplishments add to our sport’s legacy and demonstrate the exceptional talents of our riders.”

Learn more about NRCHA’s Million Dollar Riders at nrcha.com.

PRIMO MORALES

A

t the end of October, the Aaron Ranch lost influential stallion Peptoboonsmal (Peppy San Badger x Royal Blue Boon x Boon Bar) from age complications. As of August 2024, the 1992 red roan Quarter Horse had more than $2.7 million in NRCHA offspring earnings. He won the 1995 National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Futurity with Gary Bellenfant.

The Aarons began breeding to the stallion to add refinement and quick-footedness to their Blue Valentine mares while maintaining bone, cow sense and color. After meeting the quirky horse in person and thinking about him nonstop, Lori Aaron realized She needed to own him. The Aarons purchased then-22-year-old stallion Peptoboonsmal from Jackson Land & Cattle and brought him home to give him the champion’s retirement he deserved, including all the peppermints and tongue scratches he wanted from his people.

WRIGHT CROSSES $3 MILLION

Justin Wright and Scooter Kat’s special connection has led the pair to earn more than $625,000 in NRCHA Lifetime Earnings.

///////// CIRCLE UP

MARKEL SPONSORS NRCHA COW HORSE INCENTIVE

N

RCHA recently launched the NRCHA Cow Horse Incentive to allow breeders to reap the benefits of producing top-notch stock while also increasing the purses of the Open, Non Pro and Non Pro Boxing divisions of the NRCHA Stallion Stakes, held in Las Vegas, Nevada. Markel, a leader in equine insurance, recognizes the innovation this incentive offers and has joined as a presenting sponsor of the NRCHA Cow Horse Incentive.

“We are excited to continue our long-standing collaboration with the National Reined Cow Horse Association,” shared Markel Senior Director of Western Disciplines Frank Costantini. “Over the years, NRCHA has made many historic moves while not forgetting about traditions that have been well established over the last 75 years.

Markel has moved in a similar fashion. Evolving over time as a global specialty insurance provider, we have continued to develop new strategies while keeping our commitment to the horse industry and continuously providing insurance solutions to horse and farm owners as well as equine professionals. We can easily align with NRCHA’s mission to serve its members as well as with the new Cow Horse Incentive, which is geared to recognize stallions, support foal nominations, and ultimately produce larger purses for the owner and exhibitor alike.”

Cow Horse Incentive Program Manager Patty Tiberg recognized the connection between Markel’s mission and NRCHA’s from her first day in the position.

“I knew from Day One that Markel would be the perfect fit to support this incentive,” she said. “We share a focus on these young horses, from insuring them from the time they’re born to giving them opportunities to earn large purses as they reach competition age to recognizing the breeders and stallion owners who help create the future of our sport. With more than 238 stallions already subscribed to this incentive, the sky is the limit for our young horses competing in the NRCHA Stallion Stakes, as well as those horses’ breeders and the stallion owners.”

Markel and NRCHA will jointly promote the NRCHA Cow Horse Incentive at events and horse sales across the country to build the incentive purse and share the benefits of the incentive.

“We remain passionate about horses and our business,” Costantini continued. “We are proud of all our long-term relationships with associations and show managers, as well as the network of horse insurance agents representing Markel exclusively who attend and support horse events nationwide. We appreciate the opportunity to continue to be the official equine insurance provider of NRCHA, and we look forward to servicing NRCHA members by providing insurance protection for their passion and lifestyle.”

To learn more about Markel’s horse and farm insurance products, visit markelhorseandfarm.com.

The NRCHA Stallion Stakes will be held April 3–12, 2025, at the iconic South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. To learn more about the NRCHA Cow Horse Incentive and the Stallion Stakes, visit nrcha.com.

30 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

2024 NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY ® OWNERS INCENTIVE FUND Thank you to these supporters contributing to the added money purse for the 2024 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®!

BMW Quarter Horses Larry & Kathy Barker Stuart Ranch Carol Rose/Shining Spark Bet Hesa Cat Syndicate Valley Equine Reproduction Hat 6 Ranch Ann Matthews Honeysuckle Rose Boutique Woodglen Investments Red Arrow Ranch LLC Steve and Lori Roseberry War Ponies Elite Paint Cowhorses Spahn Law Firm PLLC Moncrief Quarter Horses/ Kit and Charlie Moncrief Rocking Nine Four Ranch Shawn Hays Triple D Ranches

Jeff Smith's

PHONE

(972) 563-3300

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8486 FM 47 Wills Point, Point TX 75169

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NATIONAL REINED COW HORSE ASSOCIATION

MEMBER ROUNDUP Meet Our NRCHA Members

PRIMO MORALES

REINED COW HORSE NEWS | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024 39

///////// MEMBER ROUNDUP

COWBOY CONNECTION

Ben Lard connects how the XIT Ranch horses are used on the ranch to the horsemanship they need in the show pen.

INTERVIEW AND PHOTOS BY KATE BRADLEY BYARS

W

hile many ranches use mechanical horses to get the job done, at the XIT Ranch’s Rita Blanca division in Channing, Texas, horses are still the first choice to accomplish any task. Division Manager Ben Lard says the historic ranch’s reestablishment in the area may be young, but the traditional values shared between ranch owner Drew Knowles and himself are deep-rooted.

“We don’t like to use four-wheelers or side-by-sides to check water tanks or move cattle,” Lard said. “We try to do everything horseback, even moving from one place to another. We also train and handle cattle traditionally, though we do use dogs. Our training style is like the vaquero style of training, training bridle horses for ranch use and not necessarily the show pen. That means we put more emphasis on the roping side for the ranch. The horses we do show, we ranch on them.”

Lard, who originally started working with cutting horses in Phoenix, Arizona, before moving to work on a ranch in Colorado, has been headquartered in the Texas Panhandle for the last couple of years. The vast land allows for a lot of time horseback. The XIT Ranch has purchased several using horses, established show horses and has the stallion Kit Kat Sugar, and is breeding its own future herd.

Until he can throw a leg over an XIT-bred colt, Lard takes his ranch-honed horsemanship to the show arena in both NRCHA events and Ranch Horse Association of America competitions.

Ben Lard began his horse journey starting colts before working with cutting horses and then on ranches. Today, he starts colts and manages the XIT Ranch in Channing, Texas.

40 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

///////// MEMBER ROUNDUP

Q&A COWBOY CONNECTION Reined Cow Horse News: Why is it important for the XIT Ranch to be involved in cow horse competitions?

Ben Lard: Training horses for local shows is a goal, so the local RHAA shows are ideal.

Not all our ranch horses are the caliber to go to the big NRCHA shows, and our cowboys can go to those, too, so it’s a way to improve horsemanship on the ranch without forcing horsemanship on the cowboys.

If everybody is going to show, we don’t have to tell them how they’re doing; they’ll see the results in the show pen. It creates opportunities to improve and the desire to improve, which ranches struggle with.

Horsemanship improves safety on the ranch, the training and value of the horses, the cattle’s well-being, all of it, and that makes the ranch better for the cowboys and the ranch owner. Customers will buy our horses—our geldings that age out of our program—if they have better skills from the beginning. Horse shows are a great way to show a cowboy he needs to be better instead of telling him, because that doesn’t always go over well with a cowboy!

It’s been a great opportunity to compete in events and connect with other ranchers, too. I met R.A. Brown of the RA Brown ranch [at The Run For A Million Cowboy Heritage Ranch Challenge], and now we’re doing ranching deals, like leasing land, and while we probably would’ve met eventually, it was neat to connect there. There’s a cooperation between the King Ranch and us, and then last year, the 6666 Ranch did a clinic for the cowboys competing in the event. It was a good chance to meet the other cowboys. It’s fun to have competition, but more so, it fosters relationships between ranches.

RCHN: How do you feel that spotlighting the ranching community through NRCHA’s events helps both industries make better horses?

42 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

Lard: It shines a light back on the roots, showing ranch horses that can do everything in cow horse—short of sliding—while you’re out working on a ranch. That’s a little different than cutting, even. It does help us, for sure; to get a horse ready for cow horse makes an incredible ranch horse.

Many of the Open trainers have ranching backgrounds, which helps us. Matt Koch, for example, will come brand with us. He brought Smart Ladies Sparkle to brand, and he goes to show her. That helps us remember our horsemanship all day while we work if we see that a horse can do both.

RCHN: What motivates you to continue training, showing and riding in the traditional cow horse way?

Lard: I’ve always loved horses and training horses, so teaching a person or a horse is exciting for me. Training a horse is a great way to get to know yourself. Wherever your horse is struggling, if it’s impatient, then maybe you are impatient and are teaching them to do that. I feel like training horses is holding up a mirror, and the more horses I train, the more it helps me become a better person. If we can spread this culture of honor and respect the best we can, it’s important.

I think the horse-human relationship mirrors the relationship we have with God. I ride and train horses to get closer to God. That helps me stay motivated. I look forward to showing horses we’ve raised on the ranch, but we’re too young in the program. Our first horses bred are yearlings. Until then, I’m super grateful to be able to ride these super nice horses.

At the XIT Ranch headquarters in Colorado, Lard helped set up the horse program and the Wagyu cattle herd before moving to run the Rita Blanca Division in Texas.

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A LENA TIMES TWO A VINTAGE SMOKE ALL THAT BOON ANNIES SMART CAT ARA REBEL KING ARC SPARKIN CHICS ARMANI CAT BADBOONARISING BAMA JELLY BAMACAT BET HE SPARKS BET HESA BOON BET HESA CAT BET HESA SHINER BET YER A SMARTALLIC BLEAU BLIND SIDED BOB HES QUICK BOON TOO SUEN BOONIFIED BOONS REFLECTION BOWMANS METALLIC CAT BREYKIN BAD BROTHER JACKSON CALL ME MITCH CANT KICK A PLAYBOY CARIBBEAN CAT CAT FROM IPANEMA CATOLENA CASHIN IN CATS PAINTED ILLUSION CATS ROYAL BOON CATTALOU CD DIAMOND CD DYNA CEE CHECK YER METAL COLOR PROOF COOL GUITAR COOL N HOT COUNTIN HOT CHECKS CR GOTCHA COVERED CR HES A TUFF ONE CRACKLIN KAT CSR DUAL GLO CT SHOW ME YOUR GUNS DANDY CAT DEEPER SHADE OF BLU DELTA HELLCAT DOC SEAS WHISKEY DONT STOPP BELIEVIN DUAL DELTA REY DUAL EQUIS DUAL PEP DUAL R SMOKIN DUAL REYISH DUAL SMART REY DUALIN BLU MOON DUALIN BOON DYNAMITE DUNN IT FIDDLE AND STEEL

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FINALS BOUND FM COTTONWOOD GENUINE MASTERPIECE GOTTA GO GET IT GRACEFUL SMART CAT GUNNABEBIGTIME GUNNATRASHYA HALF TIME REPORT HASHTAG BLUES HASHTAGS HAZARDOUZ MATERIAL HENDRIXX HERE COMES THE BOON HES WRIGHT ON HESA BLUHADI HESA DUAL BET HICALIBER CAT HICKORY HOLLY TIME HIGH BROW CAT HIGH COST OF METAL HIRED GUN HOTT ROD HOTTISH HOTTISH METAL HQ HELLUVA CAT ITS TIME TO SMOKUM JANS REY CUATRO JOHNNYS LIL CASH JUDGE BOON KIT KAT SUGAR KR FANTALLICKA KREYZY HORSE LBR HANGEM LEGAL N TWISTED LONE WOOLF MAGGIC MIKE MAGICAL VOODOO MAGICALITY MARKED FOR GREATNESS MC COWHAMMER MEGICIAN METALLIC CASANOVA METALLIC CAT METALLIC CATTACK METALLIC CHROME METALLIC CHROME CAT METALLIC HEAVEN METALLIC MALICE METALLIC MASTERPIECE METALLIC REBEL METALLIC REY MINK METALLIC ROYAL MATE METALLIC SLAYER METALLIC SPARK METALLIC UNO METALLIC WIZARD METALLICS MVP METELES CAT METILION

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SHINEY OUTLAW SHINING CD LIGHT SHINING SPARK SJR DIAMOND MIST SJR SMOOTH CADILAC SJR TALKIN DIAMONDS SMART BOONS SMART CHIC OLENA SMART REYVOLUTION SMART WITH CHICKS SMOKINN SMOKNHOLLYWOOD SMOOTH AS A CAT SMOOTH TALKIN STYLE SNAPDRAGONS SNIPERR SPOOK N BOON SPOOKS GOTTA WHIZ SPOTS HEFF SPOTS HOTTIST STEVIE REY VON STILL SLIDIN DR STINGS COLOR STORYTELER STUNNED STYLIN METAL STYLISH METALLICA SUGARR DADDY SUN UN DUN SWEET LIL PEPTO SWING WIDE TAGGLINE TEE BOONE TEN THIRTY THE ANIMAL THE BOON THE DANE GER ZONE THE REYL MCCOY THE ROYALTY THIRD EDGE THIS CATS STRESSIN THIS CATT SHINES THIS ONE TIME THIS ONE TIME CAT TIME FOR THE DIAMOND TIME TO GLO TIN MAN TOMCAT CHEX TOTAL BLAM BLAM TRAVELIN JONEZ VALENTINES HICKORY VERY BLACK MAGIC WHISKI SAUER WIND HER UP NIC WOODY BE TUFF WR THIS CATS SMART YOR THE ONE ZAK 34

ARENA GROOMING

The condition of the arena’s footing matters whether you’re riding at home or at an NRCHA Premier Event. Learn best practices for maintaining it in this excerpt from Your Complete Guide to Equine Arenas.

AND M AINTENANCE Footing can make or break your training session or your run at a big event.

Learn a few ins and outs here.

This excerpt from Your Complete Guide to Equine Arenas by Abigail Boatwright is adapted and reprinted with permission from Trafalgar Square Books (trafalgarbooks.com).

52 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

DIAGRAMS COURTESY OF TRAFALGAR SQUARE BOOKS

Right: Bob Kiser uses two patterns to maintain Western performance horse arenas. In one of them, you alternate the direction you go each time you drag (left). In the other, you make continuous circles, followed by one complete round of the entire arena (right). These patterns are recommended for most Western events.

ABIGAIL BOATWRIGHT

E

very arena, from the most beautiful competition space to a backyard riding ring, needs proper maintenance to be usable for horses.

While specifics vary based on usage, type of riding on the surface, climate and composition of the footing, your maintenance should strive for a number of goals.

• A consistent and even top layer.

• A good ratio of materials in the mixture.

• A looser top layer without compaction.

• Consistent and correct moisture.

• Protection for the base and middle layers.

• No manure in the arena.

Bob Kiser, founder of Kiser Arena Specialists, says arena maintenance should address two main goals, and both of them involve safety: of the rider and safety of the horse. With improperly maintained

footing, the risk for injuries—and worse, fatalities—of horse and rider increases.

Here, you’ll learn more about regular arena maintenance and arena-care dos and don’ts to keep your arena and its footing in top shape for everyday riding and training from Kiser and Randy Snodgress, developer of the Arena Werks rotating harrow. You can also apply these tips to preparing the ground for safe competition.

REGULAR MAINTENANCE TECHNIQUES Go for a Walk Whether you’re your own maintenance crew or a rider—or both—Kiser recommends spending time each day walking on your arena footing.

“I can go to an arena, and walk across it, and I can tell you about what needs to be done,” Kiser says. “You can feel where there’s a spot where the ground is a little bit softer. That means there’s a hole in the base, or something is wrong there. You can

continue walking along and it gets really solid because you’re not going down into the dirt very much. That tells you the footing isn’t very deep.”

Kiser walks around arenas carrying a flat-nose shovel, and he uses it like a cane.

“I just keep sticking that shovel in the ground as I’m walking to see what it feels like, when I’m looking at someone’s arena to advise them,” he says.

If you feel like one spot is a little sandier, or there’s a hole, that can be dangerous. You want the footing to be as consistent as possible across the arena in all areas. When you struggle to walk across your arena, that’s a sign something needs to be changed about the footing. Maybe it’s too deep, maybe it needs more moisture or maybe the composition of the footing is incorrect.

“You shouldn’t have trouble walking in the arena,” Kiser says. “That’s why I always preach don’t just ride in your arena. Walk across it, see what it really feels like.”

REINED COW HORSE NEWS | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024 53

Drag Patterns The path you take to drag your arena doesn’t have to be complicated, and you don’t have to overdo it. Kiser says if your drag doesn’t level at the same time as it drags, it’ll make any uneven areas worse the more you drag.

“I basically only use two patterns, and they’re the same standard pattern that I use at a horse show,” Kiser says.

Kiser recommends alternating the direction in which you start your drag pattern. “If you went to the right this time, next time go to the left.”

Some arena drag manufacturers recommend a technique called “spin it out” where you drag in concentric circles. Kiser says this will push the dirt out to the perimeter, and he does not recommend this pattern.

Instead, make ovals. Avoid coming right up to the wall or fence when you make turns during your drag time.

Instead, make one last pass close to the wall before you leave the arena.

Snodgress says you should avoid dragging the exact same route every day.

“You don’t realize that when you turn the tractor, it’ll roll a little bit like a car does,” he explains. “It’ll lean through the curves. Even if it’s just an eighth of an inch, if you do that in the same spot every day for a year, you are going to create a hole there. That’s how you get rolls and waves in an arena.”

Instead, go down the middle of the arena and turn to the left some days and then go to the right the other days in a week. Circle from one end of your arena and then the other.

54 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

ABIGAIL BOATWRIGHT

Drag Speed Make sure you’re dragging at a reasonable speed. Dragging too fast can cause your tractor and drag to bounce out of the dirt and throw footing to the outside of the arena. The safety of the horse and rider depends on the arena footing; that’s why it’s important not to rush that care.

“You want that drag to be able to get in the arena and work, and keep the depth that you want so you don’t have to go super slow, either,” Snodgress says. “Our general rule of thumb is somewhere between 5 and 6 miles per hour, because the bit going out around the edges will smooth out a little bit better. If we need to do some fixing of the footing, we’ll slow down to maybe 4½ miles an hour so we can pay a little bit more attention.”

“Work the arena in different directions, so you’re moving that dirt different ways, instead of moving all the time in the exact same spots and creating problems,” Snodgress advises.

Water How often you water depends on a lot of factors, but the climate and temperature are two that have a big impact. Also, whether your ring is outdoors, covered or indoors. For example, an indoor arena experiences less evaporation than an outdoor. But a heated indoor arena has more evaporation than an unheated one.

Sometimes an arena needs more moisture when switching from one event to another. Cutting is one event where the moisture content needs to be higher than most other Western events. That’s why a water tank on top of a drag can be a real benefit, particularly at a horse show.

Dragging Frequency Maintaining an arena during an event is challenging because the maintenance crew has to work with show management and exhibitors to have enough time to do what’s needed to keep the footing in top shape.

But, for most home arenas, dragging once a day is sufficient. Kiser says if you’re only riding one or two horses, you can get by with dragging every other day, unless you need to water.

“For all-around horses, you can probably ride 25 or 30 horses before you really need to drag again,” he says. “[As compared to] reining, at one of those big facilities with two or three trainers—they’ll drag three times a day.”

Moisture content in an arena’s footing plays a critical role in its safety and efficacy. For cow horse, Kiser recommends 6% to 7% moisture.

MAINTENANCE CREW The person maintaining your arena has a critical job in preserving your investment in the arena itself, as well as your horse.

Make sure this person has adequate training on how to maintain the arena, as well as enough time to do the job correctly. Whenever possible, your maintenance team could include more than one person, as top-quality arenas require a significant amount of regular maintenance.

“In this book, you’ll find practical advice to help inform you as you work to build or maintain your own arena,” shared footing expert and contributor Bob Kiser.

Purchase your copy at trafalgarbooks.com.

Snodgress also recommends dragging frequently. Dragging your footing lifts the top layer and adds air to it, increasing the cushion. As the dirt sits overnight, it’ll settle and get firmer. Dragging infrequently (say, once a week), can also allow grass and weeds to gain a foothold—something Snodgress says is a challenge to any good arena.

“They’re a nightmare because they make everything ball up under your drag, and you can’t make the arena look nice,” Snodgress says. “So you really need to drag at least once a day.”

You can drag more than that when you see inconsistencies in the dirt. When there are lots of footprints, sliding-stop tracks, overworked areas, or dirt is getting pitted around a barrel or jump it’s time to drag.

ARENA CARE DON’TS

Don’t Use Your Arena as a Turnout An arena, especially an indoor, can be a tempting space for turnout because it’s often a safe, large enclosure, perhaps even covered in inclement weather. But turning a horse out in an arena means you’ll have significantly more manure ground into the footing, and if you feed your horse grain or hay while turned out, those hay stalks can also mix into the material. Feeding hay in an arena is one of Kiser’s biggest pet peeves when it comes to arena care.

“It’s the worst thing you can do,” Kiser says. “You throw it in one spot, so now you have a pile of hay in there that’s going to get caught up in your drag, and it’s a mess.”

Tying your horse along the arena rail is not good for the arena either, Kiser notes. This will damage your footing in that area in more ways than one.

“They’ll leave manure everywhere, and worse, they’ll paw at the ground,” Kiser says.

Don’t Let Manure Accumulate Poop happens, but that doesn’t mean you should let horse manure pile up in your arena. Besides contributing to bacteria in the arena, manure accumulations break down into dust.

When you’ve paid for a dust-free pen like a wax-covered sand footing, this defeats one of the biggest benefits to that footing choice.

Kiser says manure is one of the bigger enemies to a horse arena. Even if it degrades to becoming invisible, the hay

56 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

your horse or cattle digested will remain in the footing.

“You get enough organic matter, and the footing will start to pack more,” Kiser says. “Especially if you get too much moisture on your footing, that organic material from the manure will cause the footing to really bond together.”

Adding stall shavings and manure is even more detrimental.

“Some people will do that if the ground gets to packing down too hard, and they put some shavings in it,” Kiser says. “Yeah it works, but it isn’t too long till they’ve got a real mess in there that goes to decomposing, and you get an unpleasant dust out of it; that’s just not something you want to do.”

Don’t Longe in the Same Spot Longeing is an important part of many riding and training programs, but it can wreak havoc on your footing. The repetitive tight circles with a handler in the center can carve deep into the material, making grooves and resulting in an uneven surface.

If you have to longe your horse, do it in a round pen if one is available. If that’s not possible, and your arena is where you prefer to longe, move your circles each time you do it. The same goes stops, spins and other repetitive exercises. Whenever possible, change up where you do these manuevers so they happen in different parts of the arena to help keep your footing in its place.

“Protect yourself a little bit—move over 10 feet when you’re spinning [for example] so you don’t make the center of the arena too deep,” Kiser says. “It’s the worst thing you can do—circling on a line and spinning in the same spots.”

Don’t Cross-Contaminate Arena Footing An indoor arena holds specialized footing, kept pristine for riders—while an outdoor arena deals with leaves, grass, weeds and wind-blown debris. But if you don’t take care of how you maintain that indoor arena, your drag equipment could track in unwanted contaminants, which will negatively affect the footing.

The analogy is that driving an outdoor tractor indoors is like wearing muddy boots from outside and walking around your house. The solution to this problem is a “mud room” where you can remove and clean your shoes. The same principle applies to your arena maintenance equipment.

REINED COW HORSE FOOTING Reined cow horse events consist of at least two, but up to four, phases, all of which require special consideration for footing. Here are some basics to keep in mind for each.

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Keep out of reach of children. Pentosan polysulfate sodium is a weak anticoagulant.

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58 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

Reined Work Reining footing needs to maintain its form to allow horses to circle at speed without slipping. You want your footing to be 2¾-inches deep on top of a firm, level base.

But for cow horse’s reined work, Kaiser suggests keeping it at 3 inches. If your footing is mostly sand, versus more of a sand/silt/ clay mixture, Kiser says you’ll want it to be 3-plus inches deep to give the horse enough push and resistance to hold in maneuvers.

Reining footing works best at around 5% to 6% moisture, according to Kiser.

Sometimes, a reining pen needs to be worked several times with the drag before it’s ready to use. If you have it, using a laser level will help ensure your footing is even across the arena.

Snodgress says once you have your base established, avoid using rippers or discs to disturb it. The top layer should be a lighter and fluffier sand with some give to it to aid in stops, yet enough moisture to prevent slipping on circles.

Cow Work Footing for cow horse events should be similar to reining—after all, the event consists of a reining pattern and one-on-one cow work—but, as stated above, Kiser suggests deepening the top layer to 3 inches, although you do want to watch that you don’t get the footing too deep.

“Too-deep footing will really affect their turnarounds [spins],” Kiser says.

For cow horse, you want more moisture content to firm up the ground. Kiser aims for 6% to 7% percent moisture content.

Sliding stops will not be as flashy, but going down the fence and circling up the cow will be much safer.

“The reason we go to more moisture is it gives a little more hold when they’re under a lot of stress,” Kiser says. “It makes it a little bit safer. Their stops would be a little tougher, but it’s really to help when they’re working the cow.”

Herd Work Cutting sand doesn’t need to be super deep, contrary to popular opinion, Kiser says.

He says the deepest he’s made the dirt at major National Cutting Horse Association

events such as the NCHA Futurity, Derby and Super Stakes—all held at the Coliseum at Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas—is 4 inches. And it’s usually 3½ to 3¾ inches deep.

“In the practice pen, it’s only 3 inches,” Kiser says. “That’s all they want, so that they don’t wear their horses out.”

In some arenas specifically designed for cutting, Kiser has seen the sand at 5 and 6 inches deep, but he says they’re using washed concrete sand, which offers more grip, “but you can’t hardly walk across that sand.”

Moisture content for a primarily sand cutting arena should be maintained at around 7%, Kiser says, 8% at the most.

“If it looks like those horses are sliding just a little bit too far as they’re going back and forth with a cow, the next time you drag, give it another shot of water,” Kiser recommends.

The drag pattern for a cutting class is basically going in circles.

“About all you can do is change your direction and try to come across the middle a time or two,” Kiser says. “There’s not a lot else you can do. That’s where I started using the laser during the horse show to keep the footing consistent.”

Snodgress says the area of the arena where the cattle stand can get wet and sloppy, requiring the maintenance crew to change up the pattern of dragging to mix wetter dirt with the drier dirt farther away from the herd. He also says for an arena dedicated to cutting, the footing may need to be replaced more frequently because of the amount of urine and manure a herd of cattle produces.

“Your drag can get the footing perfect for where the cutting and turnback people are, but where the cattle stand, it tends to pack down and get really hard,” Snodgress says. “You may drag the arena and you’re moving dirt around to fill in holes and level other spots, but when you get to that hard spot, your drag may raise up because the tractor tires aren’t sinking into the dirt as much, which dumps a lot of the dirt on top of it. If you keep doing that, it’s going to build up.”

Determining a horse’s chosen discipline starts early in its career. NRCHA Professional Cayley Wilson shares how he evaluates a horse’s proclivity for reined cow horse events.

Article and Photos by ABIGAIL BOATWRIGHT

T

he origins of a good cow horse often run parallel to the start of a stellar cutting horse. Similar bloodlines, conformation and temperament mean a horse could theoretically go down either path toward success. However, Cayley Wilson believes horses can tell you which discipline suits them best, starting as early as their 2-year-old year. Here’s what he looks for when considering cow horse.

Why Choose a Specialty?

If you want a horse to excel in competition, it’s wise to identify the event he has the most aptitude for. Without that natural inclination, your horse may struggle to achieve a mediocre performance rather than reaching greatness.

“If we have a horse that’s a good, balanced mover; is naturally leaded; is cowy; stays light on its front end while using its hocks and has a very appealing overall look, it makes it easy to do the cow horse on that particular horse,” Wilson said. “On a horse that can’t do these things naturally or isn’t a very pretty-moving horse, it’s going to take a lot of work to get it to do what the natural horse can do, and it’s still probably never going to be comparable to the natural-moving horse.”

If that less-appealing mover is cowy, has good

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footwork and is quick to get to the ground on a stop, Wilson says that horse might be a great cutting prospect.

“It just makes the training process a lot more enjoyable for the horse and keeps it more positive, rather than to fix something unnatural in that individual, compared to a horse that can do it very easily,” Wilson said.

Occasionally, Wilson will end up with a horse from the reining discipline and has worked with them to do the cow horse events. Some can do it well, but it really comes down to their ability to shift gears and do the herd work. Wilson says the reining-bred horses often don’t naturally open up their hocks the way a cutting-bred horse will. They must be able to pull their cow-side hind leg out of the way as they make a turn. Doing this gives them the desired form needed to make the turn properly.

“They usually take to the fence work pretty darn good because they can run and stop well, and it’s a similar type of stop when we’re going down the fence,” Wilson said. “But it’s more difficult to get them to cut in the way we need them to. The quality of horses and level of competition is so tough that we need horses that cut like a cutting horse, rein like a reiner, and then go down the fence like a cow horse.”

A smart owner will let the horse’s strengths dictate the horse’s career rather than pushing the horse into a predetermined discipline.

“I think most people want to do what the horse is best suited for,” Wilson said.

Cayley Wilson looks for good movement, especially at the lope, in a horse he’ll point toward reined cow horse versus cutting.

Aptitude

TEST

REINED COW HORSE NEWS | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024 63

Early Evaluation Wilson begins assessing prospects from the day they arrive at his barn, working them on the ground and evaluating their movement.

“I’m already watching how this horse travels out— does he travel out comfortably and naturally want to use his hocks?” he asked. “Does he want to drop his withers as he stops? Is it a feely horse or a horse with low energy? Does this horse have a fragile or fractious mindset? I’m already, right from Day One, seeing if the horse could be better at one event versus the other.”

As the horse progresses in its riding career, Wilson can get even more information about the strengths and weaknesses of each horse. When he’s started on a cow, you can see how each horse responds to them.

Are they bright? Do they have a lot of feel for a cow, how interested are they?

“I can feel when a horse really cares about a cow, can read the cow, and is quick to the ground,” Wilson said. “Sometimes these very cowy horses don’t take to being handled the way a cow horse can.

This horse might be better suited for the cutting.

Now, we need our cow horses to be very cowy, too, but they must be willing to take direction from the rider.”

Wilson said that training in the 2-year-old year is similar for both events, so there’s time to gather information before directing a horse toward one event or the other. Of course, a horse will undergo many changes during its training, but Wilson keeps an eye on the horse for signs of strengths.

Desire from Within Wilson also considers the horse’s build and body balance. A horse that’s ideal for cow horse is usually bigger-boned and -bodied.

“This is a generalization because smaller horses can end up being really good cow horses,” Wilson said.

“It has more to do with strength and power and whether the horse is strong enough to run and stop and get around for the fence work. Usually, a bigger horse will be stronger, but they can also be a bit slower across the turn, so you must watch for that. However, that smaller horse might have more heart and try and can outperform the bigger horse, even though he’s not as strong.”

Wilson also looks for heart.

“Heart is a desire from within the horse himself to perform,” Wilson said.

Wilson believes that heart can be encouraged and developed through everyday training when a horse is rewarded with the proper timing to quit when the horse is trying hard for him.

64 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

Conformation Points The longer Wilson has been training horses, the more his opinions on conformation have evolved.

“We hear about wanting short backs and short cannon bones, and they have to have this or that, certain traits we look for in yearlings,” Wilson said. “But I’ve learned over time that you can have a perfectly balanced, conformationally correct horse that just doesn’t move well or have the desire to want to do it. The longer I train horses, the more I’ve learned that horses can defy their conformation and size. This is typically an exception and not the rule, but I don’t count them out as I may have before.”

That innate drive in the horse is the key element, Wilson said.

Top: A horse that excels at reining maneuvers and can work a cow may find his niche in reined cow horse.

Bottom: Wilson prefers a horse with “presence” plus ability for cow horse.

MEET THE EXPERT

"THE LONGER I

TRAIN HORSES, THE MORE I’VE LEARNED THAT HORSES CAN DEFY THEIR CONFORMATION AND SIZE. THIS IS TYPICALLY AN EXCEPTION AND NOT THE RULE, BUT I DON’T COUNT THEM OUT AS I MAY HAVE BEFORE.”

Cayley Wilson is originally from British Columbia, Canada, and trained horses there for 21 years. Wilson and his family moved to Rosston, Texas, in 2021. Wilson is a AAAA judge for NRCHA and has made the finals of NRCHA premier events. In 2006 he won the Intermediate and Limited Open at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® and was reserve champion at the 2017 Hackamore Classic. In 2022, Wilson was Reserve Champion in the Intermediate Open and placed third in the Open NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® aboard Nothing But Blu.

—Cayley Wilson

“It’s a real individual thing, and until you see these horses move and you work with them, the ones that have the desire is the biggest thing,” Wilson said. “They need to have the overall look, but they can get that look even with unconventional conformation.”

One conformation trait that Wilson does avoid is a downhill build. A horse with shoulders lower than his hindquarters doesn’t work for his program.

“I know it works for some people, and I’ve had horses built downhill that can run and stop and do everything and defy the odds, but I usually try to shy away from a horse built like that from the beginning,” Wilson said. “Sometimes the front end will pull up as they grow, but a lot of times they’re not going to, and we’re always fighting that conformation.”

Balance and good withers are the most important conformational traits Wilson looks for.

“It’s how balanced they are from their wither to their hip,” Wilson said. “It makes it a lot easier for them to do the reining portion of our cow horse competition.

It’s easier for them to stop and keep their front end up.”

Discipline Decisions What if your horse is a really good one? What if he shows talent as both a cow horse and a cutter? Well, you have options.

“In that case, I typically let the owners decide,” Wilson said. “I have some people who breed strictly for cutting horses, but if they have a horse that’s going to be better at the cow horse, they’ll do that, and vice versa.”

Some owners might not be interested in a horse that would be better at another discipline than the one they prefer. With those horses, Wilson will market and sell the horse to a new owner.

According to Wilson, a horse that’s especially quick to get to the ground in stops and shows cow sense may be best suited for cutting.

66 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

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Lessons Learned Wilson has learned through years of experience that giving the horse time to work through the training process, riding day in and day out, will provide valuable insights into the horse’s abilities. Don’t be too quick to write a horse off—let the process take over.

“One of my top cutting prospects for this fall didn't start out very cowy, and I felt like she wasn’t very strong—there were quite a few traits that weren’t desirable to make her a good cutting horse,” Wilson said.

“But as we worked on her and kept moving forward, she just got better and stronger. Now this horse cares so much about a cow, and has so much desire for her job. This mare taught me a lot, and if I had given up on her too soon, that horse would have missed her potential entirely as a performance horse.”

Prospect Selection Wilson looks at the pedigree for desired bloodlines and at each horse. Wilson said a horse needs to be “a little bit special” to make a career in cow horse.

Does it have presence, its own charisma and will it be crowd-pleasing?

“It’s super-competitive out there,” Wilson said. “If I’m walking through 400 yearlings at a sale, I need to walk by the stall and think, ‘Whoa, this horse is special. Look at his neck, just look at this horse.’ I can look past a bit of rough hair or an under-conditioned horse, but I want to see something that stands out in its neck, head or presence.”

The horse also needs above-average movement at a trot and lope, and Wilson wants to get a feel for the

68 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

horse’s mind, too, particularly if it’s a stallion prospect.

“If this horse doesn’t want to keep a sound mind while he’s a stud, we need an exit plan,” Wilson said.

“Are we buying him at a gelding-type price so we can possibly geld him? Or are you buying him for a customer who wants a stud horse prospect?

Then, for sure, this horse has to be really good in the mind because, as he gets older, that will become even more important.”

X-rays are also important to Wilson, but they are the last step in the process of purchasing a prospect.

He weighs the information they provide alongside conformation, pedigree, and presence, but the top considerations are how a horse moves and its willingness of mind.

Above: Wilson begins evaluating a horse for its career path early in training and looks at how it travels at the trot and lope.

Below: It’s noticeable when a horse really cares about a cow and reads its movement— this can help shape the job a horse will ultimately be best suited for, Wilson asserted.

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SPOTLIGHTING the Braiders

W

hile the snaffle bit takes center stage each October during the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®, a new, innovative concept took shape at this year’s event to highlight the next phase in traditional reined cow horse gear: the hackamore.

Developed and presented by The Saddle House, owner Adam Schwalm wanted to highlight the gear in a different way than you might see it in other art shows where aesthetics alone determines the winner. His

76 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

vision, called the Makers’ Showcase, spotlighted braiders of using hackamores who are represented in many reined cow horse pens at all levels of competition.

“Other places have art shows that highlight traditional braiding—Sheridan [, Wyoming] and Elko [, Nevada], for example,” Schwalm shared. “We wanted to create a way to highlight relevant, usable gear and the makers who create those pieces for reined cow horses.”

Three months prior to the 2024 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®, Schwalm enlisted 12 makers to create hackamores specifically for this event to be evaluated by

The Saddle House hosted a Makers’ Showcase highlighting braiders from around the world and the hackamores used by reined cow horse competitors of all levels and categories.

The Saddle House created a unique contest called the Makers’ Showcase to highlight hackamore braiders during the 2024 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®.

BY JENNIFER PAULSON PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE SADDLE HOUSE

Left to right, top to bottom: Brent Callahan of Marietta, Oklahoma, was named the winner of the Makers’ Showcase.

The People’s Choice award went to German Bärti Frunz.

The Saddle House gathered sponsors to donate prizes for the winners of each category.

Nate Wald of Lodge Grass, Montana, earned second place in the contest.

a panel of judges to determine a winner, as well as a People’s Choice award.

“It allows us to highlight these makers, give them a spotlight and educate people about hackamores and the braiding process,” Schwalm continued. “The judges were NRCHA professionals, so they know what to look for in a good using hackamore.”

NRCHA Professional Robert Chown served as a judge for the contest and announced the winners via social media. He noted that all 12 hackamores were excellent quality, and it was a very tough decision to choose a winner.

“Brent Callahan made our winning hackamore,” Chown shared. “It’s an exceptional example of a

three-quarter hackamore. It has some ‘beef’ to it, making it very functional. I really like the nosepiece—it’s slightly swelled, has buttons for signal and the shape isn’t too wide but is wide enough to function and fit many horses.

“Nate Wald is our reserve champion,” he continued. “All of the judges had this hackamore in their top two. The core is really good—it starts soft but gets firmer. When you turn loose, it comes back quick—it releases as quickly as it picks up. It has good weight in the heel knot and will fit many horses. The construction is beautiful.”

Throughout the show, individuals voted for the People’s Choice award, which went to German Bärti Frunz.

REINED COW HORSE NEWS | November/December 2024 77

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REAKING THE BARRIER

Life By The Drop carried Chris Dawson to the 2024 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Open Championship, allowing him to finally check off a title he has chased throughout his career.

BY KRISTIN PITZER | PHOTOS BY PRIMO MORALES

E

ver since he crossed the $2 million threshold in NRCHA earnings, Chris Dawson has been a self-proclaimed single member of an elite club—NRCHA $2 Million Riders who’ve not won the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®.

But finally, after Life By The Drop carried him to a composite 660 at the 2024 event, held October 4–19 at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas, Dawson can say he’s part of a new, bigger group: winners of the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Open Championship.

“I had just kind of resigned myself to the fact that it wasn’t going to happen,” Dawson said. “I took a lot of horses down there I thought I was going to win first on, and that one probably wasn’t it. She’s a lovely little horse, and I like riding her. She always comes to town, so maybe I should’ve expected more from her. At the same time, it’s just trying to do your job, letting the chips fall where they may, and being ready to take whatever the Lord’s got in store for you every day.”

The pair marked a 218.5 in the herd work, during which Dawson tried to cut his cows in the middle and then let the mare do her thing. In the reined work, he ran her harder than he ever had, and it seemed like the farther they went in the pattern, the better she got.

82 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

After piloting Life By The Drop to a composite 660, Chris Dawson won his first Snaffle Bit Futurity® Open title. The pair also picked up the Mare Incentive, adding $5,000 to their $200,000 winner’s check.

2024 SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY® OPEN TOP 10 Fort Worth, Texas – October 4-19, 2024 (Horse/Rider/Pedigree/Owner/Score/Money)

1. Life By The Drop; Chris Dawson; 21M (Stevie Rey Von x Sheza Dancingdiamond x Diamond J Star); Holy Cow Performance Horses TX LLC; 660 (H: 218.5/R: 221/C: 220.5); $200,000 2T. Tuffer Than Metal; Veronica Swales; 21M (Metallic Cat x CR Tuff Tizzy x Woody Be Tuff); Sandhill Steuter Ranch LLC; 655 (H: 217.5/R: 217.5/C: 220); $92,500 2T. Lil Mini Scooter; Sarah Dawson; 21M (Scooter Kat x Lil Play Rey x Reys Dual Badger); Russ Mothershead; 655 (H: 216.5/R: 220.5/C: 218); $92,500 4. Halreycious Rebel; Boyd Rice; 21S (Metallic Rebel x CR A Little Peek x Halreycious); Robert Grieve; 654 (H: 219/R: 217.5/C: 217.5); $70,000 5. Shut The Blinds; Chris Dawson; 21S (Blind Sided x Shiney Tari x Shining Spark); Bar One Land & Cattle LLP; 652 (H: 214/R: 221.5/C: 216.5); $55,000 6. Ive Been Everywhere; Phillip Ralls; 21S (Call Me Mitch x Travalano Missy x Travalena); Tyson Barnes/Mike & Betsy Damboise; 650.5 (H: 219.5/R: 217.5/C: 213.5); $55,000 7T. SJR Mists Natasha; Matt Koch; 21M (SJR Diamond Mist x SJR Oaks Natasha x One Time Pepto); San Juan Ranch; 649.5 (H: 215/R: 213/C: 221.5); $35,000 7T. Talk To The Prince; Clayton Edsall; 21S (Smooth Talkin Style x Princess Clarence x Peptoboonsmal); Cooper Smith; 649.5 (H: 218/R: 221/C: 210.5); $35,000 9. CR Reys Catty; Lance Johnston; 21G (Dual Reyish x Sarahs Super Cat x High Brow Cat); Rocking BS Ranch; 648.5 (H: 217.5/R: 218/C: 213); $25,000 10T. OhCayWannaTalkBoutMe; Todd Crawford; 21M (Smooth Talkin Style x Oh Cay Meriah x Light N Lena); Monica Duflock; 648 (H: 213.5/R: 219.5/C: 215); $21,500 10T. DT Lil Big Time; Andrea Fappani; 21S (Hickory Holly Time x Lil Miss Shiney Chex x Shining Spark); DT Horses LLC; 648 (H: 214/R: 224/C: 210); $21,500

REINED COW HORSE NEWS | November/December 2024 83

///////// 2024 NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY® “I tried to go ahead and send her around that first set of circles because a lot of times in those finals, you’ll see people go through a little more conservatively in that first set and then let the horses roll on in that second set,” Dawson said. “I don’t personally like how that looks as a judge, so I’d rather at least make them match. I got around the second circles, and she felt settled amongst the finals night's chaos. I think that’s the mark of a show horse. It gives me a good feeling about her going forward.”

The judges awarded them a 221, and Dawson confidently entered the cow work, knowing they were sitting in a good place on the leaderboard. Life By The Drop (Stevie Rey Von x Sheza Dancingdiamond x Diamond J Star) is smart about a cow, too, and Dawson knew he could count on her if things got tough.

“When you cut a cow on her or a cow comes in the pen, you feel like there’s not any place you can’t go get on that cow where she can’t come back from it,” Dawson said. “I feel like I can hang her outside a cow, and she’s going to stick on her hocks and fire back through there.”

The duo marked the second-highest fence

score of the night, a 220.5, sealing their fate as champions. Holy Cow Performance Horses TX LLC, the mare’s owner and breeder, collected a $200,000 check for the win, plus the $5,000 Mare Incentive.

Rounding out Dawson’s special night was the fact that his wife, Sarah, an NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Champion in her own right, tied for reserve on Lil Mini Scooter.

“We expect it out of her; she’s shooting fire,” Dawson said, noting that Sarah has placed in the top five at the event the last five years. “Winning first is fantastic, but if you can be in the top five every year, that really lets you poke your chest out about your program. That she has been that consistent and right there knocking at the door every year is hard to do.”

He thanked Holy Cow’s owner, Nancy Crawford, for being a “fantastic customer” and sending them many nice horses. He said he plans on riding a Holy Cow horse at the upcoming The American Performance Horseman in July of 2025.

INTERMEDIATE OPEN For the last few years, Luke Hammerness has been a point, or even a half-point, away

INTERMEDIATE OPEN CHAMPION During his first Snaffle Bit Futurity® finals, Luke Hammerness rode Tell Me What U Want to the Intermediate Open Championship with a 653.5.

84 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

from making the finals at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®. That all changed at this year’s event when he made the Intermediate Open finals on Tell Me What U Want, but then he did one better, piloting the stallion to a composite 653.5 to win the Intermediate Open Championship and $40,000.

“This year, I had kind of said I would just like to make a finals in something I was qualified for, and then just go have fun and let the chips fall where they were going to,” Hammerness said. “To make the Intermediate finals—and then to actually win—was pretty unbelievable how it worked out.”

Hammerness went into the herd work confidently, knowing that no matter what kind of cow they cut, Tell Me What U Want could handle it. Their resulting herd work score, a 219, led the finals up until the third-to-last horse to go. He admitted the reined work can be his “Achilles’ heel,” as he sometimes gets in his own way. His game plan was to be as clean as possible, but after sitting and watching the first two sets, he amended that strategy.

“I noticed [the judges] were kind of dinging guys pretty good for their horses coming out of the ground, and so that was one thing I made sure of when I sent him down there to stop—that his feet didn’t come out of the ground—and they paid him for it,” Hammerness said.

The duo added a 216 to their total on two events, then headed for the cow work.

There, Hammerness was whistled off two different cows before finally taking the third down the fence. That cow gave them a run for their money, but Tell Me What U Want turned it and shaped it up effortlessly, resulting in a 218.5 score.

The stallion (Meteles Cat x Forever And A Rey x Dual Smart Rey) is a homebred belonging to Kristyn Runyan, who Hammerness said is more like family than a client to him and his wife, Nina.

“She’s awesome, and her husband is, too,” Hammerness said. “She supports our decisions regarding whatever we want to do and doesn’t question it. She knows how much pressure trainers put on themselves to do good and how bad they feel when it doesn't work. I think her being in the industry before owning these guys, she gets it.”

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///////// 2024 NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY® LIMITED OPEN Since HQ Time To Shine joined Stephen Hutchins' program as a 2-year-old, the horse has been a willing participant. He takes his job seriously and wants to please.

That disposition served him well during the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®, where he carried Hutchins to the Limited Open title, banking $20,000 for owner and breeder Reid Hockenson.

“The horse wanted to be a good, solid citizen that day,” Hutchins said. “He wanted to do his job and didn’t want to discuss anything. I was happy about it. It was cool to win for the Hockensons, who have been my big supporters. They’re good friends and good clients.”

Before the event, Hutchins and Hockenson doubled up on “Pepe” (CD Dyna Cee x Shiners Pearl x Shining Spark) at the Iowa Quarter Horse Association Ranch Horse Futurity. They picked up checks in the Open and Non Pro, an experience that Hutchins felt contributed to the gelding’s demeanor in Fort Worth. In the finals, Hutchins said Clay Volmer, Phillip Ralls, Corey Cushing and Chris Dawson were instrumental in helping him in the herd work, where he and the gelding marked a 215.

In the reined work, Hutchins cruised Pepe through the pattern. The horse can lope

nice circles and is a huge stopper, and the judges scored them a 214.

After some rest, Hutchins started getting ready for the fence work. He asked Dawson for advice on approaching the cows in the Coliseum’s arena due to its unique shape.

“He said, ‘Just make sure you go take a hold of the cow, and it knows you’re there; push it around a little bit, but don’t stay on the end very long because you’ll numb them out,’” Hutchins recalled. “Pepe was right there for me, captured it and was really good. He was consistent in all three events.”

The pair’s 216 bumped their composite to a 645, giving them what they needed to win the Championship. Hutchins, who works out of Jeremy and Angela Michaelis’ barn in Missouri, thanked the Hockensons for trusting him with their horses. He also thanked his first mentor, Luke Jones, for getting him into the industry and giving him lots of opportunities and customers, and Cushing, who helped refine his training and showing skills.

LEVEL 1 OPEN This year’s NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® will be one Jordan Futch remembers forever. Not only did she win her first title, the Level 1 Open, with A Shot Full Of Shine, but she also said “yes” when her boyfriend,

LIMITED OPEN CHAMPION HQ Time To Shine has been a good citizen from the beginning, and that didn’t change in Fort Worth—he carried Stephen Hutchins to a 645 for the Limited Open Championship.

86 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

///// MEET

Since 2019, Metallic Cat has served as the presenting sponsor of the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®. Owned by Rocking P Ranch, of Weatherford, Texas, the red roan stallion’s show career amassed $637,711 in lifetime earnings and several championship titles, including the 2008 National Cutting Horse Association Open Futurity Champion and 2009 Breeder’s Invitational Open Derby Champion. Following an impressive career in the cutting pen, Metallic Cat (High Brow Cat x Chers Shadow x Peptoboonsmal), affectionately known as “Denver,” has become one of the industry’s most influential and successful sires. He’s an NRCHA Eight Million Dollar Sire, and his influence can be seen in every corner of the reined cow horse sport.

Robby Jennings, asked if she’d marry him.

With so many good memories to take in, she said her mind was still spinning after returning home.

“It was a lot to wrap my brain around!”

Futch said with a laugh. “Winning was super cool, especially on that little horse.

He was kind of a dinky little 2-year-old, and I didn’t think he had a whole lot to him.

Then, he turned around, showed up and bloomed out his 3-year-old year and just got cooler and cooler.”

The pair’s composite 650.5 (H: 212/R: 219.5/C: 219) topped the Level 1 by half a point and garnered $20,000 for owner Sienna Dziza. Afterward, Futch was relieved she had followed her instinct to take A Shot Full Of Shine (Nu N Shiney x Pozotaz x Pepto Taz) to the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®. Dziza originally purchased the stallion, her first performance horse, to compete in ranch versatility.

“They weren’t sold on the idea [of the Futurity],” Futch said. “We took him to the ARHA [American Ranch Horse Association]

Congratulations CHRIS DAWSON & LIFE BY THE DROP 2024 NRCHA SBF OPEN CHAMPIONS

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///////// 2024 NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY® World Show at the World Equestrian Center and won the Junior Cow Horse on him there, and kind of talked them into looking at the futurity. We paid the late fees on him for the Level 1 and bought a last-minute slot for the Limited, Intermediate and Open after a Ben Baldus clinic, during which he told me I needed to go enter him all the way up.”

She and the stallion tied for 10th in the Limited Open and made the finals in the Intermediate Open, banking an additional $4,750. After the finals, Dziza sold the horse to one of Baldus’ clients. Futch was sad to see him go, but she was excited to watch him do big things in the future.

Futch thanked the clients that have kept her going down the road—Beth Lewis, Kristina Wheatley and Justin Wheatley— Dziza for believing in both her program and A Shot Full Of Shine; her mom, Christy Wessel, and grandmother, Mary Futch; and Jennings for helping her build her confidence.

LEVEL 1 OPEN CHAMPION A Shot Full Of Shine and Jordan Futch picked up the Level 1 Open title and a $20,000 paycheck with their 650.5 score.

//////////////////// OPEN FINALS HIGH SCORES

Left to right, top to bottom:

HERD WORK

HSR Metalic Kit Kat, owned by Heaven Sent Ranch, and Ricky Nicolazzi, 221

REINED WORK

DT Lil Big Time, owned by DT Horses LLC, and Andrea Fappani, 224

FENCE WORK

SJR Mists Natasha, owned by San Juan Ranch, and Matt Koch, 221.5

88 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

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///////// 2024 NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY®

OPEN CO-RESERVE CHAMPION

OPEN CO-RESERVE CHAMPION

INTERMEDIATE OPEN RESERVE CHAMPION

LIMITED OPEN RESERVE CHAMPION

With a 655 (H: 217.5/R: 217.5/C: 220), Tuffer Than Metal (Metallic Cat x CR Tuff Tizzy x Woody Be Tuff) and Veronica Swales captured the Open Co-Reserve Championship for owner Sandhill Steuter Ranch LLC, bringing home $92,500. The pair also won the Ladies Championship.

Gary Ewell’s homebred 2021 mare Reyguns Metallic Cat (Metallic Cat x SJR Reygun x Dual Rey) carried Brady Weaver to a composite 651 (H: 215/R: 217.5/C: 218.5), taking home the Intermediate Open Reserve Championship and a check worth $30,000.

90 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

Lil Mini Scooter (Scooter Kat x Lil Play Rey x Reys Dual Badger) and Sarah Dawson also marked a 655 (H: 216.5/R: 220.5/C: 218) for the Open Co-Reserve Championship and a $92,500 check. Russ Mothershead owns the homebred mare.

Dovetail (WR This Cats Smart x Wings Ofa Lena x Quejanaisalena) and Luke Neubert clinched the Limited Open Reserve Championship with a 644.5 (H: 214/R: 212/C: 218.5). The homebred 2021 mare collected $15,000 for owner Barbara Lindemann Ditmore.

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///////// 2024 NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY®

LEVEL 1 OPEN RESERVE CHAMPION

OPEN SALE INCENTIVE HIGH SCORE

OPEN CHROME CASH CHAMPION

GELDING INCENTIVE HIGH SCORE

Piloted by Tayler Renouf, 2021 mare Ladee Outlaw (Shiney Outlaw x Ladee Long Legs x High Brow Cat) picked up the Level 1 Open Reserve Championship with a 650 (H: 215.5/R: 219.5/C: 215). The duo garnered $15,000 for owner Troop Quarter Horses.

First place in the Open Chrome Cash Incentive went to 2021 stallion Reyturn Of The Mac (Reyzin The Cash x Seven S Fiesta Cat x Auspicious Cat) and Luke Jones, who accumulated a composite score of 658.5 (H: 217/R: 221/C: 220.5) and banked a check worth $1,920 for owner Scott Armstrong.

92 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

One Secret Cat (WR This Cats Smart x Secrets Blue Angel x One Time Pepto) and Justin Wright topped the Open Sale Incentive with a 654.5 (H: 218/R: 220/C: 216.5). The 2021 stallion collected $24,010 for owner Stephen Silva.

CR Reys Catty (Dual Reyish x Sarahs Super Cat x High Brow Cat) and Lance Johnston were the Open Gelding Incentive winners with a 658 (H: 218/R: 220/C: 220). The 2021 gelding collected $6,354 for owner Rocking BS Ranch.

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///////// 2024 NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY®

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NWAVERING

FAITH

The Non Pro Champions at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® had one important thing in common: steadfast conviction in the abilities of their equine partners.

BY KRISTIN PITZER | PHOTOS BY PRIMO MORALES

W

hen Parke Greeson entered the Will Rogers show grounds in Fort Worth, Texas, for the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Non Pro preliminary round, he had a simple game plan: make the finals on his three futurity horses, sell them afterward and go home and start on his 2-year-olds for next year. It was his second year to attempt such a plan, but he couldn’t have predicted what would happen next.

Seventy-two horse-and-rider pairs later, Greeson had made the finals on two of his horses—his third, Texas Ranger, missed the bubble by two points. When it was all said and done, Greeson had piloted SCR Stevie Rey Bay to his first NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Non Pro Championship, which came with a $50,000 check and had also placed third on Believe In Dynacat for another $20,000.

“It doesn't always happen that way, so it's nice and makes you really appreciate it,” Greeson said. “It’s always the end goal to be on top, but I've been completely satisfied with making the finals before, too. It’s tough—there are a lot of variables in this event, and some uncontrollable ones sometimes. It's always fun when it lines up.”

Greeson and SCR Stevie Rey Bay (Stevie Rey Von x Maderas Crown x Playgun), or “Little Suds,” kicked off the finals with a 216 in the herd work, which tied for second-highest in the class. Greeson wasn’t too surprised by their score—Little Suds, a

96 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

2024 SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY® NON PRO TOP 10 Fort Worth, Texas – October 4-19, 2024 (Horse/Rider/Pedigree/Owner/Score/Money)

1. Parke Greeson; SCR Stevie Rey Bay; 21S (Stevie Rey Von x Maderas Crown x Playgun); Sarco Creek Ranch; 649 (H: 216/R: 213.5/C: 219.5); $50,000 2. Myles Brown; Eddie B Tuff R A B; 21G (Woody Be Tuff x Shesa Rock Hancock x Hesa Eddie Hancock); Rob A Brown; 648.5 (H: 208/R: 222.5/C: 218); $30,000 3. Parke Greeson; Believe In Dynacat; 21M (Dont Stopp Believin x Little Dyna Cat x Neat Little Cat); Sarco Creek Ranch; 648 (H: 215.5/R: 214.5/C: 218); $20,000 4. Tammy Jo Hays; Tik Talker; 21G (Smooth Talkin Style x Zacks Fifth Avenue x Zack T Wood); Walter Greeman & Tammy Hays; 647 (H: 218.5/R: 217.5/C: 211); $15,000 5. Sophia Buttars; Red Lines; 21S (Dual Rey x Shiners Diamond Girl x Shining Spark); 27 Ranching Company LLC; 646.5 (H: 213/R: 219/C: 214.5); $10,000 6. Lanham Brown; RAB Chica Bonita; 21M (Metallic Masterpiece x RAB Go Peppy Fly x Gold Peppy Freckles); R A Brown Ranch; 646 (H: 216/R: 218/C: 212); $8,000 7. Brooks Jobe; Traveling On Luck; 21G (Farmer Jonez x Tens Lucky Bell Star x Tens Blue Bell); Brooks Jobe; 645 (H: 210/R: 216.5/C: 218.5); $6,500 8. Debbie Crafton; Modern Metallic; 21G (One Shiney Metallic x Ic The Biscuits x Dual R Smokin); Debbie Crafton; 643.5 (H: 213/R: 217/C: 213.5); $5,000 9. Hope Mills; SmartLookinMercedes; 21G (Dual Smart Rey x Smooth Play Kit x Smooth As A Cat); HM Horses; 642.5 (H: 210/R: 219/C: 213.5); $4,500 10. Catelyn Walker; Hot Time Tonight; 21M (Hickory Holly Time x Hot Shiney Lights x CD Lights); Catelyn Walker; 641 (H: 209/R: 215.5/C: 216.5); $4,500

Parke Greeson finished first and third on his two finalists in the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Fututrity® Non Pro, riding SCR Stevie Rey Bay to the Championship with a 649.

REINED COW HORSE NEWS | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024 97

///////// 2024 NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY® homebred stallion belonging to the Greeson family’s Sarco Creek Ranch, was initially started by Boyd Rice for the cutting pen, and the gelding is bright on a cow.

His natural loping abilities and big stops earned him a ticket to the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® instead.

Those skills, showcased in the reined work, earned the pair a score of 213.5.

“What’s interesting to me about this horse is that the couple of weeks we preworked coming here, the horse just really got more laid back, which is kind of the attribute of a show horse to me,” Greeson said.

“Where most of them get a little bit wound up, he just got chiller and chiller, which is nice. He went in the reining, and he really felt like he let me call on him in those maneuvers.”

Little Suds shined even more down the fence when he took hold of the cow that came out and stayed with it until the end, confirming the cowy tendencies Greeson has seen in his horse from the beginning.

“From the first time I went down the fence on him, he was one of those horses that really didn’t mind speed and just had a natural tendency to go up and be close to a cow,” Greeson said. “There are some horses that you feel like you’ve got to get the perfect cow for the horse in the fence work, but he’s kind of a horse that’s like, ‘whatever they turn in there, I feel OK with.’ ” The pair marked a 219.5, and their overall 649 launched them to the top of the leaderboard by a halfpoint, with Believe In Dynacat (Dont Stopp Believin x Little Dyna Cat x Neat Little Cat) only one point behind. A few days after the finals, Greeson sold both horses as planned and looked forward to next year’s prospects. He thanked his family and friends for supporting his dreams.

“I always want to thank Boyd [Rice],” he said. “That’s where most of my knowledge of horsemanship and training came from. I want to thank all my guys who helped me in the herd and at the show, my wife [Heather] for everything she does behind the scenes, and my mom [Bridey] and dad [Milton] for giving me the opportunity to show this horse that they raised.”

INTERMEDIATE, LIMITED & LEVEL 1 NON PRO Brooks Jobe was already an NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® champion when he walked into the pen for the Non Pro finals. Only four days prior, he’d ridden his homebred gelding, Traveling On Luck , to the Level 1 Non Pro Championship during the prelims, securing the title and an $8,000 paycheck with his 645.5 score (H: 213/R: 216.5/C: 216). While he was excited to win, at the time, he was even more thrilled to have accomplished his ultimate goal: making the Non Pro finals in all three levels.

“The fact that he's one of the horses I made it back

98 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

to the finals with is significant,” Jobe said after his first win. “I trained his sire and his dam and raised him, so that makes it pretty special. He’s the first one I have that much history with that I’ve brought to the NRCHA, and having some success with him is a big deal for us.”

While ending on that note would’ve been enough, Jobe’s success at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® didn’t stop there. In the Non Pro finals, he and Traveling On Luck amassed a composite 645, landing two more titles—the Intermediate Non Pro and Limited Non Pro—and a seventh-place finish in the Non Pro for a $20,500 payday.

“It was good verification of how much we think of that horse,” Jobe said. “Coming out leading those two divisions, especially considering some of the horses there, really feels like an accomplishment.”

The pair first marked a 210 in the herd work in the finals. While it didn’t put them in the position Jobe wanted starting out, their 216.5 in the reined work made up for lost ground, and in the cow work, a 218.5 gave them the boost they needed to land on top. Jobe acknowledged that “Biscuit’s” heart and a good cow made all the difference in their fence run.

“The best thing about this horse is he tries so hard, and he really and truly is on your team,” Jobe said.

“He’s a great, big, old, long, lanky horse that doesn't fit the stereotypical mold of a cow horse, so his success really speaks to his try and heart.”

Jobe wasn’t sure if he’d continue to show Biscuit (Farmer Jonez x Tens Lucky Bell Star x Tens Blue Bell) in the reined cow horse arena or send him to the rope

After picking up the Level 1 Non Pro Championship during the prelims, Brooks Jobe and Traveling On Luck also collected the Intermediate Non Pro and Limited Non Pro titles from the finals.

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///////// 2024 NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY® horse futurities. With Biscuit’s size and speed, Jobe believes he could also be successful in that discipline.

“He’s got plenty of body control to make it easy for him to be able to handle cattle well, and he’s got enough spark in his movement without being hot,” Jobe said.

“He’s probably just cold enough that he could really shine as a head horse. A little bit of time and thought will determine whether we continue with the cow horse or try to allow him to prove himself in a different area.”

NON PRO BOXING Carolyn Edson has been competing in the reined cow horse show pen for quite a while, but before this year’s event, she’d never won a title at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®. That all changed when she rode CR Catty Lights (CR Highlight x ARC Catty Dual x Dual Pep) to a cumulative score of 855, winning the Non Pro Boxing Championship and a $6,000 paycheck.

“I’ve been doing this a really long time, and it still seems very surreal to me,” Edson said. “Everything came together with a little bit of luck sprinkled on top of that. They’ve only had the futurity for the boxers for a few years, so I’ve participated a couple of times, but that’s about it. I thank the NRCHA for adding the Boxing Futurity class—I'm glad we finally did it and put some oomph behind it.”

The boxing score was comprised of the herd, reined and cow work, followed by a boxing-only finals. Edson and CR Catty Lights first marked a 213 in the reined work, tying for the highest score. Edson said it was a safe run that was slightly thrown off by the fact that her mare is used to her trainers, Ben Baldus and Garrett Cooper, riding her so she wasn’t expecting Edson’s higher-pitched voice telling her to “whoa” in their first stop. After that, the pair went into the herd work and marked a 210.

“I used to be a cutter—I started cutting in 2002, and I have done a lot of that,” Edson said. “The horse just did what she was supposed to do. She's very cowy, and that all came together very nice.”

The pair’s 215.5 in their first boxing round marked the third-highest score. Then, in the boxing finals, Edson was last in the draw. She didn’t watch the others ahead of her because of her nerves.

“At the last moment, I got a phone call from Ben, and he said, ‘Just keep her nose up into the cow and do the best you can.’ So, that's what I did,” Edson said.

The duo scored 216.5, the highest boxing score, giving them the overall Non Pro Boxing Championship by six points. Edson and the mare also collected the Select Non Pro Boxing Championship, worth another $100.

The NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® validated Edson’s initial hunch about CR Catty Lights. She purchased the mare from Ty Smith after initially shopping for

100 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

a prospect at the National Cutting Horse Association Futurity sales, where a half-brother to the mare sold for $985,000 the day after Edson purchased the mare.

“I was very lucky to come across that mare and get her bought before the sale because I don't think I otherwise would have,” said Edson, who thanked the Baldus Horsemanship team for all their help. “She's learning to go down the fence. She's really good about coming out of that second turn and catching that cow, and she loves to circle up. It's been really fun to watch her blossom in the last six months.”

LEVEL 1 NON PRO BOXING Coming into the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®, Kenli Worley aimed to pilot Banditos Gun to the Level 1 Non Pro Boxing Championship. The duo met that goal, winning the title, along with a $1,117.80 check, with a 635 composite (H: 210/R: 211.5/C: 213.5). They also made the Non Pro Boxing finals, where they placed fifth. But no matter where they had landed in the lineup, Worley knew that the fact that Banditos Gun was there in the first place was already a miracle.

The gelding’s birth was a collaboration between Worley’s parents, Tommy and Susan Marvin, and family friends, Kevin and Karen Grady. The Marvins own his sire, CP Jesse Cat, on which each person in the Marvin family has won either a title with or money, and the Gradys own his dam, Playgun mare FLS Playin On Time. Worley was there when “Gonzo” was born.

Unfortunately, he didn’t have the easiest start to life.

Carolyn Edson won her first NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® titles, the Non Pro Boxing and Select Non Pro Boxing championships, on CR Catty Lights.

Standing at

Owned by

///////// 2024 NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY® “He had a mystery illness—he was super sick,” she said. “He was still breathing, but that was it. We had to carry him by his legs to the trailer and take him to the vet. He spent over a month at the vet, and they never could figure out what was wrong with him.

They told us when we dropped him off that we were wasting our money and he wouldn't pull through, but we couldn't stand to give up on him. About a month passed and a lot of prayers, and I believe that Jesus decided to heal him. He's here and big and healthy, and he’s our miracle baby.”

Gonzo has been completely normal ever since, and the Marvins purchased him as a 2-year-old. Worley rode him herself from the beginning and said he was quite lazy at first. Still, she recognized the talent that lay hidden beneath his snack-motivated surface.

“It was funny because he was too big and slow and just unathletic, and my family and friends were all like, ‘What are you doing?’ ” Worley recalled. “I said, ‘He's got it. I know he’s got it. It's in there.’ And they thought I was crazy. Honestly, it didn’t start to show until about six months ago.”

At that point, Gonzo decided he wanted to win, Worley said, and that drive continued at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®. Worley was delighted that Gonzo stayed calm and focused in each situation he encountered.

“I want to thank Karen for trusting me with him and being a part of our story,” Worley said. “She loved him every bit as much as I do and has been very supportive

of us and our journey. I also want to thank my parents because none of this is possible without them.

They thought this cow horse journey was crazy, but it didn’t keep them from financially, emotionally and physically supporting this dream of mine. And I want to thank my husband, Ty, for being so supportive. He’s been great through this emotional roller coaster.”

NRCHA welcomes Oswood Stallion Station as the sponsor of the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Non Pro division. Thanks to their support, this year’s winner of the Non Pro division was guaranteed to take home a $50,000 check.

“We value our non pro riders, and it’s wonderful to see a close friend of NRCHA step up to sponsor this division of the 2024 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®,” said NRCHA Executive Director Emily Konkel. “Oswood Stallion Station represents some of the top Western performance stallions, including those siring top reined cow horses. We’re proud to partner with them in this recognition of our talented non pro riders.”

Oswood’s state-of-the-art facilities, high level of care and commitment to all facets of the breeding industry set it apart. The Weatherford, Texas, facility provides on-site breeding, embryo transfer, foaling services, mare care, sales prep and more.

Learn more about Oswood Stallion Station at oswoodstallionstation.com.

102 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

NON PRO RESERVE CHAMPION

Kenli Worley has had faith in Banditos Gun from the beginning, and that conviction helped carry them to the Level 1 Non Pro Boxing Championship.

Myles Brown and Eddie B Tuff R A B (Woody Be Tuff x Shesa Rock Hancock x Hesa Eddie Hancock) clinched the Non Pro Reserve Championship with a 648.5 (H: 208/ R: 222.5/C: 218). The 2021 gelding collected $30,000 for owner Rob A. Brown.

///////// 2024 NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY®

INTERMEDIATE NON PRO RESERVE CHAMPION

With her 2021 gelding SmartLookinMercedes (Dual Smart Rey x Smooth Play Kit x Smooth As A Cat), Hope Mills captured the Intermediate Non Pro Reserve Championship with a 642.5 (H: 210/R: 219/C: 213.5). The duo garnered $8,000.

NON PRO BOXING RESERVE CHAMPION

Cheryl Chown rode RBS Badabingbadaboon (Here Comes The Boon x Another Babe Boomer x Boomernicker) to the Non Pro Boxing Reserve Championship with an 849 (H: 207.5/R: 213/C: 216.5/F: 212), picking up a check worth $4,750.

104 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

LIMITED NON PRO RESERVE CHAMPION & LEVEL 1 NON PRO RESERVE CHAMPION

Newt Lemond and his mare Walk This Ray (Travelin Jonez x Reybam x Dual Rey) rode to a composite 640.5 (H: 215/R: 210.5/C: 215), taking home the Limited Non Pro Reserve Championship and a check worth $3,500. They also garnered the Level 1 Non Pro Reserve title with a 643 (H: 215/R: 211.5/C: 216.5) from the prelims, worth another $6,250.

LEVEL 1 NON PRO BOXING RESERVE CHAMPION

A 630 (H: 207/R: 206/C: 217) composite secured the Level 1 Non Pro Boxing Reserve Championship for Meghan Ludwig and A Lazy Reys Remedy (A Cat Is A Remedy x Rey Girl Lazy U x High Brow Rey). The duo collected $838.35.

///////// 2024 NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY®

NON PRO CHROME CASH CHAMPION

Debbie Crafton and SJR Sumkinda Mist (SJR Diamond Mist x Sumkinda Pinkcadilac x Peptoboonsmal) were the Non Pro Chrome Cash winners with their 636 (H: 208/R: 214/C: 214), collecting $2,400.

106 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

NON PRO GELDING INCENTIVE HIGH SCORE

First place in the Non Pro Gelding Incentive went to 2021 gelding Tik Talker (Smooth Talkin Style x Zacks Fifth Avenue x Zack T Wood) and Tammy Jo Hays, who accumulated a composite score of 657.5 (H: 218.5/R: 218/C: 221) and banked a check worth $2,944.

///////// 2024 NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY®

NON PRO SALE INCENTIVE CHAMPION

Taking home the Non Pro Sale Incentive Champion’s check, worth $10,290, were Debbie Crafton and SJR Mists Sparkle (SJR Diamond Mist x CD Sparkle x CD Olena), with a composite 654.5 (H: 217/R: 218.5/C: 219).

Event Sponsors

108 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

SELECT NON PRO CHAMPION

After scoring a 646 (H: 215.5/R: 212.5/C: 218) in the preliminary round, Jayson Fisher and High Priced Chyna (High Brow Cat x Chyna x Peptoboonsmal) picked up the Select Non Pro Championship, along with $210.

///////// 2024 NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY®

SELECT NON PRO CO-RESERVE CHAMPION

Paul Bailey rode Time For The Juice (One Time Pepto x Rey Down Sue x Dual Rey) to a 635.5 (H: 212/R: 208.5/C: 215) for the Co-Reserve Championship, banking $157.50.

Industry & Facility Partners

110 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

SELECT NON PRO CO-RESERVE CHAMPION

Jayson Fisher also picked up the Co-Reserve Championship on Talkin At Noon (Smooth Talkin Style x Dual N At Noon x Dual Pep) with a 635.5 (H: 210/R: 213.5/C: 212) for an additional $157.50.

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///////// 2024 NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY®

PRESIDENT’S AWARD:

PRIMO MORALES

JIM KISER

BY JENNIFER PAULSON

Jim Kiser has spent almost 25 years perfecting the footing at NRCHA premier events.

J

im Kiser doesn’t back down to a challenge. That commitment includes in his business, Kiser Arena Specialists, that prepares the ground for NRCHA premier events as well as others in the Western performance industry. Thanks to Kiser’s focus on quality, he and his crews help keep our horses safer in the arena, whether at a big-money event or a private home arena. It’s something Kiser keeps top of mind, thanks to his experience training reining horses as a young professional while his dad, Bob, started designing precision drags.

“When I decided I wanted to do something other than train reining horses, I looked for a long time and came to the realization that it was right there in front of me: the drags,” Kiser recalled. “At that point in time, my dad was building a couple drags a year when he wasn’t farming. When I called him to propose to make a business out of the drags, there was a long pause. He said he’d love to be in business with me, but he didn’t think it would ever be with the drags.

We had no idea where it would go. We kept at it and believed in our vision.”

As time went on, the Kisers became substantially more skilled at building drags and more knowledgeable about footing. This expansion of perspective allows Kiser to primarily focus on consulting on and building private arenas on top of managing the footing at events.

“If anyone had told me at 18 or 21 where I’d be now, that would’ve seemed very unlikely,” Kiser shared. “As we improved our knowledge, we continued to do a tremendous amount of research. We asked ourselves why one idea didn’t work when another did. It keeps

114 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

it interesting, and now we’ve been asked to be involved in a few Each year, an individual is studies to test footing selected to receive the NRCHA in ways people have President’s Award. The recipnever thought of. We ient embodies the cow horse want to find the optispirit and is passionate about mal ways to keep these and dedicated to the sport. horses sound and performing their best.”

NRCHA President Boyd Rice has called Kiser a friend for many years and expressed his gratitude for Kiser and his crew.

“They do an unbelievable job,” Rice said. “When Jim’s name was brought up as a possible recipient, we knew right away that he was the right pick. I admire that he’s constantly learning and always improving his craft. It’s just like training and showing horses: you have to keep improving to stay on top of your game.”

About the President’s Award

The 2024 President’s Award was presented to Jim Kiser of Kiser Arena Specialists.

Kiser’s commitment to footing at premier events helps horses stay safe and allows them to perform to the best of their abilities.

///////// NATIONAL REINED COW HORSE ASSOCIATION: OUR SPONSORS

Breeder Sponsors

116 NOvEmbER/DECEmbER 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

///////// 2024 NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY®

ASSISTANT TRAINER OF THE YEAR

STORY BY JADE CURRID

This honor recognizes an assistant trainer who goes above and beyond while supporting the success of head trainers, clients, horses and the industry.

118 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

ROCKIN HORSE PHOTOGRAPHY

A

ssistant trainers in the reined cow horse industry epitomize grit. They work tirelessly behind the scenes and are the backbone of all crew members, including head trainers, horses and clients. Following their calling overshadows the early mornings, late nights, inevitable disappointments and losses, possible injuries and illnesses and countless other challenges.

They are entrusted to work with and direct the paths of equine partners whose potential may include becoming the next champion, highly sought-after sire or dam or legendary name in the industry.

Assistant trainers also play significant roles in the success of their human counterparts. They support their bosses in various ways, from riding colts and warming up show mounts to helping manage the training business and overseeing horse care and training schedules. They encourage and instill confidence in clients. Their diligence and hard work are appreciated by those in their immediate sphere and ripple into excellence in every facet of the industry.

This year, NRCHA awarded the inaugural Assistant Trainer of the Year Award, sponsored by Rafter P Construction. This award recognizes an assistant trainer who has contributed exceptionally to the organization and reined cow horse industry.

Shannon Green, an assistant trainer for Phillip Ralls

Performance Horses in Paso Robles, California, earned the esteemed honor. NRCHA presented Green with the award and a $1,500 prize from Rafter P Construction at the NRCHA Foundation’s inaugural charity event, A Night at the Stockyards, during the 2024 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® in Fort Worth, Texas.

“After years of hard work, it’s nice to have someone recognize what you’ve put into something,” Green said. “I love the reined cow horse (industry) and the family it creates.”

The daughter of Raymond and Laura Merala of San Carlos, California, Green was enamored with horses from the start and swung her leg over a horse for the first time at a young age.

“I started taking lessons when I was 6 years old because my older sister was doing it, and of course, I had to do whatever she did,” Green shared. “I went from taking lessons to leasing a few horses until we finally started buying a few of our own.”

Shannon Green turns a cow on the fence aboard Cats Peptolena (High Brow Cat x Peptolena Lucinda x Peptoboonsmal), owned by her husband, Jason Green, at the 2019 Idaho Reined Cow Horse Futurity.

///////// 2024 NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY®

from the veterinarians to the shoers to the doctoring, maintenance in between shows and day-to-day organization of a lot of the stuff at the barn, as well,” Ralls said. “It’s a big undertaking to balance all that and manage that number of horses we have and be as detail oriented as she is. It’s a huge help for us all the way around. Anybody who’s been around her can see how passionate she is about the horses and her job and helping. She makes all our jobs and lives much easier around the barn.”

Green credits the Robinsons, Ralls and her family, including her husband Jason, as her greatest supporters.

“My husband is amazing,” Green said. “Obviously, when I have long days, he’s taking care of everything.

He takes care of me when I take care of everybody else.”

Being an assistant trainer in the reined cow horse industry requires a certain fortitude and mindset, and it’s not for the faint of heart. While wearing many hats, Green exemplifies the resilience, grace and diligence the role requires.

PRIMO MORALES

120 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

him prepare the last few years for World’s Greatest Horseman® events with that horse has been special,” she emphasized. “I absolutely love that horse.

He’s an amazing horse to be around besides being an amazing athlete.”

Ralls described Green as highly dedicated and involved in every aspect of his program.

“She handles a lot of the organization of everything, ELIZABETH HAY PHOTOGRAPHY

Growing up, Green developed her insight as a horsewoman by riding and competing on eventing horses in Woodside, California.

After earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science with a concentration in Horse Husbandry and Equine Science and Management from Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Green worked fulltime for Tucker and Tina Fry-Robinson of Robinson Performance Horses in Shandon, California.

“Tina and Tucker were really the ones who got me started in the reined cow horse events,” Green revealed. “I worked for them, moved here to Texas, and then I moved back and worked for them for another four years before I moved to Paso Robles, California, to work for Phillip Ralls Performance Horses.”

Green encountered one of the most memorable horses of her career while working for the Robinsons.

“It was the first year the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® was here in Texas,” Green said. “Tucker placed third on a mare named Cat Magical (WR This Cats Smart x Smoke N My Wranglers x Wranglers Starlight), which is still, to this day, one of my favorite horses.”

Green began working for her current boss, NRCHA Million Dollar Rider and 2023 World’s Greatest Horseman® Champion Phillip Ralls in 2021.

“Phillip is a phenomenal teacher—the way he thinks about how he trains his horses and how he works his cattle—it’s completely changed my mindset on many things,” she said. “He’s one of the best teachers I’ve ever been around.”

Finding the right mentor is key for aspiring reined cow horse trainers, according to Green.

“I strongly believe the most important thing is to pick the right mentors—the people who’ll teach you and put the time that you put into them back into you,” Green said.

Green also praises the one-of-a-kind bay roan stallion Call Me Mitch (Metallic Cat x Miss Hickory Hill x Docs Hickory), whom Ralls piloted to win the 2023 World’s Greatest Horseman® Championship.

“He’s amazing—just watching Phillip and helping

Left: Succeeding in the reined cow horse industry takes a village, and Shannon and Jason Green are an exceptional team.

Shannon, the first Assistant Trainer of the Year Award winner, credits her husband as one of her greatest supporters.

Right: During the inaugural Night at the Stockyards event, Brad Pryor of Rafter P Construction presented Green with a $1,500 check to recognize her efforts.

///////// 2024 NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY®

W

ORTH THREE

IN THE SADDLE

BY PAIGE BRANDON PHOTOS BY 3 HAND PRODUCTIONS

The 2024 National Finals Rodear returned during the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®, where teams of cow dogs, cow horses and stockmen showcased their superior stock sense.

Derk Robinson and Spicy marked a total score of 390 and time of 8:04 to win the Open championship.

National Finals Rodear Results

I

n ranch operations, stockmen use cow dogs to aid their daily work.

Cow dogs are necessary to work and move cattle in country where the brush is too thick or the trail too harsh for horses. They can be a cowboy’s “right-hand man.”

During the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®,

122 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

Oswood Stallion Station National Finals Rodear Open Champions: Derk Robinson and Spicy

stockmen showcase their best cow dogs and cow horses in the Nationals Finals Rodear, the “Super Bowl” of rodear competitions.

The stockmen, aboard their best cow horses, work their dogs to guide cattle through a series of obstacles that mimic ranch work.

The runs are scored and timed to crown the best working team. A judge will score

Nutrena National Finals Rodear Stockman Champions: Clint McDaniel and Bo Nutrena National Finals Rodear Green Dog Champions: David Henry and 57 Tate National Finals Rodear Novice Champions: Riley Foshee and Ruger

///////// 2024 NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY® the team based on how the dog correctly maneuvers the cattle and how the rider directs it horseback.

The Rodear America Cowdog Association, the mastermind behind the National Finals Rodear, emphasizes courses that resemble working ranch situations. Cowboys and cowgirls of all backgrounds from across the United States compete in the various classes for each skill level.

The Open class is for cowdog owners who receive remuneration for their training. Those in the Stockman class are most comparable to the Non Pro division within the NRCHA. The Green Dog class is open to dogs younger than 2½ years old as of October 1 of their competition year, and the Novice class is provided for those new to rodeo competition.

Derk Robinson and his dog Spicy took home the Oswood Stallion Station National Finals Rodear Open Champion title. Some could say a total score of 390 and a total time of 8:04 were beginner’s luck for the pair. However, the first-year RACA member is not unfamiliar with cow dogs or the show pen. Robinson, a retired rodeo cowboy, has been around horses and cowdogs his whole life. Three years ago, he started training cow dogs for the public.

“She was the one I reached into the litter, grabbed and said, ‘I'm going to keep this one for myself,’” Robinson said about Spicy.

“And I've never been luckier. I should’ve bought a lottery ticket that same day.”

In rodear competitions, stockmen rely on solid mounts to open gates, move cattle, load cattle in a trailer and assist in other course obstacles. Robinson’s equine partner was a 5-year-old grey mare he named Kit Kat. “She's the nicest young horse I've ever ridden,” he explained. “That's a big part of these rodears—without a good horse, you're going to battle that much harder.”

This competition aligns well with the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® as the best proof of the marvel of a team composed of a cow-savvy dog, a good cow horse, and a stockman who can lead the two.

“The most fun competition to watch is the reined cow horse—there’s nothing cooler than watching the fence work,” Robinson expressed. “Then, fast-forward

124 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

Top to bottom: Clint McDaniel and Bo claimed the Nutrena National Finals Rodear Stockman Champion title with a total score of 405 and a grand time of 7:43.

David Henry and 57 Tate topped the Stockman class for the champion title with 399 points and a time of 7:11.

Riley Foshee and Ruger were named the Novice champions after earning a total time of 7:53 and a score of 306.

to competing during this several-week-long prestigious event with some of the best horse hands in the world, seeing their banners hang from the John Justin and then being down on the arena floor— it’s unbelievable.”

Clint McDaniel and Bo topped the Stockman class with a total score of 405 and a grand time of 7:43 to claim the Nutrena National Finals Rodear Stockman Champion title. David Henry and his dog, 57 Tate, scored 399 points and had a total time of 7:11 to win the Nutrena National Finals Rodear Green Dog Champion title. With a total time of 7:53 and a score of 306, Riley Foshee and Ruger took home the National Finals Rodear Novice Champion title.

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///////// 2024 NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY®

G

IRL POWER

BY PAIGE BRANDON PHOTOS BY PRIMO MORALES

Adeline G. Bricker and Sparkn claimed the Cowboy Class crown at the 2024 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®.

T

he stipulation of being employed by a livestock operation or ranch is unique to the Cowboy Class held during the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®. It gives working cowboys and cowgirls who’ve earned less than $15,000 in NRCHA open or non pro divisions a chance to throw their hats in the ring and showcase their skills. They compete in reined work, cow work and a modified steer stopping.

128 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

Adeline G. Bricker and Sparkn clinched the Cowboy Class victory at the 2024 Snaffle Bit Futurity® with a 432 composite.

Adeline G. Bricker rode Sparkn (Stevie Rey Von x Quickin x Boonlight Dancer) to the 2024 championship, representing her family’s livestock operation, Bricker Trading Company, based in Seymour, Texas.

It was a satisfying victory for her, sweetened by her family’s support. Her parents can’t leave their operation often; however, they made it in time to be in the winner’s photo with her. Her aunt also came to make part of the show.

COWBOY CLASS TOP EIGHT OVERALL

1. Adeline G. Bricker; Sparkn; 19M (Stevie Rey Von x Quickin x Boonlight Dancer); Adeline G. Bricker; 432 (R: 141.5/C: 147/SS: 143.5); $2,300 2. Tyler D. Avent; Exxpedia; 17S (Spots Hot x Shes Twice As Smooth x Smooth As A Cat); Tee Cross Ranches LLC; 430.5 (R: 144/C: 140.5/ SS: 146); $1,840 3. Waylon T. Davis; Reydium Cat; 17S (Metallic Cat x Reynanza x Dual Rey); Guitar Ranches LP; 430 (R: 141.5/C: 142.5/SS: 146); $1,380 4. Sterlin Mitchell; SJR Diamond Motion; 17S (CD Diamond x Stylish Little Oak x Playin Stylish); Singleton Ranches; 426.5 (R: 140.5/C: 138.5/SS: 147.5); $1,104 5T. Jason D. Perry; Spook N Boon; 17S (Once In A Blu Boon x Starlights Natalie x Grays Starlight); Jason Perry/Carrie J Garland; 426 (R: 139/C: 144/SS: 143); $828 5T. Waylon T. Davis; Ms Aristocratic; 19G (Dual Smart Rey x Aristocratic Star x High Brow Cat); Waylon & Taylor Davis; 426 (R: 142.5/C: 143.5/SS: 140); $828 7. Cooper McCleskey; South Wichita; 15S (Bet Hesa Cat x Gins Last x Tanquery Gin); Tongue River Ranch; 425 (R: 140.5/C: 140.5/SS: 144); $552 8. Luke Russell; Smart Time Twist; 18S (Smart Time Pepto 10 x Freckles Red Twist x Freckles Fancy Twist); Carlos Perez; 424.5 (R: 137/C: 142/SS: 145.5); $368

“It was awesome that I got to win a big event in front of my family,” Bricker said. “They left about 4:30 that morning to come watch me show in the Hackamore and the Cowboy Class.”

Bricker, 23, is already a veteran of the winner’s circle. This past summer, she won the American Quarter Horse Association Ranching Heritage Challenge Amateur 4-and-Up Ranch Cutting and the R.A. Brown Ranch Horse Association of America Ranch Hand Class. She has over $11,000 in RHAA lifetime earnings.

“You're always competing against yourself, even

though you're competing against other people,” she explained. “I go in there and do what I practice every day.”

The same day as the Cowboy Class, she showed Sparkn in the Non Pro Hackamore for eighth place in a challenging class.

“You can only do the best that you and your horse can do together, and that's what I strive for,” she stated.

Bricker and Sparkn’s best included a solid 141.5 in the reined work. She worked second to last in the final set of the cow work. Her first cow came out, head high and tail up. The pair danced with the headstrong Angus until the judge called for a new cow. Bricker admitted wanting to go with the first but thought better of it. After the whistle, they had a 147 down the fence. She was tied for second going into the steer stopping.

The roping was set up cowboy style, with a box made of panels. The crew pushed out the cattle, and the competitors tracked the cows down before laying a loop and dallying. Bricker utilized the length of the arena to straighten out the wily steer and scored a 143.5.

Bricker and Sparkn won bragging rights and a $2,300 check for 432 composite (R: 141.5/C: 147/S: 143.5).

Left: “The stipulation of being employed by a livestock operation or ranch is unique to the Cowboy Class. It gives working cowboys and cowgirls, who’ve earned less than $15,000 from NRCHA events, a chance to throw their hats in the ring and showcase their skills.

Right: After the highest rein work score of 144, Tyler Avent aboard Exxpedia was the reserve champion for the second consecutive year with a 430.5 composite.

HEART HORSE Though Bricker is a talented horsewoman, she attributes her success to her 2019 mare.

“She's the biggest-hearted and hardest-trying horse I’ve ever rode, and she’s as true to how she rides at home as she is in the show pen,” Bricker said.

Horses of all ages compete in the Cowboy Class, and the 5-year-old hackamore horse went up against finished bridle horses.

REINED COW HORSE NEWS | November/December 2024 129

///////// 2024 NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY®

“WINNING THIS AT A bIG PremIer NrcHA eveNT meANT A LoT, becAUSe IT SHoWeD THAT I WAS cAPAbLe AND PUT IN ALL THe TIme AND eFForT, eveN THoUGH I KNeW IT IN mY HeArT For THe LAST FoUr YeArS. IT'S reWArDING.” —Adeline Bricker

“There were horses from 3 to 12 years old,” she recalled. “I wasn’t intimidated because they're judging you based on how your horse shows, not what you're showing. I fully trusted and believed in her to show great in the snaffle.”

Bricker traded for Sparkn in May of the horse's 5-year-old year. She rode her at an RHAA show within the first month and a half of owning her.

The pair claimed reserve in the Limited Non Pro Derby at the Colorado Reined Cowhorse Association Firecracker that summer.

“She's an incredible horse,” Bricker said.

“Nobody trained her; it was what she had in her. She wanted to be this talented.”

RIDING FOR THE BRAND Bricker works for her family’s cattle-starter yard. The operation sends cattle to top cutting and cow horse trainers, such as Phil Rapp, the fourth National Cutting Horse Association All Time Leading Money Earner, and NCHA Hall of Famer Adan Banuelos.

“It was great to represent my family and their business and show you can cowboy every day on these horses, then go show them and be at the

130 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

top,” she said.

She thanked her family for their constant support and pushing her to be her best.

Bricker takes care of the yard three to four times a week. If her dad has a sale, she steps up while he’s gone, like a “mini-boss,” she said with a laugh. She uses the same horses she shows in the yard and finds that cowboying on her horses has helped them in the arena.

“With those horses, they learn so much going and working,” she explained. “Then you take them to the arena and refine everything you’ve taught them and what they already know. It's 10 times easier than going down there with a blank slate.”

After the show, she couldn’t wait to make it home to put her new hardware on her belt. And she’s been wearing it ever since—a testament to her hard work paying off.

“This is the only NRCHA buckle with 'cowboy’ on it, and I like that,” she said. “Winning this at a big premier NRCHA event meant a lot because it showed that I was capable and put in all the time and effort, even though I knew it in my heart for the last four years. It's rewarding.”

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H

ORSE SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

OPEN BRIDLE & INTERMEDIATE OPEN BRIDLE A Starlights Magnum (Magnum With A Dream x Shiny Starlight x Grays Starlight) and Kyle Trahern clinched the Open Bridle with a 443.5 (R: 221.5/C: 222) for $11,720.

They also earned the Intermediate Open Bridle championship with a 298.5 (R: 150/C: 148.5) for $2,024.

Trahern owns the 2017 gelding.

LIMITED OPEN BRIDLE

MS Chics N Dun (Chics Real Deal x Jackies Dun It x Hollywood Dun It) and Garrett Thurner clinched the Limited Open Bridle championship with a 293.5 (R: 148.5/C: 145). The 2017 mare collected $2,375 for owner Lesli Gilbert.

NON PRO BRIDLE & INTERMEDIATE NON PRO BRIDLE

Ashley Lembke and Bet Hesa Honeybee (Bet Hesa Cat x Honey Bees x Peptoboonsmal) clinched the Non Pro Bridle championship with a 297.0 (R: 146.5/C: 150.5).

The 2018 gelding, owned by Tyrel and Ashley Lembke, collected $5,146.25.

134 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

COMPILED BY NRCHA STAFF PHOTOS BY PRIMO MORALES

LEVEL 1 NON PRO BRIDLE

Henry Birdwell and Billies Blaze (High Brow Cat x Billies Smart Lena x Smart Little Lena) clinched the Level 1 Non Pro Bridle championship with a 290.0 (R: 144.5/C: 145.5).

The 2015 gelding, owned by Henry Birdwell, collected $1,820.

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OPEN HACKAMORE

Toni M. Hagen Heath and Smokum Every Time (One Time Pepto x Smokums Dream x Metallic Cat) clinched the Select Non Pro Bridle championship with a 293.0 (R: 146/C: 147). The 2015 stallion, owned by Daniel Heath, collected $850.

Venom Boonsmal (Peptoboonsmal x A Black Widow x High Brow Cat) and Sarah Dawson clinched the Open Hackamore championship with a 445.5 (R: 222.5/C: 223). The 2020 stallion collected $14,100 for owner Aaron Ranch.

INTERMEDIATE OPEN HACKAMORE

LIMITED OPEN HACKAMORE Matt Frederick and Starlight Time (One Time Pepto x Starlight Edition x Futuritys First Edition) clinched the Intermediate Open Hackamore championship with a 293 (R: 146.5/C: 146.5).

The 2019 stallion, owned by Raising Hal Cow Horses LLC, collected $2,070.

NON PRO HACKAMORE

OPEN TWO REIN & INTERMEDIATE OPEN TWO REIN

William Akin and Good Timing Mizzter (One Time Pepto x GoodGollyMizzMolly x Very Smart Remedy) clinched the Non Pro Hackamore championship with a 292 (R: 145/C: 147). The 2020 stallion, owned

by Russell Akin, collected $2,940.

136 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

Aaron Goldade and Shes A Leap Of Faith (Hes A Leap Of Faith x BLS First Choice x SR Instant Choice) clinched the Limited Open Hackamore championship with a 283.5 (R: 142.5/C: 141). The 2020 mare, owned by Emma Kay, collected $2,025.

Jordan Williams and Jaymes Bond (Metallic Cat x Shortys Jay Ray x Dual Rey) clinched the Open Two Rein and Intermediate Open Two Rein championship with a 296.5 (R: 146.5/C: 150). The 2018 stallion, owned by Bonds Ranch, collected $5,875 and $900, respectively.

///////// 2024 NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY® LIMITED OPEN TWO REIN

NON PRO TWO REIN

Orren Koontz and DT Hickorys Sedona (Hickorys Holly Time x Savannah x Laker Doc) clinched the Limited Open Two Rein championship with a 284.5 (R: 141.5/C: 143).

The 2019 mare, owned by Durrett Cattle Co., collected $1,000.

Myles Brown and OverTheLegalLimitRAB (One Time Royalty x Billie Travis x Continental Fly) clinched the Non Pro Two Rein championship with a 293 (R: 146/C: 147). The 2018 gelding, owned by Rob A. Brown, collected $2,025.

NON PRO BOXING

YOUTH COW HORSE

Angie Kilpatrick and Electra Tuff (Woody Be Tuff x Electras Boots x Doc O Boots) clinched the Non Pro Boxing championship with a 291.5 (R: 144.5/C: 147). The 2012 gelding, owned by Brian and Angie Kilpatrick, collected $5,700.

Hunter Hays and Metallic Metal (Metallic Cat x Nurse Gray x Grays Starlight) clinched the Youth Cow Horse championship with a 293.5 (R: 145.5/C: 148). The 2016 stallion, owned by Hunter Hays, collected $1,500.75.

YOUTH COW HORSE 13 & UNDER

YOUTH BOXING

Isabelle Scheffel and One Fancy Savannah (One Time Pepto x Savannah Hickory x Docs Hickory) clinched the Youth Cow Horse 13 & Under championship with a 290.5 (R: 143.5/C: 147). Jodie Scheffel owns the 2017 mare.

138 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

Grace Callahan and SCR King Of The Road (Sannman x SCR Crackin Light x Boonlight Dancer) clinched the Youth Boxing championship with a 290.5 (R: 147/C: 143.5).

The 2017 gelding, owned by Mickey Callahan, collected $1,081.

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///////// 2024 NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY® YOUTH BOXING 13 & UNDER

BOX DRIVE

DJ Crafton and Voodoo Sweetheart (Shiners Voodoo Dr x Very Smart Sweethart x Very Smart Remedy) clinched the Youth Boxing 13 & Under championship with a 290 (R: 145/C: 145).

Debbie Crafton owns the 2019 mare.

Angie Kilpatrick and Electra Tuff (Woody Be Tuff x Electras Boots x Doc O Boots) clinched the Box Drive championship with a 293.5 (R: 145.5/C: 148).

The 2012 gelding, owned by Brian and Angie Kilpatrick, collected $1,510.

SELECT BOX DRIVE

INTERMEDIATE NON PRO BOXING

Cheryl Chown and Xtra Short Trick (Shiners Voodoo Dr x Short And Royal x Short Oak) clinched the Select Box Drive championship with a 290 (R: 144/C: 146).

The 2016 mare, owned by Robert and Cheryl Chown, collected $442.50.

Emily A. Kirchenschlager and Boon Boon Ur Dead (Once In A Blu Boon x Boons Coffee x Boon Too Suen) clinched the Intermediate Non Pro Boxing championship with a 291 (R: 145.5/ C: 145.5).

The 2018 gelding, owned by Emily A. Kirchenschlager, collected $1,097.

LIMITED NON PRO BOXING

SELECT NON PRO BOXING

Grace Callahan and SCR King Of The Road (Sannman x SCR Crackin Light x Boonlight Dancer) clinched the Limited Non Pro Boxing championship with a 289.5 (R: 146.5/C: 143). The 2017 gelding, owned by Mickey Callahan, collected $805.

140 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

Cheryl Chown and Xtra Short Trick (Shiners Voodoo Dr x Short And Royal x Short Oak) clinched the Select Box Drive championship with a 291.5 (R: 145/C: 146.5). The 2016 mare, owned by Robert and Cheryl Chown, collected $900.

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///////// 2024 NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY®

RECORD-SETTING SALES The NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Sales, presented by Western Bloodstock, set new benchmarks and introduced new reined cow horse stars.

STORY AND PHOTOS PROVIDED BY WESTERN BLOODSTOCK SALES

T

he annual NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Western Bloodstock Sales drew consignors, bidders and fans from all corners of the United States to lay eyes on some of the top stock in the Western performance industry—including tomorrow’s reined cow horse stars.

Here are the results on the top sellers from the two days of sales.

DAY ONE: RECORD YEARLING SALE PRICES Friday, October 18, the first day of the 2024 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Sales, produced by Western Bloodstock, saw records fall on a strong day that resulted in an average of $32,426 and 88.4 % completed sales in the Select Yearling and Broodmare Sale Session I. Daisy Jane, consigned by Beechfork Ranch (JC Sale Fitting, Agent), sold to Triple D Ranches in Dyer, Nevada, for $250,000, setting a yearling record for NRCHA. Sired by Metallic Cat, the sorrel filly is a half-sister to

144 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

Kit Kat Sugar son Scooter Kat, NRCHA’s highest-earning horse. Out of Dual Smart Rey daughter Scooters Daisy Dukes, an NCHA aged-event champion and dam of 10 money earners of over $1.2 million, Daisy Jane is also a full sister to NRCHA Open Stallion Stakes Champion Hazardouz Material and NRCHA Open Stallion Stakes Reserve Champion Metallic Daisy Dukes.

In addition to the record yearling sales price, Friday registered the sale of two other horses for $100,000 or more, another record for NRCHA sales.

Daisy Jane (Metallic Cat x Scooters Daisy Dukes x Dual Smart Rey), consigned by Beechfork Ranch (JC Sale Fitting, Agent), sold to Triple D Ranches of Dyer, Nevada, for $250,000, setting an NRCHA yearling sale record.

///////// 2024 NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY®

Sparklet, a 2-year-old Woody Be Tuff filly out of Sparkling Metallic in training with Ty Benson, agent, and consigned by Ty Smith, brought $100,000 from Jay McLaughlin.

Sparklet, a 2-year-old Woody Be Tuff filly out of Sparkling Metallic, in training with Ty Benson, agent, and consigned by Ty Smith, brought $100,000 from Jay McLaughlin of Amarillo, Texas. Shiney Nu Looker, a yearling WR This Cats Smart sorrel filly, consigned by Wagonhound Land & Livestock, also brought $100,000 from Clinton Anderson of Farmington, Arkansas. Out of Annies One Time and by One Time Pepto, Shiney Nu Looker’s second dam, NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Open Reserve Champion Shiney Nu Annie, is the dam of nine money-earners that total $524,468, including three full siblings to Annies Smart Cat, sired by WR This Cats Smart.

DAY TWO: STRONG OVERALL AVERAGE Saturday, October 19, marked the final day of the 2024 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Sales with a robust overall average of $30,453 and 83% completed sales on 226 lots.

RBS Cleocatra, consigned to the Select Yearling & Broodmare Sale Session II by Brent Stewart/Rocking BS Ranch, commanded $162,000, the top price of the day, from Cooper Smith of Whitesboro, Texas. The Metallic Cat yearling filly is a full sister to NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Open Co-Reserve Champion and 2024 National Stock Horse Association Reined Cow Horse World’s Richest Stock Horse Open Champion Ricato Suave. Their dam, Hip Hip Sue Rey, by Dual Rey, has produced seven earners of $513,952. Her dam, the legendary Meradas Little Sue, has produced 27 earners of over $1.6 million.

Rebellin Forever, a yearling Metallic Rebel colt consigned by Alan Chappell, brought $90,000, the

146 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

day’s second-highest price, from Charles McCluer of Las Vegas, Nevada. The sorrel colt is out of Soula Jule Forever, an NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Open finalist and the dam of 18 money-earners totaling $719,809, including NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Open Reserve Champions Jule Smart Rey (by Dual Smart Rey) and Bet Hes Black (by Bet Hesa Cat).

Metallic Reylinquish, a yearling Metallic Rebel daughter consigned by Billy Wolf, sold to Alexa Stent of Weatherford, Texas, for $75,000, the day’s third-highest price. The sorrel filly, out of Dual Rey daughter Never Reylinquish, is a three-quarter sister to Buonvino (by Metallic Cat) and a full sister to NRCHA Western Open Derby Champion A Reyl Rebel.

Visit westernbloodstock.com for information about their sales and incentives.

Top: Shiney Nu Looker, a yearling WR This Cats Smart sorrel filly, consigned by Wagonhound Land & Livestock, brought $100,000 from Clinton Anderson.

Botton: RBS Cleocatra, consigned to the Select Yearling & Broodmare Sale Session II by Brent Stewart/Rocking BS Ranch, commanded $162,000, the top price of that day, from Cooper Smith.

y t i l a Qu ABOVE ALL

W W W . T H E S A D D L E H O U S E . C O M W W W . T H E S A D D L E H O U S E . C O M

@T SADDLEHOUSE @THE HESADDLEHOUSE

@T _SADDLE_HOUSE @THE HE_SADDLE_HOUSE

///////// 2024 NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY®

R

OPE HORSE PRODIGIES

BY PAIGE BRANDON PHOTO BY ELISABETH MARTINO WITH BRANDED E MEDIA, COURTESY OF ARHFA

For the eighth consecutive year, the American Rope Horse Futurity Association World Championship, in partnership with the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®, returned to the John Justin Arena.

I

n 2007, Jay and Lindsey Wadhams started the American Rope Horse Futurity Association to promote prodigy rope horses, similar to the cow horse industry. Eight years ago, they decided to host the ARHFA World Championship in the John Justin Arena during the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®. This decision made perfect sense as both events showcase the best hands and horses in the team roping industry alongside NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® contenders that share some of same bloodlines.

150 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

Trevor Brazile and RR Gunners Affair claimed the Open Futurity Heading Championship with a total score of 941.4 to take home $25,000.

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The nutrition supporting Lee’s team includes: • Platinum Performance® GI • Ortho-Chon® II HA • Platinum Electrolyte • Bio-Sponge® • Vitamin E Lee Deacon is a sponsored endorsee and actual client.

©2 024 PLAT INU M P ERFORM AN CE ®

This 2022 NRCHA Intermediate and Open Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion recognizes the power of nutrition. He’s been a Platinum client since 2019.

///////// 2024 NRCHA SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY®

Joseph Harrison and One Nite Special marked a total score of 945.43 to win $30,000 as the Open Futurity Heeling Champions.

This year, the four-day event paid out $818,900. The Open Heading Futurity included 192 entries, and the Open Heeling Futurity had 212 entries. These numbers confirm the magnitude of rope horse futurities as a growing part of the team roping industry.

Unlike other timed event futurities, the ARHFA combines a timed score with two judging scores based on four maneuvers.

The sum of the scores is used to determine the placings. Eligible horses in the ARHFA are 6 years old or younger, with an incentive payout for 4-year-olds. Competitors from all over brought their rope-horse prodigies to compete in Cowtown for the championship titles. The fierce competition brought in a slew of headlines.

Trevor Brazile is known as the "King of Cowboys," a rightfully earned title after becoming the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association's richest and most decorated athlete. This year, he added a new win to his résumé. The ARHFA Open Futurity Heading title had evaded the 26-time PRCA world champion who’d been high call for four short rounds in the eight-year world championship history.

Brazile rode RR Gunners Affair (Gunner Special Night x Cowgirl Affair x Major Vaquero) to the win, taking home $25,000

152 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

after a total score of 941.4. The 2020 gelding, owned by Jared Wittwer, is a half-sibling to One Nite Special (Gunners Special Nite x Thelmas Whiz x Topsail Whiz), the 2024 ARHFA Open Futurity Heeling Champion with Joseph Harrison.

Harrison and his 4-year-old equine partner, owned by Chris Young, scored a 945.43 to win $30,000. This win was the fourth open title for Harrison, who last won the title in 2021 with a maternal sibling to RR Gunners Affair.

Brazile remained at the top of the Open Futurity Heading, earning the reserve title on RR Buckles Clubhouse (Show Me The Buckles x Hail Olena x Shine Like Hail).

His son, Treston Brazile, claimed the Non Pro Heeling title and $6,475 for the second consecutive year with Woody Be Spotted (Nitas Wood x Lily Olena x Ima Doc O Lena), owned by Relentless Remuda, LLC. Like father, like son, Treston Brazile also claimed reserve in his same class on Pride And Joyy (Stevie Rey Von x Fun N Fancy Free x Peptoboonsmal).

Beta Cisneros and Time to Travel (Hickory Holly Time x Travelin Miss Jonez x Travelin Jonez), owned by Wade and Timmi Jo Lisac, claimed the Non Pro Heading Championship title and a $7,340 check with a total score of 687.69.

2024 ARFA World Championship Results Open Futurity Heading: Trevor Brazile of Decatur, Texas, won the Open Futurity Heading Champion title riding RR Gunners Affair (Gunners Special Night x Cowgirl Affair x Major Vaquero). Brazile and the 2020 gelding, owned by Jared Wittwer, earned a total score of 941.4 to take home $25,000.

Open Futurity Heeling: One Nite Special (Gunners Special Nite x Thelmas Whiz x Topsail Whiz) and Joseph Harrison marked a total score of 945.43 to win $30,000 as the Open Futurity Heeling Champions. One Night Special is owned by Chris Young out of Coleman, Oklahoma.

Non Pro Heading: Beta Cisneros and Time to Travel (Hickory Holly Time x Travelin Miss Jonez x Travelin Jonez), owned by Wade and Timmi Jo Lisac, claimed the Non Pro Heading Championship title and a $7,340 check with a total score of 687.69.

Non Pro Heeling: For the second consecutive year, Treston Brazile of Decatur, Texas, took home the Non Pro Heeling Championship title and $6,475 after earning a total score of 688.51, aboard Woody Be Spotted (Nitas Wood x Lily Olena x Ima Doc O Lena), owned by Relentless Remuda, LLC.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS President: Boyd Rice ■ Vice President: Paul Bailey ■ Secretary: Todd Crawford ■ Treasurer: Trey Neal Executive Committee Members: Corey Cushing, Todd Bergen, Ben Baldus, Dr. Joe Carter Board Members: Diane Edwards, Lance Johnston, Jay McLaughlin, Dan Roeser, Jon Roeser, Beverly Servi, Jake Telford, Cayley Wilson

COMMITTEE DIRECTORY

STAFF

AFFILIATES

OWNERS

Executive Director: Emily Konkel emily@nrcha.com

PROFESSIONALS

Director of Communications & Media: Callie Boevers callie@nrcha.com

RULES

Director of Programs: Tara Carter tara@nrcha.com

Chairperson: Jay McLaughlin jaymclaughlinperformancehorses@gmail.com 417-861-6963

ANIMAL WELFARE

Chairperson: Dr. Joe Carter, DVM jcarterdvm@aol.com | 405-288-6460

ETHICS

Chairperson: Trey Neal trey@treyneal.com

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

JUDGES

Chairperson: Abrian Bass harris.abrian@gmail.com | 817-517-3006 Chairperson: Cayley Wilson cayleyrwilson@gmail.com | 604-300-0401 Chairperson: Dan Roeser roeserstables@gmail.com | 208-841-2052

SHOWS

Co-Chairperson: Ben Baldus ben@baldushorsemanship.com | 940-923-7255 Co-Chairperson: Todd Bergen tbergenhorses@gmail.com | 541-778-0980

SPONSORSHIP

Chairperson: Jordan Tierney jordan@nrcha.com | 940-488-1495

STALLION SERVICE AUCTION

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

Chairperson: Lance Johnston jphperformancehorses@gmail.com | 805-550-8387 Director of Judges: Bill Enk enk.bill@gmail.com

STRATEGIC PLANNING

NRCHA FOUNDATION

Chairperson: Sarah Clymer Shubrick3@gmail.com | 719-330-1932

Chairperson: Chelsea Edsall edsallhorses@hotmail.com | 209-603-8968

NON PRO

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

154 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

Chairperson: Emily Konkel emily@nrcha.com | 940-488-1500

YOUTH

MARKETING

Chairperson: Callie Boevers callie@nrcha.com | 940-488-1491

Director of Sponsorship & Outreach: Jordan Tierney jordan@nrcha.com Premier Event Manager: Tina McCleary tina@nrcha.com Incentive Program & Marketing Manager: Patty Tiberg patty@nrcha.com Membership Coordinator: Ashley Valor ashley@nrcha.com Shows Coordinator: Taylor Meek taylor@nrcha.com Accounting Associate: Marilee Nies marilee@nrcha.com

AFFILIATE LISTING Current as of November 1, 2024

Alaska Reined Cow Horse Association Nathan Horsman Phone: 907-982-1930 Email: nchorsman@gmail.com

Alberta Reined Cow Horse Association Krystal Meade 330, 205 Quarry Park Blvd SE Calgary, AB T2C 3E7 CANADA Phone: 403-991-4617 Email: info@cowhorse.ca Website: cowhorse.ca

Arizona Reined Cow Horse Association Jeffry Heyer Phone: 508-221-1358 Email: jrhyer@comcast.net Website: azrcha.com

Atlantic Reined Cow Horse Association Jennifer Black 1600 Mapledale Rd Elizabethtown, PA 17022 Phone: 717-433-5357 Email: ARCHASecretary.2022@gmail.com Website: atlanticRCHA.com

California Reined Cow Horse Association Laura Norman PO Box 70 Coarsegold, CA 93614 Phone; 559-760-2769 Email: crcha@saddleup-enterprises.com Website: californiacowhorse.com

Central Montana Reined Cow Horse Association Dave Clark PO Box 194 Boyd, MT 59013 Phone: 307-349-0551 Email: wyoclarks@yahoo.com Website: cmrcha.com

Colorado Reined Cowhorse Association Emily Parry 21660 E Rd Delta, CO 81416 Phone: 970-520-1069 Email: coloradocowhorse@gmail.com Website: coloradoreinedcowhorse.com

156 November/December 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

European Reined Cow Horse Association

Nevada Reined Cow Horse Association

Gem State Stock Horse Association

New York Reined Cow Horse Association

Idaho Reined Cow Horse Association

North Central Reined Cow Horse Association

Augusto De Fazio via Natalia Ginzburg 1 - 11015 Ivrea (TO) ITALY Phone: +(39) 338 8860657 Email: ercha@hotmail.it Website: ercha.org

Callee Miller 301 Market Rd Caldwell ID 83607 Phone: 541-519-4748 Email: Cowhorse22@gmail.com Website: gemstatestockhorse.com

Laura Kiracofe P.O. Box 1375 Caldwell, ID 83606 Phone: 208-409-5656 Email: laurakiracofe@yahoo.com Website: idahoreinedcowhorse.com

Lavaca Ranch Reined Cow Horse Association Carie Patrick 1748 CR 444 Hallettsville, TX 77964 Phone: 717-600-6417 Email: lavacaranchcowhorse@gmail.com Website: www.lavacacowhorse.com

Magic Valley RCHA

Kaycie Keller PO Box 5956 Twin Falls, ID 83303 Phone: 208-329-0499 Email: kkayc_13@yahoo.com Website: mvrcha.com

Mid State Cow Horse Association

Laura Norman 2720 E Lone Mountain Rd Las Vegas, NV 89091 Phone: 559-760-2796 Email: laura.saddleup@gmail.com Website: nvrcha.org Cindy Pfeifer 6040 Cleary Rd Livonia, NY 14487 Phone: 585-749-1764 Email: cindypfeifer59@gmail.com Website: newyorkrcha.com Jim Wilson 2409 25th Ave Rice Lake, WI 54868 Phone: 641-420-0440 Email: wilson@myomnitel.com Website: ncrcha.com

Northeastern Reined Cowhorse Alliance Kim VanDerSluis 56 Woodborough Rd Guelph, ON N1G3K5 Canada Phone: 519-590-1558 Email: nerchainfo@gmail.com Website: nercha.ca

Northern California Reined Cow Horse Association Kelly Hamblin 4203 Road M Orland, CA 95963 Phone: 530-510-0198 Email: ncrcha2023@gmail.com Website: www.ncrcha.info

Sharon Michelucci 2500 Adobe Rd Paso Robles CA 9344 Phone: 805-835-5014 Email: info@midstatecowhorseassociation.com Website: midstatecowhorseassociation.com

Alberta Stock Horse Association

Montana Reined Cow Horse Futurity, Inc

Northwest Reined Cow Horse Association

Margaret Ore PO Box 1604 East Helena, MT 59635 Phone: 406-227-7019 Email: more@mt.net Website: montanareinedcowhorse.com

Shawna Husted 27245 TWP 350 Red Deer County, AB T4G 0M4 Phone: 403-875-1369 Email: abstockhorse1@gmail.com

Debbie Pilgoret P.O. Box 302 Newburg, OR 97132 Phone: 503-318-7339 Email: nwreinedcowhorse@gmail.com Website: nwrcha.com

AFFILIATE LISTING Current as of November 1, 2024

Panhandle Reined Cow Horse Association Lane Arnold PO Box 1053 Canyon, TX 79015 Phone: 806-341-0941 Email: panhandlecowhorse@gmail.com Website: panhandlecowhorse.com

South Texas Reined Cow Horse Association Tina McCleary 1951 Poe Prairie Rd Millsap, TX 76066 Phone: 979-218-0633 Email: southtexasrcha@gmail.com Website: strcha.org

Southern California Reined Cow Horse Association Roy Rich Phone: 951-529-6258 Email: socalrcha@aol.com Website: ltht@airenetworks.com

Southern Reined Cow Horse Alliance

Team Professional Italia Western Show A.S.D.

Southeastern Reined Cow Horse Association

Volunteer Ranch Horse Association

Lee Alford 18211 La Tung Rd Covington, LA 70435 Phone: 985-373-8347 Website: www.srchala.com

Rachel Cobb 104 Murphy Hill Rd Belton, SC 29627 Phone: 864-276-9678 Email: southeastcowhorse@gmail.com Website: southeasternrcha.com

Alexandra Liberati Via Ottaviano 42, Roma, Rome ITALY 192 Phone: +39 347 26 22 783 Email: alexandraliberati@gmail.com Website: westernshow.it

Rachael Snow 4807 Shadecrest Dr. Nashville, TN 37211 Phone: 615-405-5219 Email: volunteerranchhorseassociation@gmail.com Website: volrha.com

Southwest Reined Cow Horse Association Gay Lenz 11587 Hunt Lane Guthrie, OK 73044 Phone: 405-818-7556 Email: glenz@glenzenterprises.com Website: srcha.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.

A finance charge of 1.5% per month (18% 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, 2024

Desert Spring Ranch, Queen Creek, AZ

Cody Christensen, Heber City, UT

Bridgette Lanham, Eastover, SC

Don Stockman, Dayton, TX

Keetch Ranch, Waddell, AZ

Tom Daughetee, Kemmerer, WY

Thera Myers, Oxnard, CA

Kinsey Dodson, Cleburne, TX

Shad DeGiorgis, El Dorado Hills, CA

Steed Training/ Rick Steed, Okeechobee, FL

Oasis Ranch/Pete & Marilyn Bowling Purcell, OK

Jill Serena, Castaic, CA

Roy Hockensmith, Frankfort, KY

Vernon Smith, Santa Maria, CA

Brian & Cynthia Holthouse, San Juan Bautista, CA

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

Laura Delfino, Martinez, CA Pat Faitz, Lakeland, FL Robert Frobose, Modesto, CA

Dream Cross/Susan Ray, TX

Marcy Campbell, Creston, CA

Miguel Gonzalez, Miami, FL Babcock Ranch/Jim Babcock, Sanger, TX

Lazy T Shamrock Ranch/ Terry Malarkey, Star, ID

Rita F. Ward, Canyon, TX

Pompeo Capezzone, Castrocielo 03030, ITALY

Brandon Johnson, Nebraska City, NE

Elizabeth Winkle, Sarasota, FL

Chris Anderson Marietta, OK

Riccardo Capezzone, Castrocielo 03030, ITALY

Darren Roberts, Kent, NY

REINED COW HORSE NEWS | November/December 2024 157

SHOW SCHEDULE

LAE = Limited Aged Event, HS = Horse Show

as of November 1, 2024

Date

Show

Type of event

Location

Affiliate

Secretary

Phone

Email

Nov 21-24

Southestern RCHA Futurity & Green Show

HS, LAE, Cat 1

Pendleton, SC

Southeastern RCHA

Mikayla Alexander

936-900-4568

mikaylaalexander317@gmail.com

Dec 3-8

North Central RCHA December 2024 Show

HS, LAE, Cat 1, Cat 2

Winona, MN

North Central RCHA

Jennifer Schueller

641-590-1041

jenschueller21@gmail.com

Dec 12-15

ASD Team Professional Italia Western Show - 2024 Four Crown Spectacular

HS, LAE, Cat 1, Cat 2

Cremona, Italy

Team Professional Italia Western Show ASD

Elisa Ferrari

39 3289691101

elisaf8559@gmail.com

Dec 20-22

Okeechobee Cowtown Classic #4

HS, Cat 1

Okeechobee, FL

Mikayla Alexander

936-900-4568

mikaylaalexander317@gmail.com

Denver, CO

Kelsey Rhyne

661-889-8059

knichols06@yahoo.com

Jan 11

National Western Stock Show

HS, Cat 2

Jan 11-12

Lavaca Ranch RCHA Buckaroo Showdown

HS, Cat 1

Hallettsville, TX

Jan 19-20

Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo

HS, Cat 1

Fort Worth, TX

Feb 15-Mar 1

2025 NRCHA Celebration of Champions HS, LAE, Cat 1, Cat 2

Fort Worth, TX

April 3-12

2025 NRCHA Stallion Stakes

Las Vegas, NV

April 16-20

Nevada RC&CHA Winnemucca Spring Spectacular and Derby

HS, LAE, Cat 1

Winnemucca, NV

Nevada RC&CHA

Laura Norman

559-760-2769

laura.saddleup@gmail.com

Apr 25-27

California RCHA Show #3

HS, Cat 1

Tulare, CA

California RCHA

Laura Norman

559-760-2769

laura@californiacowhorse.com

May 29-June 8

2025 NRCHA Western Derby

HS, LAE, Cat 1, Cat 2

Scottsdale, AZ

NRCHA

NRCHA

940-488-1500

entries@nrcha.com

June 12-16

Nevada RC&CHA Dave Grashuis Memorial Spectacular and Derby

HS, LAE, Cat 1

Winnemucca, NV

Nevada RC&CHA

Laura Norman

559-760-2769

laura.saddleup@gmail.com

July 22-28

2025 NRCHA Hackamore Classic

HS, LAE, Cat 1, Cat 2

Tulsa, OK

NRCHA

NRCHA

940-488-1500

entries@nrcha.com

Oct 3-18

2025 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®

HS, LAE, Cat 1, Cat 2

Fort Worth, TX

NRCHA

NRCHA

940-488-1500

entries@nrcha.com

HS, LAE, Cat 1, Cat 2

160 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS

Lavaca Ranch RCHA

Arlynn Fulton

717-600-6417

lavacaranchcowhorse@gmail.com

Nelle Murphy

580-276-0761

baldnshiney@hotmail.com

NRCHA

NRCHA

940-488-1500

entries@nrcha.com

NRCHA

NRCHA

940-488-1500

entries@nrcha.com