Update From 2017 NRHA Futurity
Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show: the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 and Level 1 Champions
Oklahoma City, November 27, 2017 – Earning the Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show (NAAC) Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 Co-Championship were Alicia Rapp and James Windham, both earning a 218.5 and representing the Southeast ARC. Rapp rode Magnificent Dreamer (Magnum Chic Dream x Heavenly Rooster), a 5-year-old gelding bred by Zachary Greg. “I just got ‘Reggie’ at the 2017 NRHA Derby from [NRHA Professional] Ashley Kelkenberg,” Rapp said. “He is only my second reining horse and was a step up from my first one. He is so gorgeous and handsome, and his personality is everything I wanted. I joked that I wanted a big, beautiful horse, but I had no intention of buying a new horse at the Derby. I bought him after talking to Ashley for 30 minutes, and I did not even ride him.”
Windham rode his own Walks With Swagger (Topsail Whiz x Princess In Diamonds). He has owned the 7-year-old gelding for a year and a half. “He has been awesome since I first owned him,” said Windham. “This venue is always my best, and he always proves himself out here. I was very happy with his performance today. It has been a really great year with many tough shows to get to this point, so it feels incredible to end it this way.” Both teams will compete tomorrow in the Adequan® NAAC Non Pro and joked that they hope to represent their region and barn aisle as they did today.
In third place in the Adequan® NAAC Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 was Kelly Rainford on Give Me Starbucks (Walla Walla Whiz x Starbucks Rosy Blend), who scored a 218. Rainford came to OKC representing the Rocky Mountain Reining Horse Association (RHA) on her 7-year-old mare bred by Jimmy Pierce.
The Adequan® NAAC Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 Champion received a Kyle Tack saddle, a custom Montana Silversmiths Trophy Buckle, a Platinum Performance Gift Certificate, a Classic Equine fleece cooler, Bluebonnet Feed product, a $150 SmartPak Gift card, an embroidered halter from Brandt Blankets, and an Avila Pro Shop blanket.
Saving the best for last in the Adequan® NAAC Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1, Kristen Avila and Mercedes Dot Tari (Cromed Out Mercedes x Skeets Dot Tari) scored a 217.5 to win the Championship. “I am so excited that I think I am going to cry,” said an emotional Avila. “She is such a special mare to our family.” NRHA Professional Bobby Avila, Jr. and Kristen bought the 5-year-old mare from NRHA Million Dollar Owner and Hall of Fame Inductee Vaughn Zimmerman when she was still on her dam’s side, said Kristen. “Bobby trained her mom, and I have loved her since she was a baby,” said Kristen. “She would run up and want attention and truly is our pet. She will be my son’s short stirrup horse one day and will have a forever home with us. For her to win this is just amazing. I am so thankful Vaughn gave us the opportunity to own her and that my husband trained her for me.”
Earning the Adequan® NAAC Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 Reserve Championship, after scoring a 216.5, were Taryn Bakker and Love Playin Tag (Loveable Nic x Whiz N Tag Chic). Bakker has owned the 6-year-old gelding, bred by Vanessa Noble, since January. The pair, representing Washington RHA, has had an incredibly successful first year together. “I showed as a youth ten years ago and just got back into reining,” Bakker said. “I am learning how to rein again, and it has been really fun. I have four kids, and it just felt like the right time. I have gone and watched and wanted to show again, and she was the inspiration. It has been a surreal dream since you never know how it will go once you get to the show. I have joined the best coach [NRHA Professional Darren Stancik] and family of non pros in this barn.” Their goal has been to compete for the Silver Spurs Equine Rookie of the Year title, to be determined on Thursday, November 30.
The Adequan® NAAC Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 Champion received a Kyle Tack saddle, a custom Montana Silversmiths Trophy Buckle, a Platinum Performance Gift Certificate, a Classic Equine fleece cooler, Bluebonnet Feed product, a $150 SmartPak Gift card, an embroidered halter from Brandt Blankets, and an Avila Pro Shop Blanket.
Adam Donahue and Thata Shiner (Smart Spook x SLJ Smartlikewhinny) won the $1,000-added NRHA Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 after scoring a 219. The 8-year-old mare, owned by Donahue, was bred by Million Dollar Owner Smart Like Juice Inc. Stephanie T Gripp and her own Gun N For Glory (Gunner x Dun It For Chex) won the $1,000-added NRHA Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2. Gripp and the 5-year-old mare, bred by Oldenburg Farm LLC, scored a 220 for the win.
Pale Face Chex slides Bobby Avila, Jr. to top the first section of the NRHA Open Futurity Level 3, 2, 1 Semifinals
Oklahoma City, November 27, 2017 – The 2017 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) $575,500-added NRHA Open Futurity counted 370 horses entered in the four divisions. Following the first go-round, 75 horses (plus ties) in each level advanced to the Level (L)1, 2, and 3 Semifinals held today in Oklahoma City.
The first section of the NRHA Open L3, 2, 1 Futurity Semifinals saw NRHA Professional Bobby Avila, Jr. riding Pale Face Chex (Pale Face Dunnit x Lena Sugar Chex), owned by 6-K LLC, walk away with a 219. The duo had scored a 216.5 in the first go-round, which brought them the highest composite score today (435.5) to lead the L3 and L2 divisions. “My horse was really good and very calm today,” said Avila, Jr. “I actually got ready early as I thought there could be a few scratches before me. Since there weren’t, we took it easy, and it paid off. I showed him a little different than the way I did the first day; I sat back and loosened my reins so that we would get more credit for our maneuvers, and it worked. I feel really confident now and look forward to the Finals on Saturday.”
Cashing In Diamonds (Lil Joe Cash x Diamond Steppin Whiz), ridden by NRHA Professional Vanessa Strotmann and owned by Stefano Calcagnini, posted a 218 in the Semifinals. With the mare nominated by Green Valley Ranch between the reins, Strotmann posted a 216.5 the first section. With a 218 today, their composite score of 434.5 is the second highest score in the L3 and L2. The duo is currently leading the L1 division. Cashing In Diamonds is an NRHA/Markel Insurance Sale consignment. “This is a really sweet mare we purchased when she was a year old, and I broke and trained her,” said Strotmann. “She is probably the best horse I’ve ever had; she’s very feely and very talented. In the qualifier, we incurred into a couple of penalties, but that was all pilot error. Today, I tried to stay out of the penalty box, and she truly stepped up. I’m looking forward to the Finals!”
Smart Chicago Spook (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Smart Chicago Lena), a stallion ridden by NRHA Professional Bradley S. Hill and owned by Thomas Tucker, was bred and nominated by NRHA Hall of Fame Inductee Bob Loomis. The pair scored a 214.5 in the Semifinals bringing their composite to a 431, the second highest composite in the L1 Open division.
The following number of horses will qualify for the Open Futurity Finals in each level:
Level 3: Top 30 horses (plus ties)
Level 2: Top 20 horses (plus ties)
Level 1: Top 15 horses (plus ties)
Prime Time: Top 10 horses (plus ties)
Those horses qualifying for only the Level 3 and/or Level 2 and/or Level 1 Open divisions will show in the first section. The remaining qualifiers (Level 4 Open and Level 4 Open/Level 3 Open/Level 2 Open/Level 1 Open divisions) will compete in the second section. The finals in each division will be a clean-slate format.
The top 75 horses (plus ties) in the L4 Open division will advance to the Level 4 Open Silver Spurs Equine Semifinal, also sponsored by Not Ruf At All, to be held on Wednesday, November 29.
The CINCH Non Pro Futurity: First Go Section 2
Following the first section of the Non Pro Futurity and leading the Level (L)4 Non Pro division with a 217.5 score was NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider and Hall of Fame Inductee Mandy McCutcheon riding Gunner Be Custom (Gunner x Custom Made Dunit), a mare bred, owned, and nominated by McQuay Stables Inc. Once the second section concluded, Mandy held on to the highest score in the L4 aboard Gunner Be Custom as well as the second highest score – a 217 – this time riding This Chics Nite (Gunners Special Nite x This Chic N Whiz), a mare owned by Mandy McCutcheon and Tom McCutcheon and nominated by the latter.
Debbie Hubbert and Allthewrightstuff earned a 216.5 to lead the L3 and L2 divisions yesterday. The gelding, by NRHA Million Dollar Sire Hollywoodstinseltown and out of Shes Cowismatic, is bred, owned, and nominated by Hubbert.
A half point behind, Gunnin For The Gold (Pale Face Dunnit x Gorgeous Like A Star), owned and ridden by Terri-June Granger, is leading the L1. The gelding was bred by Greg Hill and nominated by Ginger Schmersal.
The third section of the CINCH Non Pro Futurity will be held on Tuesday, November 28.
The following will make their way to the clean slate finals:
Level 4 Non Pro Top 25 horses (plus ties)
Level 3 Non Pro Top 20 horses (plus ties)
Level 2 Non Pro Top 15 horses (plus ties)
Level 1 Non Pro Top 15 horses (plus ties)
Prime Time Non Pro Top 10 horses (plus ties)
Youth Non Pro Top 15 horses (plus ties)
The top 5 horses (plus ties), following those who qualified for the finals in all four levels, have a chance to earn a ticket to the finals by taking part in the Consolation which will be held on Wednesday, November 29.
Riders in the Youth and Prime Time divisions are not eligible for the Consolation, and the champions will be determined in the clean slate finals.
For further information, results, live feed and live score, visit nrhafuturity.com
