Solid Paint-Bred Named NRCHA National Champion
Image courtesy of Larry Williams Photography.
PHJ press release by: Megan Brincks
Going against horses from across the United States, No Wright To Smoke emerged the leader of the National Reined Cow Horse Association’s Non-Pro Two-Rein division in 2013.
A 2007 sorrel solid mare by Doc N Smoke and out of Wright On Racket, “Izzy” is owned by Glenn and Sandy Kaplan of Larkspur, Colorado. They bred Izzy and trained her with help from Dave Dillman of Calhan, Colorado.
“She was really very difficult to ride as a young horse, as a 2- and 3-year-old. Honestly, we didn’t know if we’d ever be able to show this horse,” Glenn said. “As she started to develop as a 4-year-old, somehow she started channeling that energy into being very cowy.”
She blossomed and has been a successful mount for Glenn ever since in both NRCHA and APHA competition. At the 2012 APHA World Championship Show, Izzy and Glenn won Solid Paint-Bred Reining, and they secured their reining Register of Merit at the beginning of 2013.
In 2013, Glenn was impressed with Izzy’s ability to step it up, and that encouraged him to do the same as her rider.
“At every show we went to, she got better and better,” Glenn said. “And as a Non-Pro rider, that really helps in terms of stepping up your skills as a rider to show this horse because she’s so good.”
The Non-Pro Two-Rein award from NRCHA wasn’t a surprise—they did well at several major shows during 2013—but Glenn certainly didn’t anticipate a shoe-in win for Izzy. She earned 112 points and $3,968 during the year, barely edging out the No. 2 horse, Smokums Dream (QH), who earned 111 points.
“We just worked really, really hard this year.” Glenn said. “She has become much better as she matured. She’s just so naturally cowy.”
