Ron Emmons claims World’s Greatest Horseman title on Olena Oak for owners Mel Smith and Nichole Scott.

By Larri Jo Starkey

Ron Emmons and Olena Oak make their first fence turn February 5 in the World's Greatest Horseman competition at the NRCHA Celebration of Champions. (Journal photo) To see more photos, scroll to the slide show below.

Ron Emmons was determined to leave everything Olena Oak had in the show pen.

Ron had coasted through the preliminaries, trying to be just clean enough to make the finals. But February 5, he was ready to ask for everything the 2002 sorrel stallion had.

“I told my wife Ladona before we started,’ I’m going to hang it out a little bit today,’” the Ione, California, trainer said. “And every time I asked him for anything, he gave it to me.”

The World’s Greatest Horseman competition makes for a long day at the National Reined Cow Horse Association Celebration of Champions in San Angelo, Texas.

The 10 finalists started with a dawn practice then jumped right into the herd work. The other three classes – reining, steer stopping and cow work – followed without much of a breather between them.

Ron and the 2002 stallion owned by Mel Smith and Nichole Scott were third in the herd work before a few bobbles left them midpack after the reining.

“We started out good in the herd,” Ron said. “The first rundown, he was really good, and the second rundown …  wasn’t as good as it could have been, and I was a little short in one turnaround. They could have got me half a point.”

“Then we went to the steer stopping, and I knew everything was going to be good there.”

Ron and “Ernie” smoked a 222 for the high score in steer stopping, putting him in the lead by two points.

“He was really good (in the steer stopping), just smooth and hit the ground hard,” Ron said. “(Then) I was first up in the cow work, and I was shooting for a 225.”

Ernie was quiet, calm and ready, but after the first big fence turn, the cow squirted off the wall hard. Ron made a split-second decision.

“I just figured, you know what? We’re going to get an open field turn and see what he can do. We’re going for it,” he said.

They made a hard field turn and moved immediately into the circles, finishing up with Ron slapping his cow’s back triumphantly.

“He just swallowed him up, came up and circled him, and everything was good,” Ron said. “Left it to the judges to see what they wanted to do.”

What they wanted to do was give him a 228, a score that wouldn’t be touched. The only team within striking distance was Shawn Hayes and Smart Chic Aloha – also sired by Smart Chic Olena. They would have needed to score a 230 to tie, but just came up short with a 220.

That was still good for the reserve championship and the $17,000 check that goes with it for Labourdette Ranch, which owns the 2001 bay mare.

Ernie’s owners will take home a check for $25,000. It’s not his first check. Ernie has more than $4,200 in National Reining Horse Association earnings, along with $129,138 in NRCHA earnings and $31,071 at the AQHA World Championship Show.

He was world champion junior working cow horse in 2007 and world champion senior working cow horse in 2008.

“(His heart is) bulging out all over him,” Ron said. “He’s got a lot of heart, and he’s got a great mind. You can tie him to a trailer at a branding and have a gelding next to him and he’ll just stand there. He’s a great-minded horse.”

For more Journal photos from the World’s Greatest Horseman competition, see the slide show below. Click on each photo to read about it.

Shiney Sushi and Jay McLaughlin have their last ride to a title.

By Larri Jo Starkey

Shiney Sushi and Jay McLaughlin circle their cow February 4 at the NRCHA Celebration of Champions. (Journal photo) To see more photos, scroll to the slide show below.

Shiney Sushi has retired.

The 2005 palomino mare collected the open bridle title February 5 for owner and breeder Carol Rose at the National Reined Cow Horse Association Celebration of Champions in San Angelo, Texas.

After a cow horse career that has seen her garner $26,349 in NRCHA earnings and $5,379 at the AQHA World Championship Show, the mare finally got the title Carol thought she deserved.

“She’s so talented,” rider Jay McLaughlin said. “She’s freaky talented. You say the word, and she drags it, and she turns fast and she can run and get on her tail and get around. She’s very easy that way. She just always draws bad. Hopefully, her babies won’t do that. We’re riding a 2-year-old CD Lights (filly) out of her right now that’s phenomenal, so we’re excited about it.”

Shiney Sushi is by Shining Spark and out of Docs Sulena by Doc O’Lena. It’s the same cross that has produced stallions A Shiner Named Sioux and Shiners Lena Doc for Carol.

At the NRCHA finals, her last ride with Jay, “Sushi” worked sixth in the draw of the open bridle, a marquee event of the week.

“She was really good in the reined work,” Jay said, “and the cow that came out was hard to read. Kinda bounced off gate to gate, and when we went down the fence, it kinda shut down on us, left us for a second, but she’s good enough she jumped back into it. She took hold of it again, and it was fast and furious, two times in the middle.”

They marked a 436, three points ahead of second-place finisher Heza Diamond Spark, a 2005 palomino stallion by Diamond J Star and out of Sheza Shinette by Shining Spark. Heza Diamond Spark is owned by Michael Garver of Great Falls, Montana, and was shown by Justin Warneke. The stallion was bred by Holy Cow Performance Horses of Santa Ynez, California.

Sushi will become a broodmare for Carol.

“We just decided it was time,” Carol said. “She has a 2-year-old filly and a yearling. She’s going to have two babies this year, and we’re going to retire her.”

Other February 4 Finals
Non-Pro Bridle – Murray Thompson of Atwater, California, and Smart Time Tuck
Non-Pro Hackamore – Karey Franz of Steelville, Missouri, and Nics Long Pants
Open Hackamore – Tuckers Smart Cat, owned by David and Barbara Archer, and ridden by Lyn Anderson of Madera, California

For more Journal photos from the Celebration of Champions, see the slide show below. Click on each photo to read about it.

Chantz Stewart and Shining Cielo follow their Built Ford Tough AQHYA World Championship Show title with an NRCHA title.

By Larri Jo Starkey

The last seven months have been good for Chantz Stewart.

Chantz Stewart and Shining Cielo circle their cow February 3 at the NRCHA Celebration of Champions. (Journal photo). Scroll to the slide show below for more photos from the event.

The 18-year-old from Cave Creek, Arizona, started off with a world championship in working cow horse in August at the 2011 Built Ford Tough AQHYA World Championship Show.

In December, she graduated from high school.

In January, she was high-point youth roper at the Arizona Sun Circuit.

And on February 3, she earned the championship in youth open bridle at the National Reined Cow Horse Association Celebration of Champions.

Chantz’s equine partner was Shining Cielo, a 2003 buckskin mare by Shining Spark and out of Miss Cielo by Gallo Del Cielo. She was bred by Carol Rose of Gainesville, Texas, who was in the crowd cheering as Chantz rode.

“Yesterday, (in the preliminaries), I didn’t run my horse very well in the reining, so my trainers told me to step it up a little bit,” Chantz said. “And so (in the finals), I asked for more than I ever had in the reining, and that paid off since my cow was not very cooperative.”

The cow boxed sluggishly, but then took off down the fence.

“I had a little trouble in my first turn, and after that, (my mare) was there the whole time,” Chantz said. “And circling was great.”

At the end of the run, Chantz couldn’t stop patting her mare.

Chantz also brought a gelding with her to San Angelo, Texas, for the Celebration of Champions, but she only managed to qualify “Cielo” for the finals.

“I think I needed that (disappointment) a little bit,” she said. “It gave me a little time to work with her. It’s the first time I haven’t made it back with him.”

The youth bridle finals was crowded with former champions and tough competitors, but Chantz’s score of 428 for the combined rein work and cow work just beat out Alexa Beaty of Aubrey, Texas, on Mad About Chics, who had a 427.

Chantz’s win at the Ford Youth World was her qualification to the NRCHA Celebration of Champions, through the NRCHA automatic invitation to top-10 finishers, but she also won the NRCHA Derby in October.

While in Texas, Chantz trains with Sam Rose of Pilot Point, Texas, and her trainer at home in Arizona is AQHA Professional Horseman Al Dunning.

“I want to thank my parents, Rod and Lissa Stewart,” she added.

More Finals

February 3 was a big day for finals at the NRCHA Celebration of Champions. Other winners were:

Intermediate Non-Pro – Suzon Schaal of Calgary, Alberta, on Genuine Brown Gal
Limited Open Hackamore – Smart Little Laredo, owned and ridden by Chase Trahern of Walsh, Colorado
Limited Open Bridle – Who Could Be Smarter, owned by Barbara Biddix of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, and shown by Brandi Scheer
Novice Non-Pro Bridle – Lyle Proctor of Ravendale, Washington, and Millionheir Boon

For more Journal photos from the NRCHA Celebration of Champions, see the slide show below. Click on each photo to read about it.

First ranch horses and riders claim top spots in first AQHA Ranching Heritage Challenge.

By Larri Jo Starkey

Zinn Lindsey of Jayton, Texas, ropes on Judys Ten to win the non-pro division of the inaugural AQHA Ranching Heritage Challenge. Journal photo. To see more photos, scroll to the slide show below.

Tradition, heritage and innovation.

All had a part to play in the inaugural AQHA Ranching Heritage Challenge.

Twelve open riders and 19 non-pros entered eligible Ranching Heritage Breeder horses for their share of the $13,500-added purse at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.

“It was a wonderful show,” said Johnny Trotter, AQHA Executive Committee member and a rancher himself. “Nice horses.”

In the open competition, Robert Forst of Waurika, Oklahoma, rode Seven S Party Girl, bred by Terry Stuart Forst of Waurika, Robert’s mom.

Robert and his 4-year-old mare have had a rocky January, struggling with “Party Girl’s” ulcers, but they were on point in Fort Worth, winning the open and the limited open.

“She felt really good,” Robert said. “She’s been pretty strong with me, and then she relaxed. Her circles felt good. I’ve struggled with her left to right lead change, and I ended up messing up her right-left lead change. It all worked out pretty good.

“She got a little strong in her rundowns, but I trusted her and she stopped, so I was pretty happy with her. She can go down the fence, so I’m not worried about that. I just hold on and see what she does.”

Seven S Party Girl is by Matt Dillon Dun It and out of Seven S Fiesta by Playgun.

AQHA Ranching Council member Larry Bell and his wife, Ellen, of Midland, Texas, added $3,500 to the purse in the limited division.

“We are thrilled to be involved,” Larry said. “We thought it was a great show, and I thought the turnout for open and non-pro was excellent. The 19 exhibitors in the non-pro was more than I could have imagined, so I’m really excited.

“These are the horses we’re raising, and now they’re getting a chance to be shown,” he added. “It’s great for all of us.”

In the AQHA Ranching Heritage Challenge, horses and riders completed a short reining pattern before boxing a cow and working it both ways down the fence. Then they roped it. Non-pros and amateurs had the option of circling instead of roping the cow.

That’s the option amateur Baru Spiller of Wingate, Texas, took.

Baru bought Western Sequel, bred by Burnett Ranches of Fort Worth, when the 2005 buckskin mare was a foal.

“It was awesome,” she said after the competition ended. “I’ve been riding this mare since she was a baby. I got her from the (Four) Sixes and trained her myself.

“I was thrilled when (AQHA) came out with this program so I could compete in it and represent the Sixes on her and have another opportunity to show her. I’m proud to be here and I was thrilled to win the amateur.”

Western Sequel is by Ikes Double Drift and out of Western Lena by Mr Sun O Lena.

Besides placing first in the amateur division, Baru was third in the non-pro division, won by 18-year-old Zinn Lindsey of Jayton, Texas.

Zinn’s mount for the competition was Judys Ten, a 2006 buckskin gelding by Ten O Sea and out of Crows Judy by Black Chick Gold. The gelding was bred by Bill and Dana Smith of Spur, Texas, and Zinn knew all about that breeding program.

“I’ve got four (horses) with the same brand,” he said.

AQHA Ranching Council chairman Stan Weaver of Big Sandy, Montana, was on hand for the inaugural event.

“I was impressed with the conformation of the horses,” Stan said. “Good stout, ranch-bred horses, and that’s what we want.”

For more Journal photos from the inaugural AQHA Ranching Heritage Challenge, see the slide show below. Click on each photo to read about it.

There’s an app for that.

Excel Associates Event Management introduced a horse show management smartphone app at the 2012 AQHA Pre-Denver Circuit. Journal photo

Excel Associates Event Management debuted a mobile application for horse show updates during the 2012 Rocky Mountain Quarter Horse Association Pre-Denver Circuit (January 1-4) and the National Western AQHA Show (January 5-7) in Denver.

“We think it is the first in the nation for that,” says Rene Elkins, of Excel. “There will probably be more of those coming (from other management companies).”

The app was almost like having the show office in your back pocket. Renee’s son, Jason, wrote the application for use on Android smartphones or mobile websites; Excel plans to make it available to exhibitors at all its upcoming AQHA shows.

“We have an event status update on it,” Renee explains. “Since we had multiple arenas going, we could put something up to give people an idea of where we were with things. We put the event exercise schedule there and class entries. We put schedule changes in the status update.”

“It has an order-of-go checker, so for some of the bigger classes, such as reining and trail, people with smartphones can download who is in that class and keep track.

“People really liked that. When the show ran long, they could go home. We’d draw the green trail that night for the next morning, and they’d be able to look at the draw from the hotel and see where they were.”

The new app was just one of several new things noticed at the back-to-back shows.

“There was a real positive energy from the people (at the show),” says AQHA Professional Horseman Bill Bormes of Castle Rock, Colorado. “There were a lot of new faces, both exhibitor-wise and young trainers.

“It has been the best it has ever been, schedule-wise,” he says. “The schedule has been revamped to maximize the facility use and time available.”

For example, the Pre-Denver combined all showmanship and halter classes so that exhibitors showed once to all five of the circuit’s judges on one day.

Entries were up, according to Renee: the Pre-Denver had approximately 4,300 entries, and the National Western just topped 2,000 (both numbers unofficial with AQHA).

Bill and AQHA Professional Horsewoman Leslie Lange of Greeley, Colorado, are the co-chairmen for the 2013 Pre-Denver Circuit. They already are making plans for exhibitor parties and events.

“I am looking forward to next year!” Bill says.

Christine Hamilton
Editor, The American Quarter Horse Journal

Champions earn their titles at the 2011 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

By Kellie Carr, special to The American Quarter Horse Journal

Trevor Brazile of Decatur, Texas, wins the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo all-around title as others are crowned in their events. (Brenda Fuchs photo courtesy of PRCA)

December 10

He had the world championship locked up in Round 9 at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, but bareback rider Kaycee Feild wasn’t content with just winning a gold buckle.

In the 10th round of competition December 10, Kaycee rode MGM Deuces Night for 87 points, winning the NFR average, as well as setting the 10-head average record. Kaycee also won the Ram Top Gun award for the most money won at the 2011 Wrangler NFR, and set an NFR record for most money won in a single event at the NFR, with $179,327, as well as set an event record for most money won in the bareback riding for the year at $319,986

“I came out here to dominate,” Kaycee said after his win. “Beating the average record wasn’t my goal coming in, but through the week, I looked up the score and knew what I would have to do to beat it, and I kinda made it my goal.”

During the 10 days of rodeo, Kaycee picked up six round wins, the most by any rough stock cowboy in NFR history – and another place in the record books where Kaycee can sign his name.

“I’m just happy with how it all turned out,” he said. “I couldn’t believe the draw and the way it turned out. That horse I had today (in the 10th round) is just a storybook ending to the whole week. That horse was awesome”

The steer wrestling was one of the toughest and most tightly-contested events of the week, but when the dust settled, it was California cowboy Luke Branquinho who went home with his third gold buckle. Down to the 10th round, it was a race between Luke, Shawn Greenfield and Jason Miller. With all the men out for the win, both Shawn and Jason got in a hurry and broke the barrier.

That left the door wide-open for Luke, who suddenly changed his game plan.

“Those guys were going in there knowing they had to win good in the rounds to stay ahead in the average and get the money they needed,” he explained. “They were taking a chance, you know, and if I was in their situation, I maybe would have clipped the barrier, too.  But that’s just rodeo. It happens, day in-day out in rodeo, and unfortunately for those two, it happened in Round 10 at the NFR. I can’t say it didn’t affect me a little though. Suddenly, all I had to do was to make a clean run, so even though I wanted to go out there for a round win, I did safety up and take things a little slower. From my standards, that last run was a horrible run, but it got the job done.”

Luke gave credit to his hazer and former NFR qualifier Les Shepperson for his help and advice all week, as well as to his horse, Gunner, who also helped him win his first world title in 2004. Prior to coming to Vegas, Luke hosted several steer wrestlers, including Jake Rinehart, Trevor Knowles, Blake Knowles, Les and Jason, for practices at his arena – a move he credits with helping him stay sharp for the finals.

“That’s the thing about the sport of rodeo, especially steer wrestling, is that everyone is pulling for everyone else. When you practice with that kind of athletes and that caliber of guys, I think it makes a big difference coming into here. It is all of us helping each other trying to speed up our runs, get flat falls and good starts, I think it makes a big difference. I’ve been to the Finals here when I’ve practiced by myself, and never felt as sharp as when I’ve practiced at home with those guys.”

Team roping was a dream come true for NFR veterans Turtle Powell and Jhett Johnson. Turtle was competing in his sixth Wrangler NFR but had yet to win a round. That all changed this year. Not only did the header from Stephenville, Texas, win his first round at the WNFR, but he and partner Johnson also set the NFR earnings record, winning $125,625 during their 10-day run in Vegas. The pair won two rounds, the average and the world championship title.

“I told Jhett this morning that we should have met for breakfast at 5 o’clock in the morning, because we were both laying there, staring at the ceiling,” Turtle said after his big win. “Ever since I was a kid, I’ve dreamed of backing into the box in the 10th round of the NFR with the championship on the line, but it’s a lot different than I expected. That’s the hardest steer I’ve ever run in my life.”

As for Jhett, his loop wasn’t picture-perfect after the steer moved to the right, but he knew he had to catch and that’s just what the Casper, Wyoming, cowboy did.

“It wasn’t the loop I’d always dreamed about throwing in that situation, but it got the job done,” he said. “I have lots of family and friends here celebrating with me, but only Turtle and I know what it all took to get here: the all-night drives, the waits, the wondering, the tough times. To get to the finish line like this, it’s just a blessing.”

Saddle bronc rider Taos Muncy walked into the Thomas & Mack with the lead in the world standings, and he left that way, too. But the week was anything but easy, as Utah’s Jesse Wright gave him a run for his money. Jesse walked away with the average title, but Taos, who was the only other cowboy to ride all 10 head, held onto second in the average, which allowed him to hold onto his lead by about $8,000 and change.

Taos, who won his first world title his rookie year in 2007, said getting another was an accumulation of a lot of hard work.

“The first time I won the world it was my first year, and I was really going hard and everything just fell into place. I didn’t really know how hard you have to work to get another one. This took a lot of work, and it means a lot to me.”

While Jesse’s streak of great rides kept Muncy on his toes, he enjoyed watching his competitor climb aboard a bronc.

“I just had to focus on myself and not worry about what Jesse was doing. It was awesome to watch him ride, though. I’ve never seen someone spur over a horse’s head like he did. He had a heck of a week, and I’m just thankful to have another gold buckle.”

Tuf Cooper was another cowboy who walked in with a lead on the regular season after his outstanding year in the tie-down roping, but he had to fend off serious competition from World Champion Cody Ohl, as well as NFR average winner Matt Shiozawa and his oldest brother, Clint Cooper, to earn his first gold buckle.

“We didn’t have the finals we were expecting, but if you look back at it on paper, it turned out just like we were expecting,” Tuf explained.” It all worked out in the end – God always works it out the way it’s supposed to be, no matter what it is.”

Just days before he was set to leave for the NFR, Tuf found out that the horse he’d been planning to ride, Twisters Enola Gay, who also took him to his big win earlier this year in Omaha, was injured and unable to compete. In an act of true brotherly love, fellow competitor and Tuf’s brother-in-law Trevor Brazile sold him his horse, Jag, who previously has carried Trevor to world championship titles.

“I’m so lucky to have a brother like that,” Tuf said. “He sold me his best horse so that I’d have the best chance I could to win. I mean, he’s behind me and he wants to win just as badly as I do, but he took care of me, and I’m really grateful to him, and to all my family, for all the incredible support they give me.”

Tuf’s family knows a thing or two about winning gold buckles. He and his father, eight-time world champion cowboy Roy Cooper, joined an elite group of now just six other father-and-son teams who have both won world championships. Tuf is also the nephew of 2008 champion tie-down roper Stran Smith.

“My family has supported me so much throughout the years, I can’t wait to go hug them all and say thank you,” Tuf said after his big win. “And seeing my brother, Clif, win the last round…that was pretty special, too.”

Canadian cowgirl Lindsay Sears kept every barrel standing during all 10 runs, and her fast, clean runs earned her the winning spot in the average, as well as her second gold buckle. Much of the credit, Lindsay says, goes to her outstanding horse, Sugar Moon Express, better known as “Martha.”

“I rode my backup horse for the majority of the year and then got on Martha again toward the end of the year in the summer, and got to bring her here and run her all 10 rounds this year,” said Lindsay, who added that Martha had suffered an injury at the 2010 WNFR. “It was great, she was solid all week. Things just kinda fell into place for us, and it felt like a lot of hard work really paid off. She was the AQHA-WPRA Horse of the Year in 2008, and she’s been one of those great horses for me. She’s been THE horse for me. She’s made me a career in barrel racing – I can’t give enough credit to her.”

Lindsay won $133,557.72 during her trip to Vegas, for a year-end total of $238,864.17. Capturing the NFR average title, though, was a big accomplishment in itself, she said.

“Winning that is huge. It’s something I’ve always wanted,” Lindsay explained. “It’s the first time I’ve gotten around barrels all 10 rounds, and I’m very excited to have finally gotten that.”

Bull rider Shane Proctor was able to get by a tough challenge from defending world champion J.W. Harris, but his victory celebration had to wait. Proctor sustained a badly broken arm during the last round and lay motionless in the arena for several minutes until he was carried out. Shane will have surgery on his arm when he returns home to North Carolina, but he kept his sense of humor about the situation.

“The bull was good – he jumped out and got me raised back and put me down on his head. I ended up hanging to him. I’ve always said to either be a 90 or be in the highlight reel, and I guess tonight I made the highlight reel!”

Shane earned $66,490.40 at the 2011 NFR, with a total of $238,248.85 for the year. He finished fourth in the average race with five bulls ridden for 399.5 points.

Trevor had his ninth all-around cowboy title locked up in Round 4. After winning the steer roping title in November, Brazile is now a 16-time World Champion, tying rodeo legend Jim Shoulders for the second most championships.

“The 16th gold buckle this year means a lot,” Brazile reflected after the 10-day stretch was over. “I’m such a fan of the cowboys who have been before me, and I love rodeo history. I never thought I would have been in the same sentence with Jim Shoulders. That’s such a humbling experience for me.

“The lesson I’ve learned the most this year is that when I started out, they told me that these goals would never be done, and I don’t want the next generation to be stifled by those things,” Trevor continued. “Just because something’s never been done in the last 20 years doesn’t mean it can’t be done. You just have to have something to believe in and work towards. I worked hard to get where I am, but I couldn’t do it without great sponsors, the support of my family, and my horses.”

At this year’s NFR, Trevor rode two horses, an unregistered palomino gelding name Rio, and “Sport,” a horse that Brazile says goes back to Docs Jack Sprat.

“He’s the horse I’ve had here for the last two years, and he’s been really instrumental in the success we’ve had in the team roping,” Brazile said of Sport.

The 2011 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo paid out a record $6 million in prize money – $750,000 per event (per man in team roping).

December 9

So Round 9 at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo: Can you say WOW? That was crazy!

If you had told me December 1 that Trevor Brazile and Patrick Smith would have a miss and a broken barrier, Cody Ohl would be on track for the gold buckle and miss, Tuf Cooper would break a barrier, Sherry Cervi would hit a barrel and Brittany Pozzi would hit two, I would have called you crazy.

But that’s exactly what we’ve seen happen out here, and mistakes like that are why this rodeo is the best one in the world.

Usually by this point, we have some races tied up and others all but tied up. This year, the only ones we know for sure are the all-around title, which Trevor locked up in Round 4, and the bareback riding, which Kaycee Feild locked up last night. But that was no surprise – Kaycee has been on a roll all week.

After splitting fourth-place money with Ryan Gray and Wes Stevenson during Round 9, Kaycee pushed his Wrangler NFR earnings to $115,577. He still leads the bareback riding average standings heading into the December 10 final round, and he continues to lead the Ram Top Gun Award standings – so there’s plenty on the line tonight, just not a gold buckle.

Kaycee has already tied Bobby Mote for the most round wins in a single Wrangler NFR with five, and he could break both the bareback earnings records for an entire season and the Wrangler NFR – both records also set by Bobby in 2009. If Kaycee can pull off an 86-point ride in Round 10, he’ll also break Justin McDaniel’s average record of 859 points on 10 rides, set in 2008. He’s not gonna slow down folks, so look for some history-making rides tonight in the bareback riding!

With his first world title locked up, Kaycee and his father, five-time champion Lewis Feild, join an elite group of just five other father-son world champions. They include Deb (saddle bronc riding) and Jeff Copenhaver (tie-down roping); John W. and John W. Jones Jr. (steer wrestling); John and Clark McEntire (steer roping); Butch and Rope Myers (steer wrestling); and Bobby (bull riding) and Sid Steiner (steer wrestling).

Of course, Tuf Cooper and his father, Roy, could also be joining that group tonight, but Tuf is going to have to get tough and rope fast if he wants to claim that gold buckle he has worked so hard for this year.

If you watched last night, the tie-down roping left pretty much everyone on the edges of their seats. It has been a battle all week between Tuf and Cody. Cody was a real threat to Tuf, and then after Round 8, when Cody was 16 on his calf, it looked like Tuf might just be back on track.

But then Round 9 happened. First, Cody missed his first loop. He got back on, took a second and tied him, only to have the buzzer go off as he was finishing up, resulting in a no time. So it was looking good for Tuf, but he still needed to catch and have a good time. Drawing one of the best calves in the pen, Tuf set out to be quick. With a 6.8, he was on track to go to the SouthPoint for a round buckle, but he got out too quick and broke the barrier, turning a 6.8 into a 16.8.

So, while all week it has been a race between Tuf and Cody, it is now a race between Tuf and Matt Shiozawa, who is now winning the average.

If Matt wants to win his first world title, he has to be fourth or better and keep his first-place spot in the average, and also hope Tuf places lower than fourth. If Tuf wants to win and Matt wins the round, he must also be fourth or better. Now, should Matt not place high in the round, that gives Tuf some breathing room, but I don’t think anyone will be breathing much until after this race is over tonight.

In the saddle bronc riding, Jesse Wright won his fourth round of the week and is now sitting second in the world standings behind world standings leader Taos Muncy. Only five riders made the whistle in a tough pen of broncs last night, and going into Round 10, Jesse trails Taos by $14,309, making this another tight race that’ll come down to tonight’s last round.

For the third time this week, there was a three-way tie atop the leader board in an event, and this time it was steer wrestlers Luke Branquinho, Casey Martin and Jake Rinehart, all making 3.6-second runs in Round 9.The $14,231 payday for each cowboy helped keep Luke in the race for his third world championship. The three cowboys made a lap around the Thomas & Mack, with two of them sharing a horse. It was fun to see!

Luke still leads the world standings but is sitting third in the average going into the final round, while Jason Miller is second in both and Shawn Greenfield is first in the average and third in the world. This event continues to be the closest race from top to bottom after nine rounds, and it’ll be a race to the finish to see who will walk away with the gold buckle.

Team roping saw another unbelievable round, with Chad Masters, the 2007 world champion header, and heeler Jade Corkill winning the round with a 3.6-second run. Clay Tryan and Travis Graves took second in the round with a 3.7-second run – a move that moved Travis back into the lead in the heeler world standings. Clay continues to lead the header standings. The pair is fourth in the average, however, while Turtle Powell and Jhett Johnson moved to first in the average with a 5.0-second run that placed sixth in the round after average leaders Trevor and Patrick broke the barrier on a 4-second run. They needed to make a move last night, and that barrier cost them big-time. Turtle is second in the heading world standings, while Jhett is third in the heeling standings. Anyone who wants to win a world title will have to step up and rope one again.

Barrel racer Lindsay Sears, who won her first world title in 2008, has the inside track on her second world title tonight. She placed sixth in the round December 9, is second in the world standings and leads the average race. World standings leader Brittany Pozzi hit a barrel in Round 8 and has dropped to eighth in the average. Three-time champ Sherry Cervi is third in the world and fourth in the average. Unless Lindsay tips a barrel tonight, it’s looking pretty safe for her to lock up gold buckle No. 2.

The bull riding is still between world standings leader Shane Proctor and three-time winner J.W. Harris. Shane took sixth place in Round 9 with a 69-point ride on Growney Brothers’ War God, while J.W. bucked off. Shane has earned $216,614 this season and sits third in the average race heading into the final round, while J.W. is fourth in the average and second in the world.

All I can say at this point is that I hope you find a way to watch. If you’re here, at a casino live feed, at home watching on GAC, or watching online, whatever you need to do, be sure to watch! This is one rodeo you do not want to miss, I promise.

Happy trails,
Kellie

December 8

Well, as I sit down to write this, it’s 1:30 in the morning, and I have to go to the Miss Rodeo America speeches at 8 a.m. Such is the life here at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo!

I’m back in my hotel room so late because I finally decided to venture out and have some fun after the rodeo. OK, not really: Tuf Cooper’s mom asked me to drop the tie-down roping standings by her hotel, the MGM Grand. Then she said, “Well, stay and have a drink with me and eat a little something.” Little did I know that she is the driving force behind THE place to be after the rodeo: the Gold Buckle Zone at the MGM Grand!

While I was in the infamous Gold Buckle Zone, I ran into Stran Smith, Billy Etbauer, Will Lowe, Trevor Brazile, Patrick Smith, Chandler Bownds and many, many more cowboys and cowgirls there, all hanging out, mingling with fans. How cool is that? Definitely something to add to my “must do in Vegas” list.” It might have to take the place of sleep, but a couple of nights once a year isn’t too much to spend having a great time and visiting with friends.

Yesterday, I also ventured out to Cowboy Christmas for the first time. I walked (very quickly) through the trade show at the South Point Hotel and also the one at the Las Vegas Convention Center, near the Hilton Hotel. So much shopping! I did manage to stay in control of myself, but I bought a few fun things for my family.

Yesterday was also great because it was one of the highlights of my NFR every year – the ProRodeo League of Women Luncheon. This event is always a big hit, and this year saw $100,000 being raised for the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund. That’s a lot of money (rodeo people helping rodeo people), so it’s nice to be able to go to an event and know you’re also helping a great cause.

I wrangled myself a seat up front to take pictures (I may or may not have stolen it from Trevor Brazile, but we all ended up playing musical chairs anyway). Long story short, Trevor said I didn’t steal his meal, so it was all good.

The luncheon is an annual tradition for me, as well as many others, so if you missed it this year, be sure to put it on your calendar for next.

In case you were wondering, yes, I did actually go to the rodeo last night! I was shooting from my favorite special spot, meaning that I took a hoodie and my fingerless mittens along and got covered in dirt all night looking for that once-in-a-lifetime shot. So much fun!

Round 8 had a lot of ups and downs. The steer wrestling saw another change in the leaderboard, as Jason Miller moved to the top after winning the round with a 3.9 second run. Luke Branquinho moved to third in the average after a long 6.8 run. This race just got tighter, and Jason has gold on his mind.

The team roping saw average leaders Trevor Brazile and Patrick Smith fall as Patrick missed the heeling end loop, and the duo had to take a no time. To win the gold buckle at the end of the week, the pair is going to have to make up $12,000 and some change in order to overtake Turtle Powell and Jhett Johnson, who are currently the projected winners after the average is figured in. Trevor and Patrick will have to win a round or place high in the next two in order to win it and give Trevor a third Triple Crown.

Tuf Cooper did exactly what he needed to do to keep his gold buckle dreams alive. Competing first in the event, he roped his calf in 7.3 seconds, winning second. A stumble by Cody Ohl and the resulting 16.1-second time put the two within less than $70 of each other after the average is calculated, with Tuf having the edge. This battle will be a tough one to the end!

Barrel racing saw a big change when average leader Sherry Cervi hit the third barrel and dropped to fourth in the average race. Lindsay Sears is now leading the average and has a good shot at going home with the gold.

The bull riding last night was exciting, as J. W. Harris rode for 87.5 points on Korkow Rodeo’s Black Velvet. J.W., who is riding with a fractured ankle, sprained knee and sprained lower back, is putting pressure on regular-season earnings leader Shane Proctor, who is holding on to fourth in the average. After factoring in the average payout, J.W. is in the lead for the gold buckle, but only about $4,000 is separating the two. These two will make it a great showdown for the last two nights here!

In the bareback riding, there was a three-way tie for the win between Kaycee Feild, who looks to wrap up his first world title, Bobby Mote and Clint Cannon.

In the saddle bronc riding, Jacob Crawley rode Flying Five Rodeo’s Sundance for 83.5 points

Thanks for reading!

Blessings,
Kellie

December 7

I promised you that the next few rounds at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo would be battles, and the contestants delivered December 7!

The tie-down roping had a three-way tie for first between Clint Cooper, Ryan Jarrett and Tyson Durfey. All three clocked in with a 7.6-second run. While the world championship race is still between Cody Ohl and Tuf Cooper, Clint Cooper might just sneak in there and give his brother a run for his money.

In the barrel racing, I told you that Lindsay Sears and Sherry Cervi would be neck-and-neck for the world title, and these two women proved they both are serious about going home wearing a new gold buckle. Lindsay won the round with a 13.56, while Sherry turned in a 13.71 for second. Current world standings leader Brittany Pozzi was third in the round with a 13.76. Considering that 14’s were winning rounds at the beginning of the week, these girls were FAST tonight.

Sherry is still leading the aggregate standings, but Lindsay is close behind in second. If the rodeo were over tonight, Sherry would be the world champion, but she has less than a $4,000 cushion for that, so every round will be crucial. It’s so great to see these girls and their impressive American Quarter Horses out there running their hearts out!

Bull riding saw what could have been a bad wreck turn into a round-winning ride for Clayton Savage. After getting his spur caught in his bull rope, causing him to be dragged under the bull, Clayton earned 85 points aboard D & H Cattle’s Early Bird. Remarkably, Clayton walked out of the arena with no visible injuries.

Regular season saddle bronc earnings leader Taos Muncy won his first round of the week with an 86.5 aboard Korkow Rodeo’s Blew Apart. The New Mexico cowboy wasn’t taking anything for granted during this trip.

“Anytime you win, it’s real important,” Taos said after his win. “I haven’t had a bad weekend, but it’s awesome to get a go-round buckle. Winning a round at the biggest rodeo in the world means a lot!”

Kaycee Feild won yet another round in the bareback riding, this time after an 85.5-point reride aboard Big Stone Rodeo’s Gold Dust. Winning the average and having a 74 on his first horse, Kaycee perhaps would have been wise not to take his chances, but, as he explained later, “I didn’t come here to win second. I wanted to win first.”

Kaycee is still first in the average and the world standings, and should be well on track to win his first gold buckle.

Steer wrestling has been another hotly contested race, but California’s Luke Branquinho is positioned to win yet another gold buckle, as he is leading both the world standings and the average. Luke has had a great finals out here, earning nearly $84,000 so far!

Team roping got interesting December 7. Trevor Brazile and Patrick Smith roped their steer in 4.3 seconds, which a few days ago, was a round-winning time and last night wasn’t even in the money. The run enabled the pair to maintain their lead in the average standings, and they are now the only team to turn all their steers. The second-place team in the average, Turtle Powell and Jhett Johnson, however, are still ahead by about $12,000 and change, according to my calculations, if you figure in the average. What’s really interested is that both of these teams came into the NFR near the bottom of the standings. It just goes to show that once you get to Vegas, most of these world championships are anybody’s to win!

That’s going to wrap it up for me today! I’m headed to the ProRodeo League of Women Luncheon, which is always so much fun! Tonight is Round 8 – I think it’ll be another great night of rodeo!!

Happy trails,
Kellie

December 6

Well, folks, it’s getting hectic for sure in Las Vegas at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo!

On December 5, I went to the Miss Rodeo America WNFR luncheon. The pageant has moved to the MGM Grand this year. It’s a great facility, but boy, is it huge. No worries about missing the gym these 10 days. I’m getting plenty of miles logged walking all over the place!

Those MRA contestants are a great bunch, and they all seem knowledgeable and well-spoken, not to mention beautiful! I know AQHA is a proud sponsor of the Miss Rodeo America pageant, and I think any one of these young women will do an amazing job in 2012.

The December 6  rodeo round was pretty exciting, with a lot of potential shake-ups in the world standings. Most notably was tie-down roping: a first-loop miss and 15.8-second time for leader Tuf Cooper put him in a dead heat with Cody Ohl for the world championship, and these are two cowboys who do not let up. They are going to battle it out, and there are no room for errors from either one.

The team roping went from being ice cold earlier in the week to smoking hot in Round Six. In fact, it was the fastest team roping go in the 53-year history of the Wrangler NFR. Trevor Brazile and Patrick Smith turned in a 3.5-second run, winning the round and putting the pair first in the average race. I think these two could very well pull off another world championship.

With Trevor already winning the steer roping and all-around titles, it would be his third Triple Crown and second consecutive title. Leave it to Trevor – that guy isn’t rodeoing if he’s not breaking a record somewhere!

I was soooo happy to see Sherry Cervi and her AQHA-PRCA Horse of the Year MP Meter My Hay win a round! Sherry is now leading the average, and it’s going to be a race to the finish. It should come down to a race between Sherry and Lindsay Sears. It’s always fun for fans when it’s a nail-biter of a race, and in that respect, this year’s NFR has not disappointed.

Other Round Six winners were Bobby Mote in bareback riding, Jake Rinehart in steer wrestling, Tyler Corrington in saddle bronc riding, Ryan Jarrett in tie-down roping and Chandler Bownds in bull riding.

I still have not made it to any Cowboy Christmases, but I hope to get there December 8 or 9. I hear the shopping is awesome!

I’ll update you after tonight’s round. We’re getting down to the wire on these gold buckle races, and the last few rounds will likely be ones you don’t want to miss!

Happy trails,
Kellie

December 5

There was a sea of pink December 5 at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in the Thomas & Mack Center for Tough Enough to Wear Pink night, an event that has helped raise $12 million toward the battle against breast cancer since the program’s inception.

So it was fitting that a cancer survivor was one of eight contestants taking victory laps that night. Heeler Jhett Johnson, along with his partner, Turtle Powell, turned in a 3.8-second run to claim the Round Five victory.

Jhett is a testicular cancer survivor, fighting the disease in the 1990s, and is now cancer free – and having his best NFR in five trips. He and Turtle have placed in all five rounds of competition and are holding onto second place in the average race, moving to third in the world standings and second in the average race.

“Turtle had it on him so fast, but the steer kind of moved away from me, and I didn’t get around him as far as I would like,” Jhett said of the run. “I had to kind of float a loop around his hip, but luckily I was able to set it in there.”

Turtle and Jhett also made the trip to the SouthPoint for the nightly buckle presentation after their Round Three win – the first of Turtle’s career.

“Maybe I broke the ice with that first one, and now they’re going to come a lot easier,” he said. “I wouldn’t mind taking a few victory laps before the week is over.”

Jhett had a few words of encouragement for anyone facing cancer like he was.

“It’s not a death sentence anymore,” Jhett explained. “So, if there’s someone out there who has just gotten that diagnosis, maybe seeing me and hearing I’m a survivor can help them a little.”

It was also great to see bareback rider Ryan Gray, who came back this year from a lacerated liver that he suffered at last year’s NFR. Ryan gave his testimony at the Elevation Sunday event after Round Four, and shared that while lying there on the arena floor, he didn’t know whether he’d live to see another day, let alone compete again. He not only made it back to the 2011 NFR, but he won his first round in six years after spurring Carr Pro Rodeo’s MGM Deuces Night for 90 points.

“I’m so thankful that I’m able to be back here and competing, doing something that I love and enjoy doing. I’m happy that I had an awesome horse tonight and was able to match up for the win.”

Other round winners included Jesse Wright in saddle bronc riding; Carlee Pierce in barrel racing, setting a new arena record with a 13.46-second run; Luke Branquinho in steer wrestling; and Matt Shiozawa in tie-down roping.

The Miss Rodeo America pageant is under way. I’m excited to go to my first event there tomorrow with my friend, Miss Rodeo Austin Princess Stephanie Revels. She’s flying in for a couple of days. I don’t know if I’m more excited to have a friend here or to put her to work!

The week is only going to get busier from this point on, but that only means time will go faster as well. We’re at the halfway point after tonight, and the races for the gold buckles will heat up as well.

Happy trails,
Kellie

December 4

Trevor Brazile inspires me. And not because he’s now a 16-time world champion. That’s cool, but I’ve seen a lot in my years around rodeo, and one thing I’ve learned is that gold buckles don’t mean anything except that one year, you roped better and won more money than anyone else. No, Trevor inspires me because of his relentless pursuit of excellence. On December 4 in Round No. 4, Trevor Brazile clinched his ninth all-around world title and 16th overall world championship. I have been thinking about this for a while, and I thought now would be a good time to share it. To wrap up the all-around by Round 4 – basically from his outstanding regular-season earnings – that’s quite an accomplishment. It’s a testament to a guy who goes out there every day and does his job well, not to mention juggles all the stuff he has in the air all the time.

Now, don’t misunderstand – I’m not sitting here writing a puff piece about Trevor. In fact, if he ever reads this (which I doubt he will – let’s face it, he’s pretty busy this week!), he’d probably give me a hard time – Trevor loves to have something to tease someone about! But seriously, Trevor’s success makes me look at my own life and career and challenge myself to do better, to be the best. To strive for excellence.

In all the time I’ve known Trevor, I’ve learned a thing or two about him. A talented roper he is, but I don’t think he was born with an innate ability to throw a loop or tie a calf. I honestly think that no matter what Trevor did with his life, he would be the best at it. I mean, if he were a brain surgeon, he’d be the best brain surgeon. And, knowing Trevor, he’d probably not be content with just that, he’d also have to be an award-winning podiatrist. And probably the chief of staff or something as well. My point is, being the best isn’t about being the most innately talented – it’s about working hard and doing everything you can to rise to the top, no matter what field you’re in.

Trevor’s line of apparel and tack is called Relentless. That’s fitting for him. He’ll be the first to tell you, he has to work a little harder than some to be the best because he isn’t physically the tallest, fastest or strongest. Or even the most naturally talented. He just works the hardest.

Much has been said and written about Trevor’s work ethic, and knowing him, I can tell you, it is all true. But working hard in the practice pen is just one of the many things that has made him a 16-time world champion. So I’ve compiled a list of what I think makes Trevor excellent at his job, and I’m sharing it with you today because I think we can all learn a lesson or two from him, no matter what profession we are in. Maybe you’ll be inspired like me.

It ain’t over ‘til it’s over. Any cutting man knows that.

Oh Miss Caroline and Craig Thompson win the 50th Borden Milk/NCHA World Championship Open Futurity on December 10, 2011. (Journal photo, scroll down for the open finals slideshow.)

Especially when it’s the world’s top cutters in the country gunning for the title at the 2011 Borden Milk/National Cutting Horse Association World Championship Open Futurity finals. December 10 was the 50th Futurity.

But when Ronnie Rice of Grandview, Texas, and Center Ranch’s Jewel Bars Cat scored a commanding 225 first in the go, all 24 men after him knew that would be a tough score to beat.

“We knew we were going to have to (set the bar),” Ronnie said. “I don’t mind going first. I’ve been here a lot and not too much bothers me anymore… it helps to be seasoned.”

He added, “I’ll tell you, you never know until that last horse rides down there. I knew there were a lot of good horses left.”

By the time that last American Quarter Horse did ride down there — Craig Thompson of Buffalo, Texas, on Oh Miss Caroline, aka “Caroline” – Ronnie’s score was still the one to beat. Michael Cooper of Bucyrus, Kansas, and Jae Bar One Time had come close with a 224.

“It doesn’t matter where you draw, you’ve just got to go down there and give it all you’ve got every time,” Craig said. “Regardless of what happened, I wanted it to be known that I came here to win and I came here to cut.”

It was Craig’s second open finals appearance in six years – he won it with a 227 in 2006 on Oh Cay Felix, aka “Felix,” Caroline’s full brother (High Brow Cat-Oh Cay Shorty by Shorty Lena). Both horses are homebreds for Patrick and Laura Collins of Lincoln, Illinois.

Craig was positive about going last – he was last in the go in the 2006 finals with Felix.

“You know exactly what you need to do, and you know what cows are left,” Craig said. “God willing, (I just wanted to get) my horse shown and do the best that we could do.”

Shannon Hall, Winston Hansma, Paul Hansma and Steve Oehlhof rode into the pen to help. Craig’s usual herd help, J.B. McLamb, had helped him pick cattle earlier, but knee surgery prevented him from riding.

In the stands, Patrick and Laura Collins watched as Craig got his first cow cut, and the mare got the crowd to cheering.

“It was scary,” Patrick said. “I was thinking, ‘Things are kind of going better than I expected.’ (Craig) cut that first cow, and then the second cow, and I thought, ‘We might be up there in the top five or six with this kind of ride!’ Then it just got better on his third cow.”

Patrick laughed and shook his head, “When he turned around (to go into the herd for his third cow) with 44 seconds left, I knew he was going for it. He turned around for that last cow and stayed on, stayed on, stayed on….and won it!”

Craig knew he needed time to really show his mare and good luck with the cows; he got both. To the tune of the crowd’s cheers, the judges’ score popped up a 226: Caroline had just won the winner’s $200,000 check.

“Every cow we cut we had picked,” Craig said.  “I couldn’t have done this, first and foremost, without God and my herd help…. I’m just thankful (the cows) were in the right place for me to get a clean shot at them. It just worked out for us.”

Ronnie Rice added his congratulations: “I’m so proud of Craig, because he’s fearless. You don’t have to worry about him not coming to the cutting.”

Patrick was “thrilled to have a horse in the finals,” and speechless with the win. To say it’s been a good week for the longtime competitor is an understatement. Patrick won the December 8 non-pro reserve on Caroline’s half-sister, Oh Cay Do Over (by One Time Pepto).

“Pat and Laura Collins, they’ve been the absolute best,” Craig said. “They stick behind me and allow me to do my job and I try to take the best care of their business…. I’m very proud of Pat; his reserve championship meant a lot to me.”

For the Collinses, cutting has been a family activity for about 35 years. All five family members, Patrick, Laura and their children, showed the old mare, Oh Cay Shorty. And their son, Quinn, actually started Felix. Caroline is named for Quinn’s wife.

Oh Cay Shorty is now 21 but still healthy. She is headed to Texas A&M University for the intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedure in the 2012 breeding season, to see if she can’t produce more foals. Her two 2011 in-foal recipients both resorbed their embryos.

“(Caroline’s) been coming along, but she’s not as mature as Felix was all through the (Futurity),” Patrick said, and smiled, “But she put it all together here tonight, she really did.”

The final week of the historic 50th NCHA Futurity is now at a close. The anniversary celebration has included several special events, including the Neiman Marcus Futurity Champions Cup, an invitational for past cutting legends. Go to NCHAcutting.com for the complete schedule and results.

The coverage slide show is presented by The American Quarter Horse Journal (click on the image to see the caption):

–by Christine Hamilton, Journal editor

Claire Powell races her homebred off-track barrel horse to the top of the Barrel Futurities of America Amateur Derby.

By Larri Jo Starkey

Claire Powell and Destin Ta Fame turn the second barrel December 10 at the BFA World Championships. (Journal photo) For more photos from the BFA, scroll to the slide show below.

Claire Powell always wanted to go fast.

As a teenager growing up on a ranch, she would prepare all year for one run at the Fourth of July rodeo in Rock Springs, Texas. Now, an adult barrel racing enthusiast, the Eldorado, Texas, resident has won her biggest race: the Barrel Futurities of America Succeed Amateur Derby.

The cherry on top?

She did it on her homebred gelding, Destin Ta Fame.

“It’s just very exciting,” Claire said. “They’re like your children. You watch them grow up and you take care of them all that time and they shine for you.”At the BFA finals, after two goes, the top 20 in the derby competition advance to the finals. The top five amateurs who didn’t make the finals are invited to compete in the AQHA-sponsored Succeed Derby amateur finals and the $5,000 purse.

The futurity is for 4-year-olds, and the derby is for 5- and 6-year-old horses. Claire was determined going into the finals December 10. She had been a little cautious in the go-rounds.

“I decided tonight I was going to let him run,” she said. “No safe-ing up, just turn him loose, trust him and go for it. I did, and he just felt so good and strong. When I picked him up, he was right in my hands. I just made up my mind the whole way through to go for it, and it worked.”

They turned the barrels in :15.792, good enough for the winner’s share of the purse.

“John Henry” is a 2005 gray gelding by Dash Ta Fame and out of Claire’s Runaway Winner mare Runaway Destiny, and barrel racing is his second career.

“I got a couple of mares from (my husband’s) uncle ( David Powell) who raised racehorses,” Claire explained. “He passed away, and I inherited his mares. (Runaway Destiny) was purchased out of the All American sale at Ruidoso, and she ran at the track.”

Runaway Destiny is a 1996 gray mare out of the Special Effort mare Special Eye Opener. She was bred by American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame inductee Joe Kirk Fulton and has a top speed index of 91 in seven starts with one win.

With that kind of speed in his background, John Henry went to the racetrack also.

He had two starts, one at Zia Park and one at Sunland, but Claire missed him and brought him home.

After some coaching from professional jockey Jana Bean, who rode another of Claire’s homebreds at the BFA finals a couple of years ago, Claire was ready to start barrel racing her horse herself.

“Jana said, ‘He’s ready, you’re ready, let’s go try.’ I’ve traveled with them, and they take care of me here, because I don’t know the ropes that well. That’s why I’m able to come this far.

It’s been very exciting and fun and I’d love to get to come back and try again.”

For more photos from the 2011 Barrel Futurities of America World Finals, see the Journal slide show below. Click on each photo to read about it. Look for more photos in the January edition of Journal Plus, free to subscribers of The American Quarter Horse Journal.

There’s no thrill quite like a cutting win.

Kade Smith and Lean This Rey win the 2011 Borden Milk/NCHA World Championship Futurity non-pro finals. (Journal photo, scroll down for more pics.)

For his first non-pro finals appearance at the 2011 Borden Milk/National Cutting Horse Association World Championship Futurity, Kade Smith, 22, of Burleson, Texas, was “just hoping to have a clean run and do the best (he) could.”

He was thrilled just to make the December 8 finals at the event’s historic 50th anniversary.

But, coming into the evening cutting, his Linda Holmes-bred American Quarter Horse stallion Lean This Rey, “felt the best he was all week,” Kade said. “He wanted to be real crisp and quick but he was nice, he wasn’t over-doing things.”

Fourteenth in the go, last on the first set of cattle, he and his help knew there would be slim pickings for cattle to choose from. Kade was riding into the show pen with an enviable turnback crew: his brother-in-law and trainer Jamie Snider, Matt Miller, Lloyd Cox and Boyd Rice.

“There were three cows we really liked that were left,” Kade said. “The first cow, we had two of them right there in my first cut, but one shaped up just a little better so we went with it first. And my horse was real good on the first cow, I mean he started off really good.

“The second cow, my help was on top of their game otherwise my second cut could have gotten a little scary! Everything worked out and the cows cleared just right.”

The crowd noise told Kade a lot of folk were really liking his go, too. But in just 2.5 minutes, things can go south real fast, and a wise man lets his help do just that.

“When I quit, I think I had about 15-20 seconds left and there were cows right on my left side when I turned around to chip, but we didn’t like any of the cows right there. I looked up at Matt Miller – he was in my corner – and he said don’t do it, over by Jamie we’ve got a cow.

“Jamie was over there, he had it shaped up, so I headed back over to him and luckily it popped up just right and we finished off the run.”

Every head in the arena turned to the back screen to see what the judges thought: up popped a 222, and the crowd loudly agreed. Kade and Lean This Rey had taken the lead over Jeffrey Gough and SLR Nitas Boon’s 218 (later adjusted to a 219).

There was nothing to do but pack up and get through the gate before they brought in the new set of cattle to settle. Lean This Rey got a bath and some grain, and Kade could finally relax.

“I’d done all I could do,” he said. “I wouldn’t change anything about my run and what I did.”

The score held through to the end and Kade won his first non-pro finals.

Patrick Collins of Lincoln, Illinois, and Oh Cay Do Over came close scoring a 220.5, but ended up with the reserve. The dark brown mare is by Smooth As A Cat and out of Patrick and his wife, Laura’s, great mare Oh Cay Shorty, dam of 2006 NCHA Open Futurity winner Oh Cay Felix.

Kade got his 3-year-old shortly after the Super Stakes this year, after Jamie had gone to Linda’s place in Hygiene, Colorado, to try some horses. The stallion is by the Holmes family homebred Dual Rey (Dual Pep-Nurse Rey by Wyoming Doc) and out of Miss Smart Rey Jay by Smart Little Lena, dam of the NCHA earners of $869,450 including Dual Rey Me (by Dual Pep), 2007 world champion senior cutting and 2005 NCHA Super Stakes Classic winner.

The son of trainer Greg Smith of Star, Idaho, Kade moved to Texas in 2010 to work with Jamie and Kade’s sister, Ashely Smith Snider. Kade gives a lot of credit to his family for their help with the horse, working up to and during the futurity – his sister, Ashley Smith Snider, Jamie, his dad, Greg, and his mom, Chris.

Kade also gives a lot of credit to Linda’s trainer, Cody Hall, for the stallion’s great start.

“(Lean This Rey) is really powerful in his stops, a real strong stopper,” he said. “The way it looks, it may seem like he does it real powerful and strong, but it’s smooth, real easy and soft.”

What’s next for the seasoned young competitor with a more than $30,000 purse money in his pocket?

“(To) Have a nice Christmas vacation (back in Idaho). Take a break!” he says with a grin.

The final week of the historic 50th NCHA Futurity comes to a close with the open finals December 10. The anniversary celebration has included several special events, including the Neiman Marcus Futurity Champions Cup, an invitational for past cutting legends. Go to NCHAcutting.com for the complete schedule and results.

All she wanted was a nice, clean run.

“Two weeks ago, I really wasn’t sure about her,” admits amateur Kelsey Weeks of Cotulla, Texas, talking about her mare, One Sweet Sis, “because she was still real green. My trainer, Kathy Daughn, said to be patient with her, just be patient with her.”

The mare’s pedigree deserved the patience. Bred by Matthews Cutting Horses LLC and by the Matthews’ stallion One Time Pepto, she is out of Star Of The Flo, by Mr Peponita Flo and out of Shakin Cee by Colonel Freckles, the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame mare Lynx Melody’s great family.

“We call her ‘Flo,’” Kelsey said, “and she’s very bright and active and alert. The sweetest horse ever. She’s a joy to be around, so fun, easy to work. She always has bright ears and always seems like she’s in a good mood.”

Kelsey was prepping for her own first Futurity appearance. A seasoned aged event competitor, she was “pretty excited” herself just to make the December 8 amateur finals.

“In the first run here she was just phenomenal,” Kelsey said, “and every run since then she just got better and better. Our confidence in each other has gotten better.”

Sixth in the go for the amateur finals, the two put in a 215 performance with Kathy Daughn, Russ Carroll, Tony Piggot and Clay Johnson helping. The score held through to the end.

“I knew my mare was still green so my goal coming in was to just get her a nice, solid, clean run and to build her confidence so I would have a nice 4-year-old for next year,” Kelsey said with a smile. “I think we accomplished that.”

Shawn Ogni of Angier, North Carolina, and Spoons Lil Buckaroo took the reserve with a 212; it was Shawn’s first amateur finals appearance, too.

Kelsey bought One Sweet Sis from Charlie and Denise Seiz of Cedartown, Georgia, back in the spring.

“She’s real smooth and easy to ride, real smart about a cow,” Kelsey said. “You can’t really push her past one much.

“Actually she’s probably easier to ride to me (than my aged horses) because you really have to use your feet on her and push her whereas my other two horses you have to be really patient with because they’re a little more sensitive.”

The mare is headed for a well-deserved 30-day break, Kelsey said.

“I’ve had a good year thanks to Kathy Daughn and Tony Piggot; they’ve helped me so much. I’ve had a great year.”

The coverage slide show is presented by The American Quarter Horse Journal (click on the image to see the caption):

Christine Hamilton
Editor, The American Quarter Horse Journal

Lil Joe Cash earns $150,000 for owner Russell Giles at the 2011 National Reining Horse Association Futurity.

By Larri Jo Starkey

Andrea Fappani rides Lil Joe Cash, owned by Russell Giles of Whitesboro, Texas, to win the National Reining Horse Association Futurity open division December 3. Journal photo. To see more photos, scroll to the slide show below.

The first time Russell Giles saw Lil Joe Cash, she had to have him.

Russell, a Waco, Texas, car dealer, was at the Legacy Reining Breeders Sale in Aubrey, Texas, looking for a prospect.

She studied the pedigrees and decided she liked the little 2008 sorrel colt by Nu Chex To Cash and out of RS Lilly Starlight, the 2006 AQHA World Championship Show Farnam Superhorse, but her trainer at the time didn’t care for the horse bred by Kurt and Angie Harris of Whitesboro, Texas.

“I looked at him in the stall and really liked him,” Russell said. “As the sale continued on, they led him up, and I loved the horse, and I said, ‘How bad could I get hurt on the horse?’ and he said, ‘Well, the bidding started at $7,000.’ I said, ‘I can afford that,’ and I raised up my hand and I bought (the 18-month-old) for $7,700.”

That was the start of a journey that would end December 3 in a National Reining Horse Association Futurity open championship and a check for $150,000.

First up was a name change, from RS New Money to Lil Joe Cash, soon affectionately shortened to “Joe” or “Lil Joe.”

After Joe was started, she took him and another prospect to trainer Brent Loseke of Gainesville, Texas.

“I said, ‘I can take any criticism but I want you to be honest with me,’” Russell said. “He said, ‘The first one rides like a donkey,’ which I could accept that. He said, ‘The other has an extremely good talent and leave him with me for a couple of months so I can really assess him and tell you what you’ve got.’ After two weeks, he told me this is one of the best horses (he had) ever ridden.”

Brent also recommended that Joe go to rider Andrea Fappani for eight months of polish before the NRHA Futurity.

“If it had not been for Brent Loseke, then none of this would be possible,” Russell said after her win. “Brent is a man of integrity and honor, and rather than deceiving me and not letting me know what my horse was and how talented my horse was, he explained to me the gravity of the situation and the ability and potential the horse had. He also explained to me the value the horse had.”

In the first go of the futurity, Lil Joe and Andrea scored a 223, following that 223 with a matching one in the second go. In the finals, though, they were the first to go in the evening section. Russell could take no joy in watching the run, knowing her hand pulled that number in the draw party.

“I was guilt-ridden,” she exclaimed. “Usually I’m the luckiest person you could ever meet, and to draw No. 1! I guess that was lucky. In retrospect, I wouldn’t want to draw No. 1 again.”

Andrea and Joe ran in fast to a hard stop and kept going hard until the end.

“It has been kind of a weird ending,” Andrea said. “I drew up first with my best horse, and that’s never good. I was disappointed about it, and then I turned it into something to push me. I told myself I was going to go out there and lay out as correct a pattern as I knew how to do.”

Their score of 227 held up through 30 more horses and riders, including Andrea himself on Spook Off Sparks, a sorrel mare by Smart Spook and out of Setting Off Sparks by Shining Spark.

Spook Off Sparks was bred by Rosanne Sternberg of Aubrey, Texas, and is owned by Arcese Quarter Horses of Weatherford, Texas. The mare is the first mare Andrea has ridden at the NRHA Futurity since he turned professional, and he says she rides more like a stallion than a mare.

Working 17th in the draw, Andrea scored a 225.5 on Spook Off Sparks. That score also went untouched until the last go, Arno Honstetter on Show Me The Buckles, who matched it for the tie.

Arno works for Andrea, so horses from Andrea’s program finished 1-2-2. Combined with Andrea’s first-place finish in the NRHA Futurity Shootout, that makes for a pretty good week.

“I’ve been working for Andrea six years, I believe, maybe seven,” Arno said. “I’m just lucky he gives me good horses to ride and good clients.”

“Buckles” is a palomino by Wimpys Little Step and out of Sunset Whiz by Topsail Whiz. He was bred by Mike and Barbi Boyle of Princeton, Kentucky, and is owned by Rebeca Martin of Gold River, California.

“(It’s) beyond belief,” Rebeca said, wearing a futurity finalist vest. “I was on a cloud when we qualified (for the finals), and now I am just living the dream. It’s beyond belief.”

Rebeca said it was hard watching her horse go last in the draw.

“Well, I couldn’t breathe, and I was quiet, because I wanted to listen to everybody cheering for my little baby horse,” she said.

For more photos from the 2011 NRHA Futurity, see the Journal slide show below. Click on each photo to read about it. Look for more photos in the January edition of Journal Plus, free to subscribers of The American Quarter Horse Journal.

Veronica St-Onge claims the non-pro title at the NRHA Futurity.

By Larri Jo Starkey

Veronica St-Onge and Spooks N Sparks claim the non-pro title at the 2011 NRHA Futurity. (Journal photo) For more photos, scroll to the slide show below.

Veronica St-Onge of Gainesville, Texas, was a little nervous December 2 riding into the Jim Norick Arena.

Her 3-year-old, Spooks N Sparks, was ready and had scored a 221 in the first round, but it was a long wait at the National Reining Horse Association Futurity.

“I was a little less cool than in the first go,” the non-pro said. “I was confident in that I knew she was capable of doing it again, because we had a good first go, but I was a little more nervous. It was a little nerve-wracking.

Luckily, “Skittles” had the situation under control.

“It went well,” Veronica said. “I was excited. She was really good. She was pumped. She was awesome.”

Veronica and Skittles, 25th to ride in the second section, scored another 221 to claim the non-pro title.

Veronica and her husband, Patrice, are originally from Quebec, and in the spring, Pat returned there to give a reining clinic.

“He looked at some horses and fell in love with her and figured we needed to own her,” Veronica said, adding with a laugh, “He actually bought her so he could steal my other one that I had raised, but that worked out well for me in the end.”

The sorrel mare by Smart Spook and out of Whizicle by Topsail Whiz was bred by Equine Plus of St. Basilelegrand, Quebec.

“We got her delivered here at the Derby and somebody offered us a pretty good profit right away,” Veronica said. But then Veronica had started riding the filly and didn’t want to give her up.

“So then I took her home,” she said.

The rest is NRHA non-pro history.

For more photos from the 2011 NRHA Futurity, see the Journal slide show below. Click on each photo to read about it. Look for more photos in the January edition of Journal Plus, free to subscribers of The American Quarter Horse Journal.

Tinker With Guns follows up his Derby win with Shootout title at the 2011 NRHA Futurity.

By Larri Jo Starkey

Andrea Fappani rides Tinker With Guns for Rancho Oso Rio of Scottsdale, Arizona. (Journal photo) To see more photos, scroll to the slide show below.

We still don’t know what Tinker With Guns can do.

The horse has had a brilliant show season this year, but rider and trainer Andrea Fappani says he has yet to ask Tinker With Guns to give 100 percent.

“This horse is special,” Andrea said. “I’m still saving it.”

On December 1, Andrea and Tinker With Guns topped a star-studded roster of competitors to score a 231.5 and win the National Reining Horse Association World Championship Shootout in Oklahoma City.

“It was a very deep class (with) a lot of nice horses in it,” Andrea said. “This horse has been great for me all year. I showed him quite a few times this year, and he kept getting better every time. I started off by winning the Cactus Classic on him, then we went to the NRBC and I was (third) there. Came here to the (NRHA) Derby and won it. And then I went to the Reining by the Bay and won that derby with a 231. He just kept getting better for me.”

After about three months of rest, the horse’s owner and breeder, Jim and Pat Warren of Rancho Oso Rio in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Andrea decided to try to get the horse’s earnings above $200,000. The 2006 stallion had $197,267 in his bag as he ran into the pen for pattern 10 December 1, and the more than $31,000 he won will easily top $200,000.

“He’s a great horse,” Andrea said. “This run was a solid run. He’s an amazing stopper, so I always count on my stops. I just tried to stay clean everywhere else. He turns really well, too, but on the circles, I always back off, because to me, the circles, when you push a horse as fast as they can go, that’s when … you use up your horse. I’m lucky enough that I’ve got a big stop and big turns on him, so I backed off and tried to be clean, and opened him up in the stops.”

Tinker With Guns is a sorrel by Colonels Smoking Gun and out of Tinker Nic by Reminic. He was started by AQHA Professional Horseman Randy Paul then had an injury that kept him out of competition as a 4-year-old. Andrea thinks that long rest is why the horse is so tough now.

For more photos from the NRHA Shootout competition, see the Journal slide show below. Click on each photo to read about it. Look for more photos in the January edition of Journal Plus, free to subscribers of The American Quarter Horse Journal.