Amanda Morris Tops Senior Youth Scholarship Cutting at NCHA Summer Spectacular
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- Created on Thursday, 12 July 2012
- Written by Kelsey Pecsek & Amber Hodge - Suzanne Forrest photo
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Ralph Gray, Weatherford, Texas, owns Just Playin Smart (Freckles Playboy x Smart Little Pet x Doc O’Lena), a horse with $296,519 in prior career cutting earnings. Morris and Just Playin Smart also led Monday’s first round of the Senior Youth scholarship event with a 224 effort.
Morris, the daughter of Weatherford, Texas, husband and wife cutters Craig and Judy Morris, also guided 2005 mare Quejanaisabella (Quejanaisalena x Nipandplay x Perfecto Playboy) to a first-round leading 224 Monday during the first of three rounds in the new NCHA Youth World Finals. They went on to post the best three-round composite score during that event.
Cade Hansma, Weatherford, Texas, and 2002 gelding Bob Dualin (Dual Pep x Capoo x CD Olena) were Reserve Champions during the Senior Youth scholarship cutting finals with a 221.5. Hansma’s parents, Weatherford, Texas, husband and wife NCHA Hall of Fame members Paul and Julie, own “Bob.”
Junior Youth
Kutter Johnson, 12, lived up to his name in the Junior Youth Summer Scholarship cutting. After marking a 223 from his sixth draw in the 26-horse finals, Johnson earned the Champion title and the bragging rights that come with the achievement.
Johnson was mounted on Ms Brandy Alexander (Cats Merada x Ms Peppy Doc x Peppy San Badger), owned by Lonnie and Barbara Allsup, Clovis, N.M., and bred by Weisbart Cattle Company, Manchaca, Texas. The 2006 sorrel mare has previous Equi-Stat earnings of less than $1,000, but she didn't let her record stand in her way. The horse was previously shown in the Open by Pete Branch, but since Johnson's father is close friends with Branch, the young cutter got a special opportunity to ride Ms Brandy Alexander.
Johnson enjoys cutting, but he said his real passion is riding bronc horses. He also said he thinks that sport helps him ride cutters because he is able to sit deep in the saddle.
The Reserve Championship went to Lauren Oehlhof, Grandview, Texas, and Ken Sitton's RCC Skeet N Scooter (SR Instant Choice x Sweeter Than Skeeter x Peppy San Badger), bred by Rowntree Exports Inc., Canada. The duo marked a 220 from a second draw in the second bunch for their title.
Oehlhof thanked Sitton for allowing her to ride his horse. She also thanked to her little sister, Millie Joe Rosenberg, for getting her horse ready and her father and step-mom, Steve and Missy Jean Oehlhof, for their help.
Rieta Dufurrena Earns Senior Youth World Championship
This year marked the start of a summer Youth World Finals. Held in conjunction with the Summer Spectacular in Fort Worth, Texas, the top 15 youth cutters in the junior and senior divisions rode in three go-rounds for their last shot at a world title. Rieta Dufurrena had a very successful show year, and it’s all led up to a very exciting moment. After 38 shows, she can call the National Cutting Horse Association Youth World Championship title her own.
Many horses have contributed to Dufurrena’s cutting career this year, and among them are The Boss Cat (Smooth As A Cat x Mighty Little Annie x Smart Little Lena), Auspicious Cat (High Brow Cat x Lenas O Lady x Peppy San Badger), Aristothat (Smart Aristocrat x Hustlin Leopard x Freckles Hustler), Miss Ella Rey (Dual Rey x Dual Pep x Smart Chic Olena), Torino Ichi (Cat Ichi x A Peppys Melody x Peppys Boy 895) and Mr Rey Lena (Dual Rey x Miss Shorty Lena x Shorty Lena). Each of them has helped pave the road toward her Championship title.
“It feels accomplished,” Dufurrena said about becoming a Senior World Champion. She also said that being able to ride the high quality horses that she has this year has been a great thing. “I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.”
Collbran Blue Larson landed the Reserve World Championship after a long year and 30 shows. His mounts that have carried him through it all include: DS Mrs Wilsonfreckle (Wilsons Lil Freckles x Azucar Bar x Docs Sugar Daddy), Very Special Cat (High Brow Cat x Very Special Peppy x Peppy San Badger), Boo Lou Cat (High Brow Cat x Smile Ima Lena x Doc O’Lena), and CD April Fool (CD Olena x Attractions First x Bob Acre Doc).
Junior Youth World Champions
Baca, 10, piloted Jewelin Jo Chita (Tachitas Jewels x Brinks C Bars Jo x Jose Uno), a 2000 mare owned by his parents, Tye and Julia, and bred by Skip Hobbs, Germantown, Tenn. Before his World title, he had amassed more than $10,000 as a youth cutter.
After walking out of the arena with his awards, Baca sent a thank you out to God, his horse and his parents.
Consistency, followed by a knock-out third go-round score, carried Marvin, Barnsdall, Okla., from third in the world to share the top with Baca. She marked a 220.5 in the first go and a 216 in the second. When she walked from the herd in the third go, the scoreboard flashed a stellar 227.
Marvin, 13, spent her entire year aboard the same horse at every weekend show. She said she refused to borrow a “higher caliber” horse for the finals because she trusted MK Vivian (Kit Dual x Runnin Mate x Smart Mate), owned and bred by The Gene McKown Living Trust, Norman, Okla., to take her all the way. It looks like her plan worked out.
MK Vivian and Marvin finished first in the third go-round. Her composite score was a 663.5 in the World Finals, giving her the win by an 18 1/2-point margin. Before their success in Fort Worth, Marvin’s Equi-Stat record reflected more than $21,000 in earnings.
