Other News

The Mighty Minnow Wins NCHA Summer Spectacular Gelding Open

The Mighty Minnow earned a big check during his December debut in Fort Worth, and the horse from Australia came up big again Wednesday in the NCHA Summer Spectacular Gelding Open finals with a 221 to earn a Championship title and $4,758.

The Mighty Minnow (Chula Dual x Cats Dreamin x High Brow Cat), bred and owned by Ian and Billie Buckeridge, Balnarring, Victoria, Australia, and native Australian Darren Simpkins, lead cutting trainer at Slate River Ranch in Weatherford, Texas, finished a strong seventh during December’s National Cutting Horse Association Futurity Open finals in Fort Worth’s Will Rogers Coliseum to earn $52,055. Until Wednesday, though, the pair had earned less than $2,000 during the 2012 season.

I Bea Cat (High Brow Cat x Mae Bea Marie x Freckles Playboy), bred and owned by Jim Crawford, Lexington, Neb., headed to the Summer Spectacular with just $1,075 earned as a cutter. He and his trainer Tarin Rice, Jacksboro, Texas, finished as Reserve Champions in Wednesday’s Gelding Open finals with a 218 to earn $4,493.

It was also a good day for Weatherford, Texas, trainer Clint Allen, who trained The Mighty Minnow and I Bea Cat, then later ended up asking Simpkins and Rice to ride them at big limited-age shows in his place.

"I'm fortunate that he gives me good horses to show for him when he can't ride them all," Simpkins said.

Rice catch-rode I Bea Cat at the early spring NCHA Super Stakes for Allen and Allen "let me keep him after that," he said.

After topping several horses with considerably more earned so far as cutters, The Mighty Minnow, with Simpkins, and I Bea Cat, with Rice, compete again in Friday’s Derby Open semifinals. Both duos are hoping to secure berths in Saturday’s finals. -RF

Kyle Manion, Glade Knight Tie For Derby Non-Pro Two-Go Lead

Kyle Manion and his homebred cutting gelding Chet Smooth, first-round NCHA Summer Spectacular Derby Non-Pro leaders, tied for the two-go lead with Glade Knight and his recently purchased gelding Moms Dual N Badger as both duos posted 434 composites.

Manion, 33, Aubrey, Texas, and Knight, 67, Weatherford, Texas, will each compete with the same two horses twice Thursday in Fort Worth’s Will Rogers Coliseum. Manion and Chet Smooth (Smooth As A Cat x Dulces Smart Chet x Smart Lil Ricochet) and Knight and Moms Dual N Badger (Reys Dual Badger x Moms Stylish Pepto x Peptoboonsmal) are scheduled to compete during Thursday’s Derby Non-Pro semifinals first.

They’re also both scheduled to compete again Thursday night in the Derby Gelding Non-Pro finals. Kyle Manion’s father, Tommy Manion, 70, also qualified a horse he owns to compete in Thursday’s Non-Pro semifinals, and so did Glade Knight’s son, Nelson Knight.

Super Stakes Derby Non-Pro Champion Dustin Adams, Dublin, Texas, qualified two of his horses for Thursday’s Non-Pro semifinals and his wife, Deena Adams, qualified one. Adams did not compete in the Non-Pro Derby with his NCHA Super Stakes 4-Year-Old Non-Pro Champion partner Hottish. The standout stallion instead carried trainer Lloyd Cox, Fort Morgan, Colo., to a two-go best composite score in the Derby Open division.

Hottish (Spots Hot x Stylish Play Lena x Docs Stylish Oak) and Cox will compete again in the Derby Open semifinals, which start at 10 a.m. Friday. Hottish and Cox were Derby Open Champions at May’s Breeder’s Invitational in Tulsa, Okla.

Kyle Manion and Chet Smooth finished as Super Stakes 4-Year-Old Non-Pro Reserve Champions at the early spring NCHA Super Stakes in Fort Worth. They placed third in May’s Derby Non-Pro finals in Fort Worth.

The horse has been trained by Phil Hanson, Weatherford, Texas, and has earned more than $76,000 since February. He has frequently competed with Hanson in the Open and Manion in the Non-Pro divisions. The horse and Hanson did not make the Open semifinals this time.

While Chet Smooth’s possible path to a first limited-age title got a little less cluttered thanks to Hottish’s absence in the division, Manion said anything could happen during Thursday’s Non-Pro semifinals and Saturday’s Non-Pro finals. “There are a lot of good horses.

Even with eliminating one great horse, the competition is still extremely high. You have to bring you’re ‘A’ game,” Manion said. Following a first-go 219, Manion and Chet Smooth backed off the gas a bit with a second-go 215.

“I tend to look at the finals a lot different than the go-rounds,” Manion said. “Of course, you have to do well in the semis first. You definitely have to come cut in the semis. Then in the finals, you can come kicking.”

Slate River Ranch owner Glade Knight and Moms Dual N Badger, a horse he bought in late June, just in time to compete at the Summer Spectacular, made Thursday’s Non-Pro semifinals and Derby Non-Pro Gelding finals with a 216.5-217.5-434 composite. Moms Dual N Badger, bred and previously owned by Jerry Durant, Weatherford, Texas, earned $26,472 while making three Open finals during early 2012 with trainer Clint Allen. -MT

Manion, Chet Smooth Lead Derby Non-Pro First Go

Kyle Manion and Chet Smooth, a gelding he’s competed with often and well since February, led the two-day first round of Derby Non-Pro competition with a 219 score at the National Cutting Horse Association Summer Spectacular in Fort Worth.

Two horses and riders with less lofty prior records, Susan Marvin, Barnsdall, Okla., and Peeka Boo Bunny, a mare she and her husband, cutting trainer Tommy Marvin, bought in late June, along with Dustin Adams, Dublin, Texas, and homebred mare Smooth Sneakin, also started near the top with 218.5 opening-round efforts.

It took a first-go 210 to advance, and 84 of the 136 original 4-year-old entries will compete again during Wednesday’s second round. All are hoping to secure berths in Thursday’s semifinals and then Saturday’s high-paying finals as the three-week show ends. Saturday’s Derby Non-Pro finals are scheduled to start at 3 p.m. in Will Rogers Coliseum, and they precede Saturday night’s Derby Open finals.

Chet Smooth (Smooth As A Cat x Dulces Smart Chet x Smart Lil Rocket) and Manion, the gelding’s breeder and owner, are trying to secure their third major payday in a row. They were Reserve Champions in the 4-Year-Old Non-Pro finals during spring’s NCHA Super Stakes in the same Will Rogers Coliseum arena with a 219 finish. They also won that event’s $10,000 Novice Horse division and reached its Gelding Non-Pro finals to earn three checks totaling $37,201 at that show.

Manion and the same horse placed third in the Derby Non-Pro division at May’s Breeder’s Invitational in Tulsa, Okla., and they finished third in its Derby Non-Pro Gelding finals, to earn two more checks totaling $34,995. Chet Smooth, also a 4-Year-Old Open finalist during February’s Bonanza Cutting with Phil Hanson, Weatherford, Texas, has earned $76,405 overall so far this year.

Peeka Boo Bunny (Peeka Pep x Hickorys Bunny x Doc’s Hickory), has earned less than $2,500, and had only competed with Marvin once, at a July 4th weekend cuttinng in Ada, Okla., before their first Summer Spectacular run. Susan and Tommy Marvin purchased the mare from their training client, Benny and Susan Scarberry, Clinton, Ark., in late June, when Susan found out she fit better with another horse.

Tommy Marvin has trained Peeka Boo Bunny since her 2-year-old season, and Susan Marvin has always liked the mare. “I was excited to keep her in our barn when Susan [Scarberry] and Benny bought her, and I’m even happier now,” Marvin said. “That [starting off with a first-go 218] was pretty exciting.”

At spring’s NCHA Super Stakes in Fort Worth, Adams easily won the 4-Year-Old finals with a record-setting 227-point effort to earn $37,135 aboard his 2008 stallion Hottish (Spots Hot x Stylish Play Lena x Docs Stylish Oak). This time, he decided to let Hottish compete solely in the Open with trainer Lloyd Cox, Fort Morgan, Colo., and the duo got off to a warm start with a two-best 438.5 score.

Hottish, a 4-Year-Old Open Champion at the Super Stakes with Adams, and a Derby Open Champion with Cox in the saddle at May’s Breeder’s Invitational in Tulsa, Okla., has earned $119,882 overall as a cutter so far this year. He also picked up $46,148 during his December debut at the 2011 NCHA Futurity Open by placing 11th in the Open finals with Cox, giving him $166,030 heading into this weekend.

Adams, a career earner of more than $3.5 million as a cutting rider, while also doing most of his own training, heads to the second round this time following a first-round 218 aboard Smooth Sneakin (Smooth As A Cat x Tanganilla x Tangys Classy Peppy). Smooth Sneakin earned $22,300 by carrying Adams for a tie for 14th in December’s NCHA Futurity Non-Pro finals in Fort Worth. Before this event, Smooth Sneakin and Adams had picked up one additional limited-age check for $5,000 by placing seventh during the 4-Year-Old Non-Pro finals at January’s Abilene Spectacular Cutting.

Three Non-Pro riders, Linda Holmes, Longmont, Colo., and homebred mare Betty Greyble; Don Bell, Weatherford, Texas, and his standout stallion Thundercat; and Katherine Hermes, Cotulla, Texas, with gelding A Play Rey, started out with 218s.

Thundercat (High Brow Cat x Desire Some Freckles x Freckles Playboy), the Derby Open Reserve Champion behind only Hottish at May’s Breeder’s Invitational with trainer Matt Miller, Poolville, Texas, headed into this show with $107,772 earned.

A Play Rey (Reys Dual Badger x Playin Blues x Playin Stylish), bred by cutting trainer, Kathy Daughn, Gonzales, Texas, carried Hermes to the Derby Amateur Championship and the Derby Non-Pro finals at May’s Breeder’s Invitational. They were also the BI Limited Non-Pro Reserve Champions. Hermes and the gelding have earned $45,077 so far this year, according to Equi-Stat records.

Betty Greyble (Stylish Rey x High Brows Nurse x High Brow Hickory), a mare bred and raised by Holmes, carried Holmes to the Non-Pro semifinals and Templeton, Calif., cutting trainer Morgan Cromer to the Open semifinals duruing December’s NCHA Futurity. The mare tied for sixth in the Derby Open finals at May’s BI with Lloyd Cox and headed to this show with $34,521 in career cutting earnings.

Derby Open Second Go

Two horse and rider teams with recent limited-age cutting wins, Hottish and Lloyd Cox, Champions at May’s Breeder’s Invitational in Tulsa, Okla., and Once In A Blu Boon and James Payne, Champions at June’s The Non Pro Plus The Open in Oklahoma City, Okla., topped the Derby Open leader board following Sunday’s second round of the National Cutting Horse Association Summer Spectacular in Fort Worth, Texas.

Hottish (Spots Hot x Stylish Play Lena x Docs Stylish Oak), a 2008 stallion owned by Dustin and Deena Adams, Dublin, Texas, and trained by Cox, Fort Morgan, Colo., posted a 221.5-217-438.5 composite to lead the division heading into Friday’s 64-horse Open semifinals.

Dustin Adams and Hottish won the NCHA Super Stakes Derby Non-Pro title in Fort Worth during early spring. They’ll compete together, too Once In A Blu Boon (Peptoboonsmal x Autumn Boon x Dual Pep), a 2008 stallion bred and owned by Jill Freeman, Rosston, Texas, and Payne, Marietta, Okla., posted a second-best 218.5-219-437.5.

It took a two-go 429.5 to make the semifinals. Time To Hangem and Austin Shepard, Summerdale, Ala., posted a second-go best 221. They made the finals with a two-go 213.5-221-434.5. Kayla Norris, Hattiesburg, Miss., owns the gelding (One Time Pepto x Hangem High Pep x Hickorys Indian Pep).

Sarenadual, James Payne Win Classic/Challenge Open

After winning Sunday’s Wildcard round with a strong 222 effort, 6-year-old mare Sarenadual and her career-long trainer James Payne won the July 16 National Cutting Horse Association Summer Spectacular Classic/Challenge Open finals with an even stronger 223 to earn $41,430 and their first Fort Worth, Texas, Open cutting titles.

Sarendual (Dual Pep x Sarenenlena x Smart Little Lena), a prior career earner of $84,640 owned by Kathleen Moore, Madill, Okla., topped a field featuring six horses who had previously earned more than $200,000. Those rivals included 2009 NCHA Futurity Open Champion Rockin W, 2010 NCHA Futurity Open One Time Royalty, last July’s NCHA Summer Spectacular Derby Open Champion Stylish Martini, and 2010 NCHA Super Stakes Derby Open and 2011 Super Stakes Classic/Challenge Open Champion Reys Desire.

One Time Royalty (One Time Pepto x Royal Serena Belle x Shorty Lena), a 5-year-old stallion trained and shown throughout his career by Lloyd Cox, Fort Morgan, Colo., a career earner of more than $5.8 million as a cutting rider, finished as Reserve Champion with a 222 to earn $36,606.

Reyes Desire (Dual Rey x Playguns Desire x Playgun) and Lee Francois, Murchison, Texas, tied for third with a 220.5 to earn $29,372. Breeder/owner H.B. “Woody” Bartlett, 75, also competed as a cutter for the first time in more than five years last week with 6-year-old “Radar” in the Non-Pro division. He earned $693 by placing fourth in the Senior Limited Non-Pro division with a solid 208 score. The mare ended up earning more than $319,000 at her seven Fort Worth limited-age shows.

Monday’s winning rider Payne said his goal heading into the finals was to simply place near the front of the pack, and possibly earn more than $17,000, to push Sarenadual’s career earnings past $100,000. He made a point of thanking his herd helpers Josh Townsend, John Mitchell, Sean Flynn and Cox for helping him and the mare through a precise and action-packed run that ended up doing a lot better.

The pair marked their winning 223 from a No. 3 draw in the first of two cattle sets during the 25-horse, 21-rider event. Payne then had to wait and see whether that score would hold up against attempts posted by a steady barrage of NCHA Open Hall of Fame riders, all armed with good and in several cases absolutely great horses.

Payne, 34, a prior career earner of $715,889 as a cutter, trains from a base in Marietta, Okla. He pushed his career cutting earnings past $750,000 while topping 17 riders who have earned more than $1 million, and several with more than $3 million earned. Payne is enjoying a career-best season in 2012, with $96,627 earned so far, according to Equi-Stat records. He’ll compete again later this week when the NCHA Summer Spectacular Derby Open begins.

Sarenadual and owner Kathleen Moore won the Derby Amateur Championship at the 2010 NCHA Summer Spectacular in the same arena with a 217.5 finish. “She couldn’t be here [for Monday’s Classic/Challenge Open finals] because of a meeting, but she watched it on the Internet and was screaming over the phone,” Payne said.

Payne, a 4-Year-Old Open Champion rider at mid-June’s The Non Pro Plus The Open cutting in Oklahoma City, Okla., is competing in Fort Worth with a recently fractured left ring finger. He also competed Monday while wearing contact lenses instead of a recently broken pair of glasses that he almost always wears during cutting shows.

Asked if he’ll switch back to his glasses once they’re repaired, after winning his first Fort Worth title without them, Payne said he indeed plans to. They are much more comfortable than his contact lenses, he said. “I am a little bit superstitious, but I also won once wearing sunglasses when my glasses were broken,” he said.

Nadine Payne married James Payne four years ago, and she’s assisting him at the show. He’s worked several years to get to the point he’s reached this year, she said. “He works his butt off, and I’m glad things are finally falling into place. He’s got some really nice horses, his confidence is building, and it just seems like he’s on a roll.”

One Time Royalty, purchased last summer by Australia-based breeder Sue Merchant, and Cox have also been on a roll this year, after suffering through an off 2011 season. They’ve now earned about $430,000 together. That includes $160,605 earned through mid-July of 2012, after the horse’s 4-year-old season netted just $19,108. They picked up $250,000 by winning the 2010 NCHA Futurity Open finals.

The stallion will remain in Texas, but for the second straight year, he’ll now take a lengthy break from all cutting competition. He’ll compete again in mid or possibly late fall, once he fulfills all of his breeding commitments to Australian mare owners.

“He’ll have to be quarantined for a while, and then they ship it [One Time Royalty’s frozen semen] to Australia,” Cox said. He expects the stallion to return to his training program in September. It is likely he’ll compete again at the Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association Futurity in October. It’s also possible he’ll return a little sooner.

“Breeding does seem to agree with him,” Cox said, adding the stallion fulfilled his commitment to mare owners on this continent while competing quite well. The horse’s five-show February through July of 2012 record included final-round 224.5 and 220.5 scores during May’s Breeder’s Invitational in Tulsa, Okla., Monday’s final-go 222 in Fort Worth, plus 220.5 finishes at February’s Bonanza Cutting in Glen Rose, Texas, and at spring’s NCHA Super Stakes in Fort Worth. Those scores secured one limited-age win, one Reserve title, three third-place finishes, and five big checks.

“He’s been real consistent,” Cox said. “I feel like now if I do my part, he’ll certainly do his.” It’s likely, Cox said, the pair will compete in Fort Worth again next year, and at many other locations, during the horse’s 6-year-old season. “I think as long as we continue having success, she [the horse’s owner, Merchant] will want to keep going.” -MT

ARC Moonstruck, Nick O'Dell Earn Classic/Challenge John Deere Open Title

The first finals for the Classic/Challenge portion of the National Cutting Horse Association Summer Spectacular in Fort Worth, Texas, took place Thursday, July 12, at Will Rogers Memorial Complex. After the Youth Scholarship classes wrapped up, the John Deere Open commenced. ARC Moostruckplease and Nick O’Dell emerged victorious.

ARC Moonstruckplease (Chic Please x Moonstruck Cat x High Brow Cat) is owned by George Ward, Lees Summit, Mo., and was bred by Arcese Quarter Horses, Weatherford, Texas. O’Dell said he has only been riding the 2007 gelding for a few months.

Michael Cooper, Weatherford, Texas, originally trained ARC Moonstruckplease when he was stationed in Kansas. When he moved to the cutting capital of the world, Cooper suggested O’Dell as a replacement.

Nine horses made it back to the John Deere Classic/Challenge Open finals, but from their first draw, O’Dell and ARC Moonstruckplease marked an unmatchable 219. This win, worth $5,495, pushes the horse’s earnings to more than $40,000.

From the next to last draw, Purcell, Okla.-based Robbie Boyce piloted Stylish Scotti to a 218 for the Reserve Champion. The 2006 mare (Peptos Stylish Oak x Lenas Scotti x Bobby Bo Badger), owned by Cowan Select Horses Inc., Havre, Mont., and bred by Bittercreek Quarter Horse Ranch, Hollis, Okla., had around $34,000 in Equi-Stat earnings before her title. The Reserve Championship was worth $4,884.

Boyce, a successful reined cow horse trainer, said he is enjoying his jump into cutting, but he still has a few horses entered in the National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity. -KP

Queen, Manion Tie As Classic/Challenge Non-Pro Co-Champions

Elizabeth Queen, Lipan, Texas and 5-year-old gelding Razor marked a 220.5, Kyle Manion, Aubrey, Texas and 6-year-old mare Holly Is Smooth matched it, and the duos tied as Classic/Challenge Non-Pro Co-Champions Wednesday night to earn $16,589 each at the National Cutting Horse Association Summer Spectacular.

Queen and Manion marked their winning runs in the second of two cattle sets during the 27-horse finals. Each earned $16,589 as Co-Champion riders. That nearly matched the $16,954 Queen’s partner, Razor (Abrakabracre x Dox Texas Hankie x Playdox) had previously earned as a cutter.

Holly Is Smooth (Smooth As A Cat x Holly N Zack Zack T Wood), bred, owned and often ridden by Manion, had previously earned $127,977 by making many prior limited-age finals. Elizabeth and her husband, cutting trainer Ronnie “Skip” Queen, purchased Razor from Elizabeth’s mother, Becky Elliott, Estill, S.C., earlier this year.

Elizabeth Queen and another horse she and Skip own, Lil Sting Rey (Dual Rey x Sanjo Lisa x Dreams Of Oak) also tied for 12th in the same finals with a 212 to earn $9,989.

“If I would have had to say if I was going to win tonight which one would it be, I would have picked the other horse (Lil Sting Rey) but I just didn’t get the cows cut for him,” Queen said. Queen, a lifetime earner of $1,277,431, is married to trainer Skip Queen. She purchased Razor earlier this year from her mother, Becky Elliott, Estill, S.C.

“She just didn’t get along with him. I could tell he had a lot of potential there. He’s not easy to work. I don’t work him; Skip works him, I just show him. He has a lot of good stuff. He’s good when you show him,” Queen said. “He’s a sweetheart.”

In preparation for this show, Skip has been hauling Razor on the weekends. “I think he’s won a check every time,” Elizabeth said.

Manion’s mare, Holly Is Smooth (Smooth As A Cat x Holly N Zack Zack T Wood), bred and owned by Manion, had previously earned $127,977 by making many limited-age finals in both open and non pro competition. “She was awesome. Clint Allen’s had her. He made the finals on her in the Open but unfortunately she had a bit of bad luck and lost a cow so we were definitely wanting to go after them tonight. Thanks to Neal Roger, Clint Allen, Matt Gaines and Phil Rapp. They got me through another one,” Manion said.

“We were able to cut some tougher cows that really let us extend her and get a little higher degree of difficultly. We were able to call on her and she always answers the call. She’s a very tough, strong, determined mare. She’s a lot of fun.”

Manion has won $1,035,452 at cuttings. He won the same class last year on A Smooth Criminal.

Megan Miller, Poolville, Texas, and 5-year-old gelding Moonstruck Player (Lizzys Gotta Player x Carolena Moon x Peptoboonsmal) marked a first-set bet 219.5 that held up for third place and a $15,687 check. Megan and her husband, trainer Matt Miller, own the prior career earner of $13,548 as a cutter. Megan Miller bred the horse and both she and her brother, Tyler Merrill, competed with him at the 2010 NCHA Futurity in Fort Worth. -BK

Jim Short Wins Derby Amateur and Senior Titles

Jim Short, 67, Fulshear, Texas, a lobbyist who has helped enlarge many other cutters’ checks during Fort Worth, Texas shows, earned two of his own totaling $9,602 Tuesday in Will Rogers Coliseum with a 217 finish that earned Derby Amateur and Derby Senior Amateur titles at the National Cutting Horse Association Summer Spectacular.

Short represents the NCHA every other year by pleading its cause during Texas legislative sessions. He has helped secure millions of dollars in state and city funding that's been paid to competitors at Fort Worth “Triple Crown” cuttings the past few years.

He and his mare Dual Ticket (Reys Dual Badger x Etickets Cat x High Brow Cat) were the beneficiaries this time around. The cutting competitor for about 20 years secure his first career Fort Worth limited-age victory. He had won a cutting event at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, near his South Texas hometown, three years ago.

Third-year cutter and former rodeo steer wrestler Clint Hixson, 39, Monroe, La., finished as the Derby Amateur Reserve Champion rider with a 216.5 aboard his gelding Peeka Spice Cat (Peeka Pep Cat x Gingers Spice Cat x High Brow Cat) to earn $5,461.

Ringling, Okla., trainer Bill Riddle has trained horses for Short the past 20 years, and his client described him as “an expert teacher” who cares deeply about his clients’ success.

Hixson works with his father and two brothers in the family’s automobile business. Hixson bought Peeka Spice Cat from Weatherford, Texas, trainer Sean Flynn and his wife, Ashley, and said, “He’s been good for me the whole time.” Flynn still trains the horse.

“She can really turn around,” Hixson said. “She fits me very well and suits me just fine.”

After retiring from rodeo, Hixson gave up competing on horseback for a while until deciding to try cutting. He had served as a turnback rider for his father, longtime cutting horse owner and rider Edley Hixson. He has a sister who trains barrel horses. -MT

Todd Quirk and Cats In Yer Dreams Top Classic/Challenge Limited Non-Pro

Todd Quirk, the last man out in the second set of the Classic/Challenge Limited Non Pro finals at the National Cutting Horse Association Summer Spectacular, marked his highest score ever, a 224, aboard newly acquired gelding Cats In Ya Dreams to earn his second title in Fort Worth's Will Rogers Coliseum and $7,506.

Quirk also earned $6,680 for placing fourth in the same finals with a 217 riding his other gelding Spooked By A Cat. He has fared well recently while competing in Fort Worth, but this was the top ride of his young cutting career.

“I won the limited at the Super Stakes in 2010 with a score of 221,” Quirk said. “I considered myself to have already had a successful show just to be here tonight, and then to mark a 224. I’m extremely blessed.”

Quirk said there should be an oxygen tank on hand to help last hole champs catch their air prior to interviews. He had to work hard for the win after his second cow stalled.

“I knew that if I wanted to do good that I needed to cut something for a long time and get a lot of working time. When I turned and that grey cow was there, Austin (Shepard) said, ‘You got 50,’ but then when it got in a good spot ,they said, ‘Get a push on it and cut her’. I just tried to cut her and it felt like I cut her for two and a half minutes but it was 40 seconds,” Quirk said.

“That (third) cow was an all-or-nothing cow there at the end,” Quirk said. “That first 15 seconds, it felt good and was exciting. Then I heard Brad (Mitchell) in the corner say, ‘You’ve got 20’ and I thought, ‘Oh God, there’s no way I can have 20 more seconds on this cow’ but Austin kept saying, ‘Use your feet, ride your horse,’ so every time he turned I tried to. The horse was out of air. He was more out of air than I was so I was just trying to keep him alive and keeping him bright and make him do what he was supposed to do. The horse was phenomenal. I couldn’t have asked for anymore out of him, he did what he was supposed to do right there.”

Cats In Ya Dreams (High Brow Cat x Dreams Of Oak x Docs Freckles Oak) has was also in Shepard’s training program for former owners and Ian and Billie Buckridge, Australia. Quirk called them out of curiosity to see if the horse that had previously won $86,365 in the open money, could be bought.

“I got the deal made about two weeks before the BI started. I was fortunate to get him shown out there. As soon as the classic (at the BI) was over I took him and got him gelded and let him have a week or two of rest during the BI and then he went back to work. He was a phenomenal horse before (he was gelded) but we took a distraction away from him and he’s getting better every day.”

Reserve champion, Luis De Armas, Boca Raton, Florida, marked his 220 from the middle of the first set and was quick to congratulate Quirk. “I knew he was one of the ones who had a big chance to beat me. He deserved it. He was way better. He was the true champion, so I was happy to congratulate him. He had a higher degree of difficulty and his horse was wicked there,” De Armas said.

De Armas was riding his favorite mare, Sly Playgirl (That Sly Cat x Taquitas Playgirl x Freckles Playboy), whom he’s owned for 18 months. “I always tell that she is a once-in-a-lifetime horse and I really believe she is,” De Armas said. “I think my run was very nice, it was good. We were able to cut the cows we all liked and picked. The third cow we finished up real good and strong. It went smooth but his run was better.” Sly Playgirl had prior earnings of $231,392. The pair earnd $7,230 by placing second.

Robert Tieman, Pflugerville, Texas was the Senior Champion on Quanah O Cat (High Brow Cat x Quanahs Little Star x Quana O Lena) to earn $2,772. The Seniour Champioonship was determined by go-round scores. -BK

Classic/Challenge Amateur

Taylor Carbo, 19, and Moms Stilish Cat, a stallion he had owned for only two weeks, won the July 19 Classic/Challenge Amateur Championship at the NCHA Summer Spectacular with a 222 run to earn $5,185.

Carbo, Plaquemine, La., was actually looking for a 3-year-old. When his trainer, Jeremy Barwick, Stephenville, Texas, found out that Moms Stilish Cat (High Brow Cat x Moms Stylish Pepto) was for sale, a quick change of plans occurred.

Clint Allen, who trained the horse, let Barwick in on the fact Moms Stilish Cat’s owner and breeder, Jerry Durant, was thinking of selling him. The plan now is to show him through his last year of aged-events, in 2013. Carbo’s family then has some mares at home the stallion can visit the following year.

Things hadn’t been going exactly the way he wanted them to in the show pen lately, said Carbo, the 2010 NCHA Youth World Champion rider, a prior and earner of $53,352. The solid 5-year-old horse, with prior earnings totalin $95,432, might have been just the right prescription to cure his ills.

“I’ve had a rough time getting my cows cut clean lately,” Carbo said. “Jeremy [Barick] told me ‘Look, just go in there and show your horse.’ I was getting frustrated. So I went down there and tried to just make clean cuts. It felt great to be able to put it together, and he is really fun to ride.”

Mandy Chisum and her gelding A Cat Be Nimble made a great showing to claim the Reserve Championship and $5,031 with a 219 finish.

Chisum, Atascadero, Calif., has returned to the sport of cutting in full force after breaking her back on a horse in 2005. During her return year, she has placed eighth at the Super Stakes, Reserve at the Breeder’s Invitational, and she added another Reserve title.

A Cat Be Nimble (High Brow Cat x KD Shorty x Kit Dual) had previous earnings totaling $74,445 under his previous owner and breeder, Elizabeth Brumbaugh, Fort Worth, Texas.

Rick Reeves, Hallsville, Texas, went home with the most money in the division. He finished fourth with a 217 aboard his gelding One Rockin Pepto to earn $4,722, and he nearly doubled those earnings by taking the Championship in the Senior Classic/Challenge Amateur for an extra $4,257.

Reeves added to his previous $62,477 earned. One Rockin Pepto (One Time Pepto x Rockin Playgirl x Freckles Playboy), bred by Ricki Cox, Whitt, Texas, had previous earnings totaling $61,169. -JS

Senior Youth

Amanda Morris, Weatherford, Texas, guided 2000 stallion Just Playin Smart to a 224 score for the second time in four days to win the Senior Youth scholarship cutting finals in Fort Worth’s Will Rogers Coliseum.

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

In an exciting twist, two talented young cutters shared the Junior Youth World Champion title. When the Youth World Finals started July 9, Jake Baca, Vega, Texas, led the pack by nine points. Kenli Marvin came to Fort Worth sitting in third place. When all was said and done at the finals, they stood side-by-side for the Championship photo.

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. -KP, AH