Jens Naglestad traveled over 1,600 miles to compete in his very first National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity. When he heads back home to Whitesboro, Texas, his trailer will be a bit fuller. That’s because on Monday, September 26, Naglestad piloted his horse Itchi Mint to a 214.5 in the cow work, clinching the Amateur division title by three points!
For the win, Naglestad received a check for $4,440, a Bob’s Custom Saddle sponsored by Larry and Ellen Bell, a Gist Silversmiths buckle sponsored by Circle Y Ranch, a 100X hat from Shorty’s Hattery, an ESP pad from Classic Equine, a Farnam Horse Products gift basket, Platinum Performance, a Cinch vest from Bob’s Custom Saddles, and a CR Morrison trophy and commemorative medallion.
“It’s my first Snaffle Bit Futurity. It is pretty amazing to win here – I don’t think it’s sunk in yet!” he said following the awards ceremony. “I thank my wife Lori, Frank Kenzy from South Dakota, Jamie Olsen from Nebraska, and Chris Dawson. Without all them I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this.”
Naglestad and “Itchy” started off with a 211 in the herd work, and followed that with a 209.5 in the rein work. “The herd work is one of my worst events, but Chris and I have been working on it a lot. I could have been a little better, but my horse was good. In the rein work, he was right there,” he said.
During the cow work, Naglestad’s cheering section could be heard from outside the arena. “I could hear them a few times. I’ve had a rough time in the cow work, but it went well today. My horse is good – a lot better than I am,” he said modestly of Itchy, by Cat Ichi out of Spoonful Of Mint.
Amanda Gardiner and Stephen Silva tied for the Reserve Championship with scores of 632. Each took home a check for $3,330. They will each receive a Gist Silversmiths buckle sponsored by Barbara Hastings and Crawford Performance Horses, Cinch vests from Bob’s Custom Saddles, Platinum Performance, and CR Morrison commemorative medallions.
Gardiner, of Ashland, Kansas, rode Whachichi Chex, by Too Busy Cashin Chex and out of What Chics Wanna Do, while Silva, of Atascadero, California, competed on Chicaroos Canyon, by Hick Chicaroo and out of Zacks Lady.
Complete results can be found by visiting
www.nrcha.com. The entire event is being webcast live thanks to NRCHA Official Videographers Galloping Video. To view the webcast, visit www.gallopingvideo.com.
The NRCHA, now in its 62nd year, is the governing body of reined cow horse competition. The NRCHA is responsible for promoting the sport, insuring high standards of competition, and educating members and the public about the history and tradition of the cow horse. Through the support of a Corporate Partner family that includes Bob’s Custom Saddles, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Cinch, Classic Equine, Gist Silversmiths, John Deere, Markel Insurance, Merial products ULCERGARD and EQUIOXX, Nutrena, Pfizer Animal Health, Quarter Horse News, Rios of Mercedes, San Juan Ranch – A Division of Santa Cruz Biotechnology, and the Silver Legacy Hotel and Casino, the association works to keep the vaquero tradition alive in today’s equine industry. For information on the National Reined Cow Horse Association, call 580-759-4949 or visit the NRCHA Official Web Site at www.nrcha.com.
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