The first six sets of the Open preliminary rein work of the National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity kicked off Saturday, September 24.
With 61 of the 200+ runs in the books, NRCHA Million Dollar Rider Todd Bergen has the high score of the competition with a 224. Bergen, of Eagle Point, Oregon, was riding Shiners Dun Juan for Janiejill Tointon of Longmont, Colorado.
Bergen and Shiners Dun Juan, by Smart Shiner out of Cremes Chic Olena, are also in the lead of the Open composite, having scored a 220 in the preliminary herd work. With a 444 total on two, they have a 5-point lead over the next closest entries in the preliminary competition.
The top 25 Open entries plus ties will advance to the clean-slate finals on Sunday, October 2, where the 2011 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Champion will take home a check for $100,000!
The winner of the Cinch Intermediate Open Championship will take home a guaranteed $30,000, and with a rein work score of 221, Shawn Hays and Thecrowdlovesme took the lead of the Cinch Intermediate Open rein work prelims and composite (435). Thecrowdlovesme, by Smart Chic Olena and out of Shine Smartly, is owned by Clinton Anderson of Stephenville, Texas.
Nick Dowers and Little Plain Chex, by Just Plain Colonel and out of Smart Little Chex, currently have the high preliminary rein work score of the Limited Open with a 215.5. Little Plain Chex is owned by Curt and Kelli Van Nest of Bishop, California.
While Dowers has the high rein work score, Monica DeBie and Shes The Business have a 1-point lead in the Limited Open composite with a 429.5. Shes The Business, by Sophisticated Catt and out of Little Plain Pep, is owned by Dan Caetano of Hanford, California.
To earn a spot in the Cinch Intermediate Open Finals, riders have to be one of the top 17, and the top 10 will advance to the Limited Open finals. The Finals of the Cinch Intermediate Open and the Limited Open will be run concurrently on Saturday, October 1.
The Open, Cinch Intermediate Open, and Limited Open rein work preliminaries continue through Monday, September 26.
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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