Gunner NRHA
Ontario Racing Commision
Chinook Team Penning
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Rocking W Horse Sale

Winners in Ohio

BREED & SPORT NEWS October 28, 2010

Many of the Canadians who ventured down to Ohio to compete at the All American Quarter Horse Congress from Oct 1-24th, did not come home disappointed.  There were many wins, and top ten finishes, for the Canadian horses and riders. Congratulations to all!

Top ten Canadian results are as follows:

Halter:

Amateur Performance Halter Stallions

5th place Breanne Porter with Hubba Hubba Huntin of Okotoks, AB

Halter Stallions Limited

4th place Breanne Porter with Hubba Hubba Huntin of Okotoks, AB

Performance Halter Geldings Limited

9th place Dean Ross with Not Til Midnight of Castor, AB

Aged Geldings Limited Division

10th place Scott Mackenzie with Wincredibly of Duglad, MB

Amateur Aged Geldings

3rd place Shawna Crawford with Won and Only Fella from Richmond, ON

Amateur 2-Year-Old Mares

6th place Claude Paquette with Shez Got Preference from Ste-Therese, QC

Western Pleasure:

3-year-old Non-Pro Snaffle Bit Futurity – Open Division

15th place – Candice Hall on Machine Made from Black Creek, BC

Amateur Versatility Western Pleasure

10th place Sarah Black on Sweet and Golden from Orangeville, ON

Hunter Pleasure:

Novice Youth Hunter Under Saddle 13 and Under

5th place Jasmyn Rivait on Hot Roddin Minute from Orillia, ON

NYATT Hunter Under Saddle

4th place Stephanie Willsey on A Krymsun Missle from Orillia, ON

Youth Hunter Under Saddle 15-18 & NSBA Youth Hunter Under Saddle 15-18

4th place Danielle Olafson on Blended Choclate from Edmonton, AB

9th place Stephanie Willsey on A Krysmsun Missle from Orillia, ON

John Deere Amateur Select Hunter Under Saddle & NSBA Amateur Select Hunter Under Saddle

1st place Karen Lobb on Blended Choclate from Edmonton, AB

Junior Hunter Under Saddle & NSBA Junior Hunter Under Saddle

1st place Blended Choclate owned by Karen Lobb from Edmonton, AB (ridden by Stacy Huls)

Hunter Under Saddle Maturity – Limited Division & NSBA Hunter Under Saddle Maturity – Limited Division

1st place Blended Choclate owned by Karen Lobb from Edmonton, AB (ridden by Stacy Huls)

Hunter Under Saddle Maturity – Open Division & NSBA Hunter Under Saddle Maturity – Open Division

2nd place Blended Choclate owned by Karen Lobb from Edmonton, AB (ridden by Stacy Huls)

Amateur Hunt Seat Equitation:

10th place went to Breanne Porter on Hubba Hubba Huntin from Okotoks, AB

Novice Youth Hunt Seat Equitation 14-18

7th place Pat Chamberland on Treasure My Stars from Orillia, ON

Horsemanship:

John Deere Select Amateur Horsemanship

4th place Darlene Schwab on I Am Dressed Western from Okotoks, AB

5th place Kim Allen on Zips Fancy Talk from Markdale, ON

Novice Amateur Horsemanship

1st place Darlene Schwab on I Am Dressed Western from Okotoks, AB

2nd place Kim Allen on Zips Fancy Talk from Markdale, ON

Amateur Versatility Horsemanship Award

5th place Sarah Balck on Sweet and Golden from Orangeville, ON

Western Riding:

NSBA Amateur Western Riding

8th place Breanne Porter on Hubba Hubba Huntin from Okotoks, AB

Amateur Western Riding

10th place Breanne Porter on Hubba Hubba Huntin from Okotoks, AB

Trail:

John Deere Amateur Select Trail

7th place Darlene Schwab on I Am Dressed Western from Okotoks, AB

Showmanship:

Novice Youth Showmanship 13 and Under

5th place Jasmyn Rivait with Classical Version from Orillia, ON

Roping:

Cinch Team Roping Challenge Open Finals

2nd place Manny Cunde with Sheza Harley Chic, owned by Dawn Civiero, from Erin, ON

Pole Bending:

Amateur Versatitlity Pole Bending

5th place Sarah Black on Sweet and Golden  from Orangeville, ON

Novice Amateur Pole Bending

8th place Kelly Lehman on Postively Tass from Drumbo, ON

Barrel Racing:

NYATT Barrels

9th place Kathleen Hubbert on Skipsa Zippo Lady from New Lowell, ON

10th place Amanda Thomson on Pretty Blue Tabu from Oil Springs, ON

Novice Amateur Barrel Racing

1st – John Wilson on Watch Him Streak from New Liskeard, ON

John Deere Amateur Select Barrels

6th place Lisa Taylor on Im Kool Yawl Famous from Manotick, ON

8th place Jessica Pridham on LL Blueboy Badger from Angus, ON

Amateur Barrel Racing

5th place John Wilson on Watch Him Streak from New Lowell, ON

7th place Edwin Cameron on Bahama Bully from Tatamagouche, NS

8th place Tamaran Gray on Moon Over Dash from Hillsburgh, ON

Senior Barrel Racing

2nd place Lisa Taylor on Im Kool Yawl Famous from Manotick, ON

5th place John Wilson on Watch Him Streak from New Lowell, ON
7th place Edwin Cameron on Bahama Bully from Tatamagouche, NS

Wenger Barrel Racing Sweepstakes

9th place Danielle Harrop on Cash N Charm from Hillsburgh, ON

Reining:

NRHA Open Reining

10th place Dany Tremblay on Lucky Star Gun, owned by Claude Barre, of St. Hyacinthe, QC

NRHA Non-Pro Reining

11th place Andre De Bellefeville on Glenda The Good Wave, owned by Equine Plus, of Mt.St. Hillare, QC

NRHA Limited Non-Pro Reining

12th place Marilou Paradis on Sheza Bueno Chic of St.Nicolas, QC

NRHA Ladies Reining

2nd place Molly Stevens on Peptoleap of Indian River, ON

NRHA Novice Horse Open

2nd place Dany Tremblay on Lucky Star Gun

5th place Donald Adams on DA Chick Olena Dunit from Indian Mountain, NB

5th place (tie) Lori Epis on Ronadalena Chex of Waterford, ON

11th place Dean Brown on Shinin In Hollywood from Waterford, ON

Congress Reining Futurity – Intermediate Division

1st place Dany Tremblay on Wewillhaveagreattime, owned by Julie Guignard

3rd place Dany Pelletier on Wiz Ib A Star from L’Ephiphanie, QC

3rd place (tie) Dany Pelletier on Dizzy Whizzy

4th place Dany Tremblay on Nathan Chic Olena

Congress Reining Futurity Open Division

7th place Dany Pelletir on Dizzy Whizzy

8th place Dany Tremblay on Nathan Chic Olena

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Rempel to Make 7th Appearance at NFR

BREED & SPORT NEWS October 26, 2010


The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association announced the selection of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo contract personnel. Fort Shaw’s Gary Rempel will make his 7th appearance as a pickup man, joined by Colorado’s Chase Cervi, who will be making his first appearance as a pickup man.

Rempel’s first trip as NFR pickup man was in 1998. He ties Billly Ward, (WY) and Kenny Clabaugh, (WY) as the pickup man with the most selections to the NFR since the selection has been made by a vote of the cowboys. Montanan’s competing at this year’s National Finals Rodeo include reigning-World Champion Saddle Bronc rider Jesse Kruse of Great Falls, along with team roping headers Clay Tryan, Travis Tryan, and Brady Tryan, all of Billings. Roberta Sankey of Joliet will work as a timer. The 52nd Wrangler National Finals Rodeo runs December 2-11 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Rempel will travel to Las Vegas with six horses, including 21-year-old “Rainbow,” a legendary pickup horse that’s been on the job with Rempel since the mid 90’s.

A native of Kyle, Saskatchewan, Rempel will also be making a record 13th appearance as pickup man at the Canadian Finals Rodeo in Edmonton, Alberta in November. Rempel was named “Canadian Cowboy of the Year” at last year’s Canadian Finals Rodeo.

Rempel has worked just about every major rodeo in the United States and Canada including Denver, CO; San Antonio, TX; Houston, TX; Ellensburg, WA; Caldwell, ID; Puyallup, WA; the Pendleton Roundup, OR; the Calgary Stampede, Alberta; Ponoka Stampede, Alberta; and Hermiston, OR.

~ Courtesy Canadian Professional Rodeo Association

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Celebrating the Lives of Horses

BREED & SPORT NEWS October 26, 2010

Equine Guelph has announced that Intercity Insurance will be sponsoring Hoofprints, a new memorial program celebrating the lives of horses. Hoofprints is an online initiative created to remember and honour the memory of deceased horses through stories and pictures.

“Hoofprints provides grieving horse owners a positive means to cope with the devastating loss and a loving way to remember horses through sharing their memories with other horse lovers – folks who care and understand,” says Gayle Ecker, director of Equine Guelph.

Equine Guelph invites those who have lost a horse (recently or in the past) to pay tribute by sending a photo and message of remembrance along with a memorial gift in the name of the horse.

Photo Courtesy: Susan M Carter

To honour your horse or to view the legacies of other cherished horses, go to http://www.equineguelph.ca/donations/hoofprints.php

Gifts to Equine Guelph help make a difference in the lives of horses through the funding of equine research, education, performance, healthcare and industry development.

~ Henrietta Coole

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Ranch Country Horse Sale Results

BREED & SPORT NEWS October 22, 2010

The annual Ranch Country Horse Sale was held on September 11, 2010 in Maple Creek, Saskatchewan.  It was a beautiful day, complete with a large, active bidding crowd – eager to get their hands on some good quality ranch horses and prospects.  The consignors for the sale included Perrin Quarter Horses, Parsonage Horses and Bertram Quarter Horses.

The High Selling Saddle Horse was Lot # 80, PM Remagos Solynx (Sabre Plain Remedy x Sabres Lucky Lynx by Major League Solanos) a 2005 red roan mare consigned by Milt Mastad of McCord, Saskatchewan.  The kid-friendly ranch mare was sold for $8,300.00 to Hawkeye Ranching of Irvine, Alberta.

High Selling Horse was PM Remagos Solynx, bought by Hawkeye Ranching for $8,300.00

High Selling Foal went to Lot #15, a bay roan stud colt by Roger Parsonage’s new blue roan stud No ID Blue Legend, and out of Big Time Bet.   The cow horse prospect was sold for $2,300.00 to Joe Friday of Maple Creek, Saskatchewan.

High Selling Foal was a bay roan stud colt, purchased by Joe Friday for $2,300.00

The averages for each group is as follows:

33 colts sold – average price $630.00

5 Yearlings sold – average price $850.00

11 saddle horses sold – average price $2,740.00

20 consigned saddle horses sold – average price $3,332.00.

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Cinch National Finals of Team Roping

BREED & SPORT NEWS October 20, 2010

Loops will fly at the Cinch National Finals of Team Roping (NFTR) as more than 3,000 team ropers converge on Oklahoma City October 23-31 for their chance at a piece of the $4 million prize package. Ropers from across the U.S., South America, Mexico and Australia are expected to attend.

Produced by the United States Team Roping Championships (USTRC), this is the 21st edition of the NFTR, one of the richest championships events in the western lifestyle industry. More than $15 million in cash has been awarded at USTRC sanctioned events during the 2010 season that included more than 80 team roping competitions across the nation.

“USTRC members are among the most competitive and loyal in the country and they’re the reason for the success of this sport and event,” said USTRC President Kirk Bray. “Team roping is one of the few events where, for an entry fee of anywhere between $150 and $300, you can rope for prize money in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, as well as an unbeatable prizeline of Dodge trucks, Case tractors, Martin saddles and Gist buckles.”

Only the National Cutting Horse Association Futurity, which offered $4.2 million last December, comes close and requires a $2,500 nomination fee per horse.

A highlight of the NFTR is the U.S. Open, taking place October 23-24 at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds, where team roping fans can see the best in team roping compete for an estimated purse of $250,000. World Champions such as Speed Williams, Clay O. Cooper, Walt Woodard, Chad Masters, Allen Bach and Clay Tryan are among the many expected to compete.

Top female ropers will also be featured at the NFTR during the Cruel Girl Championships October 28. Competing for an estimated $50,000 cash purse, women ropers from across the country have competed throughout the season in a race to become the high-money winning female roper of the year, sponsored by Cruel Girl jeans and shirts. It will be a tight race to the finish with only a few thousand dollars separating the top four. Currently in the lead is Janet Mickelson of Flagstaff, Ariz., with total earnings of $26,983, followed by Barrie Smith of Stephenville, Texas, with $24,480, Shelly Granzin of Bryan, Texas, with $24,389 and Jacque Woolman of Dayton, Texas, with $22,421.

Team roping enthusiasts can still get in on the action at the NFTR through its preliminary roping competitions, which will qualify top finishers to the “Shoot-Out” finals, as well as in the USTRC Challenge Roping and Guthrie Championships taking place throughout the week. Youngsters under age 13 are also invited to compete in the Junior Looper Championships where boys and girls show their skills on a roping “dummy” and compete for saddles, buckles, jackets and other prizes, as well.

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4-H Shows off Projects

BREED & SPORT NEWS October 19, 2010

The 13th annual presentations of the Manitoba 4-H Young Horse Development Project (YHDP) were held September 6 at the Westoba Agricultural Centre of Excellence, in Brandon, Manitoba. The YHD Project, launched in 1998, is a joint initiative of Manitoba 4-H and the Manitoba Equine Ranching Association (MERA) and the Saskatchewan Equine Ranching Association (SERA), both members of the North American Equine Ranching Information Council (NAERIC). The project provides a venue for senior 4-H members to demonstrate their knowledge gained through the 4-H Equine Program, as well as to showcase the stock being bred and raised on Manitoba’s equine ranches.

Each year, interested senior 4-H members (14 years of age by January 1 of the current year) apply to the YHD Project’s Working Committee. Upon selection, members are given a list of participating MERA and SERA ranchers from whom they may purchase a weanling. The YHD Project involves a two-year commitment, and teaches 4-H members valuable life skills about taking responsibility, setting goals, and applying their knowledge gained. Members raise and train their horses with the objective of presenting them as a yearling “in hand”, and as a two- year-old “under saddle”.  Members receive an Enhancement Fund payout based on their individual efforts so that the experience of their presentation will be self-evaluated on the elements of basic showmanship skills, conditioning of the horses, and their abilities to teach their horses to work on a longe line and to load into a trailer.

Group photograph of yearling presenters, from left to right: Kevin McCullough, Carla Plett, Molly Jay, Monica Coffey, Geralea De Yaegher, Evelin Isenschmid, Heather Woodcock, Evaluator: Bev McLeod.

Kevin McCullough, 15, of Carmen, Manitoba, is in grade eleven at Carmen Collegiate. Kevin presented his yearling Quarter Horse gelding, Doc N Peppy, “in hand”. Kevin said, “I chose my yearling because I liked everything about him. I liked his pedigree and I wanted a gelding. I need a performance horse for rodeo events as I’m planning to team rope with him at High School rodeos and local events in the future.” Kevin grew up with horses, has been a team roper for two years, and has been in 4-H since he was nine. This is Kevin’s first time to participate in the YHD Project. “So far, this project has taught me how to properly train a young horse. I learned on an older horse first, but needed to know how to handle and train a young prospect.” Kevin chose Doc N Peppy from an offering of weanlings bred by by D5 Performance Horses at Miniota, Manitoba, owned by Dean and Debbie Fenty.

Kevin McCullough and Doc N Peppy. Photo Courtesy: Marnie Somers

Following each group’s presentations, YHD Project evaluator Bev McLeod of Brandon, Manitoba, provided constructive criticism to the 4-H members, relative to the project’s scoring criteria and indicating what she, as an evaluator, was looking for in their presentations. She said, “As far as advice to these presenters, I suggested the yearling handlers pay attention to the two-year-old handlers – what they did and how they looked. They would be able to tell by watching the others who stood out. They could also go to other horse shows and see who is placing and how they present themselves.”

Group photograph of two-year-old presenters, from left to right: Allison Fisher, Jessica Funk,Amy Bartley, Joel Lewis, Monica Coffey, Jenna Cook, Geralea De Yaegher, Aaron Lewis, JamiWorms, Kassidy Petruk, Evaluator: Bev McLeod

Ten 4-H members presented their two-year-old Quarter Horses, a Paint Horse, and a Thoroughbred-Percheron crossbred, “under saddle”. Each horse and rider was scored based on their individual performance over a predetermined horsemanship pattern.  Each member received a copy of their evaluation, a tri-coloured neck banner and a trophy horse cooler, sponsored by NAERIC.

Jessica Funk, 16, is in grade 11 at Goose Lake High School in Roblin, Manitoba. Jessica presented her two-year-old Quarter Horse gelding, DF Quincy Streak, also bred by Dean and Debby Fenty,  “under saddle”. Jessica said, “I chose my gelding because I liked him when I saw him out in the pasture. He was nice looking, with good conformation and bones and his papers were pretty good. He’s more of a ranch type horse, which is what I wanted because I need an all-around horse. I’m going to try Barrel Racing with him, because he has lots of speed. I learned that it takes a lot of patience and horsemanship skills to start a young colt.  This YHD project has been good for me. It’s my first time through with a young horse and will be helpful in the future because I can use this experience to start colts for myself.”

Jessica Funk and DF Quincy Streak. Photo Courtesy: Marnie Somers

Allison Fisher, 16, is in grade 11 at Dauphin Collegiate in Dauphin, Manitoba. Allison presented her two-year-old gelding, RF Blue N Smooth, bred by Royston Farms in Russel, Manitoba. Allison said, “I chose my gelding because he’s pretty, well balanced and has good muscle. I plan to keep him and use him in Ranch Horse Versatility competitions.” Allison already competes at fairs, in rodeos and in Ranch Horse competitions with the Southwest Ranch Horse Association. She’s an all-around competitor who exhibits in both english and western tack and even does goat-tying. She said, “I learned you need lots of patience with a young horse. It takes lots of time and feel to get what you want out them. This was a great learning experience for me as my future plans are to become a large animal veterinarian.”

Allison Fisher and RF Blue N Smooth. Photo Courtesy: Marnie Somers

Leanne Sprung, 4-H & Youth Specialist, Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, Brandon, Manitoba said, “We have a total of 2,556 Manitoba 4-H members in 2009-2010, and 522 equine projects were undertaken. This project provides an opportunity for members to establish relationships with Manitoba and Saskatchewan equine ranchers and to own and develop a young horse. The members gain advanced skills in selecting, feed and handling horses and an increased awareness of the equine industry.”

Lynn Coffey, the Chairperson of the YHD Project’s Working Committee said, “There were nine senior 4-H members approved to select weanlings in 2010, since we have a commitment from MERA and SERA ranchers and NAERIC to continue this program through to the 2012 ‘under saddle’ presentations. We are grateful to MERA and SERA for sponsoring the fees to cover our project evaluator. We also appreciate the ongoing support of the individual equine ranchers who offer their weanlings, and NAERIC for sponsoring the cost of awards, facilities – including the arena and stabling, post event press releases, and colour photographs for the members and ranchers, and for administering the YHDP Enhancement funds.”

Approximately one-half of the 4-H members intend to keep their project horses for pleasure or showing in the future. The other half indicated they expect to sell their project horses.

For more information regarding the 4-H Young Horse Development Project, and to view photographs of all the 4-H members with their horses visit: www.naeric.org.

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Four Non-Pro Titles Decided at Wrangler Futurity

BREED & SPORT NEWS October 18, 2010

For the red roan gelding known as Its Pepto Time, it was celebration time . . . again.

Since Janice Eaton bought her prized cutting horse in June from Top Notch Performance Horses Ltd. of Stony Plain, Alta., and turned him over to celebrated trainer Dr. Denton Moffat of Armstrong, B.C., the steed has been entered in three shows — and advanced to five finals.

The latest conquest? The 30th annual Calgary Stampede Cutting Horse Futurity presented by Wrangler, held at the Stampede Corral, where on Sunday afternoon Eaton and Its Pepto Time teamed up for the title in the Non-Pro Futurity class, scoring 216 and pocketing $8,869.74.

It’s been a whirlwind summer for Its Pepto Time, which carried Eaton, of Merritt, B.C., to the Non-Pro co-championship at the Idaho Futurity and partnered with Moffat for a third-place finish in Open Futurity at the Canadian Supreme in Red Deer.

Did she have any idea this horse had it in him?

“I don’t think we ever do,” she chuckled. “We’re just lucky when they turn out this way.”

Its Pepto Time and Janice Eaton capture the Non-Pro Futurity championship. Photo credit: Calgary Stampede

The Stampede’s five-day Cutting Horse Futurity, which wrapped up with weekend category finals, is the premier cutting event in Canada, offering more than $300,000 in prize money and attracting about 100 riders and 200 horses from as far away as Texas and Ontario this year.

While the trainers and professional riders wowed the crowd in the Open finals on Saturday night, the spotlight turned on Sunday to the four Non-Pro classes — Futurity for three-year-olds, Derby for four-year-olds, Classic Challenge for five- and six-year-olds, and 7 Up for horses aged seven or older. Non-Pro riders make no part of their income training cutting horses, and can only compete on horses owned by themselves or immediate family members.

Eaton and Its Pepto Time had finished third overall through two preliminary rounds in Non-Pro Futurity, but let it all hang out in Sunday’s six-team final, that 216 outdistancing the reserve champions, Grant Aykroyd of Wainwright, Alta., and Mac N Rey, by nine full points. Aykroyd collected $6,335.53 for second place.

“He was there for me every step of the way,” said Eaton, who praised her all-star cast of turnback riders and herd holders (Moffat, Les Timmons, Doug Reinhardt, and Scott Hanson) for their help in the ring Sunday. “It’s pretty nice to have a three-year-old that works that hard for you.

“He reads the cow well. I love the fact that he’s there for you all the time; no matter how tough it gets, he tries. He’s got nice, big stops, and he’s just a really sweet horse to be around.”

Eaton, a former Stampede Futurity champ in the Non-Pro Futurity class in 2003, very nearly pulled off the daily double Sunday — finishing as reserve champion in Non-Pro Derby aboard No Pinchin This Cat, while

Sandy Reid of Sherwood Park, Alta., and Lil Pepto At The Bar were crowned category champions.

Reid and Lil Pepto At The Bar notched a winning score of 220 during the six-team finale, taking home a cheque of $6,877.50. Eaton and No Pinchin This Cat posted a 216.5, for a runner-up payday of $4,912.50.

“Denton’s trained him from the beginning,” said Eaton of No Pinchin This Cat, her four-year-old gelding. “He’s a horse I raised out of my mare Pinch of Doc. She won the Open Classic Challenge in Calgary in 2004, and she and I were reserve champion in the Non-Pro the same year.

“So he’s definitely carrying on the genes.”

Lucy Streeter of Nanton, Alta., authored victory aboard Peptos Playtoy 005 in the Non-Pro Classic Challenge division. The pair beat out 12 other teams in Sunday’s final with a 219, claiming $7,294.56. Teri Paradis of Okotoks, Alta., and Lil Scoot N Peppy were a close second, earning a 218 from the judges for a reserve champion’s bounty of $5,758.86.

Dawn Hanson of Mountain View, Alta., and Always Stylish Jean prevailed in the Non-Pro 7 Up category’s 10-team final by the slimmest of margins. The horse-and-rider duo turned in a two-round aggregate score of 439, just nosing out the 438.5 turned in by Amanda Smith of Okotoks and Whirl N Play. Hanson tucked $2,365 into her Wranglers, while Smith took home $1,720.

The Stampede’s annual Futurity event showcases the pure athleticism, instinct, agility and intelligence of the cutting horse. With horse-and-rider teams attempting to cut at least two, and most often three, individual cows out of a herd within 150 seconds, cutting has evolved into one of the most exciting equine events in North America. Contestants are evaluated by a panel of three judges and assessed a score based on the horse’s instinctive reactions, the challenges made by the cows cut, and errors in judgment.

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Montana Magic at Calgary Wrangler Futurity

BREED & SPORT NEWS October 17, 2010

The trainer from Big Fork wielded the big hammer on Saturday night.

Randy Holman of Big Fork, Mont., scored his first career win at the Calgary Stampede’s Cutting Horse Futurity presented by Wrangler, claiming the marquee Open Futurity class aboard Pretty Smart Cat. Then, he went right back out and doubled his pleasure by winning the Open Derby category on Olenas Pepto. In total, Holman’s daily double down at the Corral on Stampede Park was worth a cool $25,321.11.

“I started coming up here about 2000, and showed every year until 2006,” said Holman, whose winning mounts are both owned by Dave and Sandy Sabey of Bigfork, Mont. “That was the last time I was up here, because we’ve been doing the California run since 2006, but I just decided I didn’t want to make that long haul again this year.

“So I came up here to Red Deer (for the Canadian Supreme) and Calgary . . . and I’m very glad I did.”

The Stampede’s Cutting Horse Futurity, celebrating its 30th edition this year, is the premier cutting event in Canada, offering more than $300,000 in prize money and again attracting about 100 riders and 200 horses, including the sport’s elite, from as far away as Texas and Ontario. Saturday night featured the sublime skills of the professional riders and trainers competing in the Open categories, with finals in three equine age classes — the Futurity for three-year-olds, the Derby for four-year-olds, and the Classic Challenge for five- and six-year-olds.

Holman and Pretty Smart Cat scored a 218 in Open Futurity for $16,675.11, just nudging out Loren Christianson of Stony Plain, Alta., who posted a 217 aboard Annies Pretty Smart, owned by Darcy Geherman of Wembley, Alta., and collected the reserve champion’s cheque of $12,595.03. Over in Open Derby, Holman and Olenas Pepto rang up a 220 for a payday of $8,646, shading Philip Hanson of Weatherford, Texas, and LHR Smooth Jamie May, who scored a 216 for a runner-up prize of $6,681.

“Pretty Smart Cat held her end up and did real good tonight, especially with all the noise. This was kind of her first big deal. She’s a good little filly,” said Holman. “Olenas Pepto is a good little mare . . . I took her to the (National Cutting Horse Association’s) Super Stakes and made the semifinals on her there. We cut three really, really good cows tonight, and she was really dialled in. Right on the money.”

If not for some rotten luck, Hanson would be celebrating his Open Derby victory today. The Texan trainer had originally scored a 225, but after a judges’ review, it was decided that he and LHR Smooth Jamie May had caused a flush in the herd, and Hanson was penalized nine points and ultimately awarded a score of 216. “She’s an honest horse, and she’s got tons of eye appeal,” said Hanson of LHR Smooth Jamie May, a mare owned by South Lazy H Ranch Inc. of Weatherford, Tex. “She just loves her job.”

Meanwhile, in the Open Classic Challenge division, a pair of last-minute entries thrilled the Corral crowd with some fancy moves and fantastic scores.

Boyd Rice of Spearman, Texas, laid down a 227 aboard Third Cutting, owned by Carl and Shawnea Smith of Jacksboro, Texas. But Phil Rapp ofWeatherford, Texas, and Dont Look Twice, owned by Waco Bend Ranch of Fort Worth, played a perfect game of one-upmanship by following that up with a 228 — and the Open Classic Challenge title. Victory was worth $7,224.49 to Rapp, while Rice had to settle for a reserve champion’s cheque of $5,764.62. Rapp officially surpassed the $7-million mark in career earnings, having entered Calgary with a grand total of $6,999,710.

“We were fortunate enough to cut behind Boyd,” said Rapp. “My mare was as good as she’s been in a long time. She was low to the ground, and really stopping hard. We just put the pressure on, and let the judges decide. We got lucky, and it came out our way.”

Hanson, Rapp, and Rice also descended on Calgary with their prized mounts locked in a virtual dead heat for the NCHA’s Horse of the Year. By Hanson’s count, LHR Smooth Jamie May now leads both Dont Look Twice and Third Cutting by three points with just one event left on the calendar — the Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association (PCCHA) Futurity next week in Paso Robles, Calif. “We all respect each other, and we all have a great horse,” says Rapp. “Here in Calgary, we all wanted to see each other succeed. One go-round, I said: ‘This is like the Three Musketeers — one for all, and all for one.’ ”

The focus of the Stampede’s Cutting Horse Futurity will shift on Sunday, Oct. 17 to the Non-Pro riders, who make no part of their income by training horses, and can only enter horses owned by themselves or immediate family members. The Non-Pro finals — Futurity, Derby, Classic Challenge, and 7 Up for horses aged seven or older — begin at 1 p.m. at the Corral. A $50,000 Limit Amateur Class, for those with NCHA earnings of less than $50,000 as of Jan. 1, 2010, is also offered within Non-Pro’s Derby and Classic Challenge classes.

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A New Cutting Futurity

BREED & SPORT NEWS October 15, 2010

SUBMITTED BY CRISSY SANTANGELO

Silver Slate Arena in Stavely, Alberta, held its first Annual Fall Futurity from September 16-19, 2010.  The show pen was filled with some amazing 3 year old competition. As the two day aggregate took the top 13 of the Open Class and the Top 5 of the Non-Pro Class to the final day on Sunday evening, the final score determined the winner.

Champion for the open class taking home prize money and a Coats Saddle went to rider Guy Heintz on WS Hesastar, Owned by Neil Shanks.

Champion in the Open Division went to Guy Heintz on WS Hesastar. Photo Courtesy: Sandy Hansma

Reserve Champion with prize money and a Diamond Wool saddle pad went to Brad Pedersen riding One Time Kat, owned by Ron Mathison.
And for the Non-Pro Class, Champion was Mike Santangelo riding DMAC Sugarspoon and reserve champion Jake Knoblauch riding Miss N Lil Rey.

Non-Pro Champion Mike Santangelo on DMAC Sugarspoon. Photo Courtesy: Sandy Hansma

The show was a great success thanks to all our dedicated sponsors and our competitors.
And a special thanks to Sandy Hansma for taking the fantastic pictures throughout the show.

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