Yesterday brought all the cow work action to the John Justin Arena as we wrapped up the Open Futurity and Non Pro Boxing cow work preliminaries, setting the roster for those moving on to the finals. We’re excited to have Shadd Parkinson, Garrett Cooper, Abbie Phillips, Luke Neubert, Clayton Anderson and Luke Hammerness competing in their first Open Futurity finals.
A composite score of 649 points or higher was needed to earn a spot in Saturday’s Open Futurity finals, and a total of 33 horse-and-rider teams will compete under the lights in the John Justin Arena for their piece of $1,037,000.
After yesterday’s 16 sets, Black Atcha (WR This Cats Smart x Reys Stressin Melody x Reys Dual Badger) owned by Lita West and rode by Justin Wright, held the high score in the Open Futurity cow work. The tie for the preliminary composite also held with 657 points by Shining Stevie (Stevie Rey Von x Just A Sparknshine x Shining Spark), owned by Russ Mothershead and shown by Sarah Dawson (R: 219.5/H: 217/C: 220.5), and Mink Seville (Metallic Cat x Duel Rey Mink x Dual Rey), owned by Austin and Stacy Shepard and shown by Boyd Rice (R: 215/H: 221/C: 221).
Tune in today while we keep the excitement going as we move into the Non Pro Futurity cow work preliminaries, followed by the Open Two Rein. The fun doesn’t stop there. Join us at 6:00 p.m., CT, at the Round Up Inn for the official NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Draw Party.
Open Futurity Cow Work Preliminaries
Monday's conclusion marked the last day of the 2025 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Open Futurity preliminaries, and after battling it out in the arena, Black Atcha (Wr This Cats Smart x Reys Stressin Melody x Reys Dual Badger), bred by Wagonhound Land & Livestock LLC and owned by Lita West and ridden by Justin Wright, has seized the preliminary high score in the cow work, marking a noteworthy 221.5 and moving on to the coveted finals.
“It was awesome,” Wright said. “We needed every bit of those points to be able to make it back to the finals, and for him to show up and me not screw it up. It means a lot. I'm very thankful to get to do it again.”
Wright comes from a legendary cow horse family and has quickly become an icon in the industry. Raised in Santa Maria, California, Wright quickly elevated to professional status and has had significant success with multiple championship titles under his belt, including the 2021 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Champion. In 2019 at the NRCHA Celebration of Champions, Wright achieved NRCHA Million Dollar Rider status and, as of today, has accumulated $3,050,058 in lifetime earnings.
“I just try to have fun, see how the chips fall and enjoy the experience,” Wright said. “I do the best I can to represent the horses that I'm showing.”
Black Atcha, making his debut at an NRCHA-sanctioned event, has proven himself more than worthy, and the black stallion looks ready to head into finals to show off his full potential to an eager crowd.
“He's been a great horse,” Wright said. “Lita West owns him and bought him through the [Western Bloodstock] Yearling Sale, and we got to bring him home with us and start him. We had him through his 2- and 3-year-old years, and he's just been a pleasure all the way through. He’s been a lot of fun to train, and I'm happy that he gets to keep going this week.”
Black Atcha’s not the only horse Wright is riding into the finals. Scooter Rabbit (Scooter Kat x Cut N Klass x Light N Lena), bred and owned by Janet Handtmann, will also be shown in the finals by Wright after achieving a cumulative score of 653 (H: 219.5/R: 216.5/C: 217).
In the Intermediate Open, it was a tie for the high score with both teams marking an impressive 220.5 points. DT Cash Angel (Reyzin The Cash x SJR One Time Rhonda x One Time Pepto), owned by Thomas and Melissa Sims and shown by Jared Jones, shared the title with Bet Hez Gunnatrashya (Bet Hesa Cat x Shez Not Trashy x Gunnatrashya), owned by Stanton Ranches LLC and shown by Abigayle Mixon.
The Limited Open high score went to Barlee Pop (Metallic Cat x Ireydescent x Dual Rey), owned and shown by Luke Neubert, who rode to a score of 218.5 points.
Rounding out the day, the Level 1 Open high score was earned by See In Double (Reydioactive x Bewitching Ichi x Cat Ichi), owned by CF Partnership and shown by Travis Fisher with 221 points.
Non Pro Boxing Cow Work Preliminaries
Within a short week, Tuli Dowers and Tha Rizzler have built a reputation—the type of reputation that has spectators rushing to the stands of the John Justin Arena and crowding around the screen of a live feed when the fresh combination of their names is called. And while that reputation might be newly built, it’s one Tuli and Tha Rizzler are set on not just preserving, but heightening with each step they take in the arena.
The exact steps they took last night in the Non Pro Boxing Futurity cow work earned them the high score of 225, an unprecedented cow work score in the boxing classes thus far of the 2025 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®.
“It means the world to me,” Tuli said. “We’ve had him since he was a yearling, and we named him. My dad loves this horse. He’s his heart horse, so for me to be able to show him means a lot and for me to be able to do good really takes the cake.”
Tha Rizzler (Metallic Rebel x Starlight Playmate x Grays Starlight) has made his mark on the 2025 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®, turning in the co-high score of the reined work in the Open Futurity with Tuli’s father, Nick, early in the show. While Nick and the 2022 stallion didn’t land where they needed to in the herd and cow work, Tuli and Tha Rizzler picked up and carried on that winning torch with ease.
“I had a little less than a day to mentally prepare,” Tuli said. “I came here not thinking I was going to show and just support my dad and help him get to the finals. When plans changed, I was just wanting to do good, be smooth…and make it through all three events.”
Tuli and Tha Rizzler also clinched the championship title in Level 1 of the Non Pro Boxing Futurity. With a 15.5-point lead and individual scores of 218 in the reined work, 217 in the herd work and 225 in the cow work—bringing their composite to 660—the duo are in a strong position for an overall championship heading into Thursday’s finals.
“I just want to be super solid, hold my cow and work the cow I get in the finals,” Tuli said. “I don’t want to try to do anything too fancy, but I also don’t want to do too little.”
The family’s across-the-board success on the Triple D Ranches LLC-owned standout is a clear indicator of why the Dowers name is a leading one in the reined cow horse industry—but Tuli is forging her own distinguished path, one that will merit even more spectators filling seats to watch the young cowgirl pilot Tha Rizzler later this week.
“I’m very excited that he gets a futurity win,” Tuli said. “My dad wanted it to be on him, making the finals. So the fact that he gets to win with me is really special.”
Level 1 Open Futurity Champion
A powerful performance from Scootering (Scooter Kat x Bar Gal For Hire x Gangster Chic), owned by Maya Horsey and shown by McKaul Carnahan, earned the duo the 2025 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Open Level 1 championship title. With a composite score of 647.5 points, including 214 in the reined work, 218 in the herd work and 215.5 in the cow work, the pair stayed consistent across all three events.
McKaul and Scootering also claimed the high score in the Level 1 Open herd work preliminaries, setting the tone for their championship title. For their outstanding runs, Carnahan and Scootering will take home $25,000 in earnings.
This impressive finish highlights the young horse’s potential and Carnahan’s skill in the show pen, a combination that made for a memorable ride at this year’s NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®.
Select Non Pro Boxing Futurity Champion
Cheryl Chown and Princess Dianna (Woody Be Tuff x Short And Royal x Short Oak) claimed the 2025 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Select Non Pro Boxing Championship with a composite score of 639 points, marking 210 in the reined work, 213 in the herd work and 216 in the cow work.
Bred and owned by the Chown family, Princess Dianna demonstrated the strength of a true homegrown partnership. Their consistent, well-rounded performance across all three events secured the duo the top spot and a noteworthy finish at this year’s NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®.
