Anne Reynolds Wins 8th Snaffle Bit Futurity Non Pro Championship
King Hill, Idaho, horsewoman Anne Reynolds, already the National Reined Cow Horse Association’s only female and only Non Pro Million Dollar Rider, set yet another record when she won her fourth consecutive NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Non Pro Championship aboard her home-raised stallion, Very Black Magic (Very Smart Remedy x Magical Lena x Little Lenas Legend), owned by her mother, Joyce Pearson. It was Reynolds’ eighth time to win the title.
She collected $13,704 for the Non Pro Championship with Very Black Magic, and also showed his full brother, Smart Medicine Man, to 5th place in the Futurity Non Pro, which came with a $5,482 check. Both horses are also qualified for tomorrow’s Futurity Open finals.
“I’m just really happy with my horses. I’ve had a great show so far,” Reynolds said.
Very Black Magic brings a distinctive style to the show pen, and turned in above-average performances in all three phases of the finals. He scored a 215.5 in the herd work, earned a 218 in the rein work and then sealed the win with a 216 in the cow work.
“He’s a great horse. He’s fun to show and has a ton of arena presence and charisma, and a fabulous way of moving. I thought he was really good in the reining, he was solid in the cutting and good down the fence. He was good everywhere today,” Reynolds said.
Besides the paycheck, the Non Pro Championship came with a Bob’s Custom Saddle sponsored by Holy Cow Performance Horses, an original CR Morrison Bronze sponsored by Farnam Horse Products, a Gist buckle sponsored by Jon and Jody Semper, a fleece cooler from Classic Equine, a monogrammed Cinch jacket from Bob’s Custom Saddles and New West Country Store, a 10-pound bucket of UltraCruz Sand Clear and a $50 gift certificate from Santa Cruz Animal Health/San Juan Ranch, Platinum Performance from Doug Herthel and a CR Morrison Medallion from the NRCHA.
Reynolds thanked her support team, which includes her stalwart assistant trainer, Ryan Thomas, her son, Wilder Jones and her husband, Nate Jones.
“It’s been a real pleasure having Ryan and Wilder to help me, and to have Nate here. They’ve all been so supportive,” she said.
Tammy Jo Hays Wins Intermediate Non Pro Futurity Championship on Two Kitties
Although their horse and human relationship had a somewhat rocky start, Tammy Jo Hays, Nocona, Texas, bonded with her mare, Two Kitties, and the pair claimed the National Reined Cow Horse Association Intermediate Non Pro Futurity Championship and Non Pro Reserve Championship tonight in Reno, Nev.
Hays and “Whiskers,” nicknamed for her loathing of clippers, tied for the high herd work score of the finals, a 216, and then earned a 217.5 in the rein work and a 212 in the cow work. The Intermediate Non Pro Championship paid $7,152 and Hays collected another $10,278 for the Non Pro Reserve placing.
Two Kitties (Smooth As A Cat x SR Jaguar) came to Hays somewhat unexpectedly. The Nocona, Texas horsewoman had planned on showing a futurity horse, but her 3-year-old wasn’t developing and she hadn’t found a suitable replacement.
“On Monday, I sold the slot. On Tuesday, Alan [Chappell, who had been helping Hays shop for a futurity horse], texted and asked if I still wanted a 3-year-old,” Hays said.
She and her husband, NRCHA Professional Shawn Hays, made plans to meet Chappell and try Two Kitties. The mare hadn’t been in Chappell’s barn very long, and was excitable, to say the least.
“She was crazy. I had my husband saddle her. Her tail was up above her hocks. Alan had gotten her from another trainer who didn’t like her,” Hays recalled. “Shawn got on her, and she worked nice when he got on her. I thought, ‘Why not?’”
Two Kitties’ talent began to shine in the Hays’ program, and Tammy was pleased with how the mare handled the pressure of the finals, despite a late herd draw.
“We went in the herd and it was pretty scary. The herd was kind of falling apart,” she said. “I have to thank Boyd Rice and Corey Cushing. They were all conferring and picking cattle. They really made a difference. After I got the cattle cleared, all I had to do was sit. She’s really easy to ride. I’m very proud of her.”
The Intermediate Championship came with a Bob’s custom saddle from Annie Reynolds, a Gist buckle from the Vangelos Family/Polymer Logistics, a CR Morrison Trophy from NRCHA, a polar fleece cooler from Classic Equine, a monogrammed Cinch jacket from Bob’s Custom Saddles and New West Country Store, Platinum Performance from Doug Herthel and a CR Morrison Medallion from the NRCHA.
Kirk Druey Wins Novice Non Pro Futurity Championship on Oaks In Montana
It was the first time for Kirk Druey to make the National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity finals, and the Adamstown, Maryland Non Pro collected the Novice Non Pro Futurity Championship and the Intermediate Non Pro Reserve Championship on Oaks In Montana (Mister Montana Nic x Oak Ill Be x Ill Be Smart), a horse he had only ridden a handful of times.
“He’s an awesome horse. I was just trying to hang on,” Druey said, as he described 218.5 cow work score, the highest of the round. He piloted Oaks In Montana to a 206 in the herd work and a 212.5 in the rein work for a 637 composite and dual paychecks totaling $7,105.
“We had a little bit of a rough go in the herd – I panicked a little bit when the cow started running. The rein work, he was pretty steady and the fence work, we just kinda smoked it,” he said, smiling.
Druey purchased Oaks In Montana in July from Todd Crawford, and said he hardly had an opportunity to practice with the gelding.
“I’m kind of catch-riding my own horse. This is the second time I’ve ridden him. I wouldn’t recommend it for anybody!” he said.
Druey, a physician who has worked as a medical researcher at the National Institutes of Health for two decades, thanked Crawford and Amanda Gardiner for connecting him with the cowy, talented gelding. Before Druey entered the pen for the cow work, Crawford had just one brief parting comment.
“He said ‘Give ‘em hell!’” Druey said. “He’s so solid, he’s a really good horse. I have to give Todd all the credit. He’s done a great job.”
For the Novice Non Pro Futurity title, Druey also won a Bob’s custom saddle from Flag Ranch, a Gist buckle from Estelle Roitblat, a CR Morrison Trophy and commemorative medallion from the NRCHA, a cooler from Classic Equine, a monogrammed Cinch jacket from Bob’s Custom Saddles and New West Country Store, Platinum Performance from Doug Herthel and “Cow Horse U” training videos donated by Les Vogt.
The Novice Non Pro Reserve Champion was Natall Melo, who piloted Earthly Riches (Tulare x Cmon Tell Us) to a 623 composite score. The placing paid $1,584.
The National Reined Cow Horse Association, now in its 62nd year, is the governing body of cow horse competition. It is responsible for promoting the sport, ensuring high standards of
competition and educating members and the public about the history and tradition of reined cow horses. With the support of a Corporate Partner family that includes Bob’s Custom Saddles, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Cinch, Classic Equine, Gist Silversmiths, John Deere, Markel Insurance Company, Platinum Performance, Quarter Horse News, Rios of Mercedes, Santa Cruz Biotechnologies, Silver Legacy Hotel and Casino, Bloomer Trailers and Schwalbe Trucks
presented by Great West Trailers, and Merial products UlcerGard and Equioxx, 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 official NRCHA web site at www.NRCHA.com.
