Bergen/Bergen/Collier Lead NRCHA Snaffle Bit Open Rein Prelims

Reno, NV - September 26, 2004 - Former Futurity Champion Todd Bergen scored 220 on two different Futurity mounts to take two-thirds of a three-way tie for the top slot in the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Rein Work Preliminaries on Sunday. He rode Smart Camolena (Ill Be Smart X Camolena Badger), owned by Kurt and Sally Billingsley of Danville, California and Arc Please Be A Chic (Chic Please X Hickorys Holly Cee) owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA of Clements, California to identical scores for the two top slots.

The other 220 score came from another former Futurity champion, Sandy Collier, who rode CD Survivor (CD Olena X Have A Lil Lena) for owner Nancy Crawford-Hall of Santa Ynez, California.

In the Intermediate Open division, there is a two-way tie with two horse and rider combinations posting a 219.5 score. Shadd Parkinson marked that score on Spursuasion (Ray Gay Quixote X Mist N Smoke) owned by Debra and Dorn Parkinson of Prescott, Arizona. Former Futurity Champion Les Vogt earned an identical score on Plan Smart (Smart Plan X Kace Dox) owned by Les Vogt of Santa Maria, California.

Roosterific, ridden by Dee Craig of Star, Idaho, and owned by Jeff and Helen Edwards of Cottonwood, Idaho, was at the top of the Limited Open list, with a 219 score. Roosterific is by Gallo Del Cielo and out of Lenas Susie Oak.

In the composite rankings, Jon Roeser and Mister Smart Remedy (Mister Dual Pep X Ima Smart Remedy), owned by Larry and Sharon Rose of Lindsay, California, lead with a 437.5 composite. Lance Shields is leading both the Intermediate and Limited Composite roster with a score of 434.5 on Trulena Light. The daughter of Grays Starlight out of Trulena Deville is owned by Black Rock Ranch, LLC, or Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho.

The Open Rein Work Preliminaries continue Monday morning at 8 am at the Reno Livestock Events Center.

Doug Koontz & Young Widower Take Amateur Futurity Championship

Doug Koontz won the National Reined Cow Horse Association' Snaffle Bit Futurity Amateur Division Thursday evening, with a score of 651 (213,217,220) on Young Widower( Young Gun X Doc's Widow Wilson) .

Doug bought "Wilson" early in 2003 from Terry and Sharon Riddle of Wynnewood, Oklahoma. He credits the Riddle breeding program for “Wilson's" super intelligence, how easy he is to train and how easy he is to be around".

"He's just a great horse and he fits me so well." Doug said of the sorrel gelding. “I work him just about half as much as I work my other horses. If he can understand his job, he is very willing to do it. He takes care of me down the fence".

Young Widower did well prior to the Reno event, winning the Limited Open at the Magic Valley Reined Cow Horse Association Jerome, Idaho, and a Reserve at the Stallion Stakes in Elko, Nevada.

Koontz has been showing reined cow horses for 20 years and "he is looking forward to showing at the Idaho Futurity and trying Wilson in the cutting pen this fall.”

Doug, who owns DK Saddlery of Buhl, Idaho, acknowledged that "it takes a lot of people to get a horse broke and trained. It just doesn't get done by yourself. My wife Kerry and my daughter Savanna are great team players and Dan Roeser has been so helpful at all the shows".

For the Amateur Championship, Doug received a Bob’s Custom saddle sponsored by Carolyn Edson, of Anacotes, Washington, a Skyline Gold and Silversmiths Championship Buckle donated by Fairlea Ranch of Badger, California, Sensorflex Pad and Legacy Splint Boots sponsored by Classic Equine, a monogrammed vest, sponsored by Cinch, Inc. and Sundowner Trailers, Platinum Performance and a check for $6,850.00.

Gary Lynn Olson & Smart Little Scamp Win Novice Non Pro Bridle

"He was so close on his first turn, there was hair on his breast collar!" Gary Lynn Olson said of his horse Smart Little Scamp's cow work Thursday in the Novice Non Pro Bridle class.

Olson, of Great Falls, Montana, rode the son of Smart Little Lena (out of Pop A Doc Again) to a composite score of 295 (145,150) for the win. That earned a check for $1771.00 and she was also rewarded with a Skyline Gold and Silversmith Championship buckle, sponsored by Jo and Tish Wilhite of Clovis, California, plus a monogrammed vest awarded by Cinch and Sundowner Trailers, Legacy Front Splint Boots from Classic Equine and a tub of Platinum Performance.

Smart Little Scamp is a 14-year-old gelding with quite a history. Benny Guitron rode “Sam” to the top ten at the World’s Greatest in 2002 and 2003. He also won 2002 Senior Working Cow Horse World Championship. Currently in the AQHA, Sam is leading the nation in Amateur Cow Horse.

Gary is Smart Little Scamp’s third owner, and he feels he's “just lucky to have him. Everyone loves him". Gary wanted to buy him several years ago, but when he became available, he missed the phone call. A few years later, the opportunity arose again, and Gary was able to buy him from Shadd Parkinson. Gary bought Sam and has been showing him for the last few years.

"He's really smart. Just a little schooling now and then," Gary said of his dark chestnut mount. Gary will show Sam through the year until the AQHA World Show, and if he wins the Honor Roll, he will retire him from AQHA competition to concentrate on reined cow horse events and " having fun".

As it is with most contestants, Gary had several people he wanted to thank. He said, "I want to thank Benny and all the people at his ranch. Benny is so good at picking out horses and figuring out how to fit a person to their horse. One of the things that makes Benny so special is the fact that he really likes horses and he believes every horse can have a job". Gary also thanked Paula Diuri for “her genius with show clothes".

The National Reined Cow Horse Association, the governing body of cow horse competition, 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 Bayer Corporation, Bailey Hat Company, Bob's Custom Saddles, Cinch, Inc., Classic Equine, EQ Solutions, MD Barns, Platinum Performance, Inc., Nutrena, Skyline Gold & Silversmiths, Sundowner Trailers, National Ropers Supply, Quarter Horse News & Western Horseman magazine, the Reno Hilton, Dan Gamel's RV Centers and Fleetwood RV's, horsecentral.com, Farnam products Vetrolin Liniment and Farnam dewormers IverCare, ComboCare, LiquiCare P and Continuex, Rios of Mercedes and the Silver Legacy, 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.