Posted April 2, 2006

Carmen Buckingham Wins Amateur Stakes

Patty Ralls Tops Non Pro Bridle Spectacular

“I was hoping I would do pretty well but there are so many factors in it,” Carmen said, after noting that the 2006 Stakes is her first NRCHA major event to compete in. “I never got a chance to ride in the building before the reining, besides in the cutting, so I was a little bit nervous about that but it turned out just fine.”

From Bruneua, Idaho, Carmen teamed up with Check Out My Magic, by Chex That Out and out of Magic Monika, for the win. She and her husband, Tom, have had the 5-year-old chestnut gelding since he was a yearling.

“He’s a really big stopper and a really cowy horse. He’s just cool,” Carmen said of the horse.

Riding Brooksinics Sis, by Brooksinics Badger and out of Chantillys Sis, Laurel Morais, Pleasanton, California, picked up the Amateur Stakes Reserve Championship with a 635 composite (212/210/213).

Patty Ralls and her all-star gelding, Chromium Cowboy, dominated the Non Pro Bridle Spectacular with a 654.5. At just 6 years old, Cowboy, by A Chic In Time and out of Marvelous Miss, is already an NRCHA Open Snaffle Bit Futurity Reserve Champion, two-time NRCHA Non Pro Hackamore World Champion, American Quarter Horse Association Amateur Working Cow Horse Reserve World Champion and was the 2005 NRCHA Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro Stakes Champion.

“In the herd, he was really solid and good for me; I marked a 216 on him,” Patty recalled her bridle run. “In the rein work, I had a couple of tiny bobbles but overall, he was really good. Down the fence he just went ahead and took care of me. It was very fun.”

Patty, from Gainesville, Texas, and Cowboy will return to the arena Saturday afternoon to compete in the Open Bridle Spectacular.

The Novice Non Pro Bridle class ran concurrently with the Non Pro Bridle Spectacular and Todd Pershing of Lincoln, California, picked up the championship. Todd and his mare Jaci Bee Great, by Jac Daniels Neat and out of Wranglers Pretty Gal, marked a 415 for the win.

Reined cow horse action continues Saturday, April 1, with a full day of horse show classes including the Open and Limited Open Hackamore, Non Pro Hackamore, Open Two Rein, Non Pro Two Rein, Non Pro Limited, Youth Limited, Youth Bridle, Limited Open Bridle and the conclusion of the Open Bridle Spectacular. Please visit the NRCHA’s official web site, www.nrcha.com for a complete schedule of events as well as daily results from the show.

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 Bailey Hats, Bayer Corporation, Bob's Custom Saddles, Cinch, Inc., Classic Equine, MD Barns, Platinum Performance, Inc., Nutrena, Skyline Gold and Silversmiths, Bloomer Trailer Mfg., National Ropers Supply, Quarter Horse News & Performance Horse magazine, the Reno Hilton, Farnam products Vetrolin Liniment and Farnam dewormers IverCare, ComboCare, LiquiCare P and Continuex, Fort Dodge West Nile Innovator, Rios of Mercedes, Merial products ULCERGARD and GASTROGARD, Great American Insurance Company and the Silver Legacy Hotel, 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 www.nrcha.com.

PHOTO CREDIT: Patty Ralls and Chromium Cowboy. Photo by Primo Morales Courtesy of the NRCHA.