National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity action concluded Tuesday evening, September 26, with Winston Moore, from San Juan Bautista, California, winning the Amateur Futurity title. Tuesday’s competition also determined which horses and riders would advance to the Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro Finals to take place Thursday, September 28.

Winston and Miss Colonels Prize, by Smokums Prize and out of Miss Colonel Bar, marked the high Non Pro Herd score – a 219 – September 22, and then returned to earn a 214.5 in the Rein Work and a 210.5 down the fence to clinch the Amateur Championship, a check for $7,000 and a slot to compete in the Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro Finals. Alan Needle, from Temecula, California, finished reserve and earned $5,600 with Smokin Like Hail, by Shine Like Hail and out of Cadys Hot Smoke. Alan also made it back to both the Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro Finals.

Seventy-one Non Pro entries graced the arena for preliminary competition, along with 56 in the Intermediate Non Pro division. Twenty horses have secured a slot in the Non Pro Finals, while 17 advanced in the Intermediate Non Pro division. Laurie Ward, from Kingsburg, California, led the Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro divisions with a 647.5 composite riding Kiss Me A Little, by Smart Little Pepinic and out of Kiss Me Mister.

Dema Paul, from Cave Creek, Arizona, Nelle Murphy, from Marietta, Oklahoma, and Rachel Eady, from Sisters, Oregon, each qualified two horses for the Non Pro Finals. Dema rode Primos Solid Cash (Teninas First x Miss Colonel Cash) and Masters Nu Fox (Master Merada x Nu Cash Foxy Lady); Nelle teamed up with Panas Jewels (Tachitas Jewels x Pana Sugar Chex) and Boonlights Misty (Boonlight Dancer x Sweet Little Mist); and Rachel qualified I Spin For Chics (Tangys Classy Peppy x Chics Koko Angel) and A Simple Plan (A Master Plan x Solano Red Oak).

Riders needed at least a 632 composite to make the Non Pro Finals and a 624.5 for the Intermediate Non Pro.

The Snaffle Bit Futurity will change gears Wednesday, September 27, with the Open Bridle and Open Hackamore Spectacular Preliminaries. For more information on the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity, including a list of finalists in each division, or to view a live webcast of the event, visit www.nrcha.com, www.waltenberry.com or www.gallopingvideo.com.

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, Bob's Custom Saddles, Cinch, Inc., Classic Equine, MD Barns, Platinum Performance, Inc., Nutrena, Skyline Gold & Silversmiths, Bloomer Trailer Mfg., Quarter Horse News & Performance Horse magazine, the Grand Sierra Resort, 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 the NRCHA Official Web Site at www.nrcha.com.