Novice Horse Non Pro Level 3 Co-Champion – Kary Key & Cant Spook Me

Kary Key and her horse Cant Spook Me tied for the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 3 win with a score of 144.

Key enjoys being reunited with Cant Spook Me, a home-raised product of her mother Pat Fletcher’s breeding program. “We bred and raised him, but we actually sold him as a two-year-old and got him back as a seven-year-old. I got to finally start showing him as a seven-and-up, now eight-and-up horse,” she explained.

By NRHA $2 Million Sire Spooks Gotta Gun and out of the mare Te On The Trashy Side, Cant Spook Me impressed Key in the Tellepsen Arena with his solid performance and strong momentum. “I was really happy to be going forward and running through the middle better because he’s always wanting to slow down, he’s never going to run off. We’re working on that and if I can stay out of his way, we usually do OK,” she said.

Enjoying the beautiful weather and laidback atmosphere, Key, of Millsap, Texas, added thanks to her mother for raising such a standout performer, as well as to trainer Jonathan Gauthier.

Novice Horse Non Pro Level 3 Co-Champion – Sarah Armenta & Gun Smoke Dennis

It was the first show of 2021 for Sarah Armenta and Gun Smoke Dennis, but the pair put together a solid run, marking a 144 and tying for the win of the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 3.

Armenta, of Whitesboro, Texas, has been showing Gun Smoke Dennis, by Lil Dry Peppy and out of Gun Smoke Denise, for the past two years. “I first showed him at the Redbud Spectacular in Oklahoma City [Oklahoma], and then I took him to Switzerland for Team USA, and I’ve had him since.”

The college freshman was pleased to lay down a solid performance in her first run back since the NRHA Futurity. “My mom’s been showing him while I’ve been at school, and she has done pretty well. I thought, ‘I have to be better than my mom,’” Armenta joked.

Armenta was particularly proud of the quality of her consistently hard-stopping gelding’s circles during the run, and thanked trainers Casey Hinton and Jimmy van der Hoeven for their assistance. “Recently, with my riding schedule what it is, they’re helping me even more in the mornings when it’s tough for them. And I thank my mom, of course, and Robbie and Julia Berti, who I bought Gun Smoke Dennis from two years ago,” she said.

Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 – Darby Gardner & Chex Golden Tag

Coming out on top of the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 was Houston’s own Darby Gardner and her horse Chex Golden Tag, sired by NRHA $2 Million Sire Whiz N Tag Chex and out of the mare SR Cotton Candy, scoring a 143 to earn $561.

Gardner, who has been teamed with the horse she calls “Corn Pops” since acquiring him in December from the Texas A&M Equestrian Team, said her winning run was validation of her horse’s abilities. “I was surprised and super happy with him and I’m excited to keep moving forward. He was so much more with me today than yesterday; he just felt really good. It was like night and day.”

The recent college graduate thanks her trainer Franky Vazquez for his help and support and looks forward to showing more throughout the week at NRBC in the Limited Non Pro, Non Pro and Novice Horse divisions. 

Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 – Molly Morgenstern & Macho In My Dreams

Molly Morgenstern, of Galina, Ohio, and Macho In My Dreams topped the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 with a 142.5 to earn $272.

Sired by NRHA $6 Million Sire Magnum Chic Dream and out of Ritas San Jo, Macho In My Dreams has been Morgenstern’s trusted equine partner for the past three years.

“We had kind of a rocky ride yesterday in the Derby,” she said. “I was pretty disappointed, but my trainer—and his wife, especially—encouraged me to enter today and give it a try again. I’m glad we did! We had a lot of fun showing, it was a fun afternoon.”

When asked if she was done showing for the week, Morgenstern said that determination has yet to be made. “I guess we’ll find out when we get back to the barn and talk about that,” she laughed, adding thanks to the support team behind her. “I’m super grateful for everything that Robin Schoeller has done for me. He has the patience of a saint and he and Laura have just held my hand through big shows and made sure that I was ready and not scared of anything on the other side of the gate.”

Markel Non Pro Commitment Award Presented to Ann Admonius!

Markel Insurance is a longtime sponsor of the NRBC and a staunch supporter of the reining industry. Several years ago, Markel and NRBC created a new award to recognize the Non Pro riders who go above and beyond to give back to the industry.

The Markel Non Pro Commitment Award recipient is always kept secret until it is presented during the Markel Non Pro Draw Party.

On hand to present this year’s award was Frank Costantini, Markel Director of Western Disciplines. Frank was excited to recognize Ann Admonius as this year’s recipient.