The last classes of the 2020 National Reining Breeders Classic finished up on Sunday with Youth classes in the Mustang Arena, and the Non Pro Classic Challenge taking place in the Ford Arena of the Tulsa State Fairgrounds.
The Classic Challenge is for NRBC-enrolled horses who have aged out of the Classic, giving veteran reiners the opportunity to compete for big money later on in life.
Bailey Kolsun & Diamond Studded Guns – NRBC Non Pro Levels 3 & 4 Classic Challenge Champions
An exciting run-off decided the Non Pro Classic Challenge Championship, and in the end, it was Bailey Kolsun and Diamond Studded Guns who emerged victorious. All totaled, Kolsun and the flashy mare won $9,237. “The run-off was fun. It was the last time I was going to show him this year. He’s eight and he doesn’t owe me anything,” Kolsun said.
In their original run, Kolsun and Diamond Studded Guns marked a 219.5. “The first run I had a blast. He stopped huge in this nice arena. In the run-off, I had a little trouble guiding him out of my second lead change, but he ran and stopped better than the first run,” she shared.
Kolsun purchased Diamond Studded Guns, by Gunnatrashya out of Like To Flo, as an unshown three-year-old. “I’ve been riding with Ruben Vandorp ever since. I’ve shown this horse and made the finals everywhere, and now I’m having fun with him as an older horse,” she said. “I thank my parents and brothers back home in Canada for their unconditional support. I also thank Ruben for all his help and encouragement.”
Diamond Studded Guns will get a well-deserved break. “He’ll have a couple of months off and then we will bring him back next spring,” Kolsun said.
Tristan Bagby & Shina Gun – NRBC Non Pro Classic Challenge Levels 1 & 2/Ltd. Non Pro [2]/ARC Ltd. Non Pro Champions
Although Tristan Bagby and Shina Gun didn’t win the run-off for the Level 3 and 4 of the Non Pro Classic Challenge, they still won numerous divisions. In addition to the Championship of the Classic Challenge Levels 1 & 2, they also won the second slate of the Limited Non Pro as well as the ARC Limited Non Pro. Because they also placed in the higher levels, the won more than 10 checks totaling $10,150.
Shina Gun is an eight-year-old stallion by Gunner out of Shiner Lite. “He’s a stud we raised, so we have had him his whole life. He is so special to us, and has been so good to me this year,” Bagby said. “It is my first year to show him, and I am so thankful to be able to ride him.”
Bagby and Shina Gun marked a 219.5 in their regular run. “The first run he was really good everywhere, and I was really happy with him. He was kind of tired coming into the run-off, but I couldn’t have asked anymore of him,” she said. “I thank my parents and my grandparents for letting me show him. I thank Bobby Avila and his whole crew, and my farrier who made a good call on changing his shoes for this arena.”
Paul Queen & Outta Dough – NRBC Non Pro Classic Challenge Prime Time Champion & Non Pro Prime Time High Point Champion
Outta Dough has been in Paul Queen’s life for a long time, but the flashy stallion was actually a secret in the beginning. “My mom kept him a secret from me when she first bought him years ago. I found out about him when I was going through the registration book. She had him in California with Mike Berg and he did a great job with him. I’ve had some wonderful trainers who have helped me keep him going. Jared Leclair has been awesome lately,” Queen shared. “This horse will always be part of the family.
Queen and Outta Dough had a successful NRBC, winning the Non Pro Classic Challenge Prime Time division and also claiming the Prime Time High Point Championship. In Sunday’s competition alone, the pair won $4,076.
“Today went really well. He likes a big arena like this, and he just got in there and gave me a wonderful feeling. I’m going to give him some time off after this,” Queen said. “I thank my mom, Jared Leclair, Jason, Kristi and Mike Berg – a lot of people.”
Sarah Locker & Snips Shining Gun – ARC Non Pro & Int. Non Pro/Non Pro [2] & Int. Non Pro [2]/Non Pro High Point Champions
When Sarah Locker and Snips Shining Gun didn’t make the Non Pro Classic Finals, Locker was looking for redemption. “I had a really pretty 210 in the preliminaries, and we all know that doesn’t get you into the finals here,” she explained. “This mare is four, and I just started showing her at this show. I needed more time to get with her.”
Locker entered the mare in both slates of Non Pro classes. During the classes on Thursday, the pair knocked out an impressive 145. They followed that up with an even better score in Sunday’s round – a 221.5!
“She was great in the first slate, and then today she came back and fired everywhere, and was with me every step of the way. I couldn’t be more thrilled with how she did today,” Locker shared. Not only did Locker and Snips Shining Gun win the second slate of the Non Pro and Int. Non Pro, they also won the ARC division for those classes as well, earning more than $3,500.
“This is a big, big-strided mare, so I felt confident running her harder in this bigger pen. I’m looking forward to showing her more this year after she gets some rest,” she said. “I give a huge thank you to Casey Deary. After he was done taking his awards photos last night, he was ready to coach me, and he stayed today to help me. I thank him and his whole team. I also thank my mom who raised this great mare and has given me the opportunity, and my husband who is here to drive me home after a long two weeks of horse showing. I also thank my sister who has been here all week supporting me.”
Raeanna Thayne & Coded N Karma – NRBC Youth 14 – 18 Classic Challenge Champions
Raeanna Thayne and Coded N Karma had a busy day, competing in both the Ford and Mustang Arenas. The duo pulled off a win in the Youth 14-18 Classic Challenge. “He was really good. I just took him in and loped around, and he was really good and solid,” Thayne shared.
She was using the Youth classes as a warmup for the Non Pro classes. “I just wanted to have a pretty run and see where I was because I was also showing in the non pro right after that,” she said.
In addition to showing at reining events, Thayne and Coded N Karma have started a new venture. “I’ve been showing him in the reined cow horse a little this year. It’s fun, and he really likes it. It’s something fun for him to do,” she said. “I thank my parents and Dell Hendricks and Logan Cotten, as well as everyone else who has helped me this year.”
Carlee McCutcheon & The Wizster – Youth 14 – 18 High Point Champions
Carlee McCutcheon and The Wizster made two impressive runs in the Youth 14 – 18 classes held at the NRBC to win the High Point Championship. They won the first slate of the competition and finished second in the second slate.
“Yesterday my horse was a little more ready for me. He wasn’t as bright as he was in here in the air-conditioning,” McCutcheon shared. “Still, I was really happy with him both days. He has taught me a lot and I am so excited to show him.”
McCutcheon has only been riding The Wizster, who she leases from Turnabout Farm, for a few weeks. “He’s older, so he has done this a lot more than I have,” she said. “I thank my mom and dad, my grandparents Tim and Colleen McQuay, and Debbie Brown. I also give a huge thank you to Sarah Willeman for leasing us her horse. He is teaching me so much and I am very grateful to her.”
Rita Clausen & Kansas City Whiz – NRBC Youth 13 & Under Classic Challenge Champions
With a score of 143, Rita Clausen and Kansas City Whiz took home top honors in the NRBC Youth 13 & Under Classic Challenge. “It was a good run today. He turned really well and circled great. He was right there with me and listening very well,” Clausen shared. “He was a bit lazy, but it’s the end of the horse show. The run was good.”
Clausen has been riding 13-year-old Kansas City Whiz for four years, showing him in youth and green reiner classes. She trains with Patrick Flaherty. “Patrick told me to get him turned good and circle him easy,” she said. “I like riding with Patrick because he pushes me to be better. I thank him and my parents.”
Madison Rafacz & Whizzenboonsmal – ARC Youth 13 & Under Champions
Madison Rafacz and Whizzenboonsmal are always a team to watch, and on the last day of competition, as the very last draw in the class, the pair marked a 145 to win the ARC Youth as well as the second slate of the ancillary 13 & Under.
Rafacz had been going back and forth between the Ford and Mustang Arenas to compete in both the Youth and Non Pro classes. “I wasn’t feeling too much pressure as the last draw because I had to be moved. I just came in and was thinking I just needed to show the horse I have under me,” she said.
Rafacz has been showing Whizzenboonsmal about three years. “He’s pretty trustworthy,” she said. “I love his personality. He is always in your pockets. I ride him almost every day.”
Next up? “We will go to Memphis. I thank my parents for always helping me and doing so much for me. I thank them and everyone who is home cheering for me, and all my friends,” she said.
Faith Horner & Lil Red Dreamer – USA Reining 13 & Under Champions
Faith Horner and Lil Red Dreamer not only won the USA Reining 13 & Under Championship, they also finished second in the ARC and the second ancillary slate of the class.
The new 2020 South Central Delegate for the NRHyA has only shown Lil Red Dreamer twice. “He was my mom’s horse before me, and he’s super special. I just wanted to go in and do our best, and it was pretty good,” she said.
Horner rides with Casey Hinton, who gave her some simple, yet sage, advice. “He helped me warm up and told me to go in and do my best,” she said.
Horner and the horse she calls Scooter will likely show next at the SWRHA Futurity in Ardmore before traveling to Oklahoma City for the NRHA Futurity. “I thank Casey Hinton and my mom. They have been so helpful throughout my journey here. Thank you also to my grandma who couldn’t be here due to COVID. She is one of my biggest supporters,” Horner said.
Chase McInteer & I Am Magnificent – Youth 13 & Under High Point Champions
Chase McInteer put together two solid runs in the Youth 13 & Under classes to win the High Point Championship. McInteer, a newly elected 2021 South Central Delegate for the NRHyA, rode I Am Magnificent to win the title.
“She’s seven years old and is amazing. I just started showing her this year, so I’m pretty excited,” he said. “We bought her from Bobby Avila, and he is my trainer.” In comparing the two runs, McInteer noted that the first was a trial run. “We haven’t shown a lot, but I was happy with my score. Today I really went for it, and it paid off well,” he said. “I thank Bobby Avila and my parents for supporting me in doing this, as well as my brother and everyone else who has helped me get here.”
Colt Mitchell & Playgun Chic Olena – ARC Short Stirrup and Short Stirrup High Point Champions
Over the past several years, Colt Mitchell has accumulated Short Stirrup wins at numerous major events. On Sunday, he added even more titles to that list when he won the ARC Short Stirrup, the second slate of the ancillary Short Stirrup, and the Short Stirrup High Point buckle.
Mitchell competed with his longtime partner, Playgun Chic Olena, to win Sunday’s classes. “This was the best run I have had on him in a long time. He spun, stopped, and circled great. I could not have asked for him to work any better today,” Mitchell said.
Playgun Chic Olena, by Smart Chic Olena out of Mamas Packin, is owned by Colt’s sister Molly. “He’s 15 years old and is just the greatest horse ever. We have had him for forever, and he’s actually the second reining horse we ever bought,” Mitchell said. “My mom is going to start showing him since we sold the horse she was riding.”
Colt added, “I thank the Good Lord for keeping me safe and giving me such a good horse to ride. I also thank my family for always being there to support me.”