Round One Open Champs; Novice Horse Open, Limited Open and Rookie Pro Champs Named

The competition continued at the National Reining Breeders Classic on Thursday with the second section of the Open Classic Prelims. The tough competition featured big stops and smooth maneuvers inside the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas. The ancillary classes also saw big scores with the Novice Horse Open, Limited Open, Rookie Professional and American Quarter Horse Association classes.

In Thursday’s second section of the Open Classic Prelims, Dany Tremblay scored a 223.5 riding PS Mega Shine Chic (Shine Chic Shine x Megas Sugar Baby), owned by Amanda and Bradley Kelly of Adh Mor Big Luck Ranch to tie the Level 4 high score put in by Tom McCutcheon on Smart Little Dunnit, who’s by Smart Spook and out of Jan Van Bar B Dun It, for owners Turnabout Farms Inc. With his high score, Tremblay bumped himself out of the Level 3 lead and took first and second places in the Level 3. Aboard Magnums Guns R Reddy (Magnum Chic Dream x Guns R Reddy), Tremblay took second with a score of 221.5 for owner Ruth A. Hamlin. Bud Lyon rode Einsteins Top Whiz (Einsteins Revolution x Kr Samantha) to a score of 220 to win the Level 2 first go-round and Alejandro Ortiz Vazquez riding She Is A Chexinic (Smart Like Juice x Muskegs Chexinic) scored a 218 to top the Level 1. The Prime Time go-round winner is Martin Larcombe riding Hang Ten And Shine (Hang Ten Surprize x Ebony Shines) to a score of 223.

The Open Classic Finals will kick off inside the Coliseum Arena Saturday, April 22, and the champion will receive $75,000.

For complete results from the Open Classic Prelims visit www.nrbc.com.

The ancillary competition continued today in Katy, Texas, with the Limited Open and Rookie Professional classes in the Wheless Arena where Josh Tishman took top honors. Tishman rode Chics Love Me Wimpy, who’s by Wimpys Little Step and out of Dream About Magic, to a score of 73. “Duke” is owned by Deborah Good, who wasn’t able to make the NRBC and sent “Duke” for Tishman to show in her place.

Tishman has had a great week with the gelding, winning Tuesday’s Limited Open and Rookie Professional classes as well, for which he became the overall NRBC Limited Open and Rookie Professional champion. “He’s really fun to show. That’s probably the best run we’ve had, he’s just really easy and fun so it just worked out well,” Tishman said. “He followed me right around and went as fast as I asked and as slow as I asked and just did everything as hard as he could.”

Troy Koehl riding A Ruf Master (Lil Ruf Peppy x Shiners Mistress) to a score of 71 took second in the Limited Open while Lindsey Seewaldt riding Katy Dun It (Dun Gotta Gun x Dun Kissed Peaches) took second in the Rookie Professional with a score of 71.5. In the Novice Horse Open Level 2, a tie between Dany Tremblay and Peter DeFreitas took the first-place win, with a score of 147.

Tremblay rode Misters Temptress, who’s by Mister Dual Pep and out of Colonel Pepinic, while DeFreitas rode Colonel Missile, who’s by Hang Ten Surprize and out of Sweet Ginger Chic. Tremblay has been riding and showing Misters Temptress with much success this year and says the mare continues to improve with each ride.

“Every time I show her she scores 73s and 73.5s, so she’s consistent and she likes to go in the show pen now and I love it,” Tremblay said.

DeFreitas also took the win in the Novice Horse Open Level 1 aboard Colonel Missile with a score of 147. DeFreitas showed the now 4-year-old gelding as a 3-year-old and had success then as well. The duo came to the NRBC with intentions of continuing to improve in the show pen as well as find a potential buyer for Colonel Missile. DeFreitas says showing in the Novice Horse Open was a nice change of pace and made the win memorable.

“He’s very simple, he’s always the same every time I show him. He’s a lot of fun to show because he does his thing and it’s easy,” DeFreitas said. “I was happy to come here and get to show in the Novice too, usually, I just show in the Classic part, but it was fun to show in the Novice Horse and to get a win always helps.”

Jared Leclair rode The Dun Gun (Gunner x Fabulous Footwork) to a score of 144.5 to take third place in the Novice Horse Open Level 1 and second place in Level 1. In the AQHA classes, Tremblay and DeFreitas were also co-champions in the AQHA Junior and Senior classes with a score of 147 aboard the same mounts.

Nothing entices a crowd more than free food and Thursday night the Tamarack Ranch Open Draw Party pulled together the Open Classic finalists, their friends and family for an evening of great food and entertainment. Along with the food and camaraderie, the Open finalists were given the chance to draw for their running positions in the Open Classic Finals. For information and complete results from the National Reining Breeders Classic, follow updates from NRBC on Facebook, Twitter and www.nrbc.com

The competition continued at the National Reining Breeders Classic on Wednesday with the first section of the Open Classic Prelims. The tough competition featured high scores and smooth moves inside the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas. The ancillary classes also say big scores with the Novice Horse Non Pro, Rookie and the start of the American Quarter Horse Association classes.

Tom McCutcheon riding Smart Little Dunnit (Smart Spook x Jan Van Bar B Dun It) is currently leading the Open Classic preliminary round after the first second with a score of 223.5 in the Level 4. The Level 3 leader is Dany Tremblay riding Magnums Guns R Reddy (Magnum Chic Dream x Guns R Reddy) to a score of 221.5. Bud Lyon rode Einsteins Top Whiz (Einsteins Revolution x Kr Samantha) to a score of 220 to take the lead in the Level 2 and Jeromy Lipps riding Revolutionary Jac (Einsteins Revolution x Kalliope Jac) scored a 217.5 to lead the Level 1. The Prime Time leader is Jamie Bissell riding DP Gunnaoutshinya (Gunnatrashya x Out Shinin Wimpy) to a score of 217.

The second section of the Open Classic Prelims will continue inside the Coliseum Arena Thursday at 8 a.m. After both preliminary sections the qualifiers from the first round will meet Saturday, April 22 inside the Coliseum Arena for the Open Classic Finals where champions will be crowned.

In the ancillary classes action, Jerry Davis topped the Novice Horse Non Pro with a score of 141.5 riding Hot Coded Shine (Shine Chic Shine x Hot Coded Candy). Davis admitted Hot Coded Shine didn’t have the best showing in Tuesday’s Non Pro Classic Prelims and decided to use this as an opportunity to better their previous showing.

“We had a few penalty points and bobbles [yesterday] and today he really seemed to come along,” Davis said. “I think he needed a few days to get into and now he was a little less stressed and felt good with me and everything was smooth.”

Robert Gattuso riding Chics Special Nite (Gunners Special Nite x This Chic Dun It) took second with a 141.

David McGee topped the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 riding Knaughtybyknature with a score of 145. Knaughtybyknature is by Magnum Chic Dream and out of Princess In Diamonds and has been in McGee’s barn since he was a yearling. McGee also felt the gelding need an extra day to work out the kinks and was happy with their showing in the Novice Horse Non Pro.

“He was supposed to have ridden like that in the [Non Pro Classic] yesterday, so we just came over here to try a little different plan getting him ready,” McGee said. “I changed his bridle and put a little smaller bit in and today he rode like he’s supposed to, and we didn’t run him too hard. He’s a nice horse. We were just kind of schooling, playing and showing at the same time.”

The Rookie Level 1 champion was Karla Leclair riding Codes Electric Step to a score of 70.5. Codes Electric Step is by Electric Code out of Nics Wimpy and has been with Leclair for only three months.

“He’s great minded and extremely talented, but he is able to come down to my level,” Leclair said. “I’m not nearly as talented as this horse, but he is great minded and awesome for me in the show pen and stays with me.”

The Rookie Level 2 champion was Jill Pfisthner riding Black N Boom (Boomshernic x Blazin In Black) to a score of 71. The Rookie Prime Time champion was James Belden riding Dun Git A Nicadual (Mister Nicadual x Gotta Git Ya Dun) to a score of 70.

In the AQHA classes, Jessica Sternberg took the win in the Amateur Reining riding Designed With Shine with a score of 72, and Loren Booth riding Taris Little Gunner topped the Amateur Select Reining with a score of 73. Another crowd-pleasing activity was the Markel Insurance Non Pro Draw Party, where the Non Pro finalists enjoyed an evening of camaraderie while they picked their draw for the finals. For information and complete results from the National Reining Breeders Classic, follow updates from NRBC on Facebook, Twitter and www.nrbc.com.

Smart maneuvers and smooth moving reining horses were the name of the game Tuesday at the National Reining Breeders Classic. The competition continued at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas, beginning the day with the second section of the Non Pro Classic Prelims. The first day of competition inside the Tellepsen and Wheless arenas began Tuesday with the Intermediate Open, Limited Open, Rookie Professional and Limited Non Pro classes.

It was a family affair in the Non Pro Classic Prelims with Cade McCutcheon and Mandy McCutcheon splitting the lead in the Level 4 with a score of 221. Cade rode Vintage Crome, who’s by A Sparkling Vintage and out of Smart Custom Crome. Mandy was aboard Special At Nite, who’s by Gunners Special Nite and out of Royal Chic Solano. They each pocketed $3,168 for the first-round win.

Tish Fappani rode Spooks N Jewels and is leading the Level 3 Intermediate Non Pro Classic after the preliminary round with a score of 220. Spooks N Jewels is by Smart Spook and out of Whiz Jewels. The Level 2 Limited Non Pro and Level 1 Non Pro leader is Jennifer Greenleaf riding Survivorman (Colonels Smoking Gun x Shining Survivor) to a score of 218. The Prime Time Non Pro leader is Tamara Schiltz riding Shiners Voodoo Juice to a score of 218.5. Shiners Voodoo Juice is by Shiners Voodoo Dr and out of Slj This Is My Juice. The Non Pro Classic qualifiers from the preliminary rounds will meet Friday, April 21 inside the Coliseum Arena for the Non Pro Classic Finals where champions will be crowned.

In the ancillary class action, a tie between Raeanna Thayn and Laura Fourre won the Limited Non Pro with a score of 71.5, worth $100 each. Thayn rode Dun Sneakin Out, who’s by Whiz N Tag Chex and out of Sneaking Out Tonight. She’s only been riding the mare for two years; however, the pair have formed a special bond, which gives them confidence in the show pen.

“My run felt pretty good and she tried really hard,” Thayn said of her 6-year-old mare. Thayn will finish the week with the Novice Horse Non Pro and the Youth 13 & Under classes.

Fourre rode Colonels Splashy Gun, who’s by Colonels Smoking Gun and out of Bh Splash, and the NRBC marked the pair’s first time to show together. As the last draw in the class the duo from Scottsdale, Arizona, turned in the tying score, making their first show a memorable one.

“I just got him a week ago, so it was a learning experience for both of us,” Fourre said. “Hopefully, we’ll have more this week to come. I was pretty happy overall.”

Joe Schmidt riding Highlanders Scandal took the win in the Intermediate Open with a score of 146.5. Highlanders Scandal is by Conquistador Whiz out of HR Short Wheel Base and owned by Sally Berg of Barn 66 LLC.

Normally Berg is the mare’s main rider, however, Schmidt used the Intermediate Open class as an opportunity to prepare the mare for her owner and this showed marked the first time in the show pen for the Schmidt and “Tater” as a team. “She’s a cool little mare,” Schmidt said. “She was really good in there; it was the first time I’ve shown her and I just wanted to get her ready for Sally. [Highlanders Scandal] is a good little trooper, she just cruises around and was pretty easy to prepare.” Berg will compete on Tater in the Non Pro and ancillary classes later this week, while Schmidt will be preparing for his run in the Classic.

Josh Tishman riding Chics Love Me Wimpy (Wimpys Little Step x Dream About Magic) took home both the Limited Open and Rookie Professional titles with a score of 144. Chics Love Me Wimpy (“Duke”) is a 7-year-old gelding owned by Deborah Good of DAG Ventures.

Good wasn’t able to make the NRBC this year and instead sent the gelding to Tishman to show. “He’s really easy to show,” Tishman said of Duke. “He’s a real consistent horse and real fun to show and he was pretty good [today]. [Deborah] bought him for her because he’s real consistent and easy to get along with and just real easy going.”

Tuesday was full of excitement even outside of the show pen. PS Mega Shine Chic “Crush” and Adh More Big Luck Ranch sponsored the Kids Academy Stick Horse Race, which brought together the future of the sport for an action-packed afternoon including a keepsake stick horse for each participant. “We sure wanted to be able to do something for the kids, it’s where everything in the industry falls back to is the kids and it’s always fun seeing them have fun with things like this,” said Amanda Kelly with Adh More Big Luck Ranch.

Following the day’s activities, competitors and fans alike met inside the Coliseum for the Platinum Anniversary Welcome Party – sponsored by Gunners Special Nite – NRBC Welcome Reception, Twentieth Anniversary Awards banquet and Welcome Dinner sponsored by Steve and Rita Reed Harris. During the evening’s celebrations, special awards were presented to the past Open and Non Pro NRBC Champions, and contributors and former champions were recognized under the direction announcer of Brian Lookabill.

The competitors, founders, and fans of NRBC mingled and enjoyed a night of camaraderie while celebrating 20 years of NRBC. “We wanted an event that would help our industry by paying more money, by involving more riders in Open and Non Pro, and we talked about what we could do and we threw some ideas around and we decided we would do a stallion program,” McCutcheon said. “In two days, we had about 75 studs and every single person I called said ‘We’ll do it. If you guys want to do it, we’re in.’ That’s what makes this program so fantastic, it’s not the board of directors, it’s not a small group of people; It’s everybody that’s here, it’s everybody that enrolled babies and everybody that had studs, that’s what makes this program so fantastic.”

For information and complete results from the National Reining Breeders Classic, follow updates from NRBC on Facebook, Twitter and www.nrbc.com.

Leading the Level 4 Non Pro Classic Prelims is Taylor Zimmerman riding Wimpys Dolled Up (Wimpys Little Step x Dolled Up Gunner) with a score of 220. The Levels 1, 2 and 3 leader is Jennifer Greenleaf riding Survivorman (Colonels Smoking Gun x Shining Survivor) with a score of 218. A three-way tie leads the Prime Time between Maurice Robinson riding Chics Nite (Gunners Special Nite x Wind Her Up Chic), Francesca Sternberg riding A Chic Surprize (Hang Ten Surprize x West Coast Chic) and Andre De Bellefeuille riding Little Gun (Rowdy Yankee x Snow Gun) all with a score of 216.5.

The second section of the preliminary round continues tomorrow inside the Coliseum Arena with the second section of the Non Pro Classic Prelims, followed by the Intermediate Open, Limited Open and Rookie Professional in the Tellepsen Arena, and the Rookie Levels 1 and 2 and Prime Time Rookie inside the Wheless Arena.

The Gunners Special Nite Platinum Anniversary Welcome Party is a perfect example of the exciting things offered this year at the NRBC. The party follows the completion of the second section of the Non Pro Classic preliminary round on Tuesday, April 18 and is held in the Texas Children’s Hospital Arena Club at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center. The Welcome Party has always been a favorite but this time there’s more on the schedule than ever before.

The Gunners Special Nite Platinum Anniversary celebration begins at 5:30 p.m., with a Twentieth Year Platinum Reception and social hour featuring cocktails, drinks, and a Charcuterie Board furnished by Steve and Rita Harris.At 6:30 p.m., it’s time for a special champagne toast as champions and contributors are recognized, then at 7 p.m., the Platinum Anniversary dinner – also prepared by the Harrises – will be served.

Sarah Willeman, owner of Turnabout Farms and Gunners Special Nite, has been a part of the NRBC for years, as an exhibitor, sponsor and owner. Follow updates from NRBC on Facebook, Twitter and the website www.nrbc.com.