Tom McCutcheon and Martin Muehlstaetter took home big wins in Friday night’s NRBC Open Reining Night presented by Kimmel Reining Horses. McCutcheon and Muehlstaetter each turned in big scores of 224.5, which wowed the crowd with the big stops and flawless circles to split the win in the National Reining Horse Association $25,000-added Open, as well as the NRBC Open Classic Challenge.
McCutcheon rode the standout mount, The Wizster, who’s by Gallo Del Cielo and out of Miss Whizard Jac and owned by Turnabout Farm Inc. Aboard the 2010 gelding McCutcheon also won the USA Reining Open, and the CRI Reining.
“I feel great,” McCutcheon said of his wins. “It is really a humbling experience to be able to show a horse like this; it’s really a sigh of relief to be able to show him in a way that he is well represented because with this caliber of a horse, you’re just along for the ride.”
Although the big check was a welcomed reward McCutcheon said being able to represent the United States is always a noble and humbling moment. “It’s always an awesome feeling to be on that podium and sing along to the National Anthem,” McCutcheon said.
Muehlstaetter shared the co-championship aboard Michael Garnett’s Blo Gun. Muehlstaetter says he enjoyed showing the 2010 stallion by Colonels Smoking Gun and out of The Hot Jewel and hopes to show him again in the future.
“I was really excited, it’s the first time I’ve shown the horse,” Muehlstaetter said.”[Michael] is a long-time client of mine and I [asked] if I could ride the horse and he told me ‘go for it,’ so here we are,” Muehlstaetter said with a smile.
In youth action, the kids of reining were turning in their own sharp maneuvers. Bo Van Duys riding Aim Your Pistol, and Emilia Reutimann riding Black Hails Gold, shared the win in the CRI Junior with scores of 69.5. Aim Your Pistol is by Custom Pistol and out of Topnotch Melody and Black Hails Gold is by Shine Like Hail and out of Dun Its Black Gold.
McKinnon Larcombe rode My Nu Mercedes Rox (Cromed Out Mercedes x Roxana Chex) to a score of 71.5 to win the Youth 14-18. She also split the win in the Unrestricted Youth and the American Quarter Horse Association Youth 18 & Under with Raeanna Thayn.
Larcombe took over the reins of My Nu Mercedes Rox from her mom about a year ago and has had a lot of success in the show pen. She’s taken home wins at the Southwest Reining Horse Association as well as the Tulsa Reining Classic. “I’ve been showing him here, there, everywhere and recently, we were a 215 at the derby in Tulsa, so that was a good confidence booster,” Larcombe said. “He showed really well today, he’s getting better and better and so am I showing him.”
Thayn has a special bond with her mount and a few of her favorite things are his mane and his heart.
Thayn has already earned titles on him this week in the Limited Non Pro and hopes to continue her winning streak in tomorrow’s youth classes. “He tries really hard,” Thayn said. “Our run was really good today and he stayed with me in the pen.”
Luca Fappani rode Custom Spook (Smart Spook x Custom Spinderella) to a score of 72 to top the Youth 13 & Under.
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