The Affiliate Regional Championships and ancillary classes continued Saturday at the National Reining Breeders Classic, with several more champions being crowned. The penultimate moment of the day came during the Yellowstone Rookie Shootout Finals, which featured the top five rookie riders from the first two rounds of the Shootout competition. All five riders competed in the Ford Truck Arena just prior to the Open Classic Finals.
Madaline Callaway Wins Yellowstone Paramount Network Rookie Shootout Finals
For the past two years, award-winning television drama Yellowstone has sponsored the Yellowstone Rookie Shootout at the NRBC. The Shootout Finals are held just prior to the Open Classic Finals in the main arena, allowing the rookies the opportunity to show in the big pen.
The Yellowstone Rookie Shootout is also known for the incredible and unique prizes for the Champion, and this year was no different. A life-sized horse, emblazoned with Yellowstone signage, might be one of the largest trophies ever. “I think it’s pretty cool. I’m not sure how I’m going to get it home, but we will figure it out,” said Yellowstone Rookie Shootout Champion Madaline Callaway.
Callaway won the Shootout after marking a 214.5 on Electric Coded Trash, an Electric Code gelding out of Got Trashed. Electric Coded Trash is owned by Madeline’s mother Nicol Callaway. “This horse has been super good all week. All my runs were pretty consistent, and he just kept getting better every time,” she said. “I have to stay calm because he can be a pretty nervous horse. I just figured I’d ride whatever horse he was tonight. He felt good, so I just let him do his thing.”
Callaway, a junior studying communications at Baylor University, rides with Jared Leclair. “He just told me to go in there and keep riding and doing what I did in my past runs,” she said. “I have never shown here before, so it was really cool to be in the big pen. I liked it a lot.”
Callaway gave a special thank you, noting, “I thank my mom mostly. She has supported me through everything and has helped me with all the horses.”
Jessicah Keller & Girls Lovin Time – Nov. Horse Non Pro Levels 1 & 2 [2] Co-Champions & Level 3 Champions
With a score of 145.5., Jessicah Keller and Girls Lovin Time tied for the win of the Nov. Horse Non Pro Levels 1 and 2, and took sole position of first place in the Level 3.
It was a big day for Keller and the mare, a six-year-old mare by Shine Big Time out of Girls Love Chex. “She has been a project, but I absolutely love her. She is the easiest horse to be around, and she is so fun and easy to show. This is the highest she has ever marked, and I’m just tickled to death,” Keller shared.
The difference? Just a few tweaks and changes. “We had Dr. Bill work on her because she was just a little uncomfortable. Then, I switched her from split reins to romals because my mom told me to,” Keller explained.
Girls Lovin Time was born and raised on Hilldale Farm, so it’s no surprise she was welcomed back. “We got her back in around June or July of last year, but we didn’t show her until this January,” she explained. “My plan is to just keep showing her, although I don’t know where. COVID has messed with the schedule.”
Keller had several people to thank. “I thank Jim Johnson. He made it possible for us to have this mare back after we raised her. I thank my mom for supporting me and letting me show her. I thank my boyfriend Will for watching my son and helping me get ready today, and my brother for riding this mare last week while she was home and I was here,” she said. “It’s a team effort.”
Kathryn Miller & I Got Your Remedy – Nov. Horse Non Pro Levels 1 & 2 [2] Co-Champions
When Kathryn Miller didn’t make the Non Pro Classic Finals on I Got Your Remedy, she decided to enter the Novice Horse Non Pro classes. The decision paid off, as she and her horse marked a 144.5 to tie for the win of the second slate of both Levels 1 & 2.
“We didn’t make the finals because of an overspin, and I was pretty upset. I decided to show in this, and he did good today,” Miller said. Miller has owned the seven-year-old gelding, by Very Smart Remedy, since the colt was two. “Brent Wright trained him and showed him in the open and won some money there, and I just started showing him last year,” she said.
She gave credit to both Brent and Todd Wright, noting, “Sometimes we can’t get with Brent, so we will ride with Todd. They both help me so much.” Next stop will be Topeka, Kansas, next weekend. “It wasn’t supposed to work like that, but with all the rescheduling, that’s how it happened,” she said. “Thank you to Todd and Brent. They have helped me so much. TJ my boyfriend – we ride every night and he helps when we’re not at the trainer. There are so many people along the way that I want to thank; I couldn’t name them all.”
Kristin Avila & KR Ima Chic – ARC Nov. Horse Non Pro Level 1 Champions/Level 2 Co-Champions
Kristin Avila & Gunners Specialdream – ARC Nov. Horse Non Pro Level 2 Co-Champions
Kristin Avila showed two different horses to top both levels of the ARC Nov. Horse Non Pro, winning the Level 1 and tying for the win of the Level 2 on KR Ima Chic, and tying for the Level 2 with Gunners Specialdream. Both horses have had a busy weekend. Earlier in the day, Kristin’s husband Bobby Avila Jr. showed KR Ima Chic in the first section of the Open Finals. Kristin had shown Gunners Specialdream in the NRBC Non Pro Finals for Levels 2-4 on Friday.
“My goal for both horses was just to get a qualified ride for the ARC,” Avila said. “I just wanted to bring them back and lope them through the pattern, so I was surprised and happy with the results.”
Avila had actually been riding KR Ima Chic exclusively since Bobby had broken his leg last year. “About a month before the NRBC he took her over to show her here,” Kristin said.
“Gunners Specialdream is one that Bobby was going to show at NRBC when it was originally scheduled, but we did some horse swapping, so both horses are familiar to me.” Avila added, “I thank my husband Bobby Avila Jr, my mom who is watching my son at home, and everyone on our team who makes it possible to have a smooth show.”
Carlee McCutcheon Wins USA Reining Youth 14 – 18 and Youth 14-18 [1] on The Wizster Riding veteran reining horse The Wizster, Carlee McCutcheon earned a personal best the reining pen, marking a 148 to win the Championship of the Youth 14-18 for the USA Reining and ancillary classes at NRBC.
“That’s the highest I’ve ever marked, so I’m really happy today,” McCutcheon shared. The Wizster is a 10-year-old gelding by Gallo Del Cielo and out of Miss Whizard Jac. Over his career he has earned more than $200,000, including an NRBC Reserve Championship with Carlee’s father Tom McCutcheon at the reins.
“I’ve only been riding him a couple of weeks. We will see if he wants to keep doing this. He hasn’t really shown since the WEG trials, so this was good for both of us,” she said. McCutcheon will show again in Sunday’s youth classes. “I thank my mom and dad, my grandparents Tim and Colleen McQuay, and Debbie Brown,” she said.
Becca Schaffhauser & Dun Got My Rest – Youth 13 & Under [1] and USA Reining 13 & Under Champions
Becca Schaffhauser was only planning to use Saturday’s 13 & Under class as a schooling opportunity to prepare for the ARC 13 & Under on Sunday, but she and her horse Gun Got My Rest walked away with the win. “The run went good. I wasn’t actually trying to win because I was just wanting to get ready for tomorrow,” she shared.
The Schaffhausers purchased Dun Got My Rest, by Hollywood Dun It and out of Got My Rest, from Turnabout Farm at last year’s NRBC. “He has been really good and he’s super sweet. I love him a lot,” she said, adding that she rides the horse every day. “When we get back to the stall, he will be getting some treats.”
After the NRBC, the next show will be the Buckeye reining in Germantown, Tennessee. “It’s only 10 minutes from our house,” Schaffhauser said. “I thank my parents and everyone who helped me get ready.”
Logan Flaherty Wins Short Stirrup [1] on SS Spyderman
At the NRHA Derby earlier this year, Logan Flaherty and SS Spyderman won several classes. He shared that he and the 12-year-old gelding, by Topsail Whiz and out of Chics Velvet Lady, have gotten together even more. He proved it when he won the first slate of the Youth Short Stirrup with a score of 143.5!
“We got him about eight months ago. We call him Spyderman,” Logan shared.
His father, Patrick, added, “We lease him from Jenny Ricotta, and he’s kind of our family horse. Logan’s younger sister Layla showed him in the Walk/Trot last night and won second, so he’s a well-rounded youth horse.”
Logan, who swims and plays football in addition to riding horses, plans to show SS Spyderman again in Sunday’s youth classes. “I thank my dad and mom, and Jenny Ricotta for leasing him to me,” he said.