The National Reining Breeders Classic, Katy, Texas, is well underway. The third full day of competition featured several National Reining Horse Association approved classes, as well as the first round of the Yellowstone Rookie Shootout. The Yellowstone Rookie Shootout Finals will be held on Friday, and the Consolation Round will be held on Sunday.

All five qualifiers to the Shootout Finals will qualify for the Run For a Million Rookie Challenge in Las Vegas, Nevada, as will the top five of the Consolation round. In addition, there are two slates of most ancillary classes, and high point buckles will be awarded after the second slate of each class, giving the first slate winners a bit of breathing room.

Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 (1) Kristen Avila & Gunnerspecialplayboy

Topping the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 class with a 146 was Kristen Avila and the 6-year-old gelding Gunnerspecialplayboy. “He was good today. We had a little bobble with our spins, and he got a little fast in his rundowns, so we’ll need to work on that before we show again on Saturday, but I can’t complain,” Avila said.

Unfortunately, Gunnerspecialplayboy, by Gunners Special Nite out of Shameless Playgirl, was never nominated for the NRBC. “If so, I’d be showing him in the Derby, so we just brought him down here to show him in the Novice and Non Pro classes, so I’d have something extra to show,” she explained, adding she plans to show the horse Saturday and Sunday. “Last year we ended third in the world standings so this year I wanted to get an earlier start so we could finish higher.”

Kristen and her husband, Bobby Avila Jr., have owned the gelding since August of his four-year-old year. “I like everything about him. He’s always a really happy horse with his ears forward, and he’s quiet and pleasant. You just put your hand forward and he goes right between the reins. He’s a big turner and a big stopper, and he just fits me really well,” Avila said. “Thank you to my husband for taking the time to train him to fit me and always making sure he’s ready.”

Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 (1) Kathy Barker & A Lil Dab Will Do

A Lil Dab Will Do might have started his career as a cow horse, but it’s easily apparent he’s equally talented in the reining arena. “He won world championships with Robert Chown. He showed him at the Snaffle Bit Futurity, then we bought him, and he showed him at the NRHA Futurity and made the finals,” owner/rider Kathy Barker explained.

Barker and the 9-year-old gelding, by Cat Man Do out of Dainty Little Step, marked a 143.5 to win the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1. “He was wonderful today. I had some mistakes because I haven’t shown him but two times now. He’s a lot of horse, and I don’t feel I’m a great rider, but he drags me along with him,” she said with a laugh.

Barker and A Lil Dab Will Do aren’t done – they’ll show again on Sunday. “He’s been off for more than a year. I thought maybe I’d bring him down and show him in the Classic Challenge. I figured the Novice Horse would be a good warmup, even though he’s won a lot more than most Novice horses, but that was in the cow horse,” she explained. “Thank you to Sebastian Petroll, Robert Chown, and my husband Larry.”

Rookie Level 2 (1)/Yellowstone Rookie Shootout Round 1 Winner Kyla Thurlow & Kachina Olena Tag Kyla Thurlow topped the Yellowstone Rookie Shootout Round 1 and the Rookie Level 2 with a 73.5 on her 6-year-old stallion Kachina Olena Tag. Nicknamed “Facebook” because he was won through a Facebook auction, Kachina Olena Tag is by former NRBC Non Pro Champion Whiz N Tag Chex and out of leading NRHA producing mare Kachina Oak Olena.

“It’s probably a very unhealthy relationship because I’m obsessed with him. I love everything about him,” Thurlow said with a laugh. “He was wonderful today. He’s truly a showhorse and is always looking to do the right thing. He doesn’t like to work very hard, so he always tries to do it right the first time.”

Thurlow has her eyes set on the Yellowstone Rookie Shootout Finals and will compete in the second round on Thursday. If she and Facebook finish with one of the top five composite scores from all the Rookie entries, they’ll compete in the Finals on Friday.

Rookie Level 1 (1) Kalena Reynolds & Gun Whiz It

Fifteen-year-old Kalena Reynolds claimed the Rookie Level 1 win with her horse Gun Whiz It. The eight-year-old mare, nicknamed Cecilia, is by Colonels Smoking Gun out of Roll Whiz It. “She’s really good, and super fun, and she thinks she’s human. She’s a little sassy, but if I stay out of her way and go with the flow, she’s really good,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds definitely went with the flow in the Wheless Arena, marking a 72.5. “She was really good. I was a little nervous because I didn’t get a chance to warm her up much this morning, but that’s usually when we do the best. She had a lot of go, but not too much, and was really honest,” she recalled.

The duo has a busy week. They’ll show again in the Rookie on Thursday, with an eye on the Yellowstone Rookie Shootout Finals on Friday. They’ll also show on Sunday in the Non Pro Challenge. “We’re just going to have fun, and I’ll try to keep her happy and not over-ride her,” she said. “Thank you to Dany and Fred Tremblay, my mom, my horse, all the people I ride with, and God for giving me this blessing.”

Prime Time Rookie (1) Nancy Currie & Dun Playin Tag

Nancy Currie and her veteran show horse Dun Playin Tag won the Prime Time Rookie title with a 72.5. Currie has owned the 15-year-old gelding, by Whiz N Tag Chex out of Brennas Dunit Fancy, for about five years. “Someday we will retire him, but every time I think he’s ready he shows us he’s not,” she said with a laugh. “He’s a real testament that if you keep these performance horses going, someone can enjoy them for many years.”

Dun Playin Tag has had a career that’s been successful from Open to Non Pro competition. “He’s kind of a legend. He placed in the Futurity and Derby and here in the Open and Non Pro,” Currie said.

While Curie has shown at the NRBC before, she and Jake were unable to in 2018, because he sustained an injury to his leg on the trip to Katy. “He had 18 stitches in his leg. As I was driving here for the show, I was thinking how blessed I was to be able to ride him this year.” She added, “He was unbelievable. I give all the credit to my trainer Lorenzo Conzarella who has helped us and has him working great.”

Currie and Dun Playin Tag will compete in the Rookie classes again on Thursday, and hopefully in the Yellowstone Rookie Shootout on Friday. She also has her eye on the Non Pro Classic Challenge on Sunday. “It just depends on how he’s feeling at that point,” she said. “I’m just so happy with how he was today. I thank the Lord, my trainer Lorenzo, and my family.”