The first day of competition inside the Tellepsen and Wheless arenas featured the Intermediate Open, Limited Open, Rookie Professional and Limited Non Pro classes.
Archer Wins Intermediate Open on Smart Stepin Lena
In the Tellepsen arena, Open riders showed off their big stops and clean spins with three champions coming out with top honors. Stephen Archer turned in a 144.5 to take the Intermediate Open win riding Smart Stepin Lena (Wimpys Little Step x Smart Shiney Lena), owned by Carolyn Tellepsen.
“He was really good; pretty much everything was perfect. He can really run and stop. I had a little late lead change, but that was all me,” Archer said with a laugh. “With this horse all you have to do is count and say ‘Whoa’ and you’ll be good.”
Smart Stepin Lena has been with Archer for six months and although he was originally purchased for Tellepsen to ride, she offered the 6-year-old stallion to Archer and he jumped at the opportunity to ride him for the year.
“We bought him for [Carolyn] and I just stole him for the year,” Archer jokingly said. “[After this year] I’ll give him back to her.”
Chris Dawson and Shiney Outlaw Win Limited Open
In the Limited Open, Chris Dawson rode Shiney Outlaw (Shiners Nickle x Mereyda) to the win with a score of 142. Although the duo turned in a great showing Dawson nearly missed his run as he had been at a friend’s house working 3-year-olds on cattle and miscalculated the time. When Dawson pulled into the Great Southwest Equestrian Center and unloaded Shiney Outlaw from the trailer, the pre-check judge was already calling his name.
“I didn’t get to brush him or put my chaps on or anything else,” Dawson said with a laugh adding that it didn’t frazzle the standout stallion. “This horse, we’ve been showing him in the cowhorse and my mom and my wife have really been tearing it up on him. Michelle Cannon was interested in bringing him here and doing the NRBC on him, since she owns him and the derbies are open for 6-year-olds. We were eligible for all the divisions and so we decided to bring him down. I entered him in this class just trying to give him as many good experiences in the show pen as I could before we go show tomorrow (in the derby).”
Glen Estival Takes Rookie Professional Win
Glen Estival rode Thatza Good Question to a score of 142.5 for the win in the Rookie Professional for owner Janine Inmon. Estival has only been riding Thatza Good Question, aka “GQ,” for about six months and the duo are putting together solid runs in the show pen. The 7-year-old gelding is by Wimpys Little Step and out of Sheza Bonita Whiz and his future with Estival looks bright.
“There were no penalties, so that was good and he was really honest for me,” Estival said of his run. “He’s a really good horse.”
Mary Scruggs and HA Lena Olynna Win Limited Non Pro
Mary Scruggs rode HA Lena Olynna to a score of 72 inside the Wheless arena to top the Limited Non Pro class. Scruggs’ 6-year-old mare by Lena Spark and out of HA Olynnas Chairman and has been with Scruggs since her 3-year-old year. Now in her last derby year the mare is continuing to impress Scruggs with her abilities in the pen.
“My run was really clean, it was a great run, my horse listened to me and I felt like it was one of the best runs we’ve ever had,” Scruggs said. “She was with me the whole time. She did everything I asked her to do. I was pretty surprised, but it was awesome!” Scruggs hopes to use the NRBC not only to continue building on their success and partnership but to also qualify for the American Quarter Horse Association Select World Show.