2020 Metallic Cat NRCHA Snaffle Bit Open Champions

Sarah Dawson & Selvarey 2020 Metallic Cat NRCHA Snaffle Bit Open Champions

Courtesy International Horse Press

The atmosphere on Open Snaffle Bit Futurity finals night inside Will Rogers Coliseum was nothing short of adrenaline-charged as fans were treated to one dynamic performance after another at the $1.3 million National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity, presented by Metallic Cat.

The crowning of Open, Cinch Intermediate Open and Limited Open champions represented the dreams of owners, breeders and trainers coming to fruition. In typical reined cow horse fashion it all came down to the fence work. Open Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion.

The leaderboard was stacked as Open finals fence work began. Madeleine Claire Fountain's Ricato Suave (Metallic Cat x Hip Hip Sue Rey x Dual Rey) and Clay Volmer held down the No. 1 spot with a 440.5 (223 herd/ 217.5 rein), but Sarah Dawson and both of the great horses she made the finals on were hot on his heels. Dawson ranked second, trailing by one point, with Smart Chic An Tari (219 herd/ 220 rein) owned by Aaron Ranch. She was sitting third on Sheri Jamieson's mare Selvarey (216 herd/ 220.5 rein) with a 436.5.

Last out in the second set it was SnapDragons (Gunnatrashya x Catnaps x High Brow Cat), ridden by Zane Davis for Shane Law, that took command of the lead with a scalding 222 down the fence and the resulting 656.5 composite (215.5 herd/ 219 rein). Ricato Suave (Metallic Cat x Hip Hip Sue Rey x Dual Rey) and Volmer were first up in the third set, posting a 216 to join SnapDragons and Davis at the top of the leaderboard with a 656.5.

Selvarey ridden by Sarah Dawson 2020 Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Champion.

No. 26 of 28 in the draw, it was Dawson and Selvarey who rose to the challenge, executing their fence run to perfection. Selvarey and Dawson were rewarded with a score of 224 by the judges. Dawson's resulting 660 composite on Selvarey cinched the 2020 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity championship by a three and one half point margin for earnings of $125,000. SnapDragons and Davis shared the reserve championship with Ricato Suave and Volmer, each of whom earned $80,000.

Surrounded by friends and family, including her 6-month-old daughter Hadley Grace and her husband Chris, Dawson explained how the win was quite special considering that Selvarey's dam Shine Smarter, by WR This Cats Smart, was her first Open Snaffle Bit Futurity finalist. Selvarey is a Dual Rey daughter and is a product of Dawson's parents Richard and Cheryl Winters' breeding program. Dawson describes the mare as having been exceptional from the start.

“She’s been such an easy mare to train, she tries really hard and she hates to take a wrong step. She’s a dream to train, she’s awesome," said Dawson.

The humble champion not only credited her horse, but also her spouse and fellow NRCHA Professional, Chris, for his role in her win. "My husband, Chris, he’s just such a support system to me," she said. "We ride and train horses together all day long and if it weren’t for him and having his eyeballs on me all the time I wouldn’t be where I am today." Of her stellar finals performance Dawson explained that her mindset was simply to put forth a solid effort.

"Winning it wasn’t on my radar at all," said Dawson. "I was just trying to put a clean, smooth run together and get as big a check as we can at that point. It comes together when you least expect it." The Open Futurity champion was awarded top-notch prizes.