Futurity Recap: Non-Pro Champion

from NCHA Cutting Horse Chatter • SPRING 2022 • Vol.75 No.1

Futurity Recap: Amateur Champion

ChristinaCox

Non-Pro

PHOTOGRAPHY BY S. SYLVESTER PHOTOGRAPHY

For years, Christina Cox has been surrounded by a family of NCHA Futurity winners. Her dad: Jody Galyean, brothers: Wesley and Beau Galyean, and husband: Lloyd Cox, have all earned titles at the prestigious event. Cox felt like the odd-man-out without a Futurity championship of her own. Finally, after riding Playful Metallic to the Non-Pro championship, she can add her name to the list.

“My emotions are all over the place; I’m overwhelmed,” Christina said. “It’s a dream we all work for and fight for, and I can’t believe it came true for me.”

Winning the title was satisfying, but it was also an indication of how much Cox and Playful Metallic had grown together throughout the Futurity. The pair marked a 213 in the first go, which disappointed Christina, but instead of stewing on it, she strived to find a way to get better.

“I was really down on myself, because I knew she was a better horse,” Christina said. “I like to think I’m a competitor, too, so I went to people, and I just asked for help. Like - tell me what I need to do to get better.

“I think sometimes when you’re pushed back in a corner, you have nothing to lose and you just go show,” Christina added. “Because we were pushed in a corner, we had to go cut cows we wouldn’t normally cut. From that point, I just developed a trust in her, and we clicked.”

In the second go, the duo scored a 222, which gave them the thirdhighest composite, a 435, going into the semifinals. They marked a matching 222 to lead the semis, then upped the ante in the finals when they marked a 223.

“When the buzzer rang, my brothers came running to me to celebrate, and I was like, ‘I can’t hug y’all right now because of the tears!’” Christina said. “I didn’t even know what my score was, I just knew that run was the best I could do. I didn’t know if it was going to win, but I had accomplished my goal of doing my best.”

Christina and Playful Metallic banked $63,187 for the win. The mare (Metallic Cat x Playful Ricochet x Smart Lil Ricochet), who was bred by Jerome Bradford, has been with the Cox’s since they purchased her in July 2021. Lloyd continued her training, and Christina said he had done a wonderful job. She was grateful to him, along with her family and friends, for all their support of her.

“It’s the most amazing moment,” Christina said of her win. “You hear people say that, but until you experience it in this coliseum, you don’t realize that it’s literally the most amazing moment.” — By Kristen Pitzer