Leathers tops Cowboy Class Invitational

By Katie Frank EATHERS WINS COWBOY CLASS INVITATIONALL

Working cowboys showcased the handiness of their ranch horses in the Cowboy Class Invitational.

For the last three years, Cotton Leathers has used his experience at the Cowboy Class Invitational to hone his skills for the show pen and on the ranch. Camaraderie filled the stands within the historic Will Rogers Coliseum for the third annual Cowboy Class Invitational, held during the National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity®, presented by Metallic Cat. As working cowboys executed rein work, buddies hooted and hollered with words of encouragement.

Ultimately, Cotton Leathers of the Frisco Creek Ranch Division of the 6666 Ranch, located in Guthrie, Texas, took home the win aboard Amarillo Attraction (Playin Attraction x Seven In Vegas x Seven From Heaven), owned by Burnett Ranches LLC. Judges scored them a 145.5 in the rein work and a 147.5 in the cow work, which put them at the top of the pack heading into the steer stopping.

With a smooth steer stopping run, Leathers and “George” marked a 148, for a composite of 441. They took home a check for $1,140, as well as a pair of romal reins from Traditional Rawhide Braiders, a buckle for the high reining score and a buckle for the high cow work score.

“We started out slow in the rein work,” said Leathers, whose father is longtime 6666 Ranch cowboy Joe Leathers. “I was going too slow. My good buddy Myles

[Brown] told me, ‘Go faster!’ So I went faster!

“George swapped leads good—he’s always been a good lead changer. They felt smooth. And he’s a big stopper, but sometimes he doesn’t stop well at the show, and that’s mostly my fault. But it came together today.”

When it came time to work his cow, Leathers was confident in his ranch horse.

“One of the ranch’s divisions that we care for runs straight yearlings, so we’re always working the herd and sorting,” he said. “If something runs off, I just as soon circle it up and rope it. We rope all the time and doctor it. In the cow work, there’s really nothing he doesn’t do day in and day out.”

This is Leathers third year competing in the class, which is exclusively for riders who earn a paycheck on a ranch and are invited to attend an NRCHA-hosted clinic before the Snaffle Bit event. This year’s clinic was at the 6666 Ranch, with notable horsemen such as Ben Baldus, NRCHA Two Million Dollar Rider Todd Crawford, NRCHA Million Dollar Rider Kelby Philips, 6666 Ranch resident trainer Terry Riddle and Jordan Williams coaching the cowboys.

The Cowboy Class Invitational was created to encourage working cowboys and cowgirls to the sport of reined cow horse. It consists of three parts: rein work, cow work and roping or steer stopping. Ranch horses typically know how to work a cow and can execute the maneuvers in a reining pattern, so the class is an opportunity to refine their skills, bring their horses to town, and compete for NRCHA points and money.

“The class is great,” said Leathers. “There are a lot more people wanting to get in it than were here today, so I think it will grow.

“I think it’s good for the NRCHA and cowboys, and anybody who wants to show a horse who is eligible for it,” he

Left: Buddy Thomas rode 2017 gelding Gas It Cat (Metallic Cat x CDS Starlight MS x CD Olena), owned by his wife, Kelsey Thomas, to tie for the reserve spot with a 430.

Below: Tying with a composite 430, Levi Walden rode his DD Quanah Blue (Huerfano River Blue x Quanahs Rooster x Quanah O Lena) to the reserve spot in the Cowboy Class Invitational.

continued. “It’s a good time and fun. Everyone always goes home and works on their horses whenever they leave, whether they do well or not. They go home and make themself and their horse better. So, it’s good for the industry and good for horses and people.”

Leathers has ridden the 6-year-old palomino gelding since the horse’s 2-yearold year and says the best thing about him is his consistency.

“In a lot of ways, he’s the same at home as he is in the arena,” Leathers said. “He’s maybe a little calmer at home, but we’ve shown him enough now that he’s pretty calm and laid back. He’s the same every day. He’s really consistent and I can read his moods.”

Leathers has ridden George in every Cowboy Class, making a conscious effort to have improved his horsemanship and his horse’s ability each visit to Fort Worth.

“This horse has progressed a lot, especially in the last couple of years,” he reflected. “My son and I showed this last summer quite a bit in the Panhandle Reined Cow Horse Association. We’ve had several guys helping both of us along the way and getting input by good guys like Myles Brown, Russell Dilday and Todd Crawford. Those guys are always at the show helping out. Whatever they say, we listen to, and we go home and practice exactly what they said!”

FOR EVERY EQUINE DISCIPLINE

The intramuscular bisphosphonate injection

for control of clinical signs associated with Navicular Syndrome in horses 4 years of age and older

Learn more online www.dechra-us.com www.osphos.com

As with all drugs, side effects may occur. In field studies and post-approval experience the most common side effects reported were signs of discomfort, nervousness, and colic. Other signs reported were: renal insufficiency/failure, anorexia, lethargy, hypercalcemia, behavioral disorders, hyperkalemia, hyperactivity, recumbency, hyperthermia, injection site reactions, muscle tremor, urticaria, hyperglycemia, and fracture. In some cases, death has been reported as an outcome of these adverse events. The safe use of OSPHOS has not been evaluated in horses less than 4 years of age or breeding horses. OSPHOS should not be used in pregnant or lactating mares, or mares intended for breeding. NSAIDs should not be used concurrently with OSPHOS. Concurrent use of NSAIDs with OSPHOS may increase the risk of renal toxicity and acute renal failure. Use of OSPHOS in patients with conditions affecting renal function or mineral or electrolyte homeostasis is not recommended. Refer to the prescribing information for complete details or visit www.dechra-us.com. Bisphosphonate. For use in horses only. Brief Summary (For Full Prescribing Information, see package insert) CAUTION: Federal (USA) law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian. DESCRIPTION: Clodronate disodium is a non-amino, chloro-containing bisphosphonate. Chemically, clodronate disodium is (dichloromethylene) diphosphonic acid disodium salt and is manufactured from the tetrahydrate form. INDICATION: For the control of clinical signs associated with navicular syndrome in horses. CONTRAINDICATIONS: Horses with hypersensitivity to clodronate disodium should not receive OSPHOS. Do not use in horses with impaired renal function or with a history of renal disease. WARNINGS: Do not use in horses intended for human consumption. HUMAN WARNINGS: Not for human use. Keep this and all drugs out of the reach of children. Consult a physician in case of accidental human exposure. PRECAUTIONS: OSPHOS has been associated with renal toxicity. Concurrent administration of other potentially nephrotoxic drugs should be approached with caution and renal function should be monitored. Use of bisphosphonates in patients with conditions or diseases affecting renal function is not recommended. Horses should be well-hydrated prior to and after the administration of OSPHOS due to the potential for adverse renal events. Water intake and urine output should be monitored for 3-5 days post-treatment and any changes from baseline should elicit further evaluation. As a class, bisphosphonates may be associated with gastrointestinal and renal toxicity. Sensitivity to drug associated adverse reactions varies with the individual patient. Renal and gastrointestinal adverse reactions may be associated with plasma concentrations of the drug. Bisphosphonates are excreted by the kidney; therefore, conditions causing renal impairment may increase plasma bisphosphonate concentrations resulting in an increased risk for adverse reactions. Concurrent administration of other potentially nephrotoxic drugs should be approached with caution and renal function should be monitored. Use of bisphosphonates in patients with conditions or diseases affecting renal function is not recommended. Administration of bisphosphonates has been associated with abdominal pain (colic), discomfort, and agitation in horses. Clinical signs usually occur shortly after drug administration and may be associated with alterations in intestinal motility. In horses treated with OSPHOS these clinical signs usually began within 2 hours of treatment. Horses should be monitored for at least 2 hours following administration of OSPHOS. Bisphosphonates affect plasma concentrations of some minerals and electrolytes such as calcium, magnesium and potassium, immediately post-treatment, with effects lasting up to several hours. Caution should be used when administering bisphosphonates to horses with conditions affecting mineral or electrolyte homeostasis (e.g. hyperkalemic periodic paralysis, hypocalcemia, etc.). The safe use of OSPHOS has not been evaluated in horses less than 4 years of age. The effect of bisphosphonates on the skeleton of growing horses has not been studied; however, bisphosphonates inhibit osteoclast activity which impacts bone turnover and may affect bone growth. Bisphosphonates should not be used in pregnant or lactating mares, or mares intended for breeding. The safe use of OSPHOS has not been evaluated in breeding horses or pregnant or lactating mares. Bisphosphonates are incorporated into the bone matrix, from where they are gradually released over periods of months to years. The extent of bisphosphonate incorporation into adult bone, and hence, the amount available for release back into the systemic circulation, is directly related to the total dose and duration of bisphosphonate use. Bisphosphonates have been shown to cause fetal developmental abnormalities in laboratory animals. The uptake of bisphosphonates into fetal bone may be greater than into maternal bone creating a possible risk for skeletal or other abnormalities in the fetus. Many drugs, including bisphosphonates, may be excreted in milk and may be absorbed by nursing animals. Increased bone fragility has been observed in animals treated with bisphosphonates at high doses or for long periods of time. Bisphosphonates inhibit bone resorption and decrease bone turnover which may lead to an inability to repair micro damage within the bone. In humans, atypical femur fractures have been reported in patients on long term bisphosphonate therapy; however, a causal relationship has not been established. ADVERSE REACTIONS: The most common adverse reactions reported in the field study were clinical signs of discomfort or nervousness, colic and/or pawing. Other signs reported were lip licking, yawning, head shaking, injection site swelling, and hives/pruritus. POST-APPROVAL EXPERIENCE (December 2018): The following adverse events are based on post-approval adverse drug experience reporting. Not all adverse events are reported to FDA/CVM. It is not always possible to reliably estimate the adverse event frequency or establish a causal relationship to product exposure using these data. The following adverse events are listed in decreasing order of reporting frequency: renal failure, polyuria, polydipsia, abdominal pain, anorexia, lethargy, hypercalcemia, behavioral disorder, discomfort, hyperkalemia, hyperactivity, recumbency, hyperthermia, injection site reactions, muscle tremor, urticaria, hyperglycemia, and fracture. In some cases, death has been reported as an outcome of the adverse events listed above.

INFORMATION FOR HORSE OWNERS: Owners should be advised to:

• NOT administer NSAIDs. • Ensure horses have access to adequate water before andafter administration of OSPHOS. • Observe their horse for at least 2 hours post-treatment forsigns of colic, agitation, and/or abnormal behavior. • If a horse appears uncomfortable, nervous, or experiences cramping post- treatment, hand walk the horse for 15 minutes. If signs do not resolve contact the veterinarian. • Monitor water intake and urine output for 3-5 days post-treatment. • Contact their veterinarian if the horse displays abnormal clinical signs such as changes in drinking and urination, appetite, and attitude.

Manufactured for: Dechra Veterinary Products 7015 College Blvd., Suite 525, Overland Park, KS 66211 866-933-2472 © 2020 Dechra Ltd. OSPHOS is a registered trademark of Dechra Ltd. All rights reserved. Approved by FDA under NADA # 141-427