Stock Horse of Texas Collegiate Challenge

On Their Way

ATTING B 1,000

By Lillian Kent

Adding to her Kalpowar Quarter Horses Celebration of Champions bankroll, Emily Kent and On The Reydio grabbed their second title together with a composite of 143.5 in the NHSRA Challenge.

Emily Kent added another Championship to her list at the NHSRA Challenge with trusty gelding On The Reydio.

As the National Reined Cow Horse Association 2022 Kalpowar Quarter Horses Celebration of Champions ended, high school students had their chance to shine during the National High School Rodeo Association Reined Cow Horse Challenge on Saturday, February 19.

With a score of 143.5 (R:71/C:72.5), 18-year-old Emily Kent and On The Reydio came away with the win. The title was the second of three big wins for Kent at the Celebration of Champions—two of which were astride On The Reydio.

“He’s a little show horse,” Kent said. “The run felt pretty good. He needed to be schooled in the reining after his [winning Non Pro Tres Osos Cow Horse Derby] run. He was a little strong but nothing too bad. I want to win the Stallion Stakes Derby, too, so I thought ‘Just be a little conservative here.’ He doesn’t need to be schooled down the fence, because he’s just spot-on all the time. So, I just let him have that and he showed us all [that] he could do it again.”

At 5 years old, On The Reydio, aka “Conway,” and Kent fit each other like a glove. The gelding is sired by Reydioactive and out of Cat Ichi mare Bewitching Ichi. He was bred by the EE Ranches Inc. of Whitesboro, Texas.

According to Kent, some of Conway’s best qualities are his laid-back attitude and spatial awareness.

“I love the way he goes around. He

“ He’s big and stout and strong. He will turn and go circle a cow; he means business. He is the love of my life.”—Emily Kent

always seems to know where his feet are, and he’s got a look to him on a cow that people love. He’s big and stout and strong. He will turn and go circle a cow; he means business,” Kent said. “He is the love of my life.”

Earning $460, a Bob’s Custom Saddle and a NHSRA-themed YETI Cooler for the effort, Kent expressed gratitude for the opportunities organizations like the NHSRA and NRCHA offer youth. According to Kent, the NHSRA gives a “high school experience” to homeschooled youth like herself.

“I appreciate the National High School Rodeo Association for giving kids opportunities to show and encouraging them to ride better horses and become better horsemen. I think it’s totally thrilling and awesome, what they’re doing,” Kent said.

Now that high school is behind her, Kent says college isn’t in the cards. She plans to focus on training horses and growing as a rider.

Reserve Champion in the NHSRA Challenge was Jett Smith and High Powered Pepto. The duo scored a 69 in the reining and 72 down the fence, good for a composite of 141 and $345 in earnings. High Powered Pepto (Powder Proof x Powderhorn Missy x Boonylensma) was bred by Farrah Roberts and is owned by Jillian Smith.