Downunder On The Top

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OWNUNDER ON THE TOP

Lee Deacon not only made his first Open Finals, he took home the Champion title in the 2022 Snaffle Bit Futurity®, making him the first Australian to do so.

By Kate Bradley Byars Action Photos by Primo Morales

2022 NRCHA OPEN SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY® TOP 10

The National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity® , presented by Metallic Cat, crowned Lee Deacon and Tornado Jonez the 2022 Open Champion in Fort Worth, Texas, on Saturday, October 22, in front of a sold-out crowd at the Will Rogers Memorial Center. The win was the first for both the Australianborn rider and the bay gelding’s owner, Brandy Ragland.

“Unreal. It’s unbelievable,” Deacon. “ In 2016, I made the Limited Finals and that is the last time I made any Finals. I’m very thankful, humbled and grateful. I can’t believe God would allow me the blessing of this and I don’t want to take it for granted. Now, how can I use this to glorify him. I hope I’m an example for any one of these guys who are working as hard as we do, they can achieve it if you just don’t quit. We all face adversity. It’s tough but we keep going. It’s our dream.”

Deacon and the 2019 gelding, bred by the Missi Jonez Partnership, sired by Stevie Rey Von and out of Missi Jonez (by Travelin Jonez), marked a 224 in the cow work in set two of three in the Finals. Then, Deacon returned to the back gate to cheer on his fellow competitors. In the end, his composite 667 (H:222/R:221/C:224), held to take the Open and Intermediate Open titles.

Along with Brandon Buttars, Tack Louthan and Cayley Wilson, Deacon was one of only four Intermediate Open riders to qualify for the Open Finals, which included multiple past Futurity Champions, including Sarah

Fort Worth, Texas – October 6-22, 2022 Horse/Rider/Pedigree/Owner/Score/Money 1.Tornado Jonez; Lee Deacon; 19G (Stevie Rey Von x Missi Jonez x Travelin Jonez); Brandy Ragland; 667 (H:222/R:221/C:224); $200,000. 2. Vince Von; Sarah Dawson; 19G (Stevie Rey Von x Hottness x Spots Hot); Wendy Buehler; 662.5 (H:222/ R:226.5/C:214); $100,000. 3. Nothing But Blu; Cayley Wilson; 19S (Once In A Blu Boon x CC Cat x Neat Little Cat); Alicia Bolls; 662 (H:217/R:225/C:220); $75,000. 4. A Reyl Rebel; Nick Dowers; 19S (Metallic Rebel x Never Reylinquish x Dual Rey); Clinton Marshall; 661.5 (H:219/R:226.5/C:216); $50,000. 5. Bossy Boons; Shane Steffen; 19G (CD Lights x Meradas Boonsmal x Peptoboonsmal); Winston Hansma; 660 (H:217.5/R:220/C:222.5); $40,000. 6 (TIE). Pride And Joyy; Chris Dawson; 19G (Stevie Rey Von x Fun N Fancy Free x Peptoboonsmal); Baby Daddy Stallions; 657 (H:216/R:221/C:220); $32,500. 6 (TIE). Itchin Ta Shine; Sarah Dawson; 19S (Call Me Mitch x Sheza Shinette x Shining Spark); Holy Cow Performance Horses; 657 (H:218/R:222.5/C:216.5); $32,500. 8. Tagging It; Corey Cushing; 19G (Metallic Cat x Dual Rey Tag x Dual Rey); Teton Ridge; 655.5 (H:217/ R:221.5/C:217); $25,000. 9. No Intro Needed; Todd Crawford; 19S (One Time Royalty x Shez Sinsational x Dual Pep); Monica Duflock; 652.5 (H:216/R:220/C:216.5); $23,000. 10 (TIE). SJR Stylish N Smooth; Matt Koch; 19M (Smooth As A Cat x Stylish Little Oak x Playin Stylish); San Juan Ranch; 651.5 (H:215.5/ R:222/C:214); $20,500. 10 (TIE). Nu One Time Blues; Matt Koch; 19S (One Time Pepto x Nu Bay Be Blue x Nu Cash); Ryan Sellers; 651.5 (H:214.5/R:224.5/C:212.5); $20,500.

Aboard Tornado Jonez, owned by Brandy Ragland, Lee Deacon marked a 224 down the fence to hold on to win the Open and Intermediate Open Snaffle Bit Futurity® titles.

Dawson, who qualified three entries back to the Finals, Two Million Dollar Rider Club members and past Champions Todd Bergen and Todd Crawford, Three Million Dollar Rider and three-time Futurity Champion Corey Cushing, and Million Dollar Riders and past Champions Nick Dowers, Kelby Phillips and Justin Wright.

For Deacon, who originally came from Queensland, Australia, to work for Chris Dawson in 2016, the 2022 show was much different than his previous attempts to earn a spot in the Finals.

“The truth of it is, I made this [Futurity event] an idol in my life. I made it too important. God had to teach me to lose,” Deacon said. “He’s taken it away from me; I had two years off with injury. I’ve gone through a lot to learn He is important in my life and not only this. I’m not here to be a hero horse trainer. I’m here for my friends. The fact He’s allowed me to win this is phenomenal.”

While Deacon hasn’t let up on the pressure he puts on himself to train a horse in a manner that benefits it in the long run, he isn’t as focused on only the win. That fit well into the plan that 18-year-old owner Brandy Ragland and her mother, Della Ragland’s plan, too, seeing that the gelding was originally purchased to be a Non Pro horse. Instead, the bay became their first Snaffle Bit Futurity entry.

“Della had shown in the cutting and wanted to get a cow horse,” Deacon explained. “We bought her a bridle horse, and she wanted something to go Derby on. They went off on their own and bought this horse, then asked if we wanted to ride him. She said if he was good enough for the Futurity, go ahead. They are awesome people! They have not put one ounce of pressure on me throughout this horse’s career. They are laid back, fun and along for the ride.”

Throughout the process of training Tornado Jonez and competing at the Futurity, it felt like a family affair for Deacon. He and his wife, fellow NRCHA professional Ashley Deacon, train together at their Marietta, Oklahoma, facility, and are friends with both Chris and Sarah Dawson.

“I got to see Chris win every major event [in 2012] with Travelin Jonez and that was a major education,” he said. “Now, I won on a Stevie Rey Von out of a Travelin Jonez mare. My life has been changed by knowing [Chris and Sarah Dawson]. He’s been there since day one. Sarah has been awesome. I listen to Chris and watch Sarah. It’s a special dynamic between the four of us It’s special to keep it all in the family.”

As Deacon awaited the scores coming through on the third set, he said he tried not to pay attention to where he was sitting, instead he was at the back gate cheering his fellow competitors.

“No matter where you are sitting, good or bad your run is, you get off your horse and you come to the back gate to cheer on your brothers and sisters. That is the example that has been set for me,” he said. “We are all rooting for each other and that is what is special about the cow horse family. We need to hold on to that tightly.”

Hold tightly, like Deacon did to the dream of becoming the first Australian to win the Futurity, and to achieve that goal. The 33-year-old has achieved the goal he envisioned when he was working on a cattle station at 16 and pursuing his dreams in another country at 27.

The Saturday evening opening ceremonies brought Joy Deary and her pony to town, along with her sister, Olivia, who carried the Texas flag.

PRELIMINARY HIGH SCORES

(Horse/Rider/Owner — Score) HIGH REIN

WhatuTalkinAbout; Justin Wright; Justin Ray Price — 226

HIGH HERD

Bet Hes Blu; Clayton Edsall; Beverly Servi — 223

HIGH COW, HIGH COMPOSITE

Vince Von; Sarah Dawson; Wendy Buehler — cow 227.5/ composite 671

Multiple AQHA & NRCHA World Champion Sire A Leading Reined Cow Horse Sire

Fee: $2,000

+ Chute Fee

Transported Cooled & Frozen Semen Available

(Playin Stylish - Tari Chick Gay, by Doc Tari)

LTE: $145,551

HESASTYLIN

LTE $34,159

(Mr Playinstylish - Shesalittleredboon, by Peptoboonsmal) Non-Pro Boxing Champion

Bred by Kit and Charlie Moncrief Owned by Sarco Creek Ranch • Shown by Heather Greeson

pictured left

PLAYIN MOTOWN

LTE $87,561

(Mr Playinstylish - Mo Flo, by Mr Peponita Flo) Non-Pro Bridle - 3rd

Bred by Kit and Charlie Moncrief & Lee Tennison Owned and Shown by Catelyn Walker

PLAYIN WITH CHER

LTE $58,844

(Mr Playinstylish - Bella Cher, by Peptoboonsmal) Intermediate Open Hackamore Classic - Split 8th, Limited Open Hackamore Classic - Split 3rd

Bred and Owned by Kit and Charlie Moncrief Shown by Daniel Sanchez

ROYAL FLETCH

(Jae Bar Fletch - Royal Blue Dually, by Dual Pep)

LTE: $235,852 • NCHA Open Futurity Champion

Fee: $2,000

Transported Cooled & Frozen Semen Available

FABULOUS FLETCH LTE $96,569

(Royal Fletch - Little Smart Ginger, by Smart Little Lena) Open Two Rein - Split 5th

Bred and Owned by Kit and Charlie Moncrief Shown by Daniel Sanchez

MY BOOTS ARE ROYAL LTE $8,522

Limited Open Hackamore Classic - 9th

Bred and Owned by Kit and Charlie Moncrief Shown by Daniel Sanchez

Burnett Ranches, LLC P.O. Box 130 • Guthrie, TX 79236

Complete Stallion Rosterlistingavailableonline at (855) 674-6773 www.6666ranch.com www.6666ranch.com!

Owned by Charlie & Kit Moncrief Moncrief Ranch

“My goal was to be a horseman and train whatever horse I desire. I hope I’m an example for any one of these guys who are working as hard as we do, they can achieve it if you just don’t quit. We all face adversity. It’s tough but we keep going. It’s our dream,” Deacon said.

The pair earned $200,000 in the Open and another $45,000 in the Intermediate Open. For being the high-scoring Stevie Rey Von offspring, Tornado Jonez added another $20,000 to his payday.

The Reserve Champion was Sarah Dawson aboard 2019 gelding Vince Von (Stevie Rey Von x Hottness x Spots Hot), owned by Wendy Buehler and bred by Fults Ranch LTD), scored a 662.5 (H:222/ R:226.5/C:214) and the $100,000 paycheck. Additionally, Vince Von was the high-scorer for the Open Sale Incentive, paying $27,594. Dawson rode three of her four Futurity entries in the Finals, including leading the preliminary composite going into the Finals night.

LIMITED OPEN

Flint Lee believed Sugs Brudder Light could be a champion even though her road to the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity wasn’t smooth. A fall in the fence work kept her out of the Reno Futurity money, driving Lee’s hopes for a bright NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity.

“I kind of knew this mare was great,” Lee said. “I felt like she was giving me everything and didn’t get her time in the spotlight, and I was hoping this would be her show. My other two horses went out in the prelims and she hung in there. We drew up way late in the herd and kind of had some heck. Going into the reining and the fence, I told myself and told her that we have nothing to lose and everything to gain, and we are going to leave it all on the line.”

The 2019 mare bred and owned by Janet Kubichek’s is by Pale Face Dunnit and out of Peanutbruddernjelly (by Docs

Riders in the Finals for all divisions walked down the tunnel to show under the bright lights at Will Rogers with a slew of NRCHYA-created good luck signs to cheer them on.

Following his 224 fence work, the crowd and those on the back of the bucking chute erupted in recognition of Lee Deacon’s electric run.

Sugs Brudder) and has a competitive older sibling that helped Lee to know he had talent in this prospect.

“Janet has been an amazing woman and a life-changing client for me,” said Lee. “I’ve shown her horses four or five years. We’ve had a couple Futurity horses but nothing we went big with. That is, until “Polly” showed up in Fort Worth, Texas. Lee scored a 655.5 (H:211/R:220/C:224.5) to take the title and the $20,000 payday back to Nevada.

“I love her,” Lee said of the mare. “She flaps her lip the whole time you’re on her, every day. She requires a lot of reassurance that she’s doing the right things and doesn’t handle you being upset with her, but she’s been a fun mare since day one.”

LEVEL 1 OPEN

Leon Lewis had an idea of the kind of mare he could train when the ranch he works for purchased Bet Sheza Pick (Bet Hesa Cat x Playin With Pick x Playin Attraction) from breeder Burnett Ranches LLC. His first NRCHA earnings were aboard Playin With Pick.

“They’ve been good to me, those mares,” he said. “I really like how this mare moves; she’s quick footed. From Day One in the round pen, she displayed characteristics of a good stopper and is a really smart mare. She’s almost too cowy but that makes her really good down the fence.”

The Level 1 Open Champion from Midway, Texas, grew up in Guthrie, where his father worked for the 6666 Ranch. The talent in Bet Sheza Pick may have been in her genes, but Lewis says that mare felt green headed into the Futurity.

“She kind of surprised me a little bit. I thought she was a little greener going into the show, but she grew up while we were there,” he said.

To earn the win, the pair scored a 648.5 (H:216/R:217.5/C:215), and Knight Land and Cattle picked up a check for $16,500.

For complete results from the 2022 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity, visit nrcha.com/snaffle-bit-futurity/.

INTERMEDIATE OPEN RESERVE CHAMPION

Nothing But Blu (Once In A Blu Boon x CC Cat x Neat Little Cat), bred and owned by Alicia Bolls, and Cayley Wilson rode to a 662 composite (H:217/R:225/C:220) to earn reserve and $35,000. The pair finished third in the Open, adding another $75,000 to their earnings.

OPEN RESERVE CHAMPION, LADIES CHAMPION, SALE INCENTIVE HIGH SCORE, OPEN CHROME CASH CHAMPION, GELDING INCENTIVE HIGH SCORE

Sarah Dawson piloted Vince Von (Stevie Rey Von x Hottness x Spots Hot), a 2019 gelding bred by Fults Ranch LTD and owned by Wendy Buehler, to a 662.5 (H:222/R:226.5/C:214), earning reserve and $100,000. An additional $27,594 was paid for the preliminary high score in the Open Sale Incentive, $1,240 for the American Paint Horse Association Chrome Cash Incentive and for the NRCHA Gelding Incentive another $6,570.

LIMITED OPEN CHAMPION

Riding Janet Kubichek’s bred and owned 2019 mare Sugs Brudder Light (Pale Face Dunnit x Peanutbruddernjelly x Docs Sugs Brudder), Flint Lee scored a 655.5 (H:211/R:220/C:224.5) to take the title and the $20,000 payday.

LIMITED OPEN RESERVE CHAMPION

Riding Burnett Ranches LLC bred and owned 2019 mare Paddys Future (WR This Cats Smart x Paddys Gin x Paddys Irish Whiskey), Terry Riddle marked a 653 (H:216.5/R:215.5/C:221) to earn reserve and $15,000.

LEVEL 1 OPEN CHAMPION

Bet Sheza Pick (Bet Hesa Cat x Playin With Pick x Playin Attraction), a 2019 mare bred by Burnett Ranches LLC and owned by Knight Land & Cattle Co., and G. Leon Lewis rode to the win with a 648.5 to earn $16,500.

LEVEL 1 OPEN RESERVE CHAMPION

Playin For Reyl (Dual Smart Rey x The Last Playday x The Bug Doctor), a 2019 gelding bred by Michelle Horton and owned by Kathleen Haydon, and Sawyer Sanders scored a 648 and earned $12,500 for reserve.

RANCHING HERITAGE BRED HIGH SCORE

Nu Passport (WR This Cats Smart x Shiney Nu Annie x Shining Spark), bred and owned by Wagonhound Land & Livestock LLC, was piloted to the high score for an American Quarter Horse Association Ranching Heritage Bred horse by Justin Wright to claim the title based on preliminary scores.