HINY SWEEP S

Stephen Silva came roaring back to showing reined cow horses, capturing three Non Pro titles in Las Vegas, Nevada.

BY JENNIFER BISHOP | PHOTOS BY PRIMO MORALES

In September of 2022, Stephen Silva’s longtime trainer, Justin Wright, called to say he finally found the right horse for his client. As it turns out, Wright was right on the money. After qualifying for the National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity® Open Finals and finishing 12th, Wright turned 2019 gelding DT Shiny N I Know It (Hickory Holly Time x Lil Miss Shiney Chex x Shining Spark) over to Silva to show in the 2023 Derby events.

Silva piloted the gelding to win the Non Pro, Intermediate Non Pro and the Limited Non Pro divisions of the Derby at the Teton Ridge Stallion Stakes in Las Vegas, Nevada. The pair marked a total of 646 (H: 211/R: 218.5/C: 216.5) to win a total of $15,587.92—winning $10,000 in the Non Pro, $3,582 in the Intermediate Non Pro and in the Limited Non Pro, $2,005.92.

Since 2016, Silva has taken it easy and backed off showing while he worked on his business, invested time in his family and tuned into his favorite hobbies of music, wine and cooking, all while waiting for the right horse to come along. He enjoyed watching Wright show his horses in the Open and he still showed some in the Non Pro Bridle, but overall, he says he was regrouping.

2023 Non Pro Top 10

Las Vegas, Nevada – March 23-April 1, 2023 (Rider/Horse/Pedigree/Owner/Score/Money)

1. Stephen Silva; DT Shiny N I Know It; 19S (Hickory Holly Time x Lil Miss Shiney Chex x Shining Spark); Stephen Silva; 646 (H: 211/ R: 218.5/C: 216.5); $10,000.

2. Debbie Crafton; SJR SumKindaRockStar; 18S (Smooth As A Cat x Sumkinda Pinkcadilac x Peptoboonsmal); Debbie Crafton; 646 (H: 214/ R: 218/C: 214); $7,500.

3. Debbie Crafton; SJR Diamond Luna; 19M (CD Diamond x SJR Smooth Gina x Smooth As A Cat); Debbie Crafton; 645 (H: 216/R: 212.5/C: 216.5); $6,000.

4. Brent Ratliff; Seven S Red Hot; 19G (Stevie Rey Von x Seven S Wild Flower x Nic It In the Bud); Brent Ratliff; 644.5 (H: 212/R: 216.5/C: 216); $4,500.

5 (TIE). Debbie Crafton; Ohh You Betcha; 19G (Bet Hesa Cat x Isabellena x Quejanaisalena); Debbie Crafton; 638.5 (H: 208/R: 217.5/C: 213); $3,150.

5 (TIE). Lanham Brown; RAB Fly Lika Outlaw; 19G (Shiney Outlaw x RAB Go Peppy Fly x Gold Peppy Freckles); R.A. Brown Ranch; 638.5 (H: 211/ R: 215.5/C: 212); $3,150.

7. Elizabeth Kania; Hickory Dickory Time; 18G (Hickory Holly Time x Very Mild Remedy x Very Smart Remedy); Renee Dubois; 637.5 (H: 210/ R: 212.5/C: 215); $2,350.

8. Jayson Fisher; Wood U Just Do It; 18S (Woody Be Tuff x Spookys Cash x Hi Cash); Jayson and Teresa Fisher; 623.5 (H: 207/R: 213.5/C: 203); $1,900.

9. Nicole Westfall; Cat Like; 18S (Bet Hesa Cat x Smart N Katsi x Smart Lil Pepinic); Desiree or Jeff Westfall; 623 (H: 207/R: 217.5/C: 198.5); $1,650.

10. Kelli Buckley; One Royal Princess; 18M (One Time Royalty x Dillons Skarlet Chic x Matt Dillon Dun It); Mark Buckley; 622.5 (H: 209/R: 217/ C: 196.5); $1,650.

Non Pro Reserve Champion

Debbie

“In years past, I put so much pressure on myself to do well, and you know it got to be pretty stressful and I would put so much weight on winning or losing,” Silva said. “Coming into this year, I really just want to be a better horseman and keep coming to the shows.”

Silva’s motivation to show in the cow horse is a direct result of the passion displayed by the Non Pro’s around him.

“I drew a ton of inspiration at the 2023 Celebration of Champions, talking to fellow Non Pros in the warm-up pen just hearing their stories. It’s inspiring; it makes you want to be part of this group of people who are so enamored with cow horse and competing, yet want everyone to do well,” Silva said. “It’s a unique family.”

Of his accomplishments in the horse world, Silva is most proud of his newfound positivity and his journey in the cow horse. He wants to compete in NRCHA events for a long time and to do so he recognizes that his horsemanship will need to improve, his physical fitness will be important, and his mental game may be the key piece of the puzzle. He defines success not by the amount of dollars and prizes he wins, but rather by the relationships he builds.

“Where I’m at in my life, I’m 45 years old, I think this was the vision I had for myself at 20 years old,” he said. “To have it actually happen and be where I want to be, not just with the horses and showing, but with all aspects of my life that are really starting to come together is kind of unbelievable. I feel incredibly fortunate.”

Silva looks forward to showing DT Shiny N I Know It through his derby and bridle years. He enjoys riding the gelding because he is easy to prepare and show, but overall, Silva says he wants to learn how to be a better showman.

Non Pro Reserve Champion Debbie Crafton piloted SJR SumKindaRockStar (Smooth As A Cat x Sumkinda Pinkcadilac x Peptoboonsmal), bred by San Juan Ranch, to a 646 (H: 214/R: 218/C: 214) and earned $7,500. In total, the Non Pro Derby finalist rode for a $47,300 purse at the 2023 event.

Intermediate Non Pro Reserve Champion

Brent

Limited Non Pro Reserve Champion

Austin Henstra and RTR Red Hot Remedy (Red Hot Metal x Foxy Little Remedy x Heart Of A Fox), a 2019 mare bred by Loren Macey and James Baker, took home the title with a 626.5 (H: 213/R: 215.5/C: 198), earning $1,576.09 for owner Abbigail Henstra.

Level 1 Non Pro Champion

Erin Hanson rode Shiners Voodoo Doll (Shiners Voodoo Dr x CR CD Slide x CD Lights), bred and owned by Ellie Willoughby, to a 641.5 (H: 210/R: 217.5/C: 214) for the win and earnings of $2,057.40.

Level 1 Non Pro Reserve Champion

Kelli Buckley piloted 2018 mare One Royal Princess (One Time Royalty x Dillons Skarlet Chic x Matt Dillon Dun It), bred and owned by Mark Buckley, to the Level 1 Non Pro Reserve that was awarded by preliminary scores.

Select Champion

Meryl Reber and her horse, Full Send (Metallic Cat x Kittys Ruby x Dual Rey), bred by Nancy Burkes, received a check for $140 for scoring a 629.5 (H: 203/R: 212.5/ C: 214).

Select Reserve Champion

Eric Freitas and his 2018 gelding Nacho Librey (WR This Cats Smart x Reylishious x Dual Smart Rey), bred by Gloria Brigantino, took Reserve with a 629 (H: 206.5/ R: 210.5/C: 212).

Non Pro Chrome Cash

The American Paint Horse Association Non Pro Chrome Cash high-scoring horse was SJR Diamond Luna (C Diamond x SJR Smooth Gina x Smooth As A Cat), owned and shown by Debbie Crafton, with a 651 (H: 215.5/R: 216/C: 219.5), earning $885.

Non Pro Boxing

Aboard Blinded By The Boon (Blindsided x Tommy Boon x Thomas E Hughes), owned by Luke Jones, Erin Jones earned $2,998.80 for the Non Pro Boxing Derby win with a composite 641.5 (H: 211.5/R: 214 /C: 216)

NON PRO BOXING RESERVE CHAMPION, NON PRO BOXING CHROME CASH

Calley Satriana rode her 2017 mare Wing Anda Prayer (Meteles Cat x Wings Ofa Lena x Quejanaisalena) to the win with a 641.5, earning $2,399.04. For the high scoring American Paint Horse Associationregistered horse, the duo earned another $650.

LEVEL 1 NON PRO BOXING CHAMPION

Riley Valin rode her 2018 mare Dual Timin Holly (Hickory Holly Time x Mister Red Pepper x Mister Dual Pep), bred by Sarah Kennedy, to the win 635.5 (H: 210/R: 212.5/C: 213) and earned $1,058.40.

LEVEL 1 NON PRO BOXING RESERVE CHAMPION

Bette Smith and Royal Blue Ruby (Once In A Blu Boon x Cats Ruby x High Brow Cat), bred by Jeffrey David Neidhart and owned by Micheal and Bette Smith, took Reserve with a 618.5 composite to earn $635.04.

SELECT NON PRO BOXING CHAMPION

Lori Adamski-Peek and her 2018 gelding One Metallic Spark (Metallic Cat x One Sparking Time x One Time Pepto), bred by Mark and Kimberly Rauch, took the win and earned $160 with a composite 634.5. (H: 209.5/ R: 215.5/C: 209.5)

SELECT NON PRO BOXING RESERVE CHAMPION

Aboard her 2017 mare Katcinco (Hick Chicaroo x Kat Five x High Brow Cat), bred by Latigo Canyon Ranch, Becky Stockett took home $120 and the title with a 627.5 (H: 202/R: 214/C: 211.5).