16 minute read
Sensational in Scottsdale
S
ENSATIONAL
IN SCOTTSDALE
By Kristin Pitzer Photos by Primo Morales
The Spectaculars gave talented older horses a place to shine during the DT Horses Western Derby.
The bridle spectaculars are always a highlight at reined cow horse events, showcasing talented horses who have been perfecting their skills their entire careers. The CD Survivor Memorial Open Bridle Spectacular, held during the DT Horses Western Derby, didn’t disappoint, drawing 44 entries to the Equidome at WestWorld in Scottsdale, Arizona, on June 10.
As the teams battled it out for the $55,800 total purse, one pair rose to the top. That duo, Shiney Outlaw (Shiners Nickle x Mereyda x Dual Rey) and Jay McLaughlin, marked a 661.5 for the championship and brought home an $11,160 paycheck for the horse’s owner and breeder, Michelle Cannon.
“Winning the Holy Cow Performance Horses CD Survivor Memorial Bridle Spectacular is quite an honor,” McLaughlin said. “I’ve actually gotten to do that before on [CD Dee Vee Dee in 2015], and it’s a big deal. I tried to win it last year [with Shiney Outlaw], but it wasn’t in the stars. This year, I had a good feeling about him the whole time.”
That feeling persisted despite a slow start in the herd work, where McLaughlin and the buckskin stallion marked a 214. They were only a few points out of the lead, and McLaughlin knew Shiney Outlaw could make up for lost ground.
In the rein work, “Outlaw” fed off the crowd’s energy a bit, and McLaughlin had to wait on his ends a little longer than he wanted to help the horse settle. Despite that hiccup, they walked away with a 220.5. The duo had a later draw for the fence work, so McLaughlin used that time to watch the other riders before him and learn from any mistakes he saw.
“I just kind of told myself I was just going to let it happen, I wasn’t going to make it happen, and it worked out,” McLaughlin said.
Shiney Outlaw (Shiners Nickle x Mereyda x Dual Rey) and Jay McLaughlin collected $11,160 for owner Michelle Cannon after winning the CD Survivor Open Bridle Spectacular with a 661.5 (H:214/R:220.5/C:227).
That strategy earned the pair a big 227, clinching the championship. McLaughlin was happy to see the buckskin, who he said is always happy to work, add another bullet point to his show résumé.
“He’s been pretty consistent [showing], and that’s what it takes on an older horse. They can’t just be one-hit wonders,” McLaughlin said. “The trophy is a pretty big deal. Nancy Crawford is a big time older horse supporter, and I’m a big believer in that, too. I love to take a horse from the beginning to the end. It’s just awesome.”
Prior to the DT Horses Western Derby, Lannie-Jo Lisac said she and Lookslikelucktome (Smart Boons x Dual Lookin Pep x Dual Pep), an 8-year-old mare better known as “Marsha,” had been struggling a bit. The pair hadn’t won any titles together in more than a year. The last big accolade they picked up was at the 2020 NRCHA Celebration of Champions, where they won the Non Pro Two Rein.
Lisac knew they needed to step it up in Scottsdale, and she and the mare did just that, making up for lost time by nabbing both the Non Pro Bridle Spectacular and Youth Cow Horse Spectacular championships.
“It’s nice to have two good wins under our belt,” Lisac said. “She was so great in all of [her runs]. She was just so consistent and on her game.”
In the Non Pro, Lisac and Marsha scored a 437 (H:146/ R:146/C:145), netting $4,200. They came back a few days later for the Youth Cow Horse. Though they didn’t cut the cows they wanted in the herd work, they still managed to score a 435.5 (H:141/R:147/C:147.5) overall for the win, garnering an additional $480.
“She worked through it [the herd work] really good, and she was very good down the fence,” Lisac said. “Usually, she doesn’t want to circle very well, but she was on top of it. She wanted to get up there.”
Outside of the cow horse, Lisac, who is an incoming high school senior, shows market goats through 4-H. It can be difficult to juggle that with horse shows, but she plans to take Marsha, who is owned by her grandparents, Timothy and Katherine Miller, to the 2021 American Quarter Horse Youth Association World Championship Show. Lisac thanked her trainer, Todd Crawford, his wife, Pam, and their crew, along with her whole family—parents, siblings and the Millers—for their support.
In the Non Pro, Lannie-Jo Lisac and Lookslikelucktome (Smart Boons x Dual Lookin Pep x Dual Pep), a 2013 mare bred by Kevin and Sydney Knight, blew everyone out of the water with their 437 (H:146/R:146/C:145), winning $4,200 for owners Timothy and Katherine Miller. They also dominated in the Youth with a 435.5 (H:141/R:147/C:147.5), banking another $480.
OPEN BRIDLE SPECTACULAR RESERVE CHAMPION — TIE
A score of 660.5 (H:215.5/R:217.5/C:227.5) tied 2012 mare Light And Sassy (CD Lights x Dual Sass x Dual Pep) and Justin Wright for Reserve. The Winston Hansma-bred mare collected $8,091 for owner Shelly Franklin.
OPEN BRIDLE SPECTACULAR RESERVE CHAMPION — TIE
2020 Open Bridle Spectacular Reserve Champion Duals Lucky Charm (Dual Smart Rey x TRR Ms Pepcid Olena x Pepcid), a 2013 gelding bred by Carolyn and Mark Murray, and Kelby Phillips scored a 660.5 (H:216/R:221/C:223.5) this year to collect the Co-Reserve title and $8,091 for owner JB6 LLC.
Jayson and Teresa Fisher’s 2011 mare Prize Winning Gal (Smokums Prize x Ill Be A Winning Gal x Ill Be Smart), who was bred by Justin Wright, scored a 651.5 (H:213.5/ R:216.5/C:221.5) with Wyatt Fisher for second place, banking $2,200.
INTERMEDIATE OPEN BRIDLE SPECTACULAR CHAMPION
Metal Storm (Metallic Cat x Cowstruck x Smart Little Lena), a 2014 gelding bred by Reata Cutting Horses LLC, carried Shadd Parkinson to a 654 (H:214.5/R:219.5/C:220), winning the Intermediate Open title and $2,800 for owner Bronwyn McCormick.
NON PRO BRIDLE SPECTACULAR RESERVE CHAMPION — TIE
With a 433.5 (H:141/R:146/C:146.5), Amy Bailey and 2012 gelding Electra Tuff (Woody Be Tuff x Electras Boots x Doc O Boots), who was bred by W.T. Waggoner Estate, tied for Reserve and banked $2,925.
NON PRO BRIDLE SPECTACULAR RESERVE CHAMPION — TIE, YOUTH COW HORSE SPECTACULAR RESERVE CHAMPION
Tylor Todd rode Kit and Charlie Moncrief-bred Mr Stylish Cat (Mr Playinstylish x Lil Sally Cat x High Brow Cat), a 2011 gelding, to a 433.5 (H:142.5/R:144/C:147), taking home a check worth $2,925 in the Non Pro. They came back in the Youth to mark a 433 (H:144/ R:144/C:145) for another $400.
NON PRO LIMITED SPECTACULAR RESERVE CHAMPION, YOUTH LIMITED SPECTACULAR RESERVE CHAMPION
With a 437 (H:143.5/R:148/C:145.5), Landri Lisac rode her 2014 gelding Cat Walks Into A Bar (WR This Cats Smart x Sue C Shiner x Shining Spark), who was bred by Garth and Amanda Gardiner, to Reserve in the Non Pro Limited, collecting a $2,984 check. They also scored a 435 (H:144.5/R:145.5/C:145) in the Youth Limited for $390.
NON PRO LIMITED SPECTACULAR CHAMPION
Cheryl Chown piloted her homebred 2016 mare Xtra Short Trick (Shiners Voodoo Dr x Short And Royal x Short Oak), who she co-owns with husband Robert, to a 439 (H:145/R:147.5/C:146.5), winning the title and $3,730.
YOUTH LIMITED SPECTACULAR CHAMPION
A Time For Jazz (One Time Pepto x Starlight And Jazz x Grays Starlight), a 2010 gelding owned by Anne Buchanan and bred by John McCoy, carried Caroline Buchanan to a 438 (H:143.5/R:147.5/C:147), winning $520.
TWO REIN SPECTACULAR
Lil Time Reymanising (One Time Pepto x Reymanising x Dual Rey) and Sarah Dawson secured first place with a 440.5 (H:146.5/ R:147/C:147), bringing home $4,950 for owner Holy Cow Performance Horses.
Lil Time Reymanising (One Time Pepto x Reymanising x Dual Rey) has been in the money many times throughout his career, but it wasn’t until the 2021 DT Horses Western Derby that he finally found a spot in the limelight. There, the horse carried Sarah Dawson to a 440.5 (H:146.5/R:147/C:147) in the Open Two Rein Spectacular, winning first place and garnering $4,950.
Dawson said the cows had been tricky throughout the show, so she was a little worried about what she and the stallion might draw. She praised Lil Time Reymanising for his cow sense, though, saying she knew he could handle whatever was thrown at him.
“He’s pretty good all the way around. These days, they’ve got to be good in all three events if they’re going to get anywhere, so he seems to be even across the board,” Dawson said. “He’s always been a good fence horse, so he’s a horse that you have a lot of confidence on as to whatever they kick out, he’s going to work.”
Phillip Ralls showed the stallion as a 3-year-old, and Dawson Performance Horses added him to their program when he was 4. Dawson said he was a great hackamore horse, which has helped him make the switch to the two-rein.
“Usually, the good hackamore horses are good bridle horses,” Dawson said. “He made the transition from two hands to one hand very well. For him to make that transfer so easily and smoothly, I was really excited about that and excited about him moving forward, because I think he’s going to be a really good bridle horse.”
Bred by Matthews Cutting Horses LLC, Lil Time Reymanising is owned by Nancy Crawford’s Holy Cow Performance Horses. Dawson said the couple has been great to work for, and she was particularly excited for their horse to win the two-rein since they’re big sponsors of the National Reined Cow Horse Association, especially the bridle classes.
“Nancy is an awesome lady and an awesome owner, and we’re very proud to be riding horses for them,” Dawson said, noting she planned to finish out the horse’s two-rein year and then show him in the bridle the following year. “That horse excels on a cow, whether it be out of the herd or down the fence. I was very pleased with him the whole way through. He showed good partnership.”—Debbie Crafton
NON PRO TWO REIN SPECTACULAR
After Debbie Crafton purchased Metallic Flame (Metallic Cat x Scooby Dooby Dual x Dual Pep) from Bruce Carter in February, it didn’t take the pair long to get in sync. In fact, they looked like old partners in the Non Pro Two Rein Spectacular, where Crafton piloted the gelding to a 433.5, winning the championship and $2,580.
Crafton credited the horse’s past trainers, Jay McLaughlin and Justin Wright, for helping them win the title.
“They’ve done a great job with him,” Crafton said. “It makes it really easy for someone like me to be able to take him and go be successful on him.”
She and “Tex” started off by marking a 142 in the herd, where Crafton said she cut two decent cows. Her last cow surprised her by running harder than she expected, but Tex handled it well. In the rein work, he stopped big and turned and circled well. Crafton was pleased with the run overall and their score of 145.5, which was third highest.
The cow that came out for the duo’s cow work allowed them to make two big turns on the fence before circling up in the middle. The judges gave them a score of 146, which launched them to the top of the leaderboard.
“That horse excels on a cow, whether it be out of the herd or down the fence,” Crafton said. “I was very pleased with him the whole way through. He showed good partnership.”
Crafton, who thanked the NRCHA for putting on a premier event in Scottsdale, plans to finish out the year in the two-rein by qualifying for the NRCHA Celebration of Champions, then will continue on in the bridle next year. She hopes for Tex to become a World’s Greatest Horseman contender one day.
OPEN TWO REIN SPECTACULAR RESERVE CHAMPION
With a 437.5 (H:148/R:145.5/C:144), Hes Pistol Packin (Smooth As A Cat x Shiners Lil Pistol x Shining Spark), a 2015 gelding bred by Roxanne Koepsell, and Shadd Parkinson nabbed second place, claiming a check worth $3,960 for owner Jerilynne Michaels.
NON PRO TWO REIN SPECTACULAR CHAMPION
Debbie Crafton collected $2,580 after piloting her 2015 gelding, Metallic Flame (Metallic Cat x Scooby Dooby Dual x Dual Pep), who was bred by Danielle Irlbeck-Johnson, to the win with a score of 433.5 (H:142/R:145.5/C:146).
NON PRO TWO REIN SPECTACULAR RESERVE CHAMPION
Myles Brown rode One Time Legend (One Time Pepto x HR Playin Legend x Little Lenas Legend), a 2015 gelding bred by Larry Hall Cutting Horses FLP and owned by his wife’s family, to Reserve with a score of 432.5 (H:146/R:146.5/C:140), netting $2,064.
Industry & Facility Partners
S
UPER IN SCOTTSDALE
It took four events to determine who would be crowned the allaround champion in the inaugural CD Survivor Bridle Horse Super Spectacular in both the Open and the Non Pro.
By Kate Bradley Byars Photos by Primo Morales
Twenty-eight horse and rider teams backed in the box to throw a loop for the CD Survivor Bridle Horse Super Spectacular Open muley steer stopping, and a slew of big scores followed. The roping was the last of four events competitors rode in for the inaugural event, having to show in the typical Spectacular herd work, rein work and fence work. Yet, it was the steer stopping that made this Super Spectacular so special.
A continuation of her support of bridle horses through the CD Survivor Memorial Open Bridle Spectacular, which began in 2021, Nancy Crawford’s Holy Cow Performance Horses provided the incentive for this year’s four-event Super Spectacular, which was open to Open and Non Pro competitors.
“The goal of the bridle Spectacular and why it exists in the first place is to have [incentive] for a fully trained bridle horse. For years, some of us noticed that very few 4-year-olds and even fewer 5- and 6-year-olds were coming [to the show pen], and I didn’t like it,” Crawford said. “The whole basis of the National Reined Cow Horse Association is to have that training progression. I think it is really important to have those fully trained bridle horses that just about anybody
Phillip Ralls and Short N Catt, owned by Sarah Davis, topped the four-event Super Spectacular to earn $800.
Cutter McLaughlin and CD Dee Vee Dee won the Non Pro Bridle Super Spectacular with a high scoring 225 in the steer stopping. The pair also won the overall event.
can ride. A group of us thought it was a good idea to make a financially attractive incentive—that is the Bridle Spectacular.”
Adding this fourth event creates more incentive for older horses to continue to show, and allows for a place to try out a potential mount for the World’s Greatest Horseman competition. Many of the entrants were horse and rider teams that had previously competed in that event.
When the last steer left the chute, the top spot in the steer roping was claimed by Randy Paul riding LenaLilToTheWright (Lenas Wright On x Shining Survivor x Shining Spark), owned by Linda Katz and Richard Bell.
Paul, from Santa Maria, California, elicited cheers when his 231.5 steer stopping score was announced. He edged out Phillip Ralls and Short N Catt (Sophisticated Cat x Shortys Sugar Sue x Shorty Lena), bred by Tommy Mather and owned by Sarah Davis, who marked a 230.
In the end, though, it was Ralls and the 2011 bay gelding that claimed the inaugural CD Survivor Bridle Horse Super Spectacular Open Champion title wit their composite 886.5 (H:218.5/R:220/ C:218/S:230). Holy Cow Performance Horses added $5,000 overall to the Super Spectacular event, and the Open winner earned $1,000.
“Growing up with my dad [Ron Ralls], that was always our biggest focus, a horse’s longevity in their career,” said Ralls. “We don’t want them to be done as 3-year-olds, but to go through the whole process. I take a lot of pride in my bridle horses and the finished product that can show at these big events. These are the most exciting events to go to and there are always great horses, great riders, and to show these horse’s true all-around talents is important. It doesn’t get any more exciting.”
Ralls appreciated the opportunity to try out Short N Catt in a four-event format, much like the World’s Greatest Horseman.
Paul and LenaLilToTheWright finished in reserve for the overall Super Spectacular with a composite 878 (H:210/ R:218/C:218.5/S: 231.5) and earned $800.
In the Non Pro, the CD Survivor Bridle Horse Super Spectacular championship and muley steer stopping high score went to Cutter McLaughlin riding CD Dee Vee Dee (CD Lights x Shiners Missy Jay x Shining Spark). Coming off his win at the 2021 World’s Greatest Youth Horseman, presented by MARS Equestrian™, McLaughlin was thrilled to have another chance to rope off his good cow horse.
“It is always fun to get to rope with the other three events,” he said. “It was cool because it was roping at a cow horse show, which we don’t have many of. We rope enough at home to keep us remembering how to do it, but this is fun.”
The Clarendon, Texas, Youth scored a 225 in the steer stopping. In total, his composite 653 (H:145.5/R:143.5/ C:139.5/S:225) topped the division by 10.5 points, which earned the pair $300.
In reserve, Ali Norcutt and Soulas Hickory Star (Soula Jule Star x Tun Liz Loose x Docs Hickory), bred by Ken & Ramona Wold and owned by Darrell Norcutt, rode to a 642.5 (H:143.5/R:143/ C:146.5/S:209.5) to claim the second-high spot for the Super Spectacular overall.
The four-event Super Spectacular brought out a full crowd for the action, and the NRCHA is looking to host another four-event competition next year.
