More than 40 competitors entered the Adequan® Arena to vie for top spots in the second slate of Classic Equine Green Reiner 1 and 2 classes. At the conclusion, two competitors received Montana Silversmiths buckles for earning high-point honors.
Lindsay Henricks rode her own Gunna Mob Your Spark to the top of the second slate of the Classic Equine Green Reiner 1 and 2. The pair earned a 141.5.
The 8-year-old mare, ‘Josie,’ is by NRHA Million Dollar Sire HF Mobster and out of Katie Gunna Spark. She was bred by Heritage Farms.
“We bought the reiners for fun, and I was just thinking small shows here and there, “Henricks said. “I didn’t think I would be showing and winning at the Derby a year later. She definitely has taken care of me and taught me a lot. She has come a long way herself, too.”
Henricks is 30 years old and is just beginning her reining career. She has $88 in NRHA Lifetime Earnings (LTE) while Josie has $3,989.
“I used to show the all-around events, mainly Western pleasure, and English equitation, but I went to college and didn’t show horses for a while,” said Henricks. “I decided to get back into it after I had two kids and here I am. I wanted to do reining because the cow horse stuff has been a part of our family for a long time.”
Level 1 High Point Championship went to Courtney Chown and Ruf And Tuf Spook. Chown originally competed in pleasure classes and recently started competing in reining.
“Her name is ‘Angel.’ She is 6-years-old,” Chown said. “She is my first reining horse, so she has taught me a lot and takes really good care of me,” Chown said of the Rosanne Sternberge-bred mare by NRHA Hall of Famer Smart Spook and out of A Ruf Gal.
Frank Evans and Spooks Gotta Glo earned the Level 2 High Point Championship.
“His barn name is ‘Ringo,’ and I bought him from Alicia Rapp who helps run the farm,” said Evans. “I have had him for over a year now and he’s just a great horse.”
Ringo is a 7-year-old gelding by NRHA Hall of Famer Spooks Gotta Whiz and out of Look At Her Glo, bred by Bobby Lewis.
“Obviously, she won a lot of things with him so I’m just starting off as a green, and he is very good in the ring,” said Evans. He is very calm, loves to show and takes care of me when I make mistakes in the middle of the ring.”
Toyon Ranch Rookie Free-For-All
Toyon Ranch Rookie Free-For-All generated quite the buzz as more than 70 riders competed for top honors. Due to the generosity of NRHA Corporate Partner Toyon Ranch, all rookie entry fees were paid to encourage the participation of riders newer to reining.
Wyatt Deary rose to the top of the Rookie Levels 1 and 2 with a 144 aboard Chicsdundreamin or ‘Newt.’
“My favorite part of the run was probably the stops he’s such a natural stopper, it’s the easiest part for him.” said Deary. “In the circles, I kind of asked him and he did the rest. It was really nice of him. He’s real old, he’s seasoned, but I love him. I could probably forget the pattern and he could go in there and do the rest”
The 17-year-old gelding with more than $155,000 in NRHA LTE is owned by Nancy Stillwell, bred by Lisa Maberry and has an outstanding lineage (NRHA Hall of Famer Magnum Chic Dream and out of Goody Goody Dun Drop).
Connie Russell earned the top placing in the Prime Time Rookie scoring a 138 on her own Mayyourdreamcometrue. The Angela Buton-bred mare is by NRHA Hall of Famer Smart Spook and out of Ms Mercedes Whiz.
“This is my mare, Mayyourdreamcometrue, and I bought her here last year at the Futurity, and I’ve been riding for about five years,” said Russell. “One of my Achilles’ heels was my stops; I was having issues consistently stopping and feeling comfortable with them. I tried several horses. She was the last one I tried, and she makes it easy, so even if I mess up she takes care of me and does exactly what she’s supposed to do every time.
“She’s just so dang cute she goes in and rolls along in her fast, is super honest on coming back to me in lead changes, and on her stops, it doesn’t matter how much I mess up. I’m super happy I have her, and I wouldn’t trade her for one million dollars.”
The second slate of the Toyon Ranch Rookie Free-For-All is Friday, June 22 and winners of the high-point will receive a Montana Silversmiths buckle.