It was another full day of competition in the Adequan® Arena at the State Fair Park in Oklahoma City. The Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships (NAAC) awards some of the most prestigious titles a reiner can win outside of aged event competition. With horses and riders from across North America traveling to the Sooner State, the competition is fierce.
In addition to incredible prizes from NRHA Corporate Partners, the champion of each of the 17 NAAC classes will be presented an Adequan® Championship vest the following day in the Jim Norick Coliseum as a show of support for these successful affiliate riders.
Mike McEntire & Cosmic Vintage Tie for Win of Adequan® NAAC Nov. Horse Open L2
Mike McEntire and Cosmic Vintage have a history together that reaches to the west coast. When owner Megan Lindberg purchased the colt he was three, she sent him to McEntire to be ridden. “Megan lives in California, and when we lived in California I rode him for a year. After I left California he was injured in his stall, and hurt his back. She sent him back to me once he was sound,” McEntire explained.
It seems the pair have meshed well since pairing up again, as they tied for the win of the ancillary and Adequan® NAAC Novice Horse Open Level 2, and were the sole champions of the ancillary Level 3. “He’s been doing really good, and came together really nice,” McEntire shared. “He was good today and easy to show. The ground was a little easier than outside the pen I guess. He still stopped well, but the last stop was really good.”
Cosmic Vintage, now five years old, is by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire A Sparkling Vintage and out of Starjac Miss. “He’s on the same team as me, and that’s what is so good about showing him,” he said. “I thank my wife, Natalie, and of course the owner of this horse, Megan Lindberg, who is a great support.”
While McEntire is looking ahead to 2021, he shared his thoughts on the NRHA Futurity. “I think everyone has made a great effort to make it work, and it is working. That’s the thing – we get to be here and show our horses, and we’re getting through it,” he said.
In addition to checks totaling $3,757, McEntire and Cosmic Vintage earned several prizes, including a Bob’s Custom Saddle, a Platinum Performance champion’s jacket, a 10-lb. bucket of Platinum Performance, a custom Montana Silversmiths trophy buckle, a Bluebonnet Feeds gift certificate, SmartPak SmartTherapy Quick Wraps, a garment bag from Brandt Blankets, a Classic Equine fleece cooler, and Eqvalan from Dr. Joe Carter.
Ashley Peterson & HA Shine Tears Shine Share Win in the Adequan® NAAC Novice Horse Open Level 2
Thanks to her identical score of 218.5, Ashley Peterson riding HA Shine Tears Shine shared the Adequan® NAAC Novice Horse Open Level 2 championship. She also split the win with Mike McEntire and Cosmic Vintage in the ancillary Novice Horse Open Level 2 to sweeten the payday. Today’s performance rewarded Peterson with a total of $2,170.
HA Shine Tears Shine is a 2013 gelding by Shine Chic Shine out of HA Tinsel Tears that is owned by Peterson, whose training business is based out of Crookson, Minnesota.
“Seth Chamberlain trained this horse and he did awesome, I watched him and I always wanted him. My daughter needed a horse for the short stirrup [division] and he came up for sale so we bought him for her, but I steal him every now and then,” Peterson said.
Peterson says her goal today was to keep her gelding quiet and listening in order to complete a solid, winning run.
“He just listened to me. He’s good at everything, but his stops are so fun, they’re crazy smooth. If my daughter grabs the horn in her stops she’s got to pay her entry fees,” Peterson joked.
Peterson had high praise for her clients but says it’s fun to show one of her own horses occasionally too.
“They don’t mind and we all cheer for each other,” she said. “This year we didn’t get to go to many shows because of COVID, so we for sure wanted to make the trip here. It was affordable and you could still win good money.”
The NAAC Novice Horse 2 titlists win a host of first-class awards, including a Bob’s Custom Saddle, a Platinum Performance champion’s jacket, a 10-lb. bucket of Platinum Performance, a custom Montana Silversmiths trophy buckle, a Bluebonnet Feed gift certificate, SmartPak SmartTherapy Quick Wraps, a garment bag from Brandt Blankets, a Classic Equine fleece cooler, and Eqvalan from Dr. Joe Carter.
Matt McDowell & Ichabod X Win Adequan® NAAC Nov. Horse Open Level 1 Championship
The title of NAAC Novice Horse Open Level 1 Champion went to Idaho-based trainer Matthew McDowell who guided Ichabod X for owner Elisha Irwin to a 219.
Ichabod X is a 2014 gelding by NRHA Twelve Million Dollar Sire Topsail Whiz out of Miss Rey O Shine. McDowell tied with Abigayle Mixon and A Custom Spook in the ancillary Novice Horse Open Level 1 for a total payday of $1,717.
While McDowell said Ichabod X started his show career a bit later than some, that hasn’t discouraged the horse from excelling.
“He came into my program and fit me really well. He’s been a great show horse this year and I’m looking forward to the big derbies with him next year,” McDowell said. “He’s a show horse. He walks in there and he circles beautifully, he just has a great profile. He’s a huge stopper and he can turn big, he’s truly a plus-1 horse, and you don’t have to push him, he makes it easy.”
McDowell was confident coming into today’s competition after preparing Ichabod X and getting him accustomed to the arena last night.
“I went home and told my wife, ‘You know he feels like he’s on the money, he’s got a really good shot,’” McDowell said. “This arena fit him, the ground’s always good here and he was just right there with me.”
McDowell, who has four kids who are watching from home in Idaho, wished to thank his family and his supportive clients.
“My clients let me show great horses and have always supported me. Even when my dreams are kind of crazy they let me try and it’s worked out. I surround myself with a great group of people,” he said.
McDowell, who has a 3-year-old qualified for the Futurity Semi-Finals, looks forward to bringing Ichabod X back for the NRHA Derby next year.
The NAAC Novice Horse 1 championship is accompanied by a host of first-class awards, including a Bob’s Custom Saddle, a Platinum Performance champion’s jacket, a 10-lb. bucket of Platinum Performance, a custom Montana Silversmiths trophy buckle, a Bluebonnet Feed gift certificate, SmartPak SmartTherapy Quick Wraps, a garment bag from Brandt Blankets, a Classic Equine fleece cooler, and Eqvalan from Dr. Joe Carter.
Abigayle Mixon Ties for Win of NRHA Nov. Horse Open Level 1 on A Custom Spook
It was the first time for Abigayle Mixon to show A Custom Spook, but if Sunday’s performance is any indication, the two will see more success in the future. Mixon and A Custom Spook, a five-year-old by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Whiz out of Custom Princess, marked a 219 to tie for the win of the Nov. Horse Open L1 ancillary class.
“We had actually bought him at the NRHA Derby for his owner, Harry Prince, to show. They brought him to me the first of November so I could ride him a little, and today was my first time to show him,” Mixon shared. “It was great. I love this horse because he’s quiet and sweet, and he just wants to please. He was super out there, so it was fun to show.”
Although she hadn’t shown the horse herself, she had a game plan. “I have watched Harry show him, so I had a bit of an idea of what I needed to do, so I just tried to be smooth and correct. He’s a monster stopper, and very quiet,” she said. “I thank Harry and his wife Patty for giving me this opportunity. They have been great customers for a while now. I also thank my help, Laramie, my husband, and everyone at home.”
There’s still a busy week ahead for Mixon, who qualified two horses back to the L4 Open Futurity Semi-Finals sponsored by Not Ruf At All & Tamarack Ranch.
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