Ancillary action at the National Reining Horse Association Derby presented by Markel Insurance continued in the Adequan Arena. Class winners received trophies and prizes, but those exhibitors competing in both slates of classes had the chance to win beautiful Montana Silversmith’s high point buckles.
Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 High Point Champion – Alicia Rapp & Loaded And Dancin
Alicia Rapp and Loaded And Dancin tied for the win of the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 [1] earlier this week and returned to the Adequan Arena on Thursday to finish tied fourth. That finish was all that was needed to claim the Level 2 High Point Championship and the beautiful Montana Silversmith’s buckle.
“It’s so pretty. It’s beautiful. I love it,” Rapp exclaimed. “My horse did great today. He turned really, really sharp and got stopped huge and he circled up really nice, so I was really happy with him.”
Rapp noted that Loaded And Dancin, by Hes A Loaded Gun and out of One Dancin Diamond, was done showing for the week. “He gets a spa day tomorrow because I said if he was good, he would get a spa day,” she explained with a laugh.
She also gave props to her 13-week-old daughter Loretta. “She has been very good. She was a little hot today, but I’m still going to give her an A-plus for being such a great baby,” Rapp said.
Rapp, of Tampa, Florida, rides with Ted Chancey. “I definitely thank Ted. He takes me all over to every horse show I want to go to, and has got me where I am today,” she said.
Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 High Point Champion – Landon Augustin & Chics Dig My Shine
Winning the Non Pro Level 1 High Point Championship was Landon Augustin and Chics Dig My Shine. Chics Dig My Shine is by Shine Chic Shine out of Starlenas Joy. “He’s a four-year-old we bought as a weanling from Jim Bramblett, and then Rob Huddleston started him,” Augustin explained. “Then the last few weeks I’ve been riding with Shawn Flarida working on showmanship skills and everything is starting to come together. I’m getting more confident in him and am getting excited about our future.”
Flarida, the NRHA’s winningest rider, gave Augustin some good advice. “He told me to stay confident and trust the horse and has given me a lot of coaching on the training part,” he explained.
Augustin noted that Chics Dig My Shine has shown a lot of improvement. “He was good and stayed consistent. He’s getting a lot better, and I like how he progressed through the horse show,” the 21-year-old said.
Chics Dig My Shine is owned by Landon’s father, Greg. “I thank Shawn, my dad, my niece Allie for all the help this week, and Rob for doing such a good job starting this horse,” he said.
Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 [2] Co-Champion – Janet Bache & Cee My Smokin Pistol
Janet Bache and Cee My Smokin Pistol had some tough luck in the Derby, but a schooling run in the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 [2] ended with a score of 144. That score was enough to tie for the class win and came with a check for $910.
Bache, of Arizona, purchased Cee My Smokin Pistol from Tim McQuay three years ago. The six-year-old gelding, by Gunner and out of Cee Dun It Do It, has been a really nice horse. “He did really well today. I missed the marker and would have been higher, but other than that he was perfect,” Bache explained. “We didn’t do well in the Derby, but I showed yesterday in the Prime Time Non Pro and he did well there, too.”
Bache, of Scottsdale, Arizona, is finished showing for the week. She added, “I thank my husband, Randy. He makes all this possible. I thank Dan and Wendy Huss. They’re wonderful and I’ve learned so much from them. Thank you also to everyone here with the NRHA. I have had a great time. It’s very fun.”
Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 [2] Co-Champion – Matthew Verser & Benjamin Banjo
With a 144, Matthew Verser claimed the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 [2] Co-Championship with his horse Benjamin Banjo, earning $910. “He did good on everything,” Verser said. “This was the first class to show him in here, and I’ll show him again tomorrow in the Rookie.”
Benjamin Banjo is by Banjo Whiz and out of Lil Ruf Jessie. “I have had him about four years now. He’s a little older, but he’s still pretty good,” Verser said of the 10-year-old reiner.
Verser, of Arkansas, has been showing reining horses for about nine years and rides with Randy Schaffhauser. “I thank my trainer, Randy, for all his help,” the 20-year-old said.
Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 [2] Champion – Maryjane Scruggs & Magnimous
Maryjane Scruggs topped the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 [2] with her horse Magnimous. The duo marked a 141, resulting in a $651 paycheck. Magnimous is by Magnum Chic Dream and out of Roxana Chex.
Finishing second in the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 [2] was Kaylene Cunningham, who piloted her horse Ambidextrous to a score of 140.5, winning $468. Ambidextrous is by Big Chex To Cash and out of Dexquisite.
Novice Horse Open Level 2 [2] and High Point Champion – Jared Leclair and Lime A Rita, owned by Susan Meyer
Jared Leclair and Lime A Rita had a clean-sweep of the Novice Horse Open Level 2 classes at the NRHA Derby, easily securing the High Point Championship after marking a 149 in Thursday’s class. The day’s work came with a check for $567.
“It has been a great experience at this show,” noted Lime A Rita’s owner Susan Meyer. “Jared has done a wonderful job training our horses and getting them where they need to be.”
Meyers purchased Lime A Rita, by Custom Legend out of She Slides Wright in 2018 from Arno Honstetter. “Susan and I have both shown her and done really well on her. We have gotten some embryos from her by my stud (Electric Code) and Gunnatrashya,” Leclair explained. “She’s been a really good mare for us to show. Susan will keep showing her.”
Randy Schaffhauser showed Magnum Sparkle to a score of 147 to finish second in the Novice Horse Open Level 2 [2], worth $425. Magnum Sparkle, by Magnum Chic Dream out of Smart Little Suzana, is owned by Penny Brinkley.
Novice Horse Open Level 1 [2] – Jared Leclair and Codes Whizard Merlin, owned by Susan Meyer
LeClair topped the Novice Horse Open Level 2 [2] and took home that class’s high point buckle on another of Meyer’s horses. This time he bested the class on Codes Whizard Merlin with a 146.5. It was only the four-year-old’s fifth time in the show pen. “Susan raised him and he’s by my stallion Electric Code. He wasn’t ready to be shown at that higher level, so my help showed him where he was comfortable until he was ready for me,” Leclair explained. “I’m glad we waited until now to push him.”
Codes Whizard Merlin, who won $605 in the class, is special to Meyers. “He’s the first baby I have raised. His mom, KR Freckledface Whiz, is a sweet, sweet mare. He takes after his momma. They look a lot alike,” she said. “Every year we’ve taken an embryo from her, so hopefully you’ll see us again with more of her babies.”
Leclair plans to continue seasoning Codes Whizard Merlin and hopes to show the colt in the derbies in 2020.
Meyers added, “Jared is the most awesome trainer in the world. If I ever stop riding with Jared, it’s because I’m not riding anymore.”
Taking second in the Novice Horse Open Level 1 [2] and winning $416 was Hava Vital and FM Cottonwood with a 146. FM Cottonwood, owned by Khris and Carlton Crowe, is by Gunner and out of Sonita Lena Chick.