Mason McDowell took strong confidence in himself and his mare to the top of the Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships in the Novice Horse Non Pro Levels 1 and 2. The event was held at the 2023 National Reining Horse Association Futurity in Oklahoma City.
McDowell scored a 220 on Xtra Fugged About It in the Adequan® Arena to also win the ancillary Novice Horse Non Pro in Levels 1, 2, and 3. For winning the five classes, McDowell earned a check for $5,626.
“The run was pattern 9, and so I ran her in really hard and stopped,” McDowell said. “She stopped big, and she got back really hard. She always turns great, and then I loped off on that small slow, and she floated so strong going slow. So I pitched a bunch of rein out there. After that, I just went for it, and she was with me every step of the way.”
Xtra Fugged About It is a 2018 mare sired by newly-minted NRHA Million Dollar Sire HF Mobster and out of Lenas Whizabelle by West Coast Whiz. She has more than $19,500 in earnings.
“She’s been a great mare for me all year long,” McDowell said. “She just keeps getting a little bit better and better, and she’s a sweetheart. She’s never thrown me a curve ball, and that’s a real confidence booster going into show pen with her.”
McDowell, 18, purchased the mare about a year ago.
“She has steadily improved the whole time that I’ve had her,” he said. “She’s always been so easy to get along with. She’s a sweetheart, and she’ll never say no. If anything, it’s just making sure that she’s confident and happy doing the maneuvers, and she just keeps getting better and better.”
McDowell and his family are hoping to get some embryos from the kind, athletic mare before gearing up for the 2024 show season.
Complete draws, results, schedules, and more can be found at NRHAFuturity.com.