Travis Christiansen Wins 2009 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Youth Bridle Championship/Donathon Archuleta Claims Youth Limited Title

The National Reined Cow Horse Association Youth members got their time in the spotlight on Sunday evening, September 27, at the Reno Livestock Events Center in Reno, Nevada, during the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Horse Show.

Coming in as the first in the class of eight, Travis Christiansen won the Youth Bridle Championship on TC Lena with a 287.5. “The rein work felt solid. I ran my circles really well, and then we were able to build our speed going to our stops like I wanted to,” he explained. “I got my cow and it was pretty soft, so I took it down the fence pretty quick. It was fun!”

Christiansen, of Snohomish, Washington, collected $1,400 for the win, along with a Bob’s Custom Saddle and a Gist Silversmiths Championship buckle, both sponsored by Cinder Lakes Ranch, a CR Morrison trophy and a CR Morrison commemorative medallion, a monogrammed down vest from Bob’s Custom Saddles, and Platinum Performance.

TC Lena actually belongs to Travis’s father, Terry, who won the Non Pro Bridle Reserve Championship the evening before. “For the last couple years I’ve been riding him. He’s a really good horse,” said the 18-year-old.

Christiansen is a student at Everett Community College in Everett, Washington. “I really appreciate my whole family being behind me. My grandfather, Dave Christiansen, is a really great supporter, too, and I thank him for everything he’s done for me.”

Claire Edwards took home Reserve honors and $1,050 on her horse Dun Leanin, with a 282.5 total. Edwards, of Temecula, California, was also awarded a monogrammed down vest sponsored by Bob’s Custom Saddles, Platinum Performance, and a CR Morrison commemorative medallion.

Donathon Archuleta of Alamosa, California, won the Youth Limited Championship on Boonlights Misty. He marked 141 in the rein work, and 147 in the boxing, for a 288 total, but gave the credit for his run to his horse. “She was perfect,” he said simply following the awards ceremony.

The 15-year-old thanked his parents, Teddy and Jeri Archuleta, for letting him show horses. “Thank you to Blue Allen, my trainer. He has helped me a lot with my showing,” he said.

Allen was equally complimentary of Archuleta, saying, “He is a great kid, and he works hard. He really deserves this.”

Archuleta was awarded a check for $863, and also received a Gist Championship buckle sponsored by Triple J Ranch, a monogrammed down vest sponsored by Bob’s Custom Saddles, Platinum Performance, a CR Morrison trophy, and a CR Morrison trophy.

While the Youth Limited Champion wasn’t originally slated to receive a Bob’s Custom Saddle, Archuleta will be awarded a beautiful trophy saddle, thanks to a brand-new sponsorship from Wilson and Susan Lyle and Blue Allen Training Stables. The four-year sponsorship begins in 2009 and runs through the 2012 Snaffle Bit Futurity.

Complete results of the Snaffle Bit Futurity and horse show are posted on the official NRCHA web site, www.nrcha.com.

The National Reined Cow Horse Association, the governing body of cow horse competition, is responsible for promoting the sport, insuring high standards of competition and educating members and the public about the history and tradition of the cow horse. Through the support of a Corporate Partner family that includes Adequan^®, Bob’s Custom Saddles, Cinch, Inc., Classic Equine, Gist Silversmiths, MD Barns, Platinum Performance, Inc., Nutrena, Quarter Horse News, Fort Dodge West Nile Innovator, Rios of Mercedes, Merial products ULCERGARD and EQUIOXX, Wide World of Horses, Markel Insurance Company, and the Silver Legacy Hotel, the association works to keep the vaquero tradition alive in today’s equine industry. For information on the National Reined Cow Horse Association, call 580-759-4949 or visit the NRCHA Official Web Site at www.nrcha.com.