Reynolds and Merrill Top Non Pro Herd Work Prelims

Cynthia Bias Leads NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Amateur Competition

With the finalists for the 2009 National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity Open divisions already decided, the Non Pro, Intermediate Non Pro, and Amateur competitors made their Snaffle Bit Futurity debut on Monday, September 28.

Although the top Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro riders will advance to the finals which begin Thursday, October 1, and finish on Friday, October 2, the Amateur Championship is determined in the preliminary round. After the completion of the herd work, Cynthia Bias, of Edison, California, has an eight point jump on the competition in the Amateur division.

Bias rode her horse, Plain Magic Pep to a 217 – the high herd work score of the day! Plain Magic Pep is by Reminics Pep and out of Plain Win.

Topping the Non Pro Herd Work preliminaries with identical scores of 216 were Anne Reynolds of King Hill, Idaho, and McKenzie Merrill of Dallas, Texas.

Reynolds, who holds the distinction of being both the only Non Pro and woman to achieve Million Dollar Rider status in the NRCHA, rode Shiney And Verysmart, by Very Smart Remedy and out of Shirley Shine.

Although she tied for the high score in the Non Pro division, Merrill was all by herself at the top of the Intermediate Non Pro leader board on her horse, Ill Be Skeets. Ill Be Skeets is by Skeets Peppy and out of Oak Ill Be.

The Non Pro Preliminary competition continues Tuesday with the rein work, and will conclude on Wednesday morning after the cow work. The finalists will find out the order of go on Wednesday evening at the Snaffle Bit Futurity Draw Party sponsored by Merial products ULCERGARD and EQUIOXX. This event will be held on the arena concourse at 6:30pm.

The NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity is held annually at the Reno Livestock Events Center in Reno, Nevada. The event began on September 21, and runs through October 4.

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.