Jay McLaughlin Tops the 2009 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Rein Work Prelims on A Shiner Named Sioux

The National Reined Cow Horse Association’s premiere triathlon event – the Snaffle Bit Futurity – completed the second leg of Open preliminary competition Thursday evening.

For the second year in a row, Jay McLaughlin found himself atop the preliminary rein work leader board riding a palomino stallion by Shining Spark. In 2008, he claimed that title on Genuine Masterpiece, and this year he piloted A Shiner Named Sioux, out of Docs Sulena, to a score of 221.5.

McLaughlin, who is the head trainer for Carol Rose Quarter Horses, and “Sioux” had marked a 215 in the herd work preliminaries, resulting in a 436.5 for the total after two go-rounds.

Zane Davis leads the Open preliminaries at this point with a score of 437.5 on Reymanator, owned by John Semanik. Reymanator is by Dual Rey and out of Savannah Hickory.
            In the Intermediate Open division Will Pennebaker, riding his horse, Haida Lena Peppy (Haidas Little Pep x Sallys Little Lena), tied Chris Dawson, competing for Jack Bogart on Lenas Metermaid for the high score with a 217.5.

Dawson had marked a 211.5 in the herd work on Lenas Metermaid, by Diamond J Star out of Toulouse Lena, and after the rein work moved to second in the Intermediate Open preliminary competition.

Pennebaker is also entered in the Limited Open division, and the 217.5 was good for that division’s high score. Although a herd work score of 199 had seemed to put him and his horse out of finals contention, the rein work helped to improve his odds.

Currently leading both the Intermediate and Limited Open composite is Casey Branquinho and Wranglin Reminicky with a 431.5. Wranglin Reminicky, owned by Holy Cow Performance Horses LLC is by Starlights Wrangler and out of Nic N Chic.

The Open Futurity preliminaries continue on Friday, September 25, with the advent of the cow work, and that competition, added with the herd and rein work scores, will decide the finalists.

Complete results can be found on 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.