Patty Ralls Wins 2009 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Non Pro Bridle Championship on Chromium Cowboy

The first horse show champions of the 2009 National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity were crowned Saturday evening at the Reno Livestock Events Center in Reno, Nevada. A trio of exceptional horsewomen emerged victorious in the Non Pro Bridle, Intermediate Non Pro Bridle, and Novice Non Pro Bridle.

Patty Ralls, of Gainesville, Texas, rode Chromium Cowboy to mark 145.5 in the rein work, and came back strong in the fence work with 145.5 for a 291 total. The Championship was worth $4,043, and came with a Bob’s Custom Saddle sponsored by Target Constructors, a Gist Silversmiths Championship buckle sponsored by Pro Management, a CR Morrison trophy, a monogrammed down vest from Bob’s Custom Saddles, Platinum Performance and a CR Morrison commemorative medallion. “He was solid in the rein work. My first cow was pretty numb towards me and they had to whistle me off,” said Patty. She continued, “The second cow was much better, and my horse was on 100 percent.”

Ralls and Chromium Cowboy won the Non Pro Bridle Spectacular at the NRCHA Derby in June. Since then, the pair has not seen much cow horse competition. “I haven’t gone down the fence with him or done much with him cow horse-wise since the Derby,” Ralls explained. “I’ve just been roping on him and letting him enjoy life. He’s nine years old, and, knock on wood, is perfectly sound. He’s a once-in-a-lifetime horse and I don’t see his retirement any time in sight.”

Terry Christiansen and TC Lena took the Reserve Championship with a 290 total. Along with a  check for $3,177, Christiansen, of Snohomish, Washington, received a monogrammed down vest from Bob’s Custom Saddles and Platinum Performance.

It was a repeat of the Derby, as Kylie Knight and Reminic Moon Shine once again won the Intermediate Non Pro Bridle title. They marked scores of 144 and 143.5 in the rein and cow work for a 287.5. Knight took home a CR Morrison trophy, a monogrammed down vest from Bob’s Custom Saddles, Platinum Performance, and a CR Morrison Commemorative medallion.

“My horse was really good. He was fresh in the rein work, but that worked out well because my cow ran really hard. We had three huge turns, but when we came to the middle the cow still had a lot of air, so we were a little behind,” explained Knight. “But I am still really happy with my horse – he was really trying.”

Although Knight, of Peoria, Arizona, won the Intermediate Non Pro Bridle at the Derby, she hasn’t had the opportunity to show since, as she visited Europe for almost a month. The Texas Christian University Junior gave credit to trainer Corey Cushing. “He stays at Corey’s all the time, and he keeps him going. I really want to thank Corey for his help, and my mom and dad, Kevin and Sydney Knight, for everything they do for me.”

Michael Brautovich rode his horse, Diamond J Wil Smokum to a 284 to win the Intermediate Non Pro Bridle Reserve Championship. Brautovich, of Watsonville, California, won a check for $1,175, a monogrammed down vest from Bob’s Custom Saddles, and Platinum Performance.

In only her seventh competition going down the fence, Laura Kiracofe, of Eagle, Idaho, bested 31 other contestants to take the Novice Non Pro Bridle Championship and a check for $2,622. She also won a Gist Championship buckle sponsored by Jo and Tish Wilhite, a CR Morrison trophy, a monogrammed down vest from Bob’s Custom Saddles, Platinum Performance, and a CR Morrison commemorative medallion.

The win was especially sweet for Kiracofe, as she raised her horse, Tejons Dry Deuce. “I showed his mom who I bought as a 3-year-old. I’m very blessed to have him. He’s a great horse,” she said. “This is really, really exciting!”

Coming in as the third-to-last competitor, Kiracofe did not know what score was winning her division. Her score of 287 was a scant half-point above the Reserve Champion. “I had no idea what I needed to be. I said we were going to go get this cow. I was just going to let him do the best job that he could. I just had to trust him.”

            Dana Avila, Temecula, California, piloted her horse, Brother White, to the Novice Non Pro Bridle Reserve Championship with a 286.5. Avila was awarded $2,052, a monogrammed down vest from Bob’s Custom Saddles, and Platinum Performance.

Horse show action continues Sunday, September 27, with the Non Pro Hackamore, Youth Limited, Youth Bridle, $5,000 Non Pro Limited, Non Pro Limited (Provisional), Open Two Rein, and the Non Pro Two Rein.

Complete results of the Snaffle Bit Futurity and horse show are posted on the official NRCHA website, 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.