Christina Allen Wins Limited Open Bridle on Smart Chic Dot Com

The Stage is Set for the 2009 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Bridle Finals

The finals are generally thought to deliver the most exciting action, but Tuesday night at the National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity provided more than enough adrenaline for exhibitors, owners, and spectators.

Run after run had the enthusiastic crowd at the Reno Livestock Events Center at the edge of their seats, whistling and cheering on the contestants.

When the class was completed and the Open Bridle finalists were determined, the list of top ten qualifiers read like a “Who’s who” of the most elite reined cow horses. Leading the field of ten to the clean slate finals is former American Quarter Horse Association World Champions Olena Oak and Ron Emmons. Emmons and the 7-year-old stallion, by Smart Chic Olena and out of Fritzs Oak E Doakie, marked 220 in the rein work and 223 in the cow work for a 443 total – the highest of the preliminaries by 5.5 points!

Olena Oak is owned by Mel Smith and Nichole Scott of Dunnigan, California.

The Open Bridle Finalists will compete on Saturday for a piece of the $30,000 purse. The Open Bridle finals will conclude the evening performance which will begin at 7pm with the Open Hackamore finals.

Also earning Open Bridle finals berths were: Kevin Stallings and Shining Lil Nic; Jay McLaughlin and Shiners Smart Chex; Shadd Parkinson and Spursuasion; Ted Robinson and Shiners Diamond Girl; Robert Chown and Voodoo Chic; Russell Dilday and Topsails Rien Maker; Jake Telford and Shady Lil Starlight; and Shadd Parkinson and Starznic.

Christina Allen, of Caldwell, Idaho, won the Limited Open Bridle on Smart Chic Dot Com with a 431.5. Smart Chic Dot Com, owned by Kristen Troxel, was awarded a Gist Silversmiths Championship buckle sponsored by Primo Morales, a CR Morrison trophy and commemorative medallion, a monogrammed Cinch vest sponsored by Bob’s Custom Saddles, and Platinum Performance.

“He did really good in the rein work, but had a little bobble on the left turn. It was my fault though,” admitted Allen. “Then, in the cow work, he boxed really well. When we went down the fence the cow started to come away from it, but we got up there, it moved back, and we made a really nice turn.”

Smart Chic Dot Com was raised by Anne Reynolds, and when Allen worked for the NRCHA Million Dollar Rider, she had ridden him. Now working for Jake Telford, Allen was excited when Troxel asked her to show the talented gelding. “I ride him a few times a week. He’s a really fun horse to show, and I’m looking forward to riding him more.”

Darrel Norcut won $1,848, a CR Morrison commemorative medallion, a Cinch monogrammed down vest sponsored by Bob’s Custom Saddles, and Platinum Performance after earning a 423.5 total on Fairlea Custom. Fairlea Custom, by Colonel Pic and out of Smart Quixote, is owned by Kelli Day of Yerington, Nevada.

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.