Frank Ordner Tops Intermediate Non Pro on Dunitinbrightlight

Friday, October 23, held a day full of Ancillary Classes at the 2009 Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity and Horse Show. Held at the historic Hardy Murphy Coliseum in Ardmore, Oklahoma, the classes saw substantial growth in entries for 2009.

In the Non Pro Ancillary class, Kathleen Armenta snuck past a three-way tie to win the class with a 147.5 on her horse, Custom Twister. Armenta, of Whitesboro, Texas, not only earned a check for $875, she also had a very pleasant surprise. “I didn’t know I had won. I was shocked that I had won a saddle – I was needing to get a new one,” she laughed. “It’s awesome that the SWRHA worked to get such great prizes, and I’m thankful to the sponsors of all these great awards.”

Armenta admitted she doesn’t normally show hard at the SWRHA Futurity Horse Show, but her plans changed for 2009. “I’m usually preparing for the World Show, and I don’t show as tough. It was part of my plan to prepare for the World Show to ride harder, and it worked!”

Jordan Donnelly and Chexable, Dave Silva and My Hollywood Girl, and Kathleen’s son Matthew Armenta and The Great West, all tied for Reserve with a score of 147. Each collected a check for $511.

The Intermediate Non Pro Championship went to Frank Ordner, who marked a smoking 148.5 on Dunitinbrightlight and pocketed $597.

Dunitinbrightlight is owned by Ordner’s father-in-law, David Silva. Ordner began riding the horse last April, and showed for the first time at the SWRHA in 2008. “It’s great to come back and win a class here,” he said.

Ordner had a good idea of how his horse might perform this year at Ardmore. At the Ariat Tulsa Reining Futurity and Horse Show in August, he showed Dunitinbrightlight twice, and won four trophies! “This is a special horse, because he’s actually a full-brother to Dave’s stallion, Hollywoodstinseltown,” he explained. Hollywoodstinseltown recently won the National Reining Breeders Classic Intermediate Open Championship with Marco Ricotta.

Dee Dee Boeckman rode her horse, Peppy San Whiz, to the Intermediate Non Pro Reserve Championship. Her score of 145.5 garnered a check for $505.

Built in 1937, the historic Hardy Murphy Coliseum has been a mainstay as an Ardmore tourist attraction. Primarily designed to host horse and livestock shows, recent renovations to the facility have given it the flexibility to host even more events. Along with the space upgrades that allow the facility to stall 500 horses, the addition of air conditioning provides Hardy Murphy with the competitive ability to attract national and regional events. The renovations have resulted in a premier competitive equine facility.

For more information on the Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity, or to inquire about the SWRHA, please call 580-759-2572, or visit www.swrha.com.