Bonnie Hippensteel, riding Hes Justa Benz, and Michael Bulliard on My Royalty Chex both marked a 144 to share the Championship in the National Reining Horse Association Non Pro (2) Ancillary at the 2010 National Reining Breeders Classic on Saturday, April 17. They each earned a check for $706.

Driving in from Ocala, Florida, Bonnie was disappointed when she and “Bentley” didn’t make it back to the NRBC Non Pro finals so she decided to take the 6-year-old gelding to the East Arena and show in the Ancillary class.

“I was a lot happier today than I was in the go-round,” Bonnie said. “He’s my derby horse and it was pretty disappointing to come here and not make the finals. He just was not himself in the Classic but he came back and was more of the horse I know he can be here. So I was really pleased.”

By Smart Starbuck and out of Justa Spring Freckle, Bentley has about $42,300 in NRHA lifetime earnings. He and Bonnie will be heading to Oklahoma City next for the NRHA Derby and will also show in a derby in South Carolina.

For Michael, the 144 was redemption for a bad go in the East Arena pen he had at a show in February on My Royalty Chex.

“He got in there and kind of ran away with me,” the St. Martinville, Louisiana, rider said. “I train with Steve Archer, so we stayed after him and Steve gave me some tools to go home and work on for the NRBC. If it hadn’t been for Steve, I’m not sure I would have been able to do it again.”

On Wednesday, April 14, Michael and “Punk” returned to the East Arena pen for the first time since the happenstance to show in the Novice Horse Non Pro.

“That was the first hurdle I had to cross was getting back in there after the February wreck because I was worried he’d get back in there and do it again,” Michael said. “Fortunately I kept him in check the whole time and kept him quiet, and I had a decent run that day.”

With a successful first trip back to the East Arena, Michael had more confidence, and for the Non Pro (2) Ancillary, Steve gave his Non Pro rider some more advice.

“He said, ‘You’re going to go in there and show him like you want to win. Go do it,'” Michael recalled. “That alone inspired me. I understood what Steve was trying to tell me was to not let him think. I needed to do the thinking for him.”

By Vibrant Chex and out of Royal Silver Solano, Punk has about $30,000 in NRHA lifetime earnings. Michael is also planning on taking the gelding to Oklahoma City in June for the NRHA Derby.

The National Reining Breeders Classic, celebrating its tenth anniversary at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas, is the most successful stallion incentive program in reining history. In just thirteen years, the NRBC has grown to include upwards of 230 subscribed stallions and in 2009, there were over 2,800 enrolled foals. Annually, the payout at the National Reining Breeders Classic exceeds $1.3 million. For information on the NRBC, visit the web site at www.nrbc.com or call 580-759-3939.