In 2005, Devin Spencer won her first reining buckle as a green rookie.

“It was the first class I ever showed in and it was at 1 o’clock in the morning and I won with a 74, which was probably not deserved,” Devin recalled.

But since that fateful late-night show, Devin hasn’t won another trophy buckle. That is until Saturday, April 17, when she marked a 143.5 on Gunnin For Diamonds in the National Reining Horse Association Youth 14-18 Ancillary at the 2010 National Reining Breeders Classic.

The Evergreen, Colorado, high school senior earned $99 on the 7-year-old American Paint Horse Association gelding by Like A Diamond and out of BH Top Gun.

“Last year I showed him in the (NRHA) Derby and made it to the finals in all four divisions but we got a little too fast and crazy,” Devin said. “But I’m really happy with how well we did today. He had colic surgery in September but he’s OK now.”

Devin, who joins Texas Christian University’s equestrian team next fall, has shown in the NRBC ancillary classes since 2008 and marked a 145 on “Gunnie” in the Youth 14-18 last year but was beat by half a point.

However, this year she was the one with the winning score, which tied with Cade McCutcheon’s Youth 13 & Under Ancillary score. That made the 9-year-old and the 18-year-old co-high point champions for the special Gist high-point championship buckle. Both also had their names placed on the Curtis Burlin Perpetual Youth Award.

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.