The National Reined Cow Horse Association Derby, one of the association’s premier events for 4- and 5-year-old reined cow horses, began on Tuesday, June 15, with the herd work preliminaries. Corey Cushing of Scottsdale, Arizona, piloted Smart Boons to the high score of 220 – but that wasn’t the only horse he did well on. Of the six horses he competed on in the preliminaries, three were in the top 5.

Cushing and Smart Boons are the Derby defending Champions. Owned by Kevin and Sydney Knight of Peoria, Arizona, and piloted by Cushing, Smart Boons claimed the Open Derby title in 2009 by eight points and earned $45,866.

Cushing holds an impressive lead, but with two more phases of preliminary competition – the rein and herd work – anything can change.

There was a three-way tie for the lead of the Intermediate Open herd work preliminaries. Smoky Pritchett and Jasons Million Heir (Bodee Boonsmal x Falena Playlena), Jaton Lord and Peptos Smart Style (Peptos Stylish Oak x Smart Chicy Dee), and Brad Barkemeyer and Dulce Smart Boomer (Dulces Smart Lena x Boomerita) all marked a 216 in the preliminary round.

Jasons Million Heir is owned by Aneka Schelbeck of Cottonwood, California, while King Hill, Idaho, competitor Anne Reynolds owns Peptos Smart Style.

Barkemeyer and Dulce Smart Boomer, owned by Steven and Trish Greenberg of Scottsdale, Arizona, also topped the Limited Open division.

While the preliminary round determines which entries will make it to the clean-slate finals on Sunday, June 20, it also decides the Champions of the Open Novice Horse and the Intermediate Open Novice Horse divisions.

Currently in the lead of the Open division is John Ward and Rockin Mister Dual with a 213.5. Rockin Mister Dual, owned by Robert Klems Jr. of Fullerton, California, is by Mister Dual Pep and out of Peppys Rockin Angel.

Smoky Pritchett and Kitty Lena, who he owns with Terry Ratto, are at the top of the leader board for the Intermediate Open Novice Horse. Kitty Lena is by Kit Dual and out of Dualin Bonnie Lena.

Herd work action continues Wednesday with the Non Pro Derby preliminaries. Immediately following the Derby, the veteran cow horses in the Holy Cow Performance Horses $50,000 Added Open Bridle Spectacular will compete in the herd work, which will be followed by the Non Pro Bridle Spectacular.

For a complete schedule, visit www.nrcha.com.

The National Reined Cow Horse Association, now in its 61st year, is 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 Markel Insurance Company, Wide World of Horses, John Deere, AdequanR, Bob’s Custom Saddles, Cinch, Inc., Classic Equine, Gist Silversmiths, MD Barns, Platinum Performance, Inc., Nutrena, Quarter Horse News, Pfizer Animal Health, Rios of Mercedes, Merial products ULCERGARD and EQUIOXX, Running W Designs, 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