In 2009, National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity Open exhibitors who earned a 640.5 composite claimed a spot in the lucrative Open finals. With 25 entries already above a 640 after the first 14 sets of cow work preliminaries, it looks like that the bubble score for making the Open finals is escalating in 2010. With only five sets left to compete on Tuesday, September 27, the tension inside the Reno Livestock Events Center in Reno, Nevada, is almost palpable.

Currently leading the Open and Cinch Intermediate Open preliminary composite is Justin Wright, who piloted No Chic Flicks to the current preliminary composite high score of 651 for Ronnie and Karin Richards. Wright and the Chic Please stallion, out of Pandalita Star, scored 213 in the herd work, 218 in the rein work and a 220 in the fence work.

No Chic Flicks is already a winner at this year’s Futurity – she won the 2-Year-Old Sale Non Pro Sale Incentive purse of $9,000 with the Richards’ daughter Laurie Ward. Consigned in 2009 to the NRCHA Select 2-Year-Old Sale by Todd Crawford, No Chic Flicks was eligible for the 2-Year-Old Sale Incentive, which is paid to the highest advancing horse competing in the next year’s Futurity in the Non Pro and Open. When the preliminary competition is finished on Tuesday, September 28, there’s a very good chance that No Chic Flicks will have already earned his owners $30,000!

Darren Miller, of Watkins, Colorado, piloted his 3-year-old Very Smart Remedy gelding, out of Kaimana Wana Wiggle, to a crowd-pleasing 223 – the current high score of both the Open and Cinch Intermediate Open. Miller, who serves on the NRCHA Board of Directors, and Lil Remedy Pep are currently tied for fifth place in the Open preliminary composite with a 647.5.

With a composite score of 649, Les Oswald and Dulces Little Light are set to make the finals of all three Open divisions. Oswald and Dulces Little Light, by Dulces Smart Lena out of Light The Stars, were a 215 in the herd work, 217.5 in the rein work, and finished with a 216.5 in the fence work – the current high fence work score of the Limited Open. Dulces Little Light is owned by Richard and Rena Whyler.

To keep up with the action, visit the NRCHA website at www.nrcha.com  , or the NRCHA Facebook page at  www.facebook.com/nrcha.

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 Adequan, Bob’s Custom Saddles, Cinch, Classic Equine, Gist Silversmiths, John Deere, Markel Insurance, MD Barns, Merial products ULCERGARD and EQUIOXX, Nutrena, Pfizer Animal Health, Platinum Performance, Quarter Horse News, Rios of Mercedes, and Wide World of Horses, 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.