The battle for an Open finals berth at the 2010 National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity is off to a great start at the Reno Livestock Events Center in Reno, Nevada. With the preliminary herd work competition already completed, the Open division preliminary rein work commenced Thursday, September 23.

With 58 of the 240 runs already completed, Corey Cushing and Better Be Smooth lead both the Open preliminary composite and rein work. Cushing and the Smooth As A Cat stallion, out of Frosty Lil Lena, began with a 213 in the herd work, and followed that with a crowd-pleasing 223 in the rein work. Better Be Smooth is owned by Day Creek Ranch, LLC.

Currently in the lead of the Cinch Intermediate Open rein work is Jaton Lord, who rode Smart Little Mecom to a 219 in the rein work. Smart Little Mecom, by Mecom Blue and out of Roses To Rubies, is owned by Paul Seitz.

Sitting at the top of the Cinch Intermediate Open composite leader board is Justin Wright, who piloted No Chic Flicks to a 213 in the herd work and a 218 in the rein work for a 431. No Chic Flicks, by Chic Please and out of Pandalita Star, is owned by Ronnie and Karin Richards. No Chic Flicks was consigned to the NRCHA Select 2-Year-Old Sale in 2009, so he’s got more on the line. Each year the highest-advancing Futurity entry that sold in the Select 2-Year-Old Sale the year before wins $21,000. That check will be awarded during the Select 2-Year-Old Sale on September 30.

Riding for Steven and Trish Greenberg, Brad Barkemeyer rode Smart Shine N Peppy to a 217.5 in the rein work, moving into the lead of the Limited Open. Smart Shine N Peppy is by Smart Shiner and out of Little Jalapeppy.

Winston Hansma and Jills A Little Blue, who won the Limited Open herd work preliminaries, currently lead that division’s composite with a 425. Hansma and the Mecom Blue mare, out of Jills CD, had a 217 in the herd work and a 208 in the rein work.

The Open, Cinch Intermediate Open, and Limited Open preliminary rein work continues through Saturday, September 25. The last leg of preliminary competition, the cow work, will be held September 27-28. The top 19 in the Cinch Intermediate Open and the top 10 in the Limited Open will advance to the Finals on Saturday, October 2, while the top 25 from the Open division will compete in the clean-slate finals on Sunday, October 3. All ties for the last advancing place will also earn a spot in the finals.

Complete results of the Snaffle Bit Futurity and horse show are posted on the official NRCHA website, www.nrcha.com. A live webcast can be accessed from the NRCHA website, and can also be found at www.gallopingvideo.com.

The National Reined Cow Horse Association, 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, Running W Designs, the Silver Legacy, 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 website at www.nrcha.com.