The Non Pro Championships of the 2011 National Reined Cow Horse Association Circle Y Ranch Derby, held as part of the NRCHA Celebration of Champions, were decided early Monday morning January 31. The cow work is always the deciding factor of the trifecta event – as the cattle proved to be great equalizers.

Non Pro Champions

Tammy Jo Hays and Moonstruck Nic dominated the final two legs of the Non Pro competition, having marked a 145.5 in the rein work and a 145 in the cow work for a 431.5 total. For the Championship, the Nocona, Texas, competitor took home a check for $3,098. That money was supplemented by an additional $590 from the high score of the Non Pro cow work.

Moonstruck Nic is by Nic It In The Bud out of Moonstruck Cat, and is owned by Hays and her father Walter Greeman. “I was just thrilled with him. He stopped big and did everything he was supposed to,” said Hays, who purchased Moonstruck Nic the week before the 2010 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity. The pair made the finals at the Association’s largest Futurity event. “There were still some things I didn’t know, but I was very happy with that show,” she said.

In 2010, Hays won the NRCHA Derby on another Nic It In The Bud gelding, Nics Get Smart. “I really like Nic It In The Bud. Shawn and I have ridden and raised quite a few. They are good-minded and are great fence horses,” she said.

Following the awards ceremony, Hays was, as always, grateful to everyone who has helped here in her equine endeavors. “There is so many people that I appreciate. I thank God – I feel so blessed. I also thank my husband Shawn for helping me a lot with this horse. Thanks also to Todd Bergen who we bought this horse from. Don Murphy and Robbie Boyce have both helped me a lot,” she said. “Also thank you to our vet Dr. Joe Carter. He’s always there for us day or night, and our success is just as important to him as us.”

Intermediate Non Pro Champions

Chase Trahern finished Reserve in the Non Pro division and topped the Intermediate Non Pro with a 425.5. He was riding his horse, Smart Little Laredo, by Laredo Blue and out of Smart Little Spring, who he purchased

Trahern collected $1,269 in the Intermediate Non Pro, $2,478 in the Non Pro, and an additional $512 in go-round money.

The 18-year-old began the competition with a 137 in the herd work – an abnormality for the 4-year-old cow horse. “I could have shown her better out of the herd. I just had some real soft cows and didn’t get much done,” he said. “I had really good herd help. Thank you Jake Gorrell, Jay Hensen, Robbie Boyce, and my brother Kyle Trahern for their help.”

In the rein work, which Trahern says is Laredo’s (Smart Little Laredo) strongest event, the pair scored a 144.5, and followed that up with a 144 in the cow work. “I was real happy in the reining – she stopped really well – and her fence work was really good,” he said. Trahern, who’s planning to drop his Non Pro card after this year, was the 2010 American Quarter Horse Association Reserve World Champion in Youth Working Cow Horse.

The 2010 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Intermediate Non Pro Champions Jayson Fisher and Hearts Willowy Fox took the Reserve Championship of the Intermediate Non Pro and third place in the Non Pro division with a 421 composite. Fisher, of Arroyo Grande, California, pocketed more than $3,124 for the two divisions. Hearts Willowy Fox, by Heart Of A Fox out of Satin Playboy, is owned by Fisher and his wife Teresa.

Amateur Champion

Morgan Holmes just began showing in Limited Age Events, but the Sarasota, Florida, teenager has kicked off her debut year in a big way, winning both the Circle Y Ranch Derby Amateur Championship on Dunbuds Comet and the Reserve Championship on Im Dun R U.

Both Dunbuds Comet and Im Dun R U are by Dun It Big, a stallion that Morgan’s father Jay Holmes piloted to many achievements – including NRCHA World Championships in the Open Bridle and Open Hackamore and an American Quarter Horse Association World Championship in Senior Heeling.

“They’re all the same. It’s so much fun because they all stop and you just let them go on the cow,” said Holmes, describing the Dun It Big offspring. Dunbuds Comet is out of Comets Gold Lena.

The 15-year-old and Lambchop (Dunbuds Comet) marked a 141 in the herd work, but had a disappointing 133.5 in the rein work. “She was awesome. Her cutting was so good. I was able to drop her down like a cutter and she did the whole thing. The reining could have been really good, but I didn’t ride her as well as I needed to,” Holmes admitted. However, a 144.5 in the fence work resulted in the Amateur Championship. “She gets cow fresh easy, and she started to play but she was perfect. I dropped a rein in the circle and I only had the one – but she did everything perfect.”

The pair took home $4,008 for the Amateur Championship, third in the Intermediate Non Pro, and fourth in the Non Pro division.

Holmes and Im Dun R U, out of Lion In Wait, earned the Amateur Reserve Championship with a 414.5 composite, collecting $1,461.

Both mares are owned by Jay and Rhonda Holmes. Morgan noted, “Thank you to my parents for letting me ride these horses, and for their help.”

Penny Youngblood’s Circle Y Ranch has been the presenting sponsor of this Derby for many years, and the Circle Y Ranch has recently come onboard as an NRCHA Breeders Sponsor. Circle Y Ranch sits on a beautiful 400-acre site outside Aubrey, Texas. Under the leadership of Gerald Cosby, the Circle Y Ranch has been breeding quarter horses for more than 30 years for use in reined cow horse events along with Benton Bland.

The Circle Y Ranch is home to Bets Smart Lena, the 2007 NRCHA Limited Open Hackamore National Champion and Reserve World Champion. For more information, visit www.circleyquarterhorses.com.

The NRCHA Celebration of Champions, held at the 1st Community Credit Union Spur Arena in San Angelo, Texas, features the Circle Y Ranch Derby, the NRCHA World Championship Show presented by John Deere, and the NRCHA World’s Greatest Horseman. The show in its entirety can be seen free of charge thanks to NRCHA Official Videographer Galloping Video. To view the live webcast, visit the NRCHA website or Galloping Video’s website at www.gallopingvideo.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 Adequan, Bob’s Custom Saddles, Cinch, Classic Equine, Gist Silversmiths, John Deere, Markel Insurance Company, Nutrena, Pfizer Animal Health, Platinum Performance, Quarter Horse News, Rios of Mercedes, Running W Designs, the Silver Legacy Hotel and Casino, and Merial products UlcerGard and EQUIOXX, 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.