Cutting
The three-week cutting event sponsored by Borden Milk and the National Cutting Horse Association held at Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas, ended successfully with approximately 1,500 entries and more than $3 million in winnings.
Open
Boyd Rice, Spearman, Texas, dominated the Super Stakes 4-year-old Open class held Sunday, April 30 with a 230-point ride on board A Third Cutting.
The stallion, owned by Carl and Shawnea Smith, Jacksboro, Texas, entered the semi finals on April 18 with the highest combined score of a 444 from rounds one and two.
“I told Halee, my wife, there are a lot of points between 219.5 and 226,” said Rice, referring to previous high scores of 219.5 by Eyez On Me and Bill Riddle, and 226 by Metallic Cat and Beau Galyean. Halee’s response to her husband was that there are a lot more (points) above 226.
Rice and Third Cutting’s score of 230 points was just one point shy of the all-time record of 231 points set by Sunettes Dually and Matt Gaines in the 2001 NCHA Super Stakes.
“He’s been good all week, and I haven’t had to do much with him,” said Rice. “He’s actually been a little too wild, moving too much, and I just tried to slow him down this afternoon. I guess it worked.”
Including his wins as a finalist in the NCHA Futurity and the Abilene Spectacular, Third Cutting’s earnings are now over $215,490.
Rice and Third Cutting left Fort Worth with a check for $121,173, a champion saddle from Sean Ryon, a silver and yellow sapphire cantle plate from La Reina collection-- valuing over $6 thousand, a champion buckle from Gist Silversmiths, a Jim Reno Bronze trophy, Trefethen Wine, Platinum Performance, Rios of Mercedes Boots, and a hand-made bridle set from Dennis Moreland.
Beau Galyean, Marietta, Okla., followed closely with a 226-point ride on Metallic Cat, owned by Alvin Fults, Amarillo, Texas. Metallic Cat was the winner of the 2008 NCI Building Systems / NCHA Futurity in Fort Worth.
Non Pro
Megan Miller, Poolville, Texas, riding Itawtathenapuddycat marked a 219.5 to win the 4-year-old Non Pro class. Miller also clinched the 5 and 6-year-old Non-Pro championship on Travs Scooter. Jim Milner was the only other NCHA competitor with this achievement.
“I really feel lucky,” Miller said. “I’m just riding the wave and enjoying every moment. This is something I never imagined would happen.”
Itawtathenapuddycat, by Athena Puddy Cat, was an open finalist at the Augusta and Tunica Futurities under Megan’s husband, Matt Miller.
“He’s a special horse,” said Matt Miller, who rode Travs Scooter to win the 2009 NCHA Super Stakes Non-Pro Classic.
“He’s just gotten better and better every go-round.”
Other champions during the 2009 Borden Milk / NCHA Super Stakes include the following:
Super Stakes 4-year-old classes:
Open Gelding: Dees Mr Charles, owned by Louis Noto of Cullman, Ala., and ridden and trained by Sam Shepard of Verbena, Ala., won the Open Gelding Stakes championship with a score of 218.5 points.
Non-Pro Gelding: Mary Ann Rapp of Weatherford, Texas, riding Quiverin Cat, won the Non-Pro Gelding Stakes with a score of 219 points.
John Deere Division of the Open: Meradas Gotta Gun, owned by Viki Williamson, Argyle, Texas, and ridden by Jaime Beamer, Fort Worth, Texas, with a 218-point run.
Limited Non Pro: Norda Berger, Houston,Texas, riding High Classed JPB, by Cats Merada, won the Super Stakes Limited Non-Pro, sponsored by Matthews Cutting Horses, championship with a score of 215 points.
Amateur: Missy Rosenberg, Rush, La., riding Fancy Sugar Badger by Smart Sugar Badger, won the Super Stakes Amateur championships with a score of 218.5 points.
$10,000 Novice Open: Bruce Morine, Weatherford, Texas, riding Ginger Pepto, owned by Lachlan and Jan Perks, Rockford, Ill.
$10,000 Novice Non-Pro: Austin Blake, Canyon, Texas, riding Smartys Gonna Pass.
Super Stakes Classic 5 & 6-year-old classes:
Open: Oh Cay Felix, owned by Patrick and Laura Collins of Lincoln, Ill., and ridden by Craig Thompson of Buffalo, Texas, won the Classic Open with 227.5 points.
Non-Pro: Megan Miller, Poolville, Texas, aboard Travs Scooter.
John Deere Division of the Open: Short Scootin, owned by Don and Debbie Jarma of Prosper, Texas, and ridden by Dan Popeck of Lipan, Texas, won the Classic John Deere Division of the Open with 225 points.
Limited Non Pro: Co-champions- Kaitlyn Larsen, Millsap, Texas, riding Keechi Pep, and Kristen Galyean, Claremore, Okla., riding Shady Boonlight with scores of 220.
Amateur: Kayla Norris, Sumrall, Miss., aboard Kual Gun by Playgun, won the Super Sakes Amateur Classic with a score of 222 points.
The National Cutting Horse Association is made up of over 21,000 members across the United States with a wide range of backgrounds. The sport of cutting has roots in Western ranching traditions, where good horses were a necessity for everyday ranch work and cattle handling.
From cowgirls to CEOs, from firefighters to professional football players, the common ground is often in the cutting arena. Each year more than 2,200 NCHA-approved events are held throughout the country with more than $43 million in prize money awarded.
To learn more about the National Cutting Horse Association and the sport of cutting, call 817-244-6188 or visit www.nchacutting.com.
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