Mandy McCutcheon and Always Gotyer Gunsup Win NRBC Non Pro Championship

The National Reining Breeders Classic Non Pro Finals on Friday, April 20, were arguably the best in the event's 15-year history. No wonder - the 182 entries broke the record for the largest Non Pro ever. The average of all the scored runs in the finals was an astounding 218.5!

Four-time NRBC Non Pro Champion Mandy McCutcheon, of Aubrey, Texas, added both the Championship and Reserve Championship to her list of career accomplishments.

She competed first as draw eight on Shiney Enterprise. When NRBC Announcer Jayson Jackson announced the score of 227.5, the crowd inside the Great Southwest Equestrian Center went wild - sure that the Championship run had just been made.

But McCutcheon had another bullet in her gun - a 5-year-old mare named Always Gotyer Gunsup. McCutcheon and Always Gotyer Gunsup executed the first sliding stop to perfection, and held that standard throughout the run. The judges rewarded the pair a 231 and solidified McCutcheon's fifth NRBC title.

"When I'm competing, I try to take the run apart. I do one maneuver at a time and then I forget about it. I know when I've made a mistake, but my mind is always on the next part." McCutcheon added, "I knew this mare was good and was really happy with her. You never know quite how big the score will be - so I was really excited."

The win netted a check for $40,948, as well as a saddle from Pard's Western Shop, a Gist Silversmiths buckle, a pair of Rios of Mercedes boots, a Catena Watch from Catena USA, a custom embroidered jacket from Just Stitch It, product from M3 Products, Santa Cruz Animal Health, SmartPak Smart Omega 3, as well as the signature blue crystal trophy and other NRBC memorabilia.

Always Gotyer Gunsup, owned by McCutcheon's parents, Tim and Colleen McQuay, is a 5-year-old mare by Gunner out of Always A Dun It. With McCutcheon at the reins, the mare won the Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity and the Ariat Tulsa Reining Futurity, and finished third in the Non Pro at last year's NRBC. "She's a great mare for me. I thank Marco Ricotta for helping me with her," she said. "I also thank my mom and dad - they have provided several great horses for me to ride."

McCutcheon's reserve champion entry, Shiney Enterprise, is also owned by the McQuays. The 4-year-old mare is by Smart And Shiney out of My Royal Enterprise. The Reserve Championship was worth $23,708, and came with a Gist Silversmiths buckle, product from Santa Cruz Biotechnologies and SmartPak, as well as other NRBC memorabilia.

When talking about her two finalists, McCutcheon, of Aubrey, Texas, said "I was really proud of both of them. From the time I ran through the gate they put their heads down and went to work."

The National Reining Breeders Classic is the most successful stallion incentive program in reining history. In just fourteen years, the NRBC has grown to include nearly 200 subscribed stallions. Annually, the payout at the National Reining Breeders Classic exceeds $1.4 million. For information on the NRBC, visit the web site at www.nrbc.com or call 580-759-3939.