California
It is the last year of Youth eligibility for 18-year-old Makayla Reed, and she made the most of it today at the National Reined Cow Horse Association Derby, winning the Youth Limited class aboard her 10-year-old gelding, Mister Black Oak. They scored a 144 in the reined work and a 143 in the cow work, and the 287 composite score was good for a trophy plaque and $360.
"He's been really good in the reining. We have had trouble with running straight, but today he ran hard, he ran straight and we had really good stops, and pretty good spins. His cow work was really good. My cow ran, but it didn't face up very much. Today he was really good, and I'm really proud of him," the Porterville, Calif., competitor said.
Makayla had an exciting introduction to the sport of reined cow horse at Russell Dilday's barn about three years ago when Dilday put her on Miss Plain Plain, his two-time World's Greatest Horseman Reserve Champion mare.
"My cousin used to ride with Russell. She took me out there one day, and he let me ride Miss Plain Plain. I didn't even know it was her!" Makayla said, laughing.
Makayla, who recently graduated high school, rides with trainer Christina Allen. After her Youth eligibility runs out, she plans to compete in the Non Pro Limited and possibly start going down the fence - and she says Mister Black Oak is definitely part of those plans. The gelding is a son of Mister Dual Pep, out of the Doc's Oak mare Sierra Tiempo.
"I bought him about a year ago, and we just click. He's an awesome guy, and I wouldn't trade him for anything," she said.
The Youth Limited Reserve Champion was Kailey Culligan, Camarillo, Calif., who rode TF Montalena to a 284.5 composite score, earning $270. TF Montalena is by Folks Montaluc out of Peps Sissy Lena.
The National Reined Cow Horse Association, now in its 62nd 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 Bob's Custom Saddles, Cinch, Classic Equine, Gist Silversmiths, John Deere, Markel Insurance Company, Platinum Performance, Quarter Horse News, Rios of Mercedes, Santa Cruz Biotechnologies, the Silver Legacy Hotel and Casino, Merial products UlcerGard and EQUIOXX and Clinton Anderson's Downunder Horsemanship, 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.
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