California
Riding her home-raised gelding, The Chic Doctor, Laurie Black claimed the Non Pro Two Rein Championship at the National Reined Cow Horse Association Derby in Paso Robles, Calif., with a score of 284. The win came with a trophy plaque and a check for $680.
The Sanger, Calif., non pro, who started showing cow horses in the 1990s, scored a 144 in the reined work and 140 in the cow work to secure the win.
"He's been getting on the muscle a little bit in the reined work, so I was ready for that - but he was pretty quiet today. He was awesome in the circles, he was running true to his stops, and he was a good boy," Black said. "In the fence work, we had a couple of bobbles in the boxing, but going down the wall, he was right where I wanted him to be. I love him. He's very special to me."
The Chic Doctor is sired by Chic Please and out of Docsinic, a Reminic daughter who Black owned, showed and kept as a broodmare until her death last year.
Black returned to the show pen last season following several years' recovery from a broken leg, an injury sustained when The Chic Doctor fell while circling a cow.
"My leg does not make a very good kickstand," she joked, adding that she had to overcome some confidence issues when she started working cows again. "I was afraid, which bothered me, because I never had any fear. I'm past it now, but it took some time."
Black currently trains with Lance Johnston, and over her career, has received help from other leading riders including Todd Crawford, Doug Williamson and John Ward.
"I have amazing friends, and we have such nice people in our organization. I'm just glad to be back and glad to be riding," she said.
The Non Pro Two Rein Reserve Champion was Scott Trueblood, who rode Just Plain Hip to a score of 140 in the reined work and 143.5 in the cow work. The placing paid $510.
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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