The premier event for 3-year-old reined cow horses, the National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity, came to a conclusion Sunday, Oct. 7, after 15 days of competition.
The top 25 open finalists began competition early in the morning with the herd work. The excitement built and escalated until the very end, when Boyd Rice and Oh Cay N Short, by Oh Cay Quixote out of Bit Of Shorty, took the lead of the cow work with a score of 222.5.
The Championship earned owners Kevin and Sydney Knight the $100,000 check that the Open Championship of the Snaffle Bit Futurity is known for.
This is the first horse that Rice has ridden for the Knights. Although Boyd had met Kevin a few years ago, it took a year before the new owner figured he knew the cutting trainer well enough to ask something important.
“It took a while to pop the question,” Knight laughed. “But I just told him that when he found one he thought could win here, to call me. I didn’t hear from him for a while.”
Knight bought Oh Cay N Short, a bay stallion, sight unseen after Boyd tried him last December. “I have only talked to Boyd about six times; I try to stay out of the way. I know he knows what he’s doing,” Knight added.
Although there were plans to go to some of the major cuttings, things have changed. “We’ll still go to some cuttings, but we’ll plan on going to Idaho for the Stakes, since we have done so well,” said Rice of his plans. The 2008 NRCHA Stakes take place March 26-30, 2008, in Nampa, Idaho.
The Reserve Open Championship was won by Lance Johnston and Shes Full Of Diamonds, by Hes A Peptospoonful and out of Shining Rings. The Reserve Championship check for owners Gary and Kay Watt was for $85,000.
Johnston also won 13th place with the Watts’ other horse, Im So Smart, which paid an additional $18,000.
“This was great,” Johnston said during the press conference. “This is a great horse.”
Johnston had captured the Open Hackamore Championship earlier in the week, but then caught a cold before the finals.
“I think the cold might have been a good thing,” he admitted. “I had the lead in the herd work, and instead of being nervous, I had to stay focused so I could get through the rest of the finals. Luckily, adrenaline helps.”
The 35-year-old trainer has had an interest in reined cow horses since he was a child.
“My parents came to the Snaffle Bit Futurity the last year Bobby Ingersoll won it in 1978. They came home and told me about it, and I told them I would win it one day.” He added, “I’m getting there!”