Karey Franz

Franz and her 2004 gelding (Nu Chex To Cash x Zans Lady Diamond x Zans Diamond Son) were up against some steep competition in the finals, including three-time AQHA Amateur Working Cow Horse World Champions Karen Stallings and NMSU Truckin Chex, 2010 AQHA Amateur Reining World Champions Carrie Von Uhlit and Ricochet San and Dana White on National Reined Cow Horse Derby Bridle Spectacular and Magnificent Seven Champion Brother White.

After the reined work portion of the finals, held in the morning, Von Uhlit and Ricochet San led with a 221.5, while Franz and White were in second, each with a 216 marked on their mounts. By the time Franz and Nuchex N Diamonds entered the Coliseum in the second-to-last draw of the evening cow work portion of the finals, Betty Lou Valdez, La Junta, Colo., and MH Bold Intentions were leading the cow work with a 223.5 and the composite with a 433.

“We had a good run in the prelims, which kind of worries me, because … you don’t know if you can duplicate it. But he was wanting to be good,” Franz, Steelville, Mo., said of “Checkers.” The pair controlled their cow to the third-highest cow work score of the night, a 219.5, which, combined with their reining score, put them at the top of the class with a 435.5 composite.

Valdez and MH Bold Intentions (Bodee Boonsmal x Freckles Docs Oak x Docs Oak) held on to the Reserve Championship and Stallings and Chexy Little Sister (NMSU Truckin Chex x Shiners Spumanti x Shining Spark) won the bronze trophy with a 211.5 reined work/220.5 cow work/432 composite score.

Amateur Cutting

Foxie I nStyle and Bill Cowan

But this time around, a 222 just wasn’t quite enough for Bill and 2005 mare Foxie In Style (Docs Stylish Sam x Foxie Merada x Freckles Merada). Four horses after his wife’s go, Bill stole the lead with a 223.5. The next horse-and-rider pair, Brandon Dufurrena, Gainesville, Texas, and his Miss Ella Rey (Dual Rey x Huggs Olena x Smart Chic Olena), tried to steal the top spot, but slid into second place with a 223.

“I love this mare. She’s all heart and try,” Bill said of his Champion mare, “Foxie.”

“I was a really hoping for a one-two [finish], but you know, hey, it’s all good,” Michelle said. She added that the good-natured competition between her and her husband made for a “really fun cutting tonight.”

Bill agreed, knowing he was up against some tough competition with his wife and Dufurrena nipping at his heels.

“I knew there were some really good horses tonight,” Bill said. “The horse that was second is one that I’ve been showing with all year long and that was one that I really wanted to watch show, and I only got by that one by half a point.”

Amateur Reining

Lindsay Wadhams, Pueblo, Colo., won her first AQHA Amateur Reining World Champion on Tuesday, Nov. 8 with a 218 score marked on 2001 gelding Spursuasion (Ray Gay Quixote x Mist N Smoke x Doc Tom Tucker). This was also the first AQHA World Championship for Spursuasion, aka “Booger,” but the gelding had already proven he was a top-notch talent, in more arenas than one.

In 2004, Spursuarsion was the Intermediate Open Reserve Champion and placed ninth in the Open at the NRHA Futurity with rider Shadd Parkinson. Two years later, he shifted gears and was the AQHA Junior Working Cow Horse Reserve World Champion. Since then, Spursuasion has qualified for the AQHA World Show in Open Working Cow Horse, Reining, Heading, Heeling and Tie-Down and Amateur Reining and Working Cow Horse a total of 15 times.

This year, he clinched gold with his owner of one year, Wadhams, who was coached by trainer Corey Cushings, Scottsdale, Ariz.

The Reserve Championship in Amateur Reining went to Tamra Kyle, Whitesboro, Texas, and A Ruf Gal (Lil Ruf Peppy x My Topsail Gal x Topsail Whiz). They marked a 217. With a 216.5, Lance Griffin, Ardmore, Okla., won third place on Dun Playing Tag (Whiz N Tag Chex x Brennas Dunit Fancy x Hollywood Dun It).