reyzin

Reyzin and Rapp Take NCHA Non-Pro Horse of Year Lead

reyzinMary Ann Rapp and ReyzinMary Ann Rapp and Reyzin did what they wanted to do on Nov. 3 in Paso Robles, Calif. They won the Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association/Borjon Auto Center Futurity Non-Pro Cutting Stakes with a 225 to earn $10,688, and more importantly to Rapp, 12 National Cutting Horse Association Non-Pro Horse of the Year points.

Those dozen points catapulted Rapp’s 4-year-old mare from a nine-point deficit to a three-point lead over her 6-year-old rival Light N Lily, a mare owned and ridden by Kaitlyn Larsen Wimberly of Millsap, Texas.

“It was basically do or die,” Rapp said. “We needed to win to be in the hunt. For me, this was a one-place class.”

Rapp, who lives in Weatherford, Texas, and Reyzin figure to square off in a showdown with Light N Lily and Wimberly for the 2013 Non-Pro Horse of the Year title during the Mercuria/NCHA World Series event in Kansas City, Mo., Nov. 7-8. The winner of that event will earn six Non-Pro Horse of the Year points, with the second-place finisher earning three. A horse can also earn one point just by making the finals.

Light N Lily (Light N Lena x Meradas Oh Cay x Freckles Merada) is bred and originally owned by Wimberly’s father, NCHA Non-Pro Hall of Fame Rider Billy Martin. Reyzin (High Brow CD x Miss Reycine x Dual Rey) is bred and owned by Mary Ann and her husband, Phil. Phil is cutting’s all-time top-earning rider; Mary Ann is cutting’s all-time top Non-Pro earner.

Wimberly finished second in last year’s NCHA Non-Pro division. She has won four limited-age titles riding Light N Lily. Rapp and Reyzin picked up their fifth limited-age title in Paso Robles.

“She’s my horse and I get to enjoy her this year,” Rapp said. “Kaitlyn has a wonderful mare. We both have wonderful mares. I feel fortunate to have taken the lead.”