cats-picasso

In The Money: NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Finalists

cats-picassoCats Picasso and John Swales tied for third in the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open.A total of 25 horses made the Open finals at the National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) Snaffle Bit Futurity this year in Reno, Nevada. While the Champion and Reserve Champion were both owned by their breeders, several other finalists were sale graduates as yearlings and/or 2-year-olds.

Two finalists – Cats Picasso and Stopacat – sold twice at public auction, with Cats Picasso serving as a good example of an industry practice known as “pinhooking.” Pinhooking is buying a horse at a sale with the intention of reselling it at a profit. Typically, horses are bought as weanlings and resold as yearlings, or bought as yearlings and resold as 2-year-olds under saddle.

cats-picasso-saleCats Picasso sold for $50,000 at the 2014 NCHA Futurity 2-Year-Old Sale. • Photo by Nina RosenbeckCats Picasso originally went through the 2013 Western Bloodstock Preferred Breeders Sale–Session 1 at the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Futurity Sales in Fort Worth, Texas. Lee Tennison consigned the yearling (Metallic Cat x Playboys Vixen x Hickoryote), who was purchased by Jake Murray for $16,500.

Murray owned the stallion for the next year, consigning him to the 2014 NCHA Futurity 2-Year-Old Sale. Robbie McKay paid $50,000 for Cats Picasso, resulting in a $33,500 profit for Murray. Cats Picasso made $55,000 for tying for third in the Snaffle Bit Futurity Open finals.

Stopacat (Dual Rey x RW Sallycat x High Brow Cat) was consigned to the 2013 Western Bloodstock Preferred Breeders Sale–Session 1 by Circle Y Ranch. According to American Quarter Horse Association records, Circle Y Ranch bought the colt from breeder Walton’s Rocking W Ranch just five days after he was born. Double Dove Ranch paid $30,000 for the yearling stallion in Fort Worth, then sold him privately two months later, in February 2014. New owners Eddie and Barbara Young consigned him to the 2014 NCHA Futurity 2-Year-Old Sale, where they repurchased him for $75,000. Linda McMahon’s McSpyder Ranch bought Stopacat privately, and took home $27,500 for the stallion’s sixth-place tie in the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open finals.

mr-hoo-ray-saleMr Hoo Ray sold for $30,000 at the 2014 NRCHA Select 2-Year-Old Sale. • Photo by Stacy Pigott

The other nine NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open finalists who sold at public auction are:

cd-highlightsCD Highlights brought a final bid of $100,000 at the 2014 NCHA Futurity 2-Year-Old Sale. • Photo by Nina Rosenbeck

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