Level 1 Non-Pro

Carlysle Salter & Gotta Be A Gunner • Photo by Kristin PitzerCarlysle Salter claimed the Level 1 Non-Pro Championship and finished Reserve in the Level 2 and third in the Level 3 after scoring a 217 on her horse Gotta Be A Gunner. She won $8,684, as well as prizes that include a saddle from Bob’s Custom Saddle/Tamarack Ranch, a Whisper Bit, gift certificates to Thomas Moore Feed and Santa Cruz Biotechnologies, a Gist Silversmiths buckle and numerous other prizes. But her preliminary run that put her into the finals almost did not happen.

Having drawn up on Monday, the 16-year-old was worried she wouldn’t be able to make it to the facility to show because of the torrential rain and historic flooding.

“I was staying at my cousin’s and all the roads were flooded around the house. We couldn’t leave because the police were blocking the road,” she recalled. “I called the show office and they said they’d work with me if I couldn’t get there that day, but luckily I was able to with the rain delay.”

At the time, Monday’s run – a 215.5 – represented the highest score Salter had received in competition. “Then we were even better in the finals! I actually hadn’t brought a shirt to match my pad for the finals because I didn’t think I’d make it. Luckily Shannon Rafacz let me borrow one of hers,” she explained.

Salter noted that her trainer, Jamie Bissell, was a huge help when it came to showing Gotta Be A Gunner (Gunner x Katies Chic Olena x Smart Chic Olena) at the NRBC. “He has been really pushing me past my limits, and he did such a great job getting me ready,” she said. “I thank him and his wife Lisa. I also thank George and Lisa Aldridge from Webster, Florida, who taught me most everything I know about reining. And Butch Hunsucker for giving me the opportunity to own this horse. He bred and raised him and we bought him at the [NRHA] Futurity two years ago. I also thank Sam Schaffhauser, Yonathon Baruch, Ash Holbrook and Shannon Rafacz.”

Taylor Zimmerman won the Level 1 Non-Pro Reserve title on Wimpys Dolled Up, who is by Wimpys Little Step and out of Dolled Up Gunner (by Gunner). The 5-year-old mare is owned by Vaughn Zimmerman.

Competition continues at the NRBC through Sunday, April 24. Complete details can be found at nrbc.com.

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