The 10 finalists for the 2017 National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) World’s Greatest Horseman, presented by DT Horses, were determined on Feb. 16, as the last two preliminary events – the steer-stopping and the fence work – were held in Fort Worth, Texas.
It took a composite score of 861 or more to advance to the clean-slate finals on Feb. 18. Thirty-six horse-and-rider teams vied for a place in the top 10, and the high score of the preliminaries, an 873.5 (219 herd/209.5 rein/223.5 steer/222.5 fence) belonged to NRCHA Million Dollar Rider Jay McLaughlin, of Commerce, Texas, aboard Blind Sided (Peptoboonsmal x Lil Miss Shiney Chex x Shining Spark), owned by Aaron Ranch.
McLaughlin and Blind Sided will be competing against nine other elite horse and rider pairs:
2. Shane Steffen and Dueling Chic Olena (Smart Chic Olena x Dual Lena x Dual Pep), owned by Linda McMahon – 871.5 (215 herd/214.5 rein/ 221 steer/221 fence)
3-4. Boyd Rice and Royal Smart Fletch (Royal Fletch x Little Smart Ginger x Smart Little Lena), owned by Kit & Charlie Moncrief – 870.5 (220 herd/221.5 rein/214 steer/ 215 fence)
3-4. Jake Gorrell and Smooth N Cash (Smooth As A Cat x Dox Gavacash x Miss N Cash), owned by Roloff Ranch – 870.5 (219 herd/213.5 rein/216 steer/222 fence)
5. Corey Cushing and OneTimeAtBandCamp (One Time Pepto x Shortys Rooster x Gallo Del Cielo), owned by Allan Kaplan – 870 (213 herd/220.5 rein/216.5 steer/220 fence)
6. Brad Lund and Rubiesscoobiedoobie (Smart Chic Olena x Playin With Rubies x Lectric Playboy), owned by Rockin’ K Remuda – 868 (214 herd/216 rein/ 216 steer/222 herd)
7. Chris Dawson and Travelin Jonez (Smart Chic Olena x Travelin With Sass x Travalena), owned by Chris Dawson – 867.5 (215.5 herd/216.5 rein/216 steer/219.5 fence)
8. Jake Telford and Hes Shinettes CD (CD Olena x Sheza Shinette x Shining Spark), owned by Holy Cow Performance Horses – 865.5 (213 herd/219 rein/216.5 steer/217 fence)
9. Luke Jones and Tommy Boon (Thomas E Hughes x Chitas Blue Boon x Duals Blue Boon), owned by Wayne Hanson – 861.5 (213 herd/213.5 rein/210 steer/225 fence)
10. John Swales and Heza Diamond Spark (Diamond J Star x Sheza Shinette x Shining Spark), owned by 7P Ranch – 861 (216 herd/222 rein/202 steer/221 fence)