Michelle Barnes and Stylish Swagger • Photo by Molly Montag

Stylish Swagger Lives Up to Name in $5,000 Novice Non-Pro

Michelle Barnes thinks her horse, Stylish Swagger, has a high opinion of himself, but in the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) $5,000 Novice Non-Pro World Finals, the 7-year-old gelding showed it may be justified.

Barnes, of Lewiston, Idaho, and the son of Stylish Rey earned a 438.5 cumulative score and $3,828 to earn the Show Championship. They won the title after a solid performance in the first round and another impressive showing Thursday afternoon during the second go-round at the Will Rogers Watt Arena.

“I was very happy with that one [in the first go],” Barnes recalled. “I drew well [and] I cut well. [In the second go,] I didn’t draw as well as I did [in the first go]. I was 15th today, and then my last cut I didn’t quite step up and cut clean on that third one like I would’ve wanted to, but it was a good ride.”

With the World Finals earnings included, Stylish Swagger has garnered more than $112,000. Barnes is fast approaching the $400,000 earnings mark, according to the NCHA’s online records.

Bred by Matt and Megan Miller, of Poolville, Texas, Stylish Swagger is out of Carolena Moon (by Peptoboonsmal).

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