Chelsea Tatum & Bobs Smart Rey

Chelsea Tatum Marks Big to Win NCHA Super Stakes Classic Limited Non-Pro

In the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Super Stakes Classic Limited Non-Pro finals, the stakes were high almost right from the start. Langston Pattillo guided High Stylin CD to a 222 from the third draw, and the pressure was on for the rest of the contestants.

However, Chelsea Tatum, of Granbury, Texas, didn’t let nerves get the better of her. Happy to just make both the Limited Non-Pro and the Non-Pro finals, she went into the herd planning to cut clean and just show Bobs Smart Rey, and that strategy paid off when the judges marked her run a 225.

“My adrenaline is still pumping and it doesn’t really feel real yet,” Tatum said with a smile after the class. “It was just so awesome.

“When I came out, I knew I had a good run and I was just so happy and excited,” she continued. “I knew it was a good run, but somebody marked a 222 before me and so I didn’t know what they would do. My mare was so good tonight, and my help told me before that I needed to go show my horse, that I had a good shot at winning it. I was like OK, let’s go!”

While the herd of cattle in the finals was a bit ornery, Tatum’s three cows let her push them out and gave her three good cuts. In fact, her second cow was one of her favorites, staying right in the middle.

“That was the most fun I’ve ever had on the second cut,” she said. “It was just amazing, and she was stopping so hard and just spot on.”

Tatum trains with Lloyd Cox, and she thanked him and his team for all of their help with her mare.

“I could not have done this without him,” she said. “In the most simple way, he can tell you the most. He’s helped me so much, and he’s been awesome with her. I don’t know what I’d do without him honestly because they got me in the winner’s circle! I love showing with them, and I love that group.”

Tatum is married to Cass, who is Cox’s assistant trainer. They have a 2-year-old son named Tayson who keeps her busy when she is not working with “Selena.” The 5-year-old Dual Rey mare (out of Bobs Smart Chance x Bob Acre Doc), who was bred by Slate River Ranch, is approaching the $100,000 marker, and her $9,198 check for winning helped her inch even closer.

“That’s kind of my goal, and then I probably won’t show her as much,” Tatum said. “We have a baby coming this year, it’s actually due next week, by Hottish, and then we’re going to probably have three babies from her this year. That’s kind of my plan is to not show her as much, just let her be a mama.”

Pattillo, of Saint Elmo, Illinois, and Sunrise Ranch LLC-bred High Stylin CD (High Brow CD x Stylin Playgirl x Docs Stylish Oak) settled for the Reserve Championship and $8,557. That total elevated Pattillo’s lifetime earnings to more than $67,000, according to Equi-Stat.