The Idaho Cutting Horse Association (ICHA) Futurity wrapped up on Sept. 2, with non-stop finals loaded with talent from start to finish. When Katie Forsen Young rode out of the arena with Pocket Change, she was also carrying the title for 3-Year-Old Non-Pro Champion and a check for $4,273 to jump-start the gelding’s career.
The 2015 gelding by Im Countin Checks and out of Cat Cora (by Smooth As A Cat) marked a 214 to top the finals and secure the win for his rider and owner.
Young, of Cloverdale, California, who serves as CEO of the Cloverdale Citrus Fair, has garnered $323,929 in earnings according to Equi-Stat since collecting her first check in 1993. Those earnings were accrued through multiple futurity titles such as the 2017 El Rancho Futurity Non-Pro Championship aboard home-bred Travalen Miles (Cats Full Moon x Travalen Tessie x Travalena); the 2013 Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association (PCCHA) Futurity Non-Pro Championship aboard High Brow Cougar’s son Copper Cat; and the 2010 PCCHA Futurity Non-Pro Championship with For Instance, by SR Instant Choice and out of the Travalena mare Travelin Tessie.
The Reserve title went to Young as well, this time aboard the 2015 bay mare Tessie Cat, by High Brow CD and out of Travalen Tessie (by Travalena). The duo marked a 211 to bring home a check of $3,000 to start the mare’s career off right.
3-Year-Old Unlimited Amateur
When Tom deRegt stepped aboard the High Brow Cat mare Highbrow Sue for the 3-Year-Old Unlimited Amateur finals, it was only their fourth ride together. That was where they caught their stride, marking a 218 to create a 6-point lead over the competition and secure the win.
“It felt good, I had great help,” said deRegt, of Carmel Valley, California. “Grant Setnicka, and TJ Good, helped me down the herd. Grant had two black cows that he liked, so we started out with them. First one was in good shape up on top of the herd, and we cut it pretty well. The second started out as a pretty good cut and then I got a little off center, and the cow sorta took off to my left, so I had a little bit of a reining point there. But the cows were good, and the horse was working well, very well-trained. Overall it worked well; we had a plan, and we executed it.”
DeRegt, who has acquired $356,559 in earnings since 1998, hasn’t shown since December of 2017 in Fort Worth. He didn’t seem to return to the show pen at a disadvantage since the duo left with a check for $2,289 and a new title to their name.
“There was some rust to get off these bones, but every time I rode a little better,” said deRegt, who showed the mare in the Futurity Non-Pro as well. “I’m looking forward to the next show. I think we built on each run, and hopefully, we can have a good foundation going forward.”
Their foundation began long before deRegt climbed in the saddle. Highbrow Sue is out of Sues Fancy Pepto (by Peptoboonsmal), a mare who was also bred by deRegt. “Having raised her second-generation, it’s special,” deRegt said. “I like to raise the babies.” The pretty red roan has been easy to train, according to deRegt, who sent the mare to Setnicka, of Grandview, Texas, as a 2-year-old.
“Most of the babies out of her second dam, Goody Two Sue, have been a little tough, but overall she loves to cut. She’s real sweet to be around, so it’s fun,” deRegt said. “We’re looking forward to showing her again at El Rancho and in Vegas. I think we’ll have a good 4-year-old.
“They are really supportive and I really appreciate it,” deRegt added of the great team he had to work with.
4-Year-Old Non-Pro
4-Year-Old Unlimited Amateur
5/6-Year-Old Non-Pro
5/6-Year-Old Unlimited Amateur