The 2020 High Plains Ranchers & Breeders Association (HPRBA) Ranch Horse Futurity featured a full field and return of the popular Limited class.
The show, held in conjunction with the annual HPRBA Sale, had 27 entries competing for a purse of $22,500 on June 6 at Bill Cody Arena in Amarillo, Texas. The HPRBA Ranch Horse Futurity is open to 3-year-olds who were sold at the HPRBA Sale as yearlings or 2-year-olds.
The HPRBA is a group of 12 Panhandle ranches that have come together to market their ranch raised horses in an annual Sale and Ranch Horse Futurity. Nine of the twelve HPRBA members are AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeders.
Members are: Chisum Ranch, CL Quarter Horses, Durrett Cattle, H Ranch, Martin’s Last Dollar Ranch, Michael Ranch, Scivally Ranch, Silver Spur Ranches, Summers Cattle, Wing Brothers( Mike Wing & Jo Wing), and Zieman Ranch.
Romni Durrett, of HPRBA member Durrett Cattle, said the Futurity and accompanying sale were both strong in 2020. The 27 entries in the Futurity was up from 21 last year.
“That’s the biggest futurity we’ve had,” she said.
Open
In the HPRBA Ranch Horse Futurity Open, Gatlin Duncan and Little Run Shinning (Hal Of A Run x Little TR Shinning x Twice As Shinning) were crowned the 2020 champions.
They won $7,500, a Red Bluff buckle, Rodeo King hat, HPRBA vest, and Iron Horse Brand cinch.
Bred by Chisum Ranch, Little Run Shinning is a palomino mare by Hal Of A Run (by Metallic Cat) and out of Little TR Shinning (by Twice As Shinning). She is owned by Duncan.
The Open Reserve Championship went to H Maria Del Rey and Layton Berry.
Bred by H Ranch, H Maria Del Rey is a brown mare by Sammi Rey (by Dual Smart Rey) and out of HR Black Smoke (by HR Dun Smoke). They won $3,000 and an Iron Horse Head Branch cinch.
Tying for third/fourth were brothers Ryan and Kyle Birkenfeld. Ryan rode the Martin’s Last Dollar Ranch-bred Starlight Magnum and Kyle rode Metallic Chilly, a horse bred by Chisum Ranch. Each won $1,750 and prizes for owner Keith Birkenfield.
Other Open money earners: Miles Baker and Plaino Frosted Lilly, a horse bred by Martin’s Last Dollar Ranch who earned $1,000 for owner Baker Performance Horses.
Limited Rider
In its second year, the Limited Rider class continued to be a popular platform for Futurity horses and riders. Eleven of the 27 horses at the show participated in the class, which was open to riders who have won less than $1,500 in the American Quarter Horse Association, Stock Horse of Texas, Ranch Horse Association of America, National Reining Horse Association, National Reined Cow Horse Association or the National Cutting Horse Association.
Limited contestants also were also eligible to compete for the $15,000 Open purse.
The Limited Rider Incentive Champions were H Maria Del Rey and Layton Berry, who won another $3,000 and prizes to add to their Open Reserve Championship.
The Limited Rider Incentive Reserve Championship went to SRS Playin Lucky and Jay Jackson.
Bred by Scivally Ranch, SRS Playin Lucky is a bay roan gelding by TRR Son D Seven (by Playin Attraction) and out of Miss SRS Lucky 01 (by Luckys Ace Of Hearts). They earned $2,000 for Jackson, who also owns the horse.
Third was Hunter Worm and Ima Blues Traveler, who won $1,500 for breeder and owner Durrett Cattle.
2021 HPRBA Ranch Horse Futurity
Next year’s HPRBA Ranch Horse Futurity looks to be bigger than ever. Officials say the group plans to bump the total purse to $30,000 in 2021, which is up from $22,500 in 2020.
