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Stylin Metal and Justin Wright won the NSHA Futurity Open Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada. • Photo by Stacy Judd.

Stylin Metal Enters Futurity Picture with NSHA Open Victory

The National Stock Horse Association (NSHA) Derby, Futurity and Richest Stock Horse competition recently took center stage at the Southpoint Arena in Las Vegas. The Open Futurity saw more than 70 entries, with Stylin Metal and Justin Wright topping them all. 

With a 220 herd score, 224 rein score and 213 fence score, Wright and the son of NCHA Futurity Open Champion Metallic Cat bagged $30,000 for the winning composite of 657 during the finals on Sunday, Aug. 29. 

According to Wright, Stylin Metal doesn’t have a weak spot and the 213 down the fence was purely rider error. 

“It was no reflection of his performance,” Wright said of the colt, who is a maternal half brother to 2018 NCHA Amateur Horse of the Year High Stylin CD. “It was me playing too safe and too cautious. I knew I needed to be around a 211, 212 to take the lead and I boxed too long. Usually, I don’t ask anyone what the leading score is and I did this time,” Wright said. 

Stylin Metal, called “Rip” after the character on the television series, Yellowstone, is out of Docs Stylish Oak mare Stylin Playgirl. Owned by Jim and Linda Schrack, Rip was purchased by Cooper Smith in the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Futurity sale as a 2-year-old in 2020. 

Wright recalled watching the stallion sell, and kicked himself for not getting a bid in. It wasn’t moments later that his phone started ringing and friend Smith was on the other end saying, “Did you like that colt? Well, I bought him and he’s going home with you.”

According to Wright, Smith has a good eye for horseflesh and seems to have a sixth sense for when something is going to work out. Wright expressed his gratitude from the Schracks, who purchased Rip and let Wright keep training him. 

“I can’t thank Jim and Linda enough. They’ve been huge supporters of the cow horse and the NSHA. It’s awesome for them to finally get rewarded for all their efforts,” Wright said.

Reserve Champions in the NSHA Open Futurity were Metallic Phenom and Clayton Edsall, who scored a composite of 655 (215 herd/220 rein/218 fence). The son of Metallic Cat and out of Savannah Hickory (by Doc’s Hickory) is owned by Kathryn Kinderski and earned $17,000 for the second-place finish. 

Bred by WW Ranch LLC, of Aubrey, Texas, Metallic Phenom is a maternal half brother to 2009 National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Champion Reymanator ($206,798, by Dual Rey) and Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Champion Reymageddon ($31,787, by Dual Rey). In all, Savannah Hickory has foaled the winners of more than $664,245, according to EquiStat.