A go-with-the-flow attitude served Nick Dowers well at the Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity, where he swept the first two spots in the Open.
His best score was the composite of 657.5 with Republicat, who took the win and $35,000 first-place check.
“My mindset for this show is just to go and make clean runs. Not try to push or force anything, just have really good, clean runs … Let the scores fall where they may,” Dowers said, “I was really fortunate to draw good cattle and everything worked out.”
Marking a 219 in the herd, 219 in the reining and 219.5 down the fence, Republicat showed that he’s learning what’s expected of him in the show pen, according to Dowers.
“He’s really solid everywhere. He’s a really laid-back horse. He has a really chill demeanor. Nothing riles him up. Now that he’s been shown a couple times he’s really starting to fire on all cylinders,” Dowers said.
Republicat is sired by the EquiStat Elite $45 Million Sire Metallic Cat and out of Playgun mare Play Corn. Dowers started the stallion for then-owner Ty Norman of Tuscarora, Nevada who eventually wanted to sell him. Dowers wasn’t going to let Republicat leave his program and “scraped up some money” to buy him for his family’s Triple D Ranch.
“He’s a standout for sure. He’s really pretty [and I] bought him to keep him. I really like him, and I want to be able to show him for a long time,” Dowers said.
Reserve Champion in the Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity Open was Dowers and Cats Nu Shine, a mare sired by WR This Cats Smart and out of Shiney Nu Annie (by Shining Spark). Owned by Clint Marshall of Rathdrum, Idaho, Cats Nu Shine was purchased as a yearling with the expectation that she would get a bit bigger. She didn’t grow much, but that didn’t keep Dowers from turning her into a cow horse.
“She’s a lot of horse in a little package. She’s been really sound, really strong and just an awesome little fence horse. Tons of try,” Dowers said.
Scoring a 218.5 in the herd work, 217.5 in the reining and 221 down the fence, for a composite of 657, Cats Nu Shine earned $17,000 for her Reserve Championship.
