Andrew Sligh and Generator kicked off Thursday’s National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Eastern Nationals as the first draw of the entire day in the Non-Pro finals. Sligh believed their 217 would be enough for a good check, but doubted the score would hold up.
“We cut the first two cows really good,” said Sligh, of Altoona, Alabama. “On the third cut, I didn’t see any cows I liked. There wasn’t a lot of time left ,so I cut a black cow standing up top to get some cuts in.”
It was good enough to win the class and a check for $4,884. Sligh bought the 6-year-old High Brow Cat gelding out of the Western Bloodstock Sale as a 3-year-old because the horse had $50,000 in futurity earnings. Out of the great show and broodmare Stylish And Foxie (by Docs Stylish Oak), the gelding has EquiStat earnings totaling more than $159,038.
“He is strong and powerful. The harder a cow tests him, the better he does. He can stop on a dime, turn around and break down a pretty tough cow and make it look really good,” Sligh said.
Earlier in the week, Sligh’s trainer, Todd Gann, won the $25,000 Novice finals on Generator, marking 217.5 to add $3,229 to the gelding’s winnings. Sligh plans to show Generator for the remainder of this year and will likely sell him at the end of the season.
“I like showing in the aged events. He has made a name for himself and I feel he deserves to be hauled for World [Championships] and to weekend stuff,” he said.
Later that day, Sligh was back in the pen for the $25,000 Novice Non-Pro finals aboard Blu Metallic (Metallic Cat x Blue Quilena x Mecom Blue) as the last draw of the class. The cows were tough and testy, so his goal was to get three cows cut smoothly. The 6-year-old mare delivered with a 217.5 to win adding $3,229 to her EquiStat lifetime earnings of $42,004.
Sligh describes her as a simple, honest mare. The family bought her at last year’s NCHA Super Stakes for his dad to show. She’s become a “share horse” — everybody rides her, and she performs the same regardless of who is in the saddle.
“It was a really cool day. I never imagined a 217 would hold up to win the Non-Pro and then to win the Novice Non-Pro by a half-point as the last draw was cool,” Sligh said. “I have to thank all my help and Todd. A big thank you to my dad and the relationship where we get to enjoy working together at our Chevrolet dealership and showing and owning good horses together. My wife, Alexis, also gets a big thank you for warming my horses up correctly and getting them ready to show.”
