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Face Chics Love & Nicole Hutchings • Photo by Caleb Tipton

Face Chics Love Proves “Red Shirt” Concept Successful

The Red Shirt Futurity was created by the Great Western Reining Horse Association for 4-year-old equine competitors that didn’t compete in 3-year-old futurities, allowing them an arena in which to remain competitive. The futurity, which is held in April during the Best Little Derby in the West, was designed in an effort to maintain the […]
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Cam Essick and Loveya Top Derby Non-Pro in Idaho

Reining competitors traveled north to Nampa, Idaho, to compete in the Best Little Derby in the West, where 58 horse-and-rider teams were slated to show in the Derby Non-Pro. The 19th draw featured Loveya, ridden by owner/breeder Cam Essick, of Clements, California. But the draw nearly went unused. “I wasn’t confident at all going in. […]

North Sail Solitaire Wins the Best Little Derby in the West Derby Open

North Sail Solitaire and Austin Seelhof slid to a 225 in the Nampa Idaho Civic Center Arena to thrill the crowd and claim the Derby Levels 4 and 3 Open championships. The 2013 stallion by Topsail Whiz brought home a check of $6,844 for owners/breeders Lyle and Marie Whitmarsh, of Cochrane, Alberta, Canada. “We had […]
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Cade Shepard and Chexy Louella Take Eastern Nationals Non-Pro Title

The first go-round of the Eastern Nationals Non-Pro started at 8 a.m., with three sections of competitors dueling it out to return to the arena for the finals held later in the day in Jackson, Mississippi. When the dust settled, a single set of 17 competitors were slated to compete for a chance at the title. […]
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Cheyenne Johnson Wins Second Eastern Nationals $50,000 Amateur Title

In Jackson, Mississippi, Cheyenne Johnson, the 2018 Eastern Nationals $50,000 Amateur Champion, saddled up for a chance to defend her title in 2019. Her trainer, Todd Gann, told her she would be riding into a numb set of cows. His advice to be smart and smooth on her cuts was ringing in her ears as […]
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Shepard Sweeps Open Finals at NCHA Eastern Nationals

With his first of three horses slated to compete in the Open finals at the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Eastern Nationals in Jackson, Mississippi, Austin Shepard drew second amidst a field of 17 horse-and-rider teams. Riding to the herd aboard the Center Ranch-owned Woody Be Tuff stallion CR Dualin Tuff, Shepard marked a 219, which […]
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Bama Jelly And Austin Shepard take Arbuckle Mountain Futurity 4-Year-Old Open

The Arbuckle Mountain Futurity saw 30 competitors ride through the herd in the 4-Year-Old Open finals in Ardmore, Oklahoma. When the dust settled, Bama Jelly and Austin Shepard were the champions by a half-point over Reserve Champions Sugrspiznevrthingniz and Matt Gaines.  With a 222.5, the stallion, out of Wood She Be Neat (by Nitas Wood), […]