AS17 CatsDoubleDown MChisum 15DB

Chisum, Shepard Tie for 5/6-Year-Old Non-Pro Title

AS17 CatsDoubleDown MChisum 15DBMandy Chisum (pictured) and Cade Shepard were the 5/6-Year-Old Non-Pro Co-Champions. • Photo by Dawn BaxstromOn Feb. 2, the 5/6-Year-Old Non-Pro finalists took to the arena at The Ike Derby and Classic. Out of six horse-and-rider combinations, two – Cade Shepard with Twistful Thinking and Mandy Chisum with Cats Double Down – came out on top to tie for the Championship.

Cornbread Thinks: Darren’s People

Before the boring part starts, if you don’t know Penny Youngblood and Nancy Pearce of Circle Y Ranch, you should. They do a lot for all cutters, the sport and humanity in general. Do your homework. Please.

During the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Futurity, I was concierging around, minding everybody’s business, when I noticed a couple of blacked-out vehicles with chauffeurs. Being as they had the road blocked, I decided to mind their business, too.

Third-Cutting-Body-shot web

Legendary Career, Sire of Champions

Content Sponsored by SDP Buffalo Ranch

Third-Cutting-Body-shot web

"Some legends are told. Some are wood or stone. Third Cutting is a legend of flesh and blood who's story is still being told."

–Shane D. Plummer

Reyzurbetsonthiscat CThompson 16HH

Reyzurbetsonthiscat Tops The Ike 4-Year-Old Open

Reyzurbetsonthiscat CThompson 16HHReyzurbetsonthiscat & Craig Thompson • Photo by Hannah HarrelThe action at The Ike Derby and Classic continued in West Monroe, Louisiana, on Jan. 31 with the 4-Year-Old Open finals. Reyzurbetsonthiscat and Craig Thompson came out on top to secure the Championship.

IntheStats 01 AthenaAnn DannyWHuey LOWRES

In the Stats: Bonanza Cutting

IntheStats 01 AthenaAnn DannyWHuey LOWRESAthena Ann and Gayle Borland (pictured) won the 4-Year-Old Open and $100,000 Championship check at the 1985 Bonanza Cutting. Bred by Borland, the 1981 mare (Doc Athena x Golden Ivory x Little Hollywood) is the Bonanza Cutting’s second-leading open horse with show earnings of $108,792. Lenas Dynamite (Doc O’Lena x Two D’s Dynamite x Mr Gun Smoke), a 1982 mare bred by Mr. and Mrs. Louis Waters, of Utopia, Texas, is the Bonanza's No. 1 open horse with earnings of $202,600. • Photo by Danny W. Huey

Youth

Registration Open for 2017 NRHyA Leadership Development Symposium

YouthRegistration is open for the 2017 NRHyA leadership development symposium. • Photo courtesy of NRHANational Reining Horse Youth Association (NRHyA) members are invited to attend the 2017 NRHyA Leadership Development Symposium held during the National Reining Horses Association Winter Meeting Feb. 10-11, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas.

TwistfulThinking CShepard 16HP

Twistful Thinking Takes 5/6-Year-Old Open at The Ike

TwistfulThinking CShepard 16HPTwistful Thinking (pictured with Cade Shepard) claimed the 5/6-Year-Old Open Championship at The Ike Derby & Classic with Austin Shepard. • Photo by Hart PhotosThe Ike Derby and Classic kicked off on Jan. 27, and the first champions were crowned during the 5/6-Year-Old Open finals on Jan. 29. Out of a field of 21 horses, Equi-Stat Elite $6 Million Rider Austin Shepard and Twistful Thinking took home top honors.

chucksmith

NCHA Names Chuck Smith Executive Director

chucksmithChuck SmithThe National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) announced that it has reached an agreement with Chuck Smith to continue to serve as the association's interim executive director during the remaining term of his presidency and to assume full time executive director duties after the NCHA Convention in June of 2017.

GottaNiftyGun pedigree

In the Blood: Gotta Nifty Gun

GottaNiftyGun pedigreeThe 2016 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Non-Pro World Championship was won by Gina Schumacher and Gotta Nifty Gun, who earned $21,754. Schumacher’s father, Michael, is a European race car legend. Her mother, Corrina, established CS Ranch in Switzerland and XCS Ranch in Texas, both of which specialize in reining horses. Schumacher and Gotta Nifty Gun started competing together in 2015, the year they won the Austrian High Class Reining Maturity Non-Pro. Gotta Nifty Gun has earnings of $60,399, according to Equi-Stat.