Dual Smart Kitty and Clay Johnson - photo by Stacy PigottDual Smart Kitty and Clay Johnson lit up the scoreboard with a 224.5 and earned $200,000 as National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Futurity Open Champions on Dec. 14 in Fort Worth.
Ralph Shelton & Modine SmithArlington, Texas, real estate developer Ralph Shelton says he “hasn’t been very active in cutting for maybe 20 years now,” but peers are well aware of his behind-the-scenes support of the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) since the early 1980s. Get the very best of Quarter Horse News sent directly to your email inbox a couple of times a month.
Junie Wood & Craig CrumplerWith a huge crowd filling the seats of Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas, the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Futurity Non-Pro finals kicked off Thursday, Dec. 12. With 26 horse-and-rider teams in the finals, it was Craig Crumpler and Junie Wood who came out on top with the Championship. 
Sheridan Clark (center) with her grandfather, Ron Clark, and mom, Becky ClarkSheridan Clark turned 14 on Dec. 2. Her birthday gift was Meradas Puddy Cat, a filly by Athena Puddy Cat out of Meradas Beauty Bars. On Dec. 10, the duo won the Limited Non-Pro at the NCHA Futurity with a score of 220. Earning a check for $11,601 will make it an even more memorable birthday.
Marco Sacchetti and Puddy Lil PuppyMarco Sacchetti of Italy has his daughter to thank for his championship in the 2013 NCHA Futurity Amateur. Sacchetti hadn’t been around horses until about 10 years ago when he took his daughter for a riding lesson and saw a rider working a cutting horse on a flag. Saccetti was hooked on the sport, and on Dec. 9, he rode Puddy Lil Puppy to a 219 victory in the Amateur finals.
Brett Stone, Michelle Miola, Memorable Revolution (a son of Einsteins Revolution), Ruben Vandorp & Michael MiolaEinsteins Revolution has been a part of Wagner and Vandorp’s life for 10 years. Ruben Vandorp and Christian Wagner’s dream was to own a horse that could revolutionize the reining industry. While they could never completely part with the standout individual, they decided that in order for Einsteins Revolution to fulfill his destiny, he had to stand with some of the most reputable stallions in the industry.
Not Ruf At All & Jason VanlandinghamThe National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity Open finals closed out the 2013 show at Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City, Okla., on Dec. 7. More than 60 riders were mounted on world-class reining horses, all aiming for the increased $165,000 Level 4 Open Championship purse. Not Ruf At All and NRHA Professional Jason Vanlandingham, of Whiteboro, Texas, marked the score to beat from draw two in the second section of the finals. Their 225.5 held through nearly 30 more runs to claim the title.
