equistat

Jim Bret Campbell Selected As NCHA Executive Director
Jim Bret CampbellJim Bret Campbell will take the reins as the National Cutting Horse Association’s (NCHA) new executive director beginning June 10, the association announced in a press release on May 2.

Shane Brown Wins Kentucky Reining Cup Freestyle Again
For the second time in three years, Shane Brown won the World Championship Freestyle Reining tonight at the Kentucky Horse Park. He rode Shepherd Star to the title, receiving 228 points from the three judges.
Brown’s score put him just 1 point ahead of three riders who tied for second with a score of 227—Aaron Ralston on Blue Taris Glo, Drake Johnson on Sonic Chic Dream, and Pete Kyle on A Ruf Gal.

NRHA Names Professional Award Winners
Mike McEntireThe National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Professional of the Year Awards recognizes and honors individuals who exemplify excellence in the NRHA community as an NRHA Professional. These awards are presented in five different categories based on 2012 involvement. This distinction is reserved exclusively for the elite individuals who, in all aspects of their career, consistently excel in perpetuating the growth of the NRHA, both in and out of the show pen, while maintaining the ideals of good horsemanship, sportsmanship and welfare of the reining horse.

Hes A Hot Cat Leads Team Galyean to Huge Super Stakes Payday
Wes and Kristen Galyean with Hes A Hot CatThree horses ridden by Claremore, Okla. trainer Wes Galyean – including Champion Hes A Hot Cat – earned a combined $176,913 Saturday night in the finals of the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Super Stakes Open at Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum.
Finding Common Ground
My first horse, Little Rocket AndyLast month, I had the pleasure of attending the 2013 AQHA Convention in Houston, Texas. This isn’t the first year I’ve been to the convention, but it is the first year I was able to stay for its entirety – from the opening comments to the closing remarks, and everything in between.
My favorite part of the convention had to be Friday afternoon’s forum, which was dedicated to equine welfare. Dr. Tom Lenz, of Zoetis (formerly Pfizer Animal Health), gave a presentation on the science and emotion of equine welfare. I wish it were possible to put his entire presentation in print form, so all of you could read what he had to say.

Equi-Stat Reining Open Rider Award Winner Shawn Flarida
Spooks Gotta Whiz and Shawn Flarida – photo by WaltenberryWhen I was in seventh grade, I thought winning $100,000 would be a really neat thing,” Shawn Flarida said when asked about his earliest ambitions.
As an Equi-Stat Elite $5 Million Reining Rider, it’s clear Flarida’s grade-school wish has come true many times over. And with the $456,671 earned in 2012, he can now add Equi-Stat Open Rider Award winner to his extensive list of achievements.