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2008 Colorado State Fair, Futurity, Derby and Horse Shows
NRCHA & NRHA Sanctioned Event
August 27 - September 7, 2008 at the Colorado State Fairgrounds, Pueblo, CO
Rhoda Rein reinincow@aol.com or 303/618-0749
Photos courtesy of White Digital Photo
Cowhorse contestants parked their rigs in Pueblo, Colo., to enjoy 11 days of showing and an opportunity to earn their share of over $100,000 in prize money. The Colorado State Fair and the Colorado Reined Cowhorse Association hosted their shows back-to-back at the historic state fairgrounds facility. They combined their effort to market the shows and maintain an exhibitor friendly atmosphere. Fair management offered free gate admission to reiners and cowhorse contestants to make showing easier during the fair.
The marquis event of the fair was the $10,000 added Open Bridle Spectacular class.
Kevin Stallings (at right) of Tucson, Arizona, topped the tough 12-entry field riding his great stallion, NMSU Truckin Chex, The pair won the herd work, placed third in the fence work and won the concurrent Open Bridle class to earn $5,026 in all. The stallion, by Nu Chex To Cash out of NMSU Doc Truckle CJ, has earned nearly $110,000 in his career to date.
Blue Allen was reserve champion riding Double R Wrightway for owner Susan Lyle of Basalt, Colo. They placed second in the herd work and earned $3383 in all. Lyle purchased the 10-year-old gelding from Marc Bourdet four months ago and shows him in the non pro limited class.
Spectators and contestants both appreciate the three event cowhorse format because ‘it ain’t over ‘til its over.’ After losing a cow in the herd work, Cathy Coleman showed off her tenacity and skill by winning the reined work and fence work portions to finish in fourth place and pocket $3382 riding her family-owned mare, Shes Oui Oui Blanton.
The Colorado Reined Cowhorse Association awards a traveling trophy in memory of Tom Wipplinger to the highest scoring fence work run of their fall futurity show. Coleman of Gillette, Wyo. and Jamie Peters of Edmond, Okla., tied with 149.5 point scores and will share the trophy honors for the 2008 show.
The Colorado State Fair paid out $34,167 in NRCHA classes and $15,167 in the NRHA classes.
Tim Unzicker won the open futurity, buckle and trophy saddle riding Smart N Steady Paddy for Dale and Hilda Sayler of Mendon, MO. The pretty buckskin stallion scored 146 points to win the herd work and tied for second in the reined work to earn $2793 at the fair.
A few days later, he was reserve champion at the CRCA futurity in the 39-entry open division. Unzicker commented how he enjoyed having two futurity shows held closely together at the same fairgrounds.
“My horse was more confident in the second show,” said Unzicker of the son of Paddys Irish Whiskey out of Steady Okie Quixote. “His fence work was much improved at the CRCA show.” Unzicker won the fence work by scoring 148.5 points and earned $2326 at the CRCA futurity. Darren Miller captured reserve honors at the state fair futurity riding his ranch raised mare, Just Wana Shine, earning $1940 in all.
Bozo Rogers, Lipan, Texas, won the CRCA open futurity riding Peptos Pretty Pep for Nitro Ranch of Sioux Falls, SD. The red roan stallion is by Peptos Stylish Oak out of Another Pretty Pep. He was bred and raised by Lynn Fischer of Wagner, SD.
“He has been a quick learner. I surprise him once in a while, but he is very willing and gritty,” said Rogers, earning $2656 for his efforts.
 Blue Allen (at left) also enjoyed success in the futurity events riding Mister Kat for Karen Murray of Granby, Colo. He won the Limited Open division and placed third in the Open division at both shows, earning $1985 at the state fair and $2368 at the CRCA show. Murray purchased the sorrel gelding last year in June from breeder Desiree Westfall of Calhan, Colo. He is by Mister Dual Pep out of Smart N Katsi.
“I sure appreciate Karen, she is really dedicated and she purchased a good horse for me to train and show,” said Allen, who lives in Alamosa with his wife, Jeannie, and son, Caden, 8 months.
Trainer EJ Laubscher was reserve champion in the state fair limited open futurity division riding Haidas San Sonita for Theron and Jane Johnson of Colby, Kans.
Andy Sherrerd was reserve champion at the CRCA show in the 17-entry limited open futurity division and placed fourth in the open division riding Roostin Houston to earn $1636 for Cowan Select Horses. The gelding is by Hey Houston out of Cheroo.
“This was a show for he and I to get to know each other,” said Sherrerd. “I learned what I need to add to him for the futurity in Reno.” Sherrerd, 33, of Purcell, Okla., is married to Steph and has two children, Drew, 3, and Max, 11 months.
The CRCA show offered a Colorado owned division in the futurity and derby events. Jim Cook won the open futurity class riding Misters Miss Remedy for owners Pam and Todd Bailey, Golden, Colo. The mare is by Mister Dual Pep and out of a daughter of Master Remedy. Pam purchased the mare as a yearling from breeders Pete and Marilyn Bowling at their Oasis Ranch sale.
Kathleen McPhaul was reserve champion riding her horse, Wranglers Young Gun, by Young Gun out of Wranglers Stylish.
Several new faces were seen in the $1,000 Limited futurity division. Toby Crow won the 7-entry class riding Meradas Twister Bee for Ty Baca of Vega, Texas. Kyle Noyce of Belle Plaine, Minn., was reserve champion riding Colonels Miss Chic for Pat Morrison.
Chase Trahern (at right) 17, won the CRCA non pro and amateur futurity divisions and $1657 riding his gelding, Lenas Colonel Kit. Sired by Kit Dual out of Gray Lenas Copy, Trahern purchased the colt last October from Candace Smith through trainer Jim Mapes of Kim, Colo.
Justin Hill of Peyton, Colo., won the state fair non pro futurity and Colorado Owner/Rider divisions riding Cinnabars J Jay and was reserve champion at the CRCA show riding Cinnabars Bon Tari. Both horses are sired by Hill’s stallion, Cinnabars Lil Lena. He won all three portions of the state fair show to earn $1311, then earned an additional $1013 at the CRCA show.
Arizona cowboy Jason Hershberger loves to get away to the cooler climate in Pueblo. “It is so nice to be here for a long week, the cool weather refreshes me and my horses,” said Hershberger. Winning two handmade Gary Wiggins buckles for the Open Derby and $5,000 Novice Horse Derby division will also remind him of time well spent in Colorado. He rode Bridge Canyon Miss for Mike Odon Cattle Co., Prescott, Ariz., to the win and earned $2027. The 4-year-old red roan mare is by Playin Stylish out of Bridge Canyon.
“The derby was exciting, it was a close race with some great horses,” said Hershberger. “I feel lucky to have totaled the most points overall.”
Tim Unzicker (at left) and Hailn Magic Diamonds earned reserve honors in the 24-entry open derby. Bred and raised by Jerry Peters’ Magic Dog Ranch, she is by Shine Like Hail out of Thiefs of Diamonds and has earned nearly $20,000 to date.
Kevin Stallings was runner-up in the $5,000 Novice Derby riding Shining Miss Lena for Rogers Heaven Sent Ranch of Tucson, Ariz. She is by Shining Spark out of Missy Lena.
Aaron Ralston claimed the top two spots in the Limited Open derby division. He won aboard Peppy Sues Dun Time for owners Mike and Rita Deer of Glenwood Springs, Colo. The 5-year-old mare is by Hes Dun His Time out of Ruby Sue San. Ralston was reserve champion and placed third in the $5,000 novice derby riding Shineadoodledoo for Bradley Zanin of Snowmass, Colo.
The non pro derby attracted 9 entries. Karen Stallings claimed the championship aboard her consistent gelding, Cashin Nu Chex.
"We really enjoy coming to these Colorado shows in Pueblo,” said Stallings, Tucson, Ariz. “Not only do we get out of the heat, but these CRCA shows are put on by competitors and that makes such a difference. The prizes really matter. Our customers love what their horses win at these shows.”
Jennifer Unzicker rode her 4-year-old gelding, Nado Nic, to reserve honors. He is by Star Trek Nic out of Nubars Savvy.
Conrad Swanson, Wellington, Colo. Won the Amateur Derby riding LM Typical Shadow, by Typical Hickory out of Peps Pumpkin. Swanson scored 143 points to win the reined work in the non pro division.
Greg Magee, Byers, Colo., was reserve champion in the amateur riding his mare, All Kinda Freckles, by Diggers Rest out of Hotroddin Suzy.
The NRHA reining show at the state fair paid out over $15,000 in prize money. The futurity was reformatted to a one go-round event. Shantel Sexton won both open and limited open divisions and $1858 riding Hooked On Boon for J & L Horses of Santa Fe, NM.
Matt Wilson, Las Animas, Colo., won the non pro futurity riding his horse, Reining Hail, earning $1078 for his efforts. JW Stoney, McClave, Colo., rode SB Krackerjack to win the limited non pro division.
Complete show results for the fair are listed on the web at www.coloradostatefair.com. Results for the CRCA show are listed at their website, www.coloradoreinedcowhorse.com.
Show photos by White Digital Photo.
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