National Reined Cow Horse Association – October 29,2011
Brandon Buttars and Halo Cat had a little bad luck in the herd work of the preliminary round of the National Reined Cow Horse Association Derby. When the Snowville, Utah, trainer realized that he wouldn’t make the finals, he rushed to the show office to see if he could still enter the Open Hackamore class.
“I entered the class at the last minute. I guess we got lucky and won,” Buttars said modestly. He and Halo Cat, owned by Deirdre Hill, marked a 219 in the rein work and a 219.5 in the cow work for a 438.5 total, worth $2,864. “He was really good today in the hackamore. He was actually better in the Hackamore today than he was in the snaffle bit in the Derby.” Buttars has ridden “Ernie,” by WR This Cats Smart and out of Stylin Jewel, since the colt was a 2-year-old. In that time the pair qualified for the Open Finals of the Snaffle Bit Futurity, and finished as Co-Reserve Champions of the Cinch Intermediate Open Snaffle Bit Futurity. “DeeDee (Deirdre Hill) has also shown him in the boxing a few times this spring – and they’ve won a check every time.” “I thank DeeDee for letting me ride him. He’s a very special horse,” Buttars said.
Brad Barkemeyer won the Reserve title and $2,148 on Smartee, by Smart Little Lena out of Starlight Playgirl, with a 436 total. Smartee is owned by Lucava Farms Inc.
Complete results can be found at www.nrcha.com. The entire event is being webcast live thanks to NRCHA Official Videographers Galloping Video. To view the webcast, visit www.gallopingvideo.com.
The NRCHA, now in its 62nd year, is the governing body of reined cow horse competition. The NRCHA is responsible for promoting the sport, insuring high standards of competition, and educating members and the public about the history and tradition of the cow horse. Through the support of a Corporate Partner family that includes Bob’s Custom Saddles, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Cinch, Classic Equine, Gist Silversmiths, John Deere, Markel Insurance, Merial products ULCERGARD and EQUIOXX, Nutrena, Pfizer Animal Health, Quarter Horse News, Rios of Mercedes, San Juan Ranch – A Division of Santa Cruz Biotechnology, and the Silver Legacy Hotel and Casino, the association works to keep the vaquero tradition alive in today’s equine industry.
For information on the National Reined Cow Horse Association, call 580-759-4949 or visit the NRCHA Official Web Site at www.nrcha.com.
