Thursday wrapped up the Novice Horse Non Pro division in the Adequan® Arena at the 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel. Culminating scores from Tuesday’s slate 1 and Thursday’s slate 2 saw not only class champions crowned, but high point horse and rider teams in all three divisions.
NRHA $1,000 Novice Horse Non Pro Level 3 and Level 2 Slate 2 Champions: Mandy McCutcheon and Disco Ball
| 2020M (Smart And Shiney x Party Nite) | Owner: Tom and Mandy McCutcheon, Aubrey, TX |
| Score: 145.5 | Breeder: Tom McCutcheon, Aubrey, TX |
“We raised her and I showed her mother, Party Nite,” McCutcheon said. “[This mare] didn’t show as a 3-year-old, she had some injuries, so last year here was her first horse show, here, and she’s been in the Level 4 Non Pro Finals of all the events I’ve taken her to, except this one because I did a poor job in the go-round. I wanted to redeem myself, fix some of my mistakes, and she came out today and was excellent. She has a lot of ability in every maneuver, and while I didn’t show her super hard today and just smoothed out my mistakes, she’s a big stopper, big turner and pretty galloping around the pen. She doesn’t have a weakness.”
NRHA $1,000 Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 Slate 2 Champions, Level 1 High Point Champions: Jessicah Keller and Cruise Girl
| 2020M (Gunnatrashya x Chexes Girl) | Owner: Hilldale Farm, Brashear, TX |
| Score: 143.5 | Breeder: Hilldale Farm, Brashear, TX |
“She is named after her grandmother, who was my 13 & Under horse, so she is third generation,” Keller said. “She hasn’t been shown much; we raised her, sold her, and then bought her back at the beginning of her 4-year-old year. This is her first large show and she did well today. She handled everything wonderfully. We plan to keep her for a broodmare and continue on the legacy. Ben Gerst is our on-staff trainer and I wasn’t very good [showing her] the first day, and he made us both better today. This is what my family does for a living–raise, train and show reining horses. It’s easier to ride one if you know what they should ride like, so we are always looking forward to the next generation. We get attached to them and love them all.”
NRHA $1,000 Novice Horse Non Pro Level 3 High Point Champions: Jenna Blumer and Belles N Whiztles
| 2021M (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Sugarmans Belle) | Owner: Jenna Blumer, Purcell, OK |
| Score: 142.5 | Breeder: Jenna Blumer, Purcell, OK |
“She is a character, very much so! She’s a super kind horse with a big heart,” Blumer said. “She’s a 4-year-old that I showed at the Futurity and made the Level 4 Finals on, then gave her a break. This is her first show back out and I wanted to see where we are at to get ready for this year. I was very happy with her; she was super honest. I made a couple mistakes, but she was there for me.”
NRHA $1,000 Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 High Point Champions: Andrea Stillo and Gunna Dream On
| 2021M (Gunnatrashya x Starlight N Dreams) | Owner: Andrea Stillo, Pilot Point, TX |
| Score: 142 | Breeder: Mike McFarlin, Franklin, TN |
“We call her ‘Mini’ in the barn because she is mini, but she has a very big heart,” Stillo said. “This is the first time I’ve shown her this week, and she was really good Tuesday, so we decided to show again Thursday. She was great today for her second time in the pen. She wants to be good, she wants to be a show horse and I am really pleased with her.”
Tomorrow, the Novice Horse Open and Rookie classes return to the Adequan® Arena for slate two. Follow along on the Thorsport LiveStream at nrhaderby.com.
