By Stacy Pigott
Spring Season qualifiers named
The 2007 Spring Season of the Western Horseman Cup NCHA Championship Series presented by Gist Silversmiths concluded with five Open horses and five Non-Pro riders qualifying for the finals to be held during the 2008 Augusta Futurity in January.
As in past years, the series consists of three seasons, with five qualifiers emerging in each division from each of the seasons. The series is for foals of 2003. The 15 Open horses and Non-Pro riders that qualify will face off at the Augusta Futurity for $156,000 in purses.
Gist Silversmiths of Placerville, California, the official buckle maker of NCHA, has stepped up as sponsor of the Western Horseman Cup this year. The champions will receive custom-made Gist buckles.
"We're delighted that the Western Horseman Cup is able to continue this year through the commitment of Gist Silversmiths, Morris Communications, Cowboy Publishing Group and the Augusta Futurity," said NCHA Executive Director Jeff Hooper. "The Western Horseman Cup NCHA Championship Series has enduring popularity, and it generates excitement throughout the year."
Open
Copaspepto, a roan son of Peptoboonsmal ridden by Tag Rice for Marvine Ranch, was an NCI Building Systems NCHA Futurity finalist that went on to win at the Abilene Spectacular, Memphis Futurity and NCHA Super Stakes to lead the list of Open qualifiers from the Western Horseman Cup Spring Season with 300 points.
Wood I Never, a Zack T Wood mare ridden by Clint Allen for Wrigley Ranches, earned 235 points by splitting first place at the NCHA Super Stakes, and making the finals at Abilene, Augusta, SouthPoint and the Bonanza Cutting.
Allen also rode the third horse in the Spring standings, Hydrive Cat, the High Brow Cat son that placed second at the NCHA Futurity for Dave and Georgia Husby, and was subsequently purchased by Buffalo Ranch. Hydrive Cat added to his tally for a total of 210 points at Abilene, Memphis, the Bonanza, and the Cotton Stakes.
Bitty Little Lena, a Smart Little Lena mare ridden by Lloyd Cox for Lannie Louise Mecom, racked up 195 points in the finals of the NCHA Futurity, Augusta, Memphis, SouthPoint and the Super Stakes.
NCHA Futurity champion Oh Cay Felix, ridden by Craig Thompson for Pat and Laura Collins, tied for the fifth spot with My Guy Rey at 160 points, but received a Western Horseman Cup invitation based on earnings. Oh Cay Felix, by High Brow Cat, was also a finalist at Abilene and the Super Stakes.
Non-Pro
Chad Bushaw, of Weatherford, Texas, earned 420 points during the Spring Season. Nearly one-quarter of those points were earned at the Augusta Futurity, where Bushaw finished second with Frappucino N Pasta. The Cotton Stakes and Classic was also a major point-earning show for Bushaw, who qualified three horses for the Non-Pro Derby finals, finishing fourth with Frappucino N Pasta, fifth with Mocha Cappucino, and eighth with White Cat A Lena.
Wesley Galyean picked up 150 points in Augusta, where he won the Non-Pro Derby with a 220-point run on Missing Addition. Wesley also rode Shes Icing Onthe Cat to tie for 9/10 at the show. Wesley's second biggest show was the NCHA Futurity, where he qualified both horses for the Non-Pro finals, finishing fourth with Shes Icing Onthe Cat, who also took the Memphis Non-Pro Derby championship. He compiled a total of 405 points during the Spring Season.
Stacy Shepard, wife of trainer Austin Shepard, won the Cotton Stakes Non-Pro Derby with a 219-point run aboard Thomas E Hughes. Shepard earned points at seven different shows during the Spring Season, including the Memphis Futurity, where she finished eighth riding Hot N Smart. Her total for the season came to 360 points.
Beau Galyean, Wesley's brother, made his four shows during the Spring Season count. Beau dominated the NCHA Super Stakes, winning the Non-Pro with Spyder while also finishing fourth aboard Myles From Nowhere. The latter had been Beau's NCHA Futurity Non-Pro Reserve Champion mount. He earned a total of 350 points.
Rounding out the five qualifying Non-Pros from the Spring Season is Matt Miller, of Poolville, Texas. Miller and his black mare Travs Scooter won the NCHA Futurity Non-Pro and were finalists in Augusta and Memphis. Miller qualified a total of three horses for the Memphis Non-Pro Derby finals—Travs Scooter, Sheza Little Peppy and Sugarcoated Playgirl. His total for the season was 295 points.
Summer and Fall
The Summer Season opened with the Breeder's Invitational in May, and was scheduled to conclude with the South Dakota CHA Aged Event in mid-September. The Fall Season begins with the State of Missouri Maturity in late September and continues through the Utah CHA Marker Ltd. Aged Event in November.