Dean Holden, Marietta, Okla., scored 222 points to win the NCHA Futurity Non-Pro Semi-Finals riding the Metallic Cat-sired gelding A Hope And A Future. Ryann Packard, Mineral Wells, Tex., and Kristen Galyean, Claremore, Okla., tied with 219 points, the next-highest score, riding Kual Kat, by High Brow Cat, and Coureygous, by Dual Rey, respectively. Twenty riders with scores of 215 points or higher advanced to the Non-Pro Finals.
Dean Holden, the NCHA Non-Pro Hall of Fame earner of $961,899, has been a consistent NCHA Futurity finalist since 2011, when he showed Cat In A Cadillac to place 11th in the Non-Pro Finals. But the 2013 NCHA Futurity was a banner event for Holden, who trains his own horses. Riding Stop Toying With Me LTE $244,420, by Dual Smart Rey, Holden placed fourth in the Non-Pro Futurity and tenth in the Open Futurity, and also placed tenth showing Countingmyblessings LTE $40,270, by Im Countin Checks, in the Non-Pro Futurity.
In addition to A Hope And A Future, in the Non-Pro Semi-Finals, Holden also showed, but did not make the cut-off on Be Humble And Kind, by Metallic Cat. However, Charra Clark, Holden’s partner, placed fourth with Be Humble And Kind, on Tuesday, Dec. 10, in the NCHA Futurity Amateur Finals.
A Hope And A Future is out of Mary Jo Starlight LTE $20,228, a 1994 Grays Starlight daughter out Mary Jo Lena LTE $19,001, by Doc O’Lena.
Ryann Packard and Kual Kat set the pace for the Non-Pro Semi-Finals with 219 points, as first to the herd in the first of five sets of cattle. The pair also placed in the NCHA Futurity Non-Pro Limited Finals on Monday, Dec. 9.
Ryann, who placed third in the 2019 NCHA Senior Youth Finals on Sir Stylish Lizzy LTE $240,624, has also had a big year showing 6-year-old High Stylin CD LTE $263,681 as a finalist in limited age events, including a championship win in the Brazos Bash Non-Pro Limited.
Ryann Packard is the NCHA earner of $139,607. Kual Kat, her 2019 NCHA Futurity mount, is a three-quarter brother to Smooth Going Cat LTE $215,019 and Shes Twice As Smooth LTE $191,734, by Smooth As A Cat, among earners of $572,414, out of Dually Lil Pep, by Dual Pep.
Kristen Galyean, the NCHA Non-Pro Hall of Fame earner of $763,734, placed in the finals of the 2016 NCHA Non-Pro Futurity on Fed Exx LTE $77620, by Spots Hot, and in 2012 on Dark And Sultry LTE $84,728, by Spots Hot. This year, Galyean showed The Dark Alley LTE $144,173, by Spots Hot, to place third in the NCHA Super Stakes Non-Pro Finals, and Duramax Dually LTE $195,452, by Dual Rey, as reserve champion of the NCHA Super Stakes Non-Pro Classic.
Coureygous is a Dual Rey daughter out of 2005 NCHA Futurity Open winner Highbrow Supercat LTE $364,690, by High Brow Cat. Highbrow Supercat is a leading producer of earners of over $1.3 million, including Coureygous’ full siblings Lil Rattler LTE $338,873, Button Down Supercat LTE $285,048, and Cinca De Maya LTE $106,341.