Ninety-five Non-Pro contenders advanced to Wednesday’s second go-round of the NCHA Derby with scores of 206 or higher – one point less than the 207 needed in Open competition.
Kelle Earnheart and Jennifer Foland, each from Weatherford, TX, tied for the win of the first go-round with 218 points, scored on Monday.
Earnheart rode her 2009 NCHA Non-Pro Futurity champion Badgers Perscription; Foland showed her NCHA Non-Pro Super Stakes champion Shes Twice As Smooth.
In 2000, at 15, Earnheart showed Hernando to become the youngest winner to ever win the NCHA Non-Pro Derby.
Coalson times two
Tuesday’s high-scoring rider ,with 217 points (the second-highest score from the first round), was Greg Coalson, Weatherford, TX, aboard Lena This, by his stallion Quejanaisalena.
Coalson also marked 212.5 points riding Daisy Dots, by Quejanaisalena.
“It was pretty scary watching the cattle,” said Coalson who drew to ride both horses deep in the last set of the day.
“The bunch before us was pretty tough. You couldn’t let them get the edge on you.
“The two cows I cut on (Lena This) were really good. He needs something to challenge him and they made him get serious.
“I wish the first cow I cut on (Daisy Dots) had been better, but it was slim pickings there towards the end.”
Coalson and his wife Shelly raised both horses. Greg was a Derby Non-Pro finalist in 2005 on Lena This’s dam, Fancy Nancy Dual. He also showed Daisy Dot’s dam, Dual Citizen, to place third in the 2003 NCHA Non-Pro Derby.
Both of Coalson’s mounts were semi-finalists in the NCHA Super Stakes; Coalson and Daisy Dots were also finalists in the Breeders Invitational.
Classic Challenge champ looks to the Derby
Bonnie Martin, winner of the show’s 5 & 6-Year-Old Non-Pro title 10 days ago, scored 216.5 points yesterday on Light N Lindy to take her place among the leaders of the Non-Pro Derby first go-round.
“I was a little timid on the first cow because I don’t practice with her, I just get on and go show,” said Martin, whose husband Frank, a Las Vegas building contractor, also qualified for the second go-round.
“After the first cow, I felt like she knew I was up there, and she was a little more forgiving on the second cow.”
Light N Lindy, by Light N Lena, carried Martin as a finalist (13th place) in the NCHA Non-Pro Super Stakes.
View from the Sixth Box
Hans Kuhn, who owns a cutting horse training and breeding facility in southwest Germany, spent Tuesday honing his judging skills in the “sixth box” atop the judges’ stand in Will Rogers Coliseum.
Kuhn got hooked on cutting when he stayed at Manion Ranch while studying equine technology in Gainesville, Texas. Now he competes in Europe and also judges NCHA-approved European events.
“The cattle are very expensive over there,” said Kuhn. “We pay 65 to 75 euros a head per day.” That computes to about $84 to $97 in U.S. currency.
“Most of the shows in Germany we manage to get beef cattle, but it isn’t easy,” he added. “In France, they wait for a cattle truck that is on the way to the slaughter house.
“Truck drivers over there have to take a one to two-hour break every four hours, so (some) drivers will stop and unload, sleep two hours, get cash-in-hand, and load them back up and go on to the slaughter house. That’s the cheapest and easiest way.”