by Cyndi Rowat
The Stampede Stock Show featured several high-calibre western performance horse events including the 33rd edition of the cutting horse competition.
The three days of exciting cutting horse action at the Big Top wrapped up with the finals on July 12.
Trainer Guy Heintz of High River, AB, riding Miss Docaboon secured the Open Champion title with three solid scores of 146.
“This win is very good because this is a home grown mare out of our senior stud,” notes Heintz of the three-year-old owned by Neil Shanks of Priddis, AB, on her first Stampede outing.
“She’s been a finalist everywhere. She’s been doing pretty well.
“The competition was very tough – when you’ve got Faron Hightower leading the world in it… that’s tough competition. Some of these people who have been here have won here before. I’ve been in the finals lots… but this is my first Stampede win.
“She’s real smart. Easy to train. Tons of cow,” comments Heintz of his equine pupil.
California cutter wins Non-Pro
In the Non Pro division Stephanie Haymes-Roven of Los Olivos, CA, secured the win after a convincing final go.
Haymes-Roven was thrilled with her victory. “I really didn’t expect this, honestly,” she says. Riding A Smart Little Rey, a seven-year-old gelding trained by Gary Gonsalves and owned by her husband, Haymes-Roven, had two solid goes of 147 a piece going into the final. “I really wanted to have a clean run.”
Haymes-Roven had a clean run all right, posting a 148, the highest score of the night.
“I was here two years ago and I made the final and didn’t have any luck. So, I decided to come back and try again.
“Everybody has been so great,” gushed the 12-year cutting veteran. “I just really have been trying to stay in the standings. I just wanted to try and get top five (in the world standings) so my friend Dan Hanson and I arranged to get our horses up here together.”
Drawing deep in the order her first two goes, Haymes-Roven stayed focused on sharpening her skills when there are no fresh cows left. “ I just tried cutting a cow in the center. I just had great luck.
“I’ve kind of stolen the horse (from my husband) this year. And he’s been doing great for me. He’s a really good horse,” praises Haymes-Roven.
“I’m having a great time,” she says of her season, “And really I’m just using the opportunity to get better, try and meet my goals to be in the top five.”
Okotoks teen cinches second Youth Cutting title
Eighteen-year-old Jessica Devries of Okotoks, AB, rode Lucky Powder owned by her Dad, John Devries, to the Youth Cutting championship and the Bill Collins Youth Excellence Award.
Devries just started riding the seven-year-old gelding in June. “He was really consistent all the way through,” sums Devries.
Devries saw cutting at a rodeo where she competes in a variety of events and decided she should try it. “Once I tried it, I just couldn’t stop smiling.” That was three years ago. Devries has also won this event before – two years ago on a different horse.
“It’s a lot of concentration. I get in my ‘gel’ and I don’t hear anything else,” says Devries of what it takes to be a competitive cutter.
Devries has graduated from Holy Trinity in Okotoks, AB, and has plans to go to Olds College for the veterinary medical receptionist and animal health technician programs.
The three days of Stampede cutting saw 61 contestants battle for the top prize of $5,000 and trophy buckles.
