by Cyndi Rowat
“This is the first time I’ve ever won a futurity,” says Doug Reinhardt of Irricana, AB, after capturing the 2007 Wrangler Cutting Horse Futurity Champion title aboard three year-old CD Hickadu owned by Edward Forner of Lyalta, AB. The Futurity final was held in the Corral at Stampede Park on Sunday October 15.
Twenty-two finalists battled for the prestigious honour after two days of Futurity competition. Reinhardt set the standard with a score of 218.0 partway through the final round. The closest challenger would end up being Reinhardt himself on another client’s horse, My God Im Smart, owned by Dean Ness of Lougheed, AB.
The Calgary Stampede cutting competition ranks high in Reinhardt’s eyes. “It’s a big deal, it pays well so you want to win in Calgary,” he says, whose futurity payday netted over $28,000.
Reinhardt began working with CD Hickadu this past winter. “He’s a nice horse. I find he does better if you get him to move a little more and show off,” he says of his chestnut student.
“He felt really good in the practice pen.” Reinhardt started My God Im Smart from scratch. “He’s been a solid, solid horse.”
Both horses were counting Calgary as their third competition in their maiden year.
For CD Hickadu’s owner Ed Forner, it couldn’t have been a finer day. Forner and fellow cutter Bill Speight were heavily involved with the start-up of the Futurity over 25 years ago and this was Forner’s first bid to return to the sport after a 15-year hiatus.
Forner’s path to the winners’ circle this year was a bumpy one. CD Hickadu wasn’t destined to an easy life. “He was a hard luck colt,” says Forner of the colt who sustained a couple of injuries within his first two years.
Forner also had to overcome a cracked vertebrae and broken pelvis after a horse fell on him in 2005; but the promise that the colt brought kept Forner from shelving horses altogether.
“I knew he was a good horse and I had confidence in Doug Reinhardt as a professional, hard working trainer. The win was long overdue!”
Forner was first enamored with cutting after attending a competition in Fort St. John in 1970. Purchasing his first cutting horse in 1974, he participated in the sport for over 15 years. In 1977 he was named the Novice Rider Champion of Manitoba. His cutting forays saw him making the finals in Calgary twice.
The Open Futurity was the feature event of seven competitions in the six-day cutting horse competition, which saw over $300,000 in payouts and included:
Open Derby – This competition for 2003 foals saw High Power Pepto owned by Bill and Elaine Speight of Rocky Mountain House, AB, win the championship title and a $9,450 payout with rider Gerry Hansma of Granum, AB. Hansma also piloted Jim and Teri Paradis’ entry Kenny Be Caught to the reserve champion title.
Open Classic – Brad Pedersen of Lacombe, AB, rode the top two horses in this challenge for five- and six-year-olds. Hicks First Player owned by Dr. Geoff Thomas earned a 220.5 from the judges and collected $7,943 for the championship win. Lorne Davis of Ardrossan, AB, is the owner of this year’s reserve champion, Wood I Jazz.
Non-Pro Futurity – Ima Smart Starlet owned by Victor and Linda Dickson of Ellensburg, Wash, was named the Non-Pro Futurity champion after Victor piloted the horse to a 216 score. The win earned them $6,102.
Play Me A Twist owned and ridden by Charles Armstrong of Rocky Mountain House, AB, captured the reserve champion title.
Non-Pro Derby – Pauli Smith of Eckville, AB, bested the field with a 221.5 on Medicine Kit to clinch the champion title in the Non-Pro Derby along with a $6,732 payday. Elaine Speight guided High Power Pepto into the reserve champion spot.
Non-Pro Classic – Lookin At A Lena owned by Jim and Teri Paradis of Okotoks, AB, scored a 222 with Teri aboard putting them in the top spot for a $6,705 payday. Wood I Jazz with Valerie Davis received a 218 and a reserve champion title for their efforts on the day.
Non-Pro 7-Up – Horses seven years and older competed in this class where Bodee Merada ridden by Ken Mix of Calgary captured the title. Pistols Smart Acre ridden by Elaine Speight of Rocky Mountain House, AB, claimed the reserve champion spot.
Here are the final results listed by Placing / Horse / Rider / Owner / Payout.
Open Futurity
1. CD Hickadu Doug Reinhardt / Edward Forner / $17,154.25
2 My God Im Smart Doug Reinhardt / Dean Ness / $12,670.75
3 Play Me Last Cathy Anderson / Max and Corrine Tateson / $7,407.52
Open Derby
1. High Power Pepto Gerry Hansma / Bill and Elaine Speight / $9,450.00
2. Kenny Be Caught Gerry Hansma / Jim and Teri Paradis / $5,850.00
3. Another Smart Kid Dale Clearwater / KBM Enterprises / $4,500.00
Non-Pro Futurity Finals
1. Ima Smart Starlet Victor Dickson / Victor and Linda Dickson / $6,102.30
2. Play Mia Twist Charles Armstrong / Charles Armstrong / $4,972.25
3. Brown Eyed Dualler Harland Radomske / Harland and Jody Randomske / $3,842.19
Open Classic Finals
1. Hicks First Player Brad Pedersen / Dr. Geoff Thomas / $7,943.68
2. Wood I Jazz Brad Pedersen / Lorne Davis / $5,957.76
3. Code Six Cat Scott Hanson / Ronald Bird / $4,766.21
Non-Pro Derby
1. Medicine Kit Pauli Smith / Pauli Smith / $6,732.00
2. High Power Pepto Elaine Speight / Bill and Elaine Speight / $4,712.40
3. Miss Gunnery Kevin Baumann / Pekisko Ranch Ltd. / $3,672.00
Non-Pro Classic Finals
1. Lookin At A Lena Teri Paradis / Jim and Teri Paradis / $6,705.95
2. Wood I Jazz Valerie Davis / Lorne Davis / $4,694.16
3. Pizzazz Mint Janice Eaton / Janice Eaton / $3,657.79
