Memories
To Last A Lifetime
Looking
back at the 1999 NRHA Futurity and Championship Show, how could anyone
not come away with memories to last a lifetime? Old timers who've been
around reining since the inception of the first Futurity in 1996 couldn't
help but reflect on just how far the sport has come.
Reining's astonishing growth over the last decades was evident in the
sheer scope and scale of this year's Futurity and Championship Show. The
last Show of the Century, as the '99 NRHA Futurity and Championship became
known, included 1469 entries, a far cry from the numbers at the first
NRHA Futurity, held in Columbus, Ohio, Another yardstick of reining's
growth was the more than $1 million dollars paid out over the course of
the week-long show, and the record setting paycheck of $107.511 that was
paid to this year's futurity champion.
But if there was one special indicator of reining's growing popularity,
it was simply the remarkable number of foreign accents and languages a
wanderer encountered in the hallways and stables, the warm-up arena, and
the sale barns of the Oklahoma State Fair-grounds. From Japan to Germany,
Austria to Australia Central Canada to South America, reining has truly
evolved into a global sport. One of the most poignant memories that futurity
goers of all ages carried away from Oklahoma City was the international
welcome in the opening ceremonies of the Open Futurity finals. Representatives
of the NRHA and NRHA affiliates in foreign nations welcomed the crowd
in eight languages, acknowledging the international nature of reining's
"Superbowl" event and adding weight to the movement to place reining into
the constellation of Olympic equestrian sports. Among those speakers was
Bryant Pace, a trainer who in his long career has spend time in Italy,
Canada, Austria, and Japan. Pace, whose Futurity attendance dates back
to the 1960s, compared the early days to today. "Back in those days, reining
horses were much less specialized. It was not usual for a trainer in the
American Quarter Horse Association to show in cutting, pleasure, and even
halter classes. Reining was something trainer did for fun. Halter and
pleasure classes were our bread and butter."
"Reiners," concluded Pace, "were horses that had too much gas for pleasure,
not enough 'cow' for cutting." Today of course, reining horses are viewed
with the utmost respect and are often referred to as "the dressage horses
of western riding." Horsemen from all disciplines look to the reining
horse industry for quality in breeding and performance. Nowadays, it is
not unheard of for a horseman to spend $100.000 or more for a top futurity
prospect. Yet reining remains a sport in which newcomers, like first-time
futurity horse owners Sharon and Larry Knutson whose horse competed in
the Limited Open Futurity, can still take a reasonably priced horse to
the championship show-and win.
One last indelible image from this year's futurity: trainer Dell Hendricks,
in tears, kissing the muzzle of Hollywood Vintage, the horse he rode to
the Open Futurity Championship. As the song "Run for the Roses" played
and Hendricks held Hollywood Vintage in the glow of the spot-light, spectators
saw in flesh and blood the essence of reining itself a bond between horse
and horseman that makes the two greater tan they could ever be alone.
And that indeed, is a memory to last a lifetime.
THE MOMENT OF TRUTH
After days of qualifying go rounds, finals night finally arrives. Nothing
that happened previously in the weeks matters now... everyone starts on
a level playing field... it's the moment of truth. When the bright television
lights come up, and the house packs to the brim with anxious fans, who
can keep it all together long enough to make the winning run?
A TOUGH LINE UP
When the Open Futurity finals commenced on Saturday, Dec 4, spectators
knew they were in for an amazing evening. Among the riders were ten former
Open Futurity champions or re- served champions who among them shared
eight Open World Champion titles. Also livening up the how were several
newcomers: Corey Cushing, the sensational 19-year-old winner of the Intermediate
Open, and Patti Brownshadel, reserve champion in the Limited Open Futurity
and the only woman to make the open finals cut.
Among the finalists, many were by NRHA's leading stallions. Ten of those
were by NRHA Million Dollar Sires; five by Smart Chic Olena, three by
Hollywood Dun It, and two by Topsail Whiz. Also strongly represented were
Shining Sparks and Gallo De Cielo, each with three qualifiers.
TAKING THE LEAD
However, it was none of the above who jumped to an early lead in the single-run,
sudden death finals, Instead, Brent Wright of Ottawa, Kanasa, aboard Custom
Red Berry, a roan Quarter Horse owned by Stave Simon of Praxton, Mass.,
jumped into the lead with a score of 221.5 points. Certainly, the performance
of Custom Red Berry would be a credit to his own sire's static’s, but
would the score stay on top amid such a talented pool of horses and riders?
It was not until deep in the draw that the question would be answered.
IT'S MY TURN
Half the riders had preformed when Dell Hendricks, last year's reserve
championship, entered the arena aboard Hollywood Vintage, a colt owned
by Alan and Kay Needle of Orange, Calif.
Hendricks entered the arena quietly. It had been a great year for Hendricks
and he had already had a glorious resume, however at that very moment
he was focused on the Futurity title, one that had managed to evade him
year after year.
Hendricks and "Vinny" put together a great performance, executing perfect
circles and turn- around that drew huge "whoops" from the assembled audience.
But as he performed the final backup, patted his horse, and walked slowly
out of the arena. Hendricks wondered to himself, "was it enough?"
"I was mad as I walked out. I didn't think the run would hold up. I remember
thinking that I had schooled him too much the night before, and that mistake
was going to cost me again", said Hendricks, referring to his losses in
1998 and '94. Hendricks was specially conscious of that '94 loss, when
he'd been defeated by the final two horses to compete, Lenas Wright On
ridden by Bob Avila and Mifillena ridden by Bill Horn.
Still, the 223.5 point score was solid, and Hendricks had reason to hope
that this might just be his evening.
THE CHALLENGERS
With 16 to go, Hendricks had nothing left to do but wait. Several horses
made him nervous, challenging his right for the top. Two-time champ Mike
Flarida put together what looked to be a run aboard Chimayo Melody, a
gorgeous sorrel owned by Double F Reining Horses of Minister, Ohio. But
he fell short with a score of 221. Also marking 221 was Duane Latimer
on West Cost Whiz owned by Bob Loomis, the 23rd horse in the draw.
Then, riding 26th, two-time champ Todd Bergen gave Hendricks his biggest
scare of the night. Riding Rooster Wrangler owned by Vaughn Zimmerman,
Bergen put on a blisteringly fast display of reining excellent that, to
the observer's eye, seemed flawless. Judges awarded the horse and rider
223 points- the closest anyone would come to unseating Hendricks from
the No. 1 spot. Despite a very good effort by Hendricks' mentor Tim McQuay
on No Credit Chex, nobody would again come close as the exciting evening
wound down to its conclusion.
"Todd Bergen made me worry the most," said Hendricks. "I was watching
him from the back gate. He was making a great run until his second stop.
Then I wondered 'are they going to hurt him for that and are my scores
going to hold up?' It was basically a reverse from last year; he won and
I was second because I missed my first stop."
TIME TO CELEBRATE
Standing in the makeup pen, Dell Hendricks and his wife Terri waited for
the last score to be called out. Realizing he had won, first-time futurity
champion Dell Hendricks, of course was ecstatic.
"I was standing there with Terri, waiting, and it's just as hard on her
as it is me. We're really big partners. She goes through all of this with
me and puts as much work into it," says Dell. "Todd Crawford had told
me earlier that he wanted to be the first to shake my hand when I won.
So he was standing there with his hand out when they called the final
score. Todd shook my hand first and then Terri hugged me."
In an emotional and highly enthusiastic awards ceremony it was apparent
to everyone present just how excited Hendricks was. The crowd roared as
Hendricks, with arms held high, made a celebratory circle around the arena.
Overflowing with emotion, Hendricks never stopped smiling for the "Run
for the Roses" was finally his.
A PERSONAL CONNECTION
Although it was clear that Dell Hendricks was thrilled with his victory,
his win aboard Hollywood Vintage was far more personal that spectators
might have known.
"I was there when this (colt) popped out of his mother," said Hendricks
of Hollywood Vintage. The relationship doesn't stop there. The winning
horse had been sired by Hollywood Dun It, owned by Hendrick's mentor,
Tim McQuay, and the colt's mother, Taris Little Vintage, had carried Hendricks
to the third place finish in the 1994 Futurity.
"I helped pick out the mother for Jim and Pat Warren and was there when
they bred the mare. I was also there when we sold (Hollywood Vintage)
to Tim as a baby, and then Tim handed him back to me to ride. He was kinda
like a boomerang- he just came back to me," said Hendricks. "The really
special thing was to ride one that you see all the way through- from breeding
to winning the futurity and seeing the dream come true."
For McQuay, there were no regrets that he'd passed the horse back to Hendricks.
In fact, he was nearly as pleased to see Hendricks and the horse win as
he would have been had he won the competition himself.
"It's wonderful. It makes me proud to teach someone who's done so well,"
said Mc Quay.
In fact, Hendricks has done quite well. In 1998 he topped NRHA's open
rider list as well as won the first USET reining semi finals aboard Hangten
Peppy, the 1998 Open Futurity Reserve Champion title on BH Hollywood Lady,
and the 1998 Open Derby Reserve Champion title on Mr Boomerjac. He currently
has over $450.000 in NRHA lifetime earnings.
Dell & Terri Hendricks
14974 E. FM 922 Tioga, TX 76271
940-437-5157 - Barn | 940-437-5167 - Fax | 940-372-0259 - Dell's cell
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