Teaming Up In CowTown - American Rope Horse Futurity Association

By Kristin Pitzer
Photos by Bar H Photography – Courtesy of Reined Caw Horse News

A large payout drew hundreds of team ropers to the third annual ARHFA World Championship Rope Horse Futurity.

Ropers took the spotlight during the 2020 American Rope Horse Futurity Association World Championship Rope Horse Futurity, held Oct. 22-24 during the National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity®, presented by Metallic Cat. The event paid out $587,700, which includes a $50,000 incentive payout sponsored by DT Horses, LLC.

OPEN HEADING

Prior to the ARHFA Open Heading short go, Dakota Kirchenschlager had never won a futurity event. Though seasoned in the professional rodeo arena, he’d tried his hand several times at the ARHFA World Championship, thinking the heel- ing — not the heading — was closer within grasp.

But Kirchenschlager surprised himself while in Fort Worth. For starters, he got two horses into the heading short go, but none in the heeling. Then, with a fellow previous National Finals Rodeo qualifier Cesar de la Cruz heeling, he rode X My Ich (Cat Ichi x Stylish Sana x Docs Stylish Oak) to a 236.18 finals score, which, added to his 682.39 total on three, gave him a winning 918.57 total for the headIng championship.

After coming in with a 448.53 total on two, Danielle Wray rode Gin eyed Jack (The Duke of Jacks x Honey Jack Ginger x Joe Jack Honey bar), a 2007 gelding owned by Mark Wray, to a 225.61 finals score. Their 674.14 total on three took the Non Pro Heading championship, and they won $5,525, plus another $1,000 for topping go two.

X My Ich’s owner, Darren Johnson, collected $20,000. The 4-year-old geld- ing also won another $12,000 for the 3/4-Year-Old Incentive.

The gelding has been in training with Kirchenschlager for four months. He had never been roped on in the arena when

Kirchenschlager first got him but pro- gressed quickly.

“A lot of horses don’t take the pressure, but you can push him pretty hard and he can take it,” Kirchenschlager said. “I think that’s what separates him from a lot of other 4-year-olds.”

Kirchenschlager thanked Johnson; Lund; de la Cruz; girlfriend, Emily Ramsey; daughter, Bryln; and the rest of his team for their support.

OPEN HEELING

Wesley Thorp set a goal to show at the American Rope Horse Futurity, but he decided to wait until he had a mount that could be competitive with the other talented horses the event draws. He believed he found that partner in Juiced Up Cat (Jazarell Cat x Juiced Up Jordie x Short Of Santana), a 6-year-old gelding he owns in partnership with Chris Pomeroy.

“Juice,” who was bred by Everett Goodwin Jr., proved Thorp’s faith in him by leading the field with a 696.62 total on three going into the heeling short go. There, they scored a 237.22 for a 933.84, winning the Open Heeling Championship.

“There was [a lot of pressure] just because there’s so many horses that are talented, but I think a lot of this horse,” Thorp said. “I think he proved today that he’s a horse that anyone could ride. He’s not too much horse for anybody. For him to show that flashy but also be that easy, I think that’s pretty cool.”

Steve Shurbet rode his 2012 stallion Spooky Foolin cat (High rollin cat x Starlight caper x Grays Starlight) to a 443.32 total on 2, then garnered a 225.75 in the short go. With a final score of 669.07, the pair won the Non Pro Heeling championship and a check worth $4,508.

The pair received a $20,000 paycheck for the Championship. They also picked up $3,000 for placing third in go one and another $4,000 for placing second in go three.