This week in the Western performance horse industry, the NRCHA’s Snaffle Bit Futurity takes over headlines as it enters its final stretch, and the SWRHA Futurity show in Ardmore, Oklahoma, highlights reining futurity horses as the industry enters the most exciting time of the year.
Over the weekend, the Cinch RSNC Congress Super Sort closed out the performance events with ranch sorting action taking over Henderson Arena and social media alike.
Table of contents
What Happened October 12–18
Reined Cow Horse: Snaffle Bit Futurity Finalists Determined
The 2026 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity, presented by Metallic Cat, runs October 9–24 at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth. Three-year-olds show herd work, rein work and cow work, with their preliminary efforts determining who advances to the clean slate finals later this week.
Check out who made the Open finals at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity here.
Open Finalists (Top 5)
| Place | Horse | Rider | Owner | Rein | Herd | Cow | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rebel De Rosa | Lanham Brown | R A Brown Ranch | 220.5 | 219.5 | 222 | 662 |
| 2 | Von A Gun | Shane Steffen | Kandu Ranch | 222.5 | 217 | 222 | 661.5 |
| 3-4 | Reypublican | Boyd Rice | B-K Livestock LLC | 221 | 220 | 219 | 660 |
| 3-4 | Tamia | Justin Wright | Shane Ryan Turner | 219.5 | 224 | 216.5 | 660 |
| 5 | Dreamy Rey Von | Jordan Williams | William Guy Crutchfield | 221 | 219.5 | 219 | 659.5 |
Non Pro Finalists (Top 5)
| Place | Horse | Rider | Owner | Rein | Herd | Cow | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reyysan Bran Crunch | William Akin | RJA Ranches/Russell Akin | 212.5 | 218 | 218 | 648.5 |
| 2 | Daisy Jane | Crue Dowers | Triple D Ranches LLC | 216 | 219 | 212 | 647 |
| 3 | WC Be Tuff Janie | Debbie Crafton | Debbie Crafton | 214.5 | 213.5 | 217.5 | 645.5 |
| 4 | This Cats A Stevie | Brent Ratliff | Brent W Ratliff | 213 | 212.5 | 218.5 | 644 |
| 5 | Hellocoolcats | Debbie Crafton | Debbie Crafton | 217.5 | 219 | 206.5 | 643 |
Ranch Sorting: Cinch RSNC Congress Super Sort
The Cinch RSNC Congress Super Sort ran October 16–18 at Henderson’s Arena in Jackson, Ohio, an official satellite event of the All American Quarter Horse Congress with $15,000 in added cash and prizes, Congress medallions and four Gold Shootout classes. It’s streaming on demand on Ride TV.
The biggest payouts came in the Gold Shootouts ⤵️
- Raelynn Berry and Darren Roberts won the Professional’s Choice #9 Gold Shootout on 31 head in four rounds (230.12 seconds) for $7,410
- Alysson Davis and Tanner Keith took the Cinch #13 Gold Shootout on 28 head in three rounds (155.38 seconds) for $6,656.
- Mason Moore and Seth Stanfill won the US Rider #5 Gold Shootout for $4,086
- Joe Burns and Larry Keith won the Priefert Open Gold Shootout for $3,268.
Reining: SWRHA Futurity in Ardmore
The Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity & Show opened October 16 at the Hardy Murphy Coliseum in Ardmore, Oklahoma, with $224,150 added. For the third year, the marquee aged events came first, on the opening weekend, with the Non Pro Futurity on Friday and the Billingsley Ford Open Futurity on Saturday.
SWRHA Open Futurity. Craig Schmersal and Gunfire Sixtysix (Americasnexttopgun x Starfire Sixtysix), owned by Lisa Jacquin, won the Level 4 with a 225 and $24,000.
Cade McCutcheon and Midnight Crush (PS Mega Shine Chic x Miss Taris Rey), owned by Bosque Ranch Performance Horses, were second at 223.5 for $15,000, and Mirko Midili rode Eleanor Tag (Gunnatrashya x Corona Tag) for owner Courtney Brooke Battison to third at 223 and $12,000.
SWRHA Non Pro Futurity. Gina-Maria Schumacher and CS Sippin Moonshine (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Snip O Chex), owned by CS Ranch LLC, won the Level 4 with a 218.5 and $9,061, and Alexander Purus and The Good Ill Doo (Shiners Voodoo Dr x Flashy Lil Step), owned by Empire Ranch, won the Level 3, Level 2 and Level 1 with a 216.
Open Futurity Level 4 (Top 5)
| Place | Horse | Rider | Owner | Score | Won (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gunfire Sixtysix | Craig C. Schmersal | Lisa Jacquin | 225 | $24,000 |
| 2 | Midnight Crush | Cade McCutcheon | Bosque Ranch Performance Horses | 223.5 | $15,000 |
| 3 | Eleanor Tag | Mirko Midili | Courtney Brooke Battison | 223 | $12,000 |
| 4 | Samurai 7 | Kole Price | Tim Ruckman | 222 | $11,000 |
| 5 | Shinin Lil Spark | Craig C. Schmersal | Sheridan/Schmersal Partnership | 221 | $8,000 |
| 5 | JZ Cash Affair | Fernando Salgado | Jose Zarate | 221 | $8,000 |
Non Pro Futurity Level 4 (Top 5)
| Place | Horse | Rider | Owner | Score | Won (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CS Sippin Moonshine | Gina-Maria Schumacher | CS Ranch LLC | 218.5 | $9,061 |
| 2 | Chexagunner | Taylor A Zimmerman | Vaughn C. Zimmerman | 217 | $4,087 |
| 2 | Goldie GT Survivor | Mandy McCutcheon | Tom McCutcheon, Mandy McCutcheon | 217 | $4,087 |
| 2 | KA Turnnin Tricks | Mandy McCutcheon | Tom McCutcheon, Mandy McCutcheon | 217 | $4,087 |
| 2 | The Real Slimm Shady | Madison H Rafacz | Madison H Rafacz | 217 | $4,087 |
This Week October 19–25
Reined Cow Horse: Snaffle Bit Futurity Finals Week
Finals week at the Will Rogers Memorial Center began Monday with the Non Pro and Non Pro Boxing cow-work prelims. From there:
- Tuesday, October 20: Non Pro finals herd work (4 p.m., Coliseum)
- Wednesday, October 21: Open and Intermediate/Limited Open finals herd work (8 a.m., Coliseum), then Big Guns in Cowtown at 7 p.m.
- Thursday, October 22: Non Pro finals rein work, Intermediate/Limited Open finals rein work, and Non Pro and Non Pro Boxing finals cow work (noon, Coliseum); Western Bloodstock sale preview
- Friday, October 23: Open Hackamore finals, Intermediate/Limited Open finals cow work and Open Bridle finals (1 p.m., Coliseum); Western Bloodstock sale begins
- Saturday, October 24: Open Finals rein and cow work (4 p.m., Coliseum), presented by Metallic Cat
Reined Cow Horse: NRCHA Big Guns in Cowtown
Fort Worth, Texas | October 21 | Cowtown Coliseum, Historic Fort Worth Stockyards
A new NRCHA Foundation fundraiser: top rodeo athletes and NRCHA professional coaches in a fence work showcase, competing for prize money, bragging rights, and athlete-selected charities.
The event is sold out, but you can watch the action on Ride TV.
Reining: SWRHA Futurity and Show Continues
The Ardmore show runs through Friday, October 23, with a full slate of ancillary classes, which include the last SWRHA year-end points of the season.
The Markel Night of Fun is Friday, October 23, with the Rein in Cancer Dog Races, leadline and walk-trot classes, the Frankenstyle Costume Freestyle, and the Masters Non Pro (60+) and Platinum Non Pro (70+) divisions. Livestream and results: swrha.com and showmanager.info.
Find more information on the SWRHA’s website.
Looking Ahead
Ranch Events, Reined Cow Horse: Stock Horse of Texas World Show
Abilene, Texas | October 27–November 1
The Western Horseman Stock Horse World Championship, Stock Horse of Texas’s marquee year end event, combining reining, cow work, trail and rail patterns into a single stock horse format.
Find more information on the Stock Horse of Texas’s website.
Ranch Events, Reining: AQHA World Championship Show
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | October 29–November 21 | OKC Fairgrounds
The Markel AQHA World Championship Show runs alongside the Adequan AQHA Select World Championship Show, Adequan Level 2 Championships and AQHA Level 1 Champion of Champions. Technically an all-around event, but keep coverage to the ranch and reining classes.
Find more information on AQHA’s site.
Cutting: NCHA Futurity
Fort Worth, Texas | November 16–December 12 | Will Rogers Memorial Center
The Metallic Cat World Championship Futurity for 3-year-olds; the companion Futurity Sale falls during the final week, November 29–December 5.
Ranch Sorting: Cinch RSNC All-Star Super Sort
Las Vegas, Nevada | November 20–22
Join the CINCH RSNC family for the All Star Super Sort at the South Point Casino and Hotel.