FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Five riders with the NCTA Ranch Horse Team at Curtis were recently back in the show ring at a weekend Working Cow Stock Horse contest in Colorado.

“We had a great start to our winter and spring series at Colorado State University,” said Joanna Hergenreder, assistant professor of animal science and coach of the NCTA Ranch
Horse Team.

Five Aggie team members competed March 2 and 3 in the collegiate contest attended by five colleges.

Madisyn Cutler of Elsie, Neb., and Legend Nic competed in the Collegiate Limited Nonpro and took home a second in reining, third in cow work, trail and pleasure classes for third place in the All-Around.

Quentin Anderson of Pierce, Neb., and You’ve Been Worned put together their first collegiate show in Collegiate Intermediate and brought home first-place finishes in trail and pleasure, fourth in cow work, and sixth in reining for Reserve Championship in the All-Around.

Nicole Ackland of Martell, Neb.,, and Strait Impulse finished their first show together, competing in a new division for them, as a Collegiate Intermediate duo with many strong maneuvers. Watch for these two as they progress in the season, Hergenreder said.

Brady Mattke of WaKeeney, Kan., and Cactus competed in Collegiate Novice and finished their first full slate of stock horse classes. 

“These two presented some of the best flying lead changes of the day,” Hergenreder said.

Kate Shaw of Joes, Colo., and KR Charming Tee also competed in the Collegiate Novice and had a highlight in cow horse with a second-place finish out of the largest field of riders of the day.

Mikela Cabagua of Lahainaluna, Hawaii, also traveled with the team and helped to make everything run seamless for the riders, horses and team record-keeping.

Hergenreder knows how much work goes into organizing and hosting a large contest.

She acknowledged the CSU Ranch Horse Team and Coach John Snyder, Kim Gabel, who serves as show secretary and co-owner of Slidin’ Daze Enterprises, and all volunteers and competitors.

The Aggie team’s next competition is March 21-24 in Cheyenne, Wyo., hosted by Laramie County Community College.

This month wraps up with a public clinic at NCTA’s indoor arena in the Livestock Teaching Center on March 30-31. The Sherman Tegtmeier Reining and Horsemanship Clinic includes individual 90-minute training sessions. Spectators can watch and hear the instructor free of charge.

Finally, the NCTA Ranch Horse Team will host a three-day open and collegiate show at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds in McCook, Neb.

The “Punchy in Pink Spring Roundup” will be April 12-14 at the Kiplinger Arena in McCook. It is part of the Slidin’Daze Series of stock horse events, and the AQHA and Rocky Mountain Quarter Horse Association Versatility Ranch Horse program.

Find other details about the show and entries on Facebook @NCTAranchhorseteam or contact Hergenreder at (308) 367-5291.