There’s nothing more satisfying for an owner and trainer than to spot the potential in a young horse, and develop it all the way to the winner’s circle. That’s not an easy task in the western horse world, especially when you throw in the cow factor. But the set of 2014 champions from the Canadian Supreme (September 29-October 5) in Red Deer showcased such equine talents in fine style.
Cochrane’s talented reiner Shawna Sapergia was one of the stars during the Cinch Night at the Supreme command performance. She took a pair of horses to the top in the NRHA Open Reining Finals. Riding KR Sweet Shine, owned by Tim and Johanna Neuls of Knutsford, BC, Sapergia posted an early score of 147 on the leaderboard. But then she came back and equaled that on Gunnin Fancy, ownedy by Alison Howden, to split first and earn $700 for each.
Dustin Gonnet of Cayley accomplished a similar feat later in the evening during the Open Classic Challenge Cutting Finals. With Ron Patton’s This Cats Got Style, Gonnet posted an early high mark of 149. Late in the draw he mounted his second finals horse, This Cats Max owned by Doug and Angie Wiens, for another exciting work, to post a 147. That gave him both first ($6037) and second place ($4644) in the Finals.