Dema Paul & Stacey Warnock Lead Preliminaries

Reno, NV - September 24, 2003 - A veteran and an amateur illustrated the highest level of cow horse finesse in Wednesday's edition of the National Reined Cow Horse Association Non Pro Snaffle Bit Futurity. Their efforts resulted in a tie for the top composite score and the leadership role going in to Thursday's cow work, the final leg of preliminary competition.

Former champion Dema Paul of Cave Creek, Arizona rode Bayou Shiner (Shining Spark X Docs Missy Command) to a 218 in the rein work and that combined with her herd work score (215.5) from the previous day tied her for the preliminary lead with a 433.5.

Stacey Warnock, of Ventura, California, has had a great show, as well. She scored 215 in the herd work and 218.5 in the rein work on My Peppy Jeep (Genuine Jeep X Myrenes Badgerette).

For Warnock, it was a exhilarating day. This colt was in a group of two-year-olds that her parents had raised and sent to Richard Winters of Turmo, California. Of the colts, Richard kept one, they sold one, and kept this one. Stacey started riding him after the Snaffle Bit Futurity last year and even though it was a late start, she suspected he had talent and took him to Ted Robinson in May.

Stacey began to get an idea of the depth of that talent at Santa Ynez during the Cow Horse Classic, so she was excited to come to Reno. She exclaimed, "I could never have done this without Ted Robinson." Robinson replied, "She trained him, herself, no matter what she says!"

For Warnock, it was a clean step to the lead in all three Non Pro divisions. She also leads the $50K and Amateur categories. Just behind her in the $50K with a score of 431.5 was John McCarty of Gaviota, California on Sir Hobbs (Mr Dual Pep X Miss Oskar Chex). Sitting in the number two position in the Amateur Futurity with a 428 was Tammy Jo Hays of Sulphur, Oklahoma on Instant Cutter (SR Instant Choice X Lil Cuttin Lou).

The Non Pro Futurity, which pays $40,000 to the champion, continues on Thursday with the cow work. Top finishers from the preliminaries advance to the finals in the Non pro and $50K Non Pro divisions. The Amateur Futurity championship is decided by the preliminary round.

Complete Results of the day's competition as well as the remaining Sundowner Drawdown Winners are on the NRCHA website at www.nrcha.com.

The National Reined Cow Horse Association, the governing body of cow horse competition, is responsible for promoting the sport, insuring high standards of competition and educating members and the public about the history and tradition of the cow horse. Through the support of a Corporate Partner family that includes Bayer Corporation, Bailey Hat Company, Bob's Custom Saddles, Cinch, Inc., Classic Equine, MD Barns, Platinum Performance, Inc., Nutrena, Skyline Silversmiths, Sundowner Trailers, National Ropers Supply, Quarter Horse News & Western Horseman magazine, the Reno Hilton, Dan Gamel's RV Centers and Coachmen RV's, horsecentral.com, Rios of Mercedes and the Silver Legacy, the association works to keep the vaquero tradition alive in today’s equine industry. For information on the National Reined Cow Horse Association, call 580-759-4949 or visit the NRCHA Official Web Site at www.nrcha.com.