2004 Western Slope Slide
Photos by Brent Ericksen

Bethany Locke + Fanci Silvertone

The 2004 Western Slope Slide, held October 1-3 in Grand Junction, Colorado, was a big success.

With the beautiful flattop mesas in the background, exhibitors enjoyed great fall weather, good ground conditions, and the friendly camaraderie that is always a sure thing at a Western Slope Reining Horse Association show. Between the increased prize money, many nice sponsor awards, and the free Barbeque, a good time was had by all.

Futurity Excitement
One of the marquee classes of the show was the Futurity, which had a good number of entries in both the Non Pro and Open divisions. Continuing a very impressive win streak, on an even more impressive horse, was Colorado trainer Bub Poplin.

Bub Poplin + Starlights Starbrite

Riding Starlights Starbrite (Grays Starlight x Melody Lena) owned by the Gately Living Trust, Poplin showed how the good ones make it look so easy. The striking bay stallion marked a 148.5 on a pattern highlighted by dynamic maneuvers and polished off with loads of style.

Poplin and Starlights Starbrite ended up winning both the Open and Intermediate Open Futurities, for a combined $1,110. Just a week later, this team won the Scottsdale Classic Futurity, and then yet another week later won the Utah Futurity as well. Needless to say, Poplin is pretty excited about the colt.

“He is wonderfully good minded. I galloped him out a little bit in Grand Junction and he won that futurity, and I ran him pretty hard at Scottsdale, and he won that futurity with a 221. Then I wanted to show him easy at the Utah futurity, and he won that too. He was still really quiet and honest,” said Poplin about Starlights Starbrite, who looks to be the real deal for OKC.

Aaron Ralston + Allmost A Dunit Ltd Open Fu

Winning the Limited Open futurity was another Colorado trainer, the newly hitched Aaron Ralston. Ralston rode a petite dun mare by the name of Allmost A Dunit (Tidys Gypsy King x All Thats Dun), owned by Cynthia J Hassig. The duo marked a 146.5 to win the Limited championship and the reserve championship in the Intermediate and Open division, taking home $962 and several nice sponsor awards.

In the Non Pro Futurity, Utah reiner Jeffrey Neil marked a 143.5 to sweep all three divisions on his horse, Rockin Starlite (Bay Starlite x Salty Rock Gal). Jeffrey rides with trainer Terry Erickson, also from Utah. The win in all three Non Pro futurity divisions earned him a cool $1,215 and capped off a great year for Jeffrey, who also showed his other horse, Sail On Olena, to several wins this year.

Second behind Jeffrey in the Non Pro Futurity was Western Slope reiner Joel Fischer on Tivio N Action with a 143. Second in the Intermediate and Limited Futurities was Bethany Locke of Idaho, who rode Hesa Uno to a 142.5.

Derby Divisions

Shane Kelley +RS La Rooso Open Derby Champions Rachel Houchin + Dunits Taco Bar Youth 13+ Under Champions

In the Derby classes, the competition was deep, and the class went well into the evening. One of the very last entries, Shane Kelley and RS La Rooso, entered from the dark of the night and laid down a solid pattern under the lights of the arena. RS La Rooso was more than a willing partner, and the flashy red sorrel stallion delivered the goods with hock dragging stops and stylish turns.

After his go, Shane was surprised to learn that he had won the class, commenting that he had a couple bobbles during his run. But win he did, marking a 145.5, and earning over $1,197 for owner Gail Klapper of Denver.

RS La Rooso, sired by Gallo Del Cielo and out of Sola Gun, was purchased by Gail as a yearling. Since then, Shane has trained the talented stallion to much success, including the finals at both the RMRHA Summer Slide and Congress Futurities. “I am really grateful that Gail bought such a nice horse,” said Shane. “He’s been a lot of fun to show.” The resident trainer for 6K Ranch in Elbert, Shane brought several non pros with him to Grand Junction who also did well.

Second behind Shane in the Open and Intermediate Open Derbies was Bub Poplin, this time riding the very nice bay stallion and past NRHA Open Futurity Finalist, Remington 2000, owned by the Remington 2000 Partners. Second in the Limited Open Derby was Shane Brown riding Jean Pipkin’s new horse, Mr BH Jose.

In the Non Pro Derbies, Brad Hattig cleaned up and then some. In fact, Brad won every single class he entered during the course of the show, going home with over $2,131.

Drawing up midway through the Derby, Brad piloted his homebred gelding, Chics Dry Eclipse (Smart Chic Olena x Miss Zan Skip Dry) through an aggressive pattern, marking a 145 for his efforts and claiming all three Non Pro divisions.

This was Brad’s second time in three years to win the WSRHA Derby on Chics Dry Eclipse, who has over $40,000 to his credit and was the NRHA Non Pro Gelding Incentive Champion with Brad’s son, Joshua.

“That was about our best run, and the horse was really hooked up,” said Hattig after the show. “I always have fun at that show, and the management is top notch. With Mike Deer, and Lesta Kugeler, and everyone else, it is just a really friendly and fun show to go to.”

Second behind Brad in all three divisions of the Non Pro Derby was Kristina Ricca. She rode her nice sorrel gelding, Mr Smokin Jac Flash to a score of 143.5 to earn a combined $947.

Open Ancillary Classes

Bub Poplin + Remington 2000 Novice Horse Champions

As always, there was more than a strong showing in the ancillary classes. Bub Poplin continued to post big scores throughout the show, and the Open class was no exception.

Riding Remington 2000, he marked a 148 to win the class and $572. “This horse has won a check everywhere we showed this year,” said Poplin, who purchased the horse for his clients at the 2004 Derby. Poplin will be standing both Remington 2000 and Starlights Starbrite to the public in 2005.

There was a three way tie for second in the Open class between Aaron Ralston on Smart Paul Olena, Shane Kelley on RS La Rooso, and Terry Erickson and Sail On Olena. All three riders marked a 144.5. In the concurrently run Intermediate Open, Shane Kelley and Aaron Ralston tied for first.

In the 20 entry Limited Open Class, Nathan Ivie of Utah showed Badgers Oak to the class win. Ivie ran a solid pattern that earned a 72.5 and put him a point and a half ahead of the nearest competitor. Coming in second was non pro Ann Huffman of Nebraska riding her three year old, Mega Mo Jo.

In the Novice Horse Open class, the ever-successful team of Bub Poplin and Remington 2000 (Reminic x Miss Chenny Watch) struck once again. The duo marked a 72.5 to tie for first with Aaron Ralston riding his wife Meg’s stallion, Smart Paul Olena.

Non Pro Ancillary Classes

Brad Hattig + Chics Dry Eclipse NP Derby Champions

Putting in another good run to win the Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro was Brad Hattig and Chics Dry Eclipse. This second run by Brad marked a 143.5, adding $905 to his tally, along with a second bronze and third pewter for the show. Claiming second in the Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro was Laurie Hartman of Colorado showing her nice horse, Dixies Diamond Chex. Laurie marked a 142 on her run in the Non Pro.

Laurie and Dixies Diamond Chex (Bueno Chex Willie x Docs Dixie Lee) also marked a 70.5 in the Novice Horse Non Pro to win that class over 13 entries. Second behind her was a tie between Darlyne Woodward and Double D Boot Jac, and Kelly Rainford on Forrest Gump.

In the 29 entry Limited Non Pro, Front Range reiner Inga Guernsey showed that she was ready to play with the big boys when she marked a 73 on her black stallion, CT Reyn Mann (Colonel Rey Lena x Sheza Colonel Peppy). In fact, that 73 was the highest non pro score of the show, which earned her an award sheet donated by AxialArts. Inga rides with Colorado trainer Terry Wegener, and this is her first year with CT Reyn Mann, which she purchased from Wegener. Second behind Inga was Jeffrey Neil on his other horse, Sail On Olena. They put another big score on the board with a 72.

In the Prime Time divisions, Gail Klapper of Denver showed her flashy bay gelding, Cinimer Jae, to the win in the Prime Time Non Pro class. Colorado reiner Rita Harrington showed Catalyst Cody, her cute and big stopping gelding, to the win in both the Prime Time Intermediate and Prime Time Limited classes, with Gail earning second in those divisions as well.

The largest class of the show was the 39-entry Rookie class. Kim Nordby of Colorado earned the championship honors when she marked a 71 on her stellar-bred horse, El Dorado Whiz (Topsail Whiz x Lady El Dorado). There was a three-way tie for second behind her between Nicole Moore on Lil Miss Vandy San, Inga Guernsey on CT Reynn Man, and Daryl Schafer and Bright Shiney Chic. They all marked a 70. In the Prime Time Rookie Division, Andrea Bundy won the class on her horse, Sail Win Shinning Star.

Youth Classes
The youth classes had increased entries at this year’s show. Winning the 13 & Under class was Rachel Houchin showing her cute Appaloosa mare, Dun Its Taco Bar (Hollywood Dun It x Tacos Billie Jean). This partnership has done extremely well this year under the guidance of Shane Kelley. Second behind Rachel was Caitlin O’Neil showing Colonels Sunday Best.

Caroline Daniels won the 14-18 class on her horse, Colorado Cowboy Roy (The Cowboy King x VMS Lilly). Caroline marked a 70, which made her the high scoring youth of the show and earned her an award sheet donated by AxialArts.

Thanks to our Sponsors
WSRHA wants to thanks all the 2004 patron sponsors, including Alpha Mares-Mary Griffith, GMCO Arena & Road Dust Control-Dick Stephenson, Blanchard Insurance Group, Inc., and Mike Deer & Rita Harrington. Thanks also go out all the WSRHA volunteers at the show, and special thanks to Meg Griffith-Ralston and Mary Griffith who donated and organized the many great prizes that were up for grabs during the show.

Thanks also to Cindy Janacek of My Sisters Designs, Jenny Bertolini for donating a necklace for the lucky exhibitor in the Ladies class, Christine Bukowski for the numerous halters she donated, AxialArts for donating the 3 high point sheets, Cheryl & Preston Mease for the reiner lamp, Bruce & Susan Rice for the WSRHA tote bags, Meg and Aaron Ralston for miscellaneous prizes for all the belt buckle classes, Justin Backus and Aaron Ralston LLC for the Non Pro Derby bit, Brent Eriksen for his talented photography skills, as well as Delta Implement- Marv Myers, Mary Griffith for the "Get over it!" cowgirl bath salts, Top Line Quarter Horses- Connie Manion & Eddie Irwin, Petroglyphs in Bronze-Ed Irwin,Buckaroo Manufacturing, Lesta Kugeler, and Vince and Tammi Carrasco. A special thank you to Mary Griffith and Rita Harrington for their generous donations given to the 2004 WSRHA awards program. For more information please also visit www.WSRHA.com.