TUESDAY, Aug. 18, wrapped up the last set of Open herd work at the NSHA Futurity, and it opened herd work competition for the First-Timer, Pro-Am and Non-Pro divisions.

TUESDAY, 1:45 p.m.
Ron Emmons puts in afternoon reining practice with Last Thing Smokin.

“I cost this colt a point on each judge yesterday in the herd and ended up a 209. There’s a lot of show left, though, and I feel good about all four of my Futurity horses. I figure anytime I’m over 210, anything can happen. They all rein and they all go down the fence real well. This colt is going to be right in there, too.”

TUESDAY, 2:30 p.m.
Open trainer Todd Fitch of Arbon, Idaho, helps his wife (and student), Julie, prepare Very Smart Cassidy for Julie’s first snaffle bit futurity competition, the Amateur herd work.

“It’s been a lot of fun to come to California. We enjoyed going to the beach. Now that it’s time to show I’m going to relax and try to remember all the things that Todd’s told me that make a difference.”

TUESDAY, 3:15 p.m.
Sarah Winters, 19-year-old Open rider and assistant trainer for Jon Roeser Training Stables, with the stud colt that on Monday Roeser took to the second-highest scoring Open herd work horse, Respond Like A Fox.

“I’m not a huge fan of the herd work with my horse, but I like the reining coming up next. ‘Fox’ here, though, is great on a cow. We’ll see how he does in the reining.”

TUESDAY, 4:15 p.m.
Julie Fitch gets a “good job” from her husband/trainer Todd Fitch and others upon leaving the arena after a good go in the Amateur herd work. The mother of three boys, in her first snaffle bit futurity, marked a 209.

“It feels great! The one fear you have is of losing a cow. When you hear that buzzer go off, you know you made it.

“It’s so exciting! It makes you feel young again — like getting your youth back a little. You get older and it’s harder to do the things you used to do. When you get on a horse, you get new legs. It may not be for everybody — it’s a lot of work. But it’s sure worth it.”

TUESDAY, 4:45 p.m.
Wyatt Fisher, 9, of Arroyo Grande relaxes with some good reading material and a cool drink.

“There’s lots to see in here!”