BAKERSFIELD — Doug Williamson rode three different horses to the top three scores at the Valley Cow Horse Association Open Futurity held July 27-28 at the Sundance Feed Yard. The VCHA Futurity was part of a three-day show that also included National Reined Cow Horse Association and VCHA show classes on Sunday, and it gave owners and trainers a chance to gauge the progress of 3-year olds heading into the futurity season. The National Stock Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity takes place Aug. 13-19 in Paso Robles, followed by the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Sept. 17-29.

Williamson had to like the results. Short And Smart, owned by Rocking J Ranch, rolled up a 218 total after marking a 72 in the herd and 73s in both reining and cow work to claim the title worth $1,493. He also rode Andy Edwards’s Boons Smart AE, owned by Andy Edwards, to a 217 to finish tied in reserve with Phillip Ralls on VC No Cat, owned by Jack Mitchell and Virgil Cotter. Both entries earned $1,040.

Williamson, who had a total of five horses in the top nine finishers in the Open Futurity, had two of four entries tied at 215 in a fourth-to-seventh-place split, including High Brow Shiner, owned by Belle Meade Ranch, and Miss Sierra Song, owned by Sandie Braden. Each earned $467, as did the other Open Futurity entries tied with 215, both ridden by Jon Roeser: Swinging Around, owned by Jim and Linda Schrack, and Wicked Kitty, owned by Julie Weinhardt and Frank Velaquez.

In the Non Pro Futurity, J.J. Fisher took his Soulas Tenina to a winning 218 cumulative score to claim a championship worth $767. Cynthia Bias finished reserve on her Chics Dig Cash, marking a 214.5 score that paid $460.

Mike Stamper won the Amateur Futurity on his Spinnin N Ginnin, marking a 208 that paid $533.

Valley Cow Horse Association Futurity
July 27-28, 2012 – Sundance Feed Lot – Bakersfield, Calif.
Open Futurity Money-winners
Horse Owner Rider Herd Rein Cow Total Payout
Short And Smart/ Rocking J Ranch/ Doug Williamson/ 72.0/ 73.0/ 73.0/ 218.0/ $1,493.24
VC No Cat/ Jack Mitchell & Virgil Cotter/ Phillip Ralls/ 73.0/ 71.5/ 72.5/ 217.0/ $1,039.94
Boons Smart AE/ Andy Edwards/ Doug Williamson/ 71.0/ 73.0/ 73.0/ 217.0/ $1,039.94
High Brow Shiner/ Belle Meade Ranch/ Doug Williamson/ 71.0/ 72.0/ 72.0/ 215.0/ $467.49
Swingin Around/ Jim & Linda Schrack/ Jon Roeser/ 71.0/ 72.0/ 72.0/ 215.0/ $467.49
Miss Sierra Song/ Sandie Braden/ Doug Williamson/ 70.0/ 73.0/ 72.0/ 215.0/ $467.49
Wicked Kitty/ Frank Velaquez & Julie Weinhardt/ Jon Roeser/ 70.0/ 73.0/ 72.0/ 215.0/ $467.49

Non Pro Futurity Money-winners
Soulas Tenina/ J.J. & Teresa Fisher/ J.J. & Teresa Fisher/ 72.0/ 73.0/ 73.0/ 218.0/ $766.50
Chics Dig Cash/ Cynthia Bias/ Cynthia Bias/ 71.0/ 72.0/ 71.5/ 214.5/ $459.90
Chickaroos Chance/ Shannon McCarty/ Shannon McCarty/ 71.0/ 72.5/ 68.0/ 211.5/ $375.00

Amateur Futurity Champion
Spinnin N Ginnin/ Mike & Debra Stamper/ Mike Stamper/ 71.5/ 66.5/ 70.0/ 208.0/ $533.00