Trainer’s Corner – Hayden Upton

September 12th, 2022 by Simone Cobb

Total Earnings: $452,273

An apprenticeship to an equine chiropractor brought Hayden Upton to the United States from Australia 22 years ago. He grew up around horses but it was through working on cutting horses that drew him into the sport as a trainer. Upton had worked for Gerald O’Brien in Australia where he learnt how to break horses of all disciplines from thoroughbreds to kid’s ponies but he never worked for a cutting horse trainer. Keep On Reading!


Trainer’s Corner – Ascencion Banuelos

June 8th, 2022 by Simone Cobb

Total Earnings: $2,344,831

Ascencion Banuelos grew up with horses since his family didn’t have trucks or cars in Mexico. At 13 years of age, he came to California and started working on a dairy farm milking 400 cows twice a day. After five years at the dairy, he kept hoping he would run into horses.

He would get a few days off every six months and he found a horse barn and applied for a job on those days off. He got the job riding pleasure horses and then later the boss’s kids wanted to get into cutting so they bought some trained horses. He was able to hop on some of the cutters and get a feel for it. He even started training some of the pleasure horses to cut.

Keep On Reading!


Member Spotlight – Bill Jovenall – Transfer, PA

April 7th, 2022 by Simone Cobb

Bill and Smooth Talking Sue Photo by: Ted Petit

Bill Jovenall got his start in the performance horse world riding reined cow horses but decided seven years ago he wanted to focus on cutting. He walked to the herd at the NCHA Futurity for the first time in 2020 and said that memory is the highlight of his time in the sport.

Keep On Reading!


Gary Bellenfant Wins 2019 Futurity!

December 16th, 2019 by Simone Cobb

Watch legendary trainer Gary Bellenfant bring the house down with his emotional win in the 2019 Futurity Open.

Gary rode Metallic Rey Mink to score a 226, some three points ahead of Reserve Champion Adan Banuelos and Twice In Santiago.

The horse is owned by Los Jaboncillos Ranch Inc.

It’s Gary’s second Futurity title, he won in 1995 aboard Peptoboonsmal. We included that ride further down as well for you to watch.

To honor Gary, who is one of our featured trainers on CHTO, we are continuing our show special for 24 hours only!  Scroll down for details.

Watch Gary’s amazing videos on CHTO where he reveals his secret for creating such cowy horses. Login and watch or become a menmber now. Get your first month for just $1, on any subscription! New members only. Offer only lasts until Dec 15.

Use code: 30DAYS$1

Click here to grab 30 days of CHTO for $1!

You can watch Gary’s 1995 Futurity run below.


Trainer’s Corner – Chris Johnsrud

August 9th, 2019 by Simone Cobb

Chris Johnsrud

Chris Johnsrud has won in excess of $831,000 and has been training for the public out of Weatherford, Texas for the last nine years. He was born and raised on a ranch in North Dakota.

How did you get started in cutting?

“My aunt and uncle are the first ones who got me started in cutting horses. They owned a couple and and I rode them…”

Keep On Reading!


Pedro Ornelas Crowned 2017 NCHA Futurity Ltd Open Champion

November 30th, 2017 by Simone Cobb

Plenty of big stops and cow smarts saw Pedro Ornelas run away with the 2017 NCHA Futurity Limited Open Championship in Fort Worth.

Little Jo Cat created a frenzy of excitement from the crowd, marking a 225 to win by 4 points. The gelding is a High Brow Cat out of Jo Jo Boon, owned by the Anderson Cattle Company. Jo Jo Boon also won the Ltd Open Final, making it the first time a winner has bred another winner in that event.

Pedro, who has not had extensive show experience, took home more than $18,600 for the win.

Pedro was joined by his wife Janee and two children for the interview, told CHTO’s Simone Cobb he felt like he was floating in his first final in the Will Rogers.

Second place was taken out by Nate Lansford on Cat About Houston with a 221. Both Pedro and Nate will go onto the Open Semi Finals later in the event.


Wade Smith Crowned 2016 Unlimited Amateur Futurity Champion!

December 9th, 2016 by Simone Cobb

Wade Smith achieved a lifelong dream when he won the 2016 NCHA Unlimited Amateur Futurity Final in Fort Worth.

Wade, from Geary, OK, rode Metallic Candlelit to score 221 two points in front of the field.

Metallic Candlelit is by Metallic Cat and out of Light My Candle. Wade said he bought the horse about six weeks ago and got along instantly with it. He won more than $15,000 with the title.

Wade was Reserve Champion in 2014 at Super Stakes on Lil Pep N Time.
Wade told CHTO’s Simone Cobb he had a lot of fun showing the horse and talked about how he dreamed of winning as a kid when cutting with the likes of Bill Freeman.

Eddie Patterson from California won the Reserve buckle on Calculated Risk with a 219 and Alexis Stephas came third on Queen of Hots by marking a 217.5.

 


Austin Blake Wins His Second Non Pro Futurity!

December 9th, 2016 by Simone Cobb

Austin Blake blew the field away when he showed Stuffin My Pockets and clinched the 2016 Non Pro Futurity Championship in Fort Worth.
Austin, from Canyon Tx, marked an impressive 224, two and half points in front of Greg Coalson who won the Reserve buckle.

Austin takes home just shy of $60,000 for the win.  It’s Austin’s second Non Pro Futurity Championship. He won his first buckle in 2010 on One Rockin Pepto.
Ever humble in victory, Austin told CHTO’s Simone Cobb he was just thrilled to put together a great run on a horse he bred. Austin also came third in the limited Non Pro Futurity final on a full sister to Stuffin My Pockets, called Lookin Sneaky which he also bred.

Stuffin My Pockets is by Dual Smart Rey and out of Smartys Gonna Pass. Austin’s winnings at the Futurity now take him past the half million mark in total earnings.

Greg Coalson rode Catywompus, while third place getter Glade Knight marked a 220 on Geronimos Catillac.


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