50 • The WRANGLER • June, 2024
It's no surprise that the Reined Cow Horse
industry is capturing the world by storM.
with emerging sPotLight events like The
American Performance Horseman, The World's Greatest
Horseman, and The Run for a Million, the previously
understated world of equine athletes and their riders has
finally seen the mainstage that they deserve.
The question beckons, what is the big draw towards the
sport? The answers came as a unanimous echo across
the grounds recently, at the 2024 CRCA (Colorado Reined
Cowhorse Association) Drought Buster Horse Show in
McCook, Nebraska.
The start of the summer horse show season has officially
kicked off for the 2023 NRCHA (National Reined Cow
Horse Association) Reserve Affiliate of the Year, Colorado
Reined Cowhorse Association, May 16th through the 19th.
Kiplinger Arena has been home to the "Drought Buster''
Horse Show since the 90s, but it more recently became
a CRCA Affiliate show in 2019. This particular stop on the
CRCA event list highlights the Bridle Spectacular classes.
Over $28,000 in added money was up for grabs over the
four-day Horse Show.
Hundreds of contestants swarmed the
Kiplinger Arena at the Red Willow County
Fairgrounds. It was obvious that something
wholesome was moving through the property. It didn't
matter where you turned, the faces were friendly, the
atmosphere was welcoming, and the coffee was always
on. To experience it in person was truly unique. When we
sat down with a few of the members of the association,
the most consistent theme was that it was, "just different".
It really is a family thing. You don't have to look very far to
see a father-daughter pair of horse trainers or a husband-
wife team. Everyone steps in to help, whether preparing
and loping horses or cooling them out. Children roam
across the grounds with kids from neighboring counties
or states. It is a place to bring the whole family, and there
is no shortage of something that requires everyone's help
to get it all done. Knowing that your family is in a safe
and friendly environment is just one of the perks of this
association and all that it means.
Jecca Ostrander of Box O Quarter Horses at Willow
Creek Ranch in Gordon, Nebraska, and longtime CRCA
member shares her perspectives of the association, and
By Reba Talbot
a m e r i c a ' s n e e D f o r a m e r i c a ' s n e e D f o r
n o s t a L g i a n o s t a L g i a
Matt Koch on Smart Lookin Secrets
All Photos Courtesy of:
DJ Crafton on Doctor Spark.
All Photos Courtesy of Michael Magill Photography
