Futurity Time!

Bob is heavily engulfed in his 3 year-old Futurity horses this time of year. Almost 2 years of hard work is about to be put to the ultimate test. Bob has his hands full with 5 Snaffle Bit Futurity horses this year.

These horses will be asked to do 3 separate events that will count towards one cumulative score. With over $100,000.00 in cash and prizes going to the horse and rider with the highest score!

They must first compete in Herd Work. In this event the horse must quietly walk into a herd of cattle and separate 2 to 3 cows one at a time and keep that particular cow from returning to the herd. It often resembles a dance far more poetic than an episode of Dancing With the Stars!

Next will be the Reined Work. This is the ultimate in obedience and agility. The horse and rider must preform a designated pattern consisting of circles preformed with speed changes from a slow lope to a fast gallop, and then they must change leads in each direction. The pair will also be asked to perform at least 3 sliding stops and lightning fast spins in each direction. All of these maneuvers should be preformed to precise accuracy with speed adding degree of difficulty for a higher score.

Finally it all comes down to the Fence Work! (This is when the “fat lady” starts to sing!)

This event is like a cross between NASCAR and the PBR it has plenty of speed and unfortunately can have some crashes. A single cow is turned into the arena and the horse and rider must show the ability to completely control the cow at the end of the arena. Once the “Boxing” has been accomplished the pair must take the cow down one side of the arena and turn the cow before it reaches a marker on the wall towards the opposite end of the arena, then they must turn the cow at least one more time going back up the same fence. After at least 1 turn each way the cow must be circled in each direction.

This can be a grueling event for both horses and riders. There is so much for the horses to learn in just their first 2 years under saddle. Most of these horses love this event as much as their riders; it is truly bred into the Quarter Horse to do his absolute best to help his rider work cattle.

So if you would like to witness all of this action first hand look for a local Cow Horse Futurity or head to Reno NV September 21- October 4 for the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity for the ultimate in Cow Horse Competition!!! FLASH!!!!!!

Bob Avila Makes History at Western States Horse Expo!

Bob traveled to Sacramento to the Western States Horse Expo with something on his mind that he refused to talk about (he is a little funny about those things)…a repeat win in the Magnificent 7.

Bob was entered in the Magnificent 7 All-Around contest to be held on Friday. Bob brought what he felt were two outstanding horses for the event; Brother White and Chics Magic Potion, and it looks like he was right.

The format of the competition had changed from previous years from an elimination round and a finals to just one all-out round this year. So his strategy had to change from be safe and make the finals to try to win the event in one round,

The day started with the Cutting phase of the event and Bob and his horses did very well; Brother White went first and came out with a score of 143 ½. Next was Chics Magic Potion's turn and he was successful with a 142. The next event was the Steer Stopping (roping) phase. Bob's first horse in the draw was Chics Magic Potion who is very new to this event. "Magic" was outstanding for Bob, but Bob's rope did not cooperate with the pair. His loop slipped off of the steer's horns when Bob pulled everything tight. So Bob had to quickly regroup and throw his rope again to catch the steer and this time everything stayed in place, the score was a 138, a bit costly, but not out of the running. Brother White came up and things could not have gone better Bob and "preacher" had a blazing run with a score of 151! This put Bob and Brother White in the lead.

With an intermission for the Expo the competition was to resume that night at 7:30. A sellout crowd was in attendance and, Bob and his horses were ready.

The evening started with the Reining. Bob's first ride of the night was on "Magic" and it was a great one with a score of 149 ½! Next came "Preacher's" turn and Bob did something amazing….he marked another 149 ½ on Brother White, tying himself to win the go-round!

As they say it all came down to the fence run. Bob went fourth in the draw on "Magic" and had a good run coming out with a score of 142, enough to secure a spot in the top 7. It was up to Brother White to put together a good run for the win, he was ahead by 8 points going into the last phase so the hardest part was just to not make a mistake. You could say he definitely didn't make any mistakes. "Preacher" and Bob made an outstanding run on a difficult and very fast cow! They marked a 148 ½ wining the Fence Work phase as well as the Magnificent 7 title by 10 ½ points!!!!

This was the first time anyone has won the event twice let alone in 2 consecutive years.

Bob enjoyed the next two days of the Expo putting on demonstrations sponsored by Farnam with friend Al Dunning to some very large crowds hungry for information. Bob also gave a confirmation lecture to a very interested crowd for Horse & Rider Magazine, and signed lots of autographs and met some wonderful horse people.

All in all I think Bob would call the 2007 Western States Horse Expo a big success!

Keep watching the site for more expo dates in 2008.

Bob wins the 2007 WORLDS GREATEST HORSEMAN competition

For the second time Bob wins the Worlds Greatest Horseman competition on February 25th in Stephenville, TX.

Bob and Light N Fine owned by Alan and Kay Needle made it through the elimination go-rounds in good shape picking up go-round money in the herd work and reined work phases of competition.

Sunday the final round was to take place consisting of all four events; herd work or cutting, reined work, steer stopping (roping), and then the fence work.

Bob and Light N Fine had a very good herd work scoring a 217. Going into the Reined Bob was sitting second, and after a very clean reining go they scored a 216. Then onto the ever nerve-racking Steer Stopping, Bob and Light N Fine were awesome scoring a 219!

By about one o'clock in the afternoon and a lot of very fierce competition it was time for the Fence Work. Like they say, "It is never over until the fence work is over!"

Bob and Light N Fine were the seventh to ride in the round and their cow was treacherous! The judges decided that cow was unworkable and blew the whistle giving the pair a new cow. Both Light N Fine and Bob were a bit out of breath when the second cow entered the arena but like great champions they both pulled something from within and had a wonderful work scoring a 218.5. There was one more horse left in the round that had a chance to better Bob's score but they fell short by 5 points. That was it they won!!!!! What a thrill, the winners of The Worlds Greatest Horseman is a very elite group and Bob has the privilege to have joined the ranks twice.