Cushing Becomes Youngest- Ever
Dollar Rider It's been a great year for Corey
Cushing. He fulfilled the promise of his considerable talents most visibly when he rode CD Diamond (CD Olena x Shiners Diamond Girl x Shining Spark), owned by San Juan Ranch, to a $100,000 victory at the 2012 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity. He qualified four horses for the Open finals and walked away from the event with over $158,000 in earnings. That's enough excitement for any-
one - but there was more to the story for Cushing. The numbers are now in, the money is counted and credited to his account, and his Futurity earnings, added to winnings from previous late-season shows, have pushed him over the Million Dollar milestone - making him, at 32, the youngest rider in National Reined Cow Horse Association history to ever become a Million Dollar Rider. For Cushing, reaching the milestone
RBAR S T A B L E S
B
• Training- Reining & Working Cowhorse
• 2 year olds started • Showing & Lessons • Sale- Young & Finished Horses
ROD BURR Turlock, CA
(209) 669-7561
www.rbarbstables.com 48 . November 2012 .
www.PacificCoastJournal.com
was a goal. "I knew I was getting close; my wife Kristen and I were keeping tabs from the first of the year. I've been hav- ing a great year with the Derby horses - at the Stakes and NRCHA Derby. We knew when we left for Reno, we were close."
Corey was quick to credit part of his accomplishment to the contributions of others. "Our family, friends and cus- tomers are outstanding. They've support- ed me and I've been blessed with good horses - the kind that everyone dreams of."
He added that he thought the most
important thing - at any point in a career - was to never, ever stop learning. "I was up at Benny Guitron's before the futurity getting his opinion on some things and putting on some finishing touches. Earlier in the year, Phillip Ralls helped
me with my herd work. Last year Don Murphy helped me down the fence - gave me some things to do differently - new ideas. That helps me pay more attention to the little things that can cost me points." His best advice to other riders.
"Don't be afraid to go ask for help or advice. Everyone out there has been in that position of needing help so don't hes- itate to ask. Respect that older genera- tion, too. They had horses that were hard- er to train than some of the horses we have these days and the different ways they approached that and trained can help us today. We might be missing something that one of them, from experience, has seen before. Try to use that knowledge." So what will the new Millionaire
Rider do to celebrate? "When we heard the news we kind of joked around about having a party. We probably will - but I'd rather it be a situation where I can just enjoy my friends instead of so much about me - it's more fun to hang out than to be the highlight." And the biggest celebration for the
Cushings will likely come about January 6, when Corey, his wife Kristen and son Caleb, will welcome their new baby to the family. Corey and NRCHA Hall of Fame
Rider, Doug Williamson, who passed the Million Dollar mark at the Snaffle Bit Futurity, will be honored at the 2013 Snaffle Bit Futurity with the signature Carol Owens bronzes. A poignant event - to be sure - as Williamson, at 70, will be the oldest to ever achieve the distinction! For information on the National Reined Cow Horse Association, call 580-759- 4949 or visit the official NRCHA web site at
www.NRCHA.com
NRCHA Million
Corey
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101