Parke Greeson rides SCR Stevie Rey Bay to NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Non-Pro Championship
A night of firsts at the Snaffle Bit Futurity ended with Parke Greeson earning his first Snaffle Bit Futurity win and the first Non-Pro Champion check worth $50,000.
Parke Greeson and SCR Stevie Rey Bay (Stevie Rey Von x Maderas Crown x Playgun) trotted into the John Justin Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, as the final draw in the National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) Non-Pro Snaffle Bit Futurity Finals, and the pair put on an electric show. The crowd eagerly awaited a score, but first, the judge’s needed to review the run.
Parke Greeson on SCR Stevie Rey Bay * Photo by Amy Olson
When it was announced, the 219.5 clinched a number one berth for Greeson, of Goliad, Texas, and pushed his composite to a 649 (216 herd/ 213.5 rein/219.5 cow) earning him the Champion title and the first-ever $50,000 champion check. Myles Brown was only a half point behind with a composite of 648.5 (208 herd/222.5 rein/218 cow) and had been leading on Rob A Brown’s Eddie B Tuff R A B (Woody Be Tuff x Shesa Rock Hancock x Hesa Eddie Hancock) until Greeson’s run.
“Your adrenaline gets up and the run is a blur,” Greeson said. “I am just glad to be in the Finals. It’s anybody’s night any night, really, so for it to line up, it feels good to get it done. I would have been happy either way the score fell; my goal is always to get as good a check as I can by making as few mistakes as I can. I want to show smart, show smooth and prepare the horses correctly, then bring to town what I’ve been building at home.”
The Non-Pro Finals were held on Saturday, October 12, separate from the Open Finals, giving it a spotlight all its own. It was not lost on exhibitors that they had the arena to themselves. Additionally, the non-pro finalists were riding for the largest win check the association has ever written to the event champion.
“I think the NRCHA giving non-pros the opportunity to have the spotlight and adrenaline feel, it is a memorable experience,” Greeson said. “It is what brings us back [to show again]. The payday is awesome. I would come [show] anyway because I love the sport and I love the people, but the opportunity to have a shot at winning that much is never a bad deal.”
Greeson’s Futurity HorsesSCR Stevie Rey Bay, owned and bred by Greeson’s family’s Sarco Creek Ranch, showed that his cow handling ability was on par with the best. Greeson, a sixth-generation rancher, has shifted from showing frequently to training a select group of prospects to show on cow horse’s biggest stage for 3-year-olds. Then, he starts the process over again.
Parke Greeson completes an interview after his victory lap. * Photo by Amy Olson
“I used to go and show all the time but as my responsibilities at home grew, I now train these 3-year-olds to bring here, then sell them,” Greeson explained. “Then, I go home and start my 2-year-old crop. I like training for this show. They put up the most money, it is here in Fort Worth, and I just really enjoy the unpredictability of the 3-year-olds.”
In addition to a historic check and top tier title, Greeson takes home a slew of prizes including a custom saddle by Bob’s Saddlery, a Gist custom buckle and CR Morrison Bronze trophy all sponsored by Oswood Stallion Station, Ghostwood Whiskey pack, a Rusty Brown Jewelry custom pendant, a 100X custom hat a Classic Equine sheet, 6666 Ranch Apex 75-quart cooler, NRCHA Sponsored CINCH jacket, UltraCruz foaming shampoo, Hay Chix net, Rios of Mercedes boot certificate and a Randy Paul custom bit. As Reserve Champion, Brown earned $30,000 and prizes.
The NRCHA Open Snaffle Bit Futurity Finals are on Saturday, October 19, 2024, held in the Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas.