Debbie Crafton Wraps Up Successful Show with Non Pro Two-Rein Championship on Hesa Wee Bet
Wrapping up over a week of showing at the National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) Kalpower Quarter Horses Celebration of Champions at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas, Debbie Crafton took home the Non Pro Two Rein world championship February 21, 2024 on her second horse in the class, Hesa Wee Bet (Bet Hesa Cat x Wee Quejana Gal x Quejanaisalena). The six-year-old sorrel gelding is owned by Crafton and was bred by Molly Mae Mirassou. With a 439-point score in the finals, the duo earned $3,870 of the $13,932 purse.
NRCHA kicked off the Celebration of Champions Sunday, February 11, and Crafton competed on two horses in the Non Pro Bridle, two in the Non Pro Two-Rein, three in the Non Pro Hackamore and three in the Non Pro Derby over a span of 10 days.
“We came in reserve and third in the Bridle. In the Derby, I was reserve, third and eighth. Then, we came back and won the Hackamore, tied for fifth and came in seventh. Then, in the Two-Rein, I won on Hesa Wee Bet and was fifth on FoundLoveAtHooters,” Crafton said. “I was first out on FoundLoveAtHooters and had a cow that was a little bit tricky. So, on Hesa Wee Bet, I already had a plan, since I had my feet wet with the first run. He read the cow great.”
Both horses Crafton rode in the Two-Rein class are ones she trusts when riding into the arena, so she felt comfortable competing while still healing up from a broken leg that happened after the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity in October of 2023.
“These horses didn’t get prepped like you typically would get one prepped leading up to the show, just because I’ve been trying to heal up and get where I can do more. In January, I wasn’t even sure I’d make this show, so I feel very blessed that we were able to pull this show off and then pull it off as well as we did,” Crafton said. “Both him (Hesa Wee Bet) and FoundLoveAtHooters have just boosted my career and done so much for me. They’re so pure and honest and such team players, and I have so much confidence showing them.”
Debbie Crafton and Hesa Wee Bet pictured here in the Non Pro Bridle class during the 2024 Kalpowar Quarter Horses Celebration of Champions. * Photo by Amy Olson
With the horse industry as a whole growing rapidly, Crafton is excited to see more people get involved in what she loves so much. She’s shown in the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) and other places, but started dabbling in the NRCHA in 2015 and really got involved in 2018 and 2019. Despite all her wins and successes, she appreciates each one and the horses that helped her get there.
“I love this association. I love the people in it, and it’s really a family atmosphere. Everybody is out there to help, and it’s just a great association as a whole,” Crafton said. “I feel like every win is a special win. You don’t know when the next one is going to be, but it is really special to take home the Two-Rein title on Hesa Wee Bet.”
Two-Rein Reserve ChampionComing in five points behind Crafton with a 434, Tylor Todd and Voodoo Whiskey (Shiners Voodoo Dr x Whiskey On Wheels x Paddys Irish Whiskey) were the Non Pro Two-Rein reserve champions, and Frances Labourdette and Time Enough For Love (This One Time x Shining Peptolena x Shining Spark) ended up third one point behind them.