Dont Stopp Swingin and Ryan Rapp Swing Hard to win the NCHA Summer Spectacular 4-Year-Old Non-Pro

Putting some bad luck behind him, Ryan Rapp made the most of his run on Dont Stopp Swingin and marked a 224.5 to win the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Summer Cutting Spectacular 4-Year-Old Non-Pro. He beat his closest competition, sister Emma Rapp, by just a half point.

Ryan Rapp rode into the herd on Belieber (Dont Stopp Believin x Hows Your Memorey x High Brow CD) during the first set but had some tough luck and lost a cow. He didn’t have much time to dwell on his misfortune, Rapp immediately turned back for his sister Emma, and then had another horse to show in the following set.

“It was kind of refreshing. You just switch gears, so I go show, get run over, [and] got the bad luck out of the way. Then reset and just focus on Emma’s turn. All focus goes to her and her run,” Rapp said.

Emma laid down a huge 224 on Dontstopp Mycattylac (Dont Stopp Believin x Cattylac Jukebox x Cowboy Cattylac). Huge congrats from Ryan and their father, Phil Rapp, ensued, and Emma’s score held the lead until Ryan walked in the pen on Dont Stopp Swingin (Dont Stopp Believin x Swing Thru The Drive x Hydrive Cat).

The pair have been on a roll and won the 4-Year-Old Non-Pro championships at the Cattlemens Derby & Classic, the Augusta Futurity and the NCHA Super Stakes. They’ve gained a large lead in the Horse Of The Year standings. Rapp also shows the 4-year-old gelding in the Open divisions and made the finals in that class at the NCHA Summer Spectacular as well.

“I gave him a day off after the Open finals and then just worked him pretty soft the for the couple of go rounds and worked a couple of fresh cows this morning,” Rapp said.

Lovingly named “Skippy,” by Emma, Dont Stopp Swingin is warmed up by Brett Stiles at each show, and gives Ryan 100 percent effort every time he walks in the pen.

“He’s just really quiet and nonchalant about everything and doesn’t really want to lope anywhere, and then you put a cow in front of him and it’s a very different story,” Rapp said.

Adding another buckle to the trophy case and $22,795 to his earnings, Rapp stayed humble and wanted to thank the many people who help him along the way.

“I’d like to thank my parents obviously for everything they do,” Ryan said. “Like to thank Johnny Mitchell, Sean Flynn, Clay Johnson and my dad for helping me. [I’d also like to] thank my little sister for everything — she loped my other horses — and just for everything she does every day for me.”