The National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) Kalpowar Quarter Horses Celebration of Champions saw a thrilling conclusion to the Open Bridle World Championship, as Kelby Phillips piloted Seven S Razzberry (Blind Sided x Seven S Valentina x Playgun) to victory with a stellar 439 composite score.
The duo returned to competition with precision, poise and resilience in a performance that wrapped up a full competition schedule in Fort Worth. Phillips, a respected name in the reined cow horse industry, entered the arena with confidence despite the demands placed on the 8-year-old mare.
“Going into it, I’d shown her four days in a row,” Phillips said. “She made the two-rein finals as well, and the night before, we didn’t school – we just loped. We came out and worked on some stuff I felt like we needed to make a little bit better before I showed. And she dang sure never tried to trick me and stayed as solid as you’d want a horse being shown that much in that amount of time.”
Despite his familiarity with the mare, Phillips admitted he entered the pen without any preconceived notions of having it won.
“Honestly, I didn’t have a clue [that I had won]. I didn’t hardly watch anyone,” Phillips said. “I watched a couple horses before me just to see how the cattle had been working and to get a feel for what they were doing, but my game plan was just to try to show her the best I could, hang on and hopefully not fall off.”
Phillips’ win set the tone for his return to competition after having recently been sidelined for a month due to a broken leg. Back in the show pen for the Celebration of Champions, he faced the added challenge of regaining his competitive edge, as well as clicking with the horsepower beneath him again.
His strategy and trust in his horse paid off, as Seven S Razzberry delivered an outstanding performance that impressed both the judges and the crowd, earning a 220 in the rein work and a 219 in the cow work. The talented mare, owned by R A Brown Ranch, has had her moments, but their run in the Open Bridle was a testament to her heart.
“She’s always been a little bit waspy, but she’s been a lot of fun to show,” Phillips explained. “She’s a horse you have to watch being around, because she’s not the gentlest thing in the barn, but you kind of just have to go about her a different way. She’s extremely talented and just a gamer.”
Phillips appreciates any opportunity to add another win to his resume, especially on a horse owned by friends. The Phillips had success in other events at the Celebration, as well, including Abbie Phillips’, Kelby’s wife, winning the fence work and making the World’s Greatest Horseman finals on a horse they own.
“It’s awesome anytime you can win with as much hard work as it takes. Everybody has a great horse, and there are tons of great horsemen and horsewomen. And the Browns – they’re not just customers, they are very good friends of ours. Anything I can do to help them the way they’ve supported me sure makes me feel good,” Phillips said. “This win was cool, because I kind of struggled getting back into it and getting my head right to win. But I’d say the coolest thing this week was seeing Abbie do so good on the stud we own. Both of them dang sure deserved to do good.”
Finishing in second place in the NRCHA Open Bridle World Championship, Chet Martin and One Time Up North (One Time Pepto x Our Special Kitten x High Brow Cat) finished just half a point behind Phillips and Seven S Razzberry with a 438.5-point composite score. Phillip Ralls and Son Of A Mitch (Call Me Mitch x Jackies Sparkle x Nic It In The Bud) tied with Zane Davis and Snapdragons (Gunnatrashya x Catnaps x High Brow Cat) for third with 438 points.
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