Don Bell started off the Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity with a bang Tuesday, October 25, with three Novice Horse Non Pro class wins. The rider, from Millsap, Texas, earned the Novice Horse Non Pro Levels 1, 2 and 3 with a score of 73 on Silver Gunn.
“Today I wanted to keep him from spooking on the ends and do our pattern and try to stay penalty free. It’s a funny pen, it’s windy today and cold and there is a bunch of stuff flapping. But he handled it pretty good,” Bell said.
Along with more than $1,400 in earnings came several armfuls of prizes, including serape overnight bags and three Morrison trophies.
“He spun probably the best for me in the show pen today. I was a little short on the run downs, I was just looking for some good ground. Casey [Deary] was a little upset at me for not running down to the end, but I was looking for good ground and he stopped great,” Bell explained.
Silver Gunn is a five-year-old sired by Gunnatrashya out of Silvernbluestarbuck. He’s owned by Bell’s wife, Joetta Bell, and the family originally purchased him for daughter Trinity to show.
“She showed him a little bit, [but] he’s just a little tough for a little person to show. He got handed down to me and I showed him at the High Roller,” Bell said.
Silver Gunn will be hitting the show pen a few more times this week before getting a short break ahead of 2023.
Bell thanked his family as well as Casey Deary and his team for all their support.