NCHA FUTURITY CO-CHAMPION RIDER- STEVE BRYNE & DEE BAR ISA CATTY BLUE
Winning the NCHA Futurity is a dream come true for me," says Professional Cutting Horse Trainer Steve Bryne. " I work everyday at getting better at training and showing cutting horses. I have been working towards this for a long time. I’ ve never assumed that it would happen, however you just have to keep putting yourself in a position where it can happen if its meant to. Winning this Futurity means I have achieved one of the goals that I set for myself a long time ago."
When asked, how did you rate her chances following preparation and going into the Futurity? Steve answered, " I knew the horse had a lot of eye appeal, but she probably was not real consistent yet. She was rapidly getting better everyday for about four weeks leading up to the Futurity. I thought if I can get her through the go rounds and into the final, that she would be capable of winning if everything came together."
Steve talked me through his winning run. " We had two cows picked that I liked, and several others that we new where fresh. I cut all the cows that I wanted. The first one was a bit soft, but it got my mare set up well, and we did enough to get my run off to a good start. The second cow was really good. I got it cut really strong and confidently and got my hand down quick. It gave us a good challenge, was fast, and kept turning into me. I got off it with 30 seconds remaining. One of the other cows that we liked was standing right on the front of the herd. I was trying hard to get it cut clean and finish off my run strong, but another heifer ran up with it and it took me a bit longer than I wanted to get the last cow cut. When my run was over, I new it was a good run, but it would have been even better if I was able to get that last cow cut clean."
Helping Steve with his herd was Link Baumann, Dean Holden, Todd Graham and Phil Dawson. Steve says, " They have been helping me for a good while now, and are really excellent help. You can’ t be successful without a good help team, and I am very grateful to these guys and the other people who have helped me in the cutting pen over the years."
When asked, what was your impression of Dee Bar Isa Catty Blue during your runs? Steve answered, " In the first round the mare was really good. She has a lot of eye appeal to the judges. She really wants to draw a lot, and she really gets away from a cow if
NCHA FUTURITY CO-CHAMPION RIDER- STEVE BRYNE & DEE BAR ISA CATTY BLUE
ARTICLE BY KYLIE R. MELROSE Photo Ken Anderson
she needs to. So in the first round my biggest challenge was keeping her up against the cow I was working. With every run she had, she got better at this, so I was able to control my cattle better with each run she had."
Steve commented on their preparation leading up to the NCHA Futurity. " The first preworks we did was in November 2016, however most of the preworks were during March, April and May 2017. She was not always easy to train, and I did not start feeling really confident on her until about a month before the Futurity. She had a few muscular / skeletal soreness issues, we were trying to address during the latter part of 2016 and early 2017. When we
got these things sorted out, she really started to improve very quickly. The last three months before the Futurity she improved with every ride she had."
Steve commented on how he felt on the final day of the NCHA Futurity, going into the final. " I had two horses in the final. We where keeping the horses at home near Dungowan and bought them into town at about 11am on the day of the final. We just prepared them as normal. I tried not to think about the final anymore than I needed to. I was confident that both horses( Cats Colonel was the other finalist) where as well prepared as they could be and that we just had to go show them as best I could."
" Dee Bar Isa Catty Blue was bred by Link and Chris Baumann from Werris Creek, NSW. Phillip Smith from Lazy K Quarter Horses purchased her from them as a yearling. He asked me to train her for the NCHA Futurity. I started with her in September 2015 and she has pretty much been with me ever since," said Steve.
Steve mentioned his support team and what they mean to him. " Training and showing cutting horses is a team sport. You cant do this on your own. From the horse owners to the herd
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holders and turn back guys, the lopers, farriers, vets, cattle suppliers and more."
My wife Claire is always there looking after the horses health and well being. She tells me what she thinks, keeps our home and our barn looking great. Tessa Foley works for us and she loped Molly for the last 12 months and right through the Futurity and did a really good job. My help team Linc Baumann, Phil Dawson, Dean Holden and Todd Graham were incredible. They have been helping me for a while now and I think they know my strengths and weaknesses quite well. David Banks and Iconoclast Equine Support Boots have been supporting me for a long time for which I am really grateful for. Thanks to the people who give me cattle to train my horses, especially Mark Ranger from Moonabah. A big thank you to Lazy K Quarter Horses, David and Sarah Spong, Nicole and Guy Monvoisin, Peter and Marianne from Hazeldeen Quarter Horses for entrusting their horses with me and my family to prepare for the cutting pen, Cameron Peoples and my brother John for looking after the horses feet and my sister in law, Danielle Byrne for her veterinarian expertise and support."
Steve recalled the reaction of the horses owners and breeders after the NCHA Futurity win. " They where all extremely excited. They all came down into the arena at AELEC after the final had finished. There where lots of photos, a few beers and wines, my family was also there including my Dad and my three brothers Dave, Mark and John and their family’ s."
When asked, what are your goals as a trainer? Has the NCHA Futurity Champion title given you more confidence as a trainer? Steve responded, " My goals as a trainer are to be consistently competitive in the cutting pen, constantly training good Futurity horses and to be honest with the people around me. I strive to get the horses trained while showing them respect at the same time. I want them to be able to keep their dignity through the training process. I want them to have respect and have confidence in me at the end of the day. I try to be honest with everybody around me and I expect them to be honest with me. That goes for my family, friends, employees, horse owners, everybody. Some people like being around me, and some people don’ t. And that ' s fine, that ' s how its meant to be."
September • October • 2017 • The Australian Quarter Horse Magazine • Page 19