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The second draw rode out of the arena in the West Texas Futurity 5/6-Year-Old Non-Pro finals with a 222 lit up on the scoreboard, a number that would leave Elizabeth Quirk and Under The Reydar the unequivocal champions at the sound of the last buzzer.

 

“I’m so excited, this was so much fun!” Quirk said of her run aboard the Halreycious gelding “Reydar.” “We cut three of our picks that we thought would display the horse really well. My third cow was a black cow that shaped up right at the end, and Corey Pounds thought it was a good cow, so we went with that!”

 

The 6-year-old out of Twice As Reycy (by Dual Rey) has earned $94,558 throughout his career. He’ll be adding another $8,900 to that after winning the Non-Pro finals with Quirk, although she’s not the only Quirk who has been in the saddle lately. The horse is owned by Quirk’s father-in-law Buster Quirk, of Plantation Farms LLC.

 

“He gets passed around by the family,” Quirk’s husband, Todd, said. “He’s a family favorite for sure!”

 

“Reydar handles everything great, he really does. He’s one of those horses, that to be bred the way he is, he kind of just takes it all in stride – just happy to be here, happy to please. He’s such a sweet horse,” Quirk said. “Reydar is just so athletic and so cowy. Even today when I was out there, I was like, ‘Oh Reydar, this is a fun new move!’”

 

Quirk, of Denham Springs, Louisiana, had $730,645 in earnings to her name before the finals. She was proud of Reydar’s performance in the first go, where the duo marked a 220 to take the lead. Heading into the finals her goal was to have a “good, clean run,” which the poised competitor characterized by whether or not she can “keep a clear head, be smart, and try not to over do it.”

 

According to Quirk, who recently won the World Series of Cutting Non-Pro at the Calgary Stampede aboard the Metallic Cat mare Kattalyst (out of Hottness x Hots Spot), she couldn’t do it alone.

 

“It takes a team for sure, and a super supportive husband,” she said while smiling at Todd. “We’re so blessed to have such a great trainer. Adan Banuelos does a really fantastic job.”

 

Quirk also thanked Alexa Dahl who did a “phenomenal” job getting Reydar ready, the rest of the staff at Adan Banuelos Performance Horses and her other herd help – Corey Pounds, Clay Johnson and Sean Flynn.

 

The Quirks have a busy few weeks ahead, as they are hauling in the Non-Pro this year as well.

 

“We’re having so much fun,” Quirk said. “I kind of can’t believe it, it’s still a little surreal.”

 

Quarter Horse News
written by Katie Marchetti / photo by Katie Marchetti
View article on QHN

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