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Our 2018 Bonina Colt to Cow Connection contestants have been selected! Each trainer will step onto a 60-day colt and teach him to work a cow. Five head of cattle available per colt each day.  Competitors will be judged 25 minutes Day 1, 20 minutes Day 2, 15 minutes for Finalists on Day 3. Winner will receive a champion buckle and cash prizes will be awarded to the top competitors. Select colts will be offered for sale after contest completion during the Cindy Severe Benefit Auction.

2018 Bonina Colt to Cow Connection Contestant…

Name: Diehl Hiner, 40

Location: Walla Walla, Washington

Currently Training At: Hiner Performance Horses

NCHA Lifetime Earnings: $509,889.61

# Years Training Horses to Work Cattle: 16

Background: Grew up farming, ranching, and cutting. He also rodeoed in the bulldogging, calf roping and team roping before becoming a full time cutting horse trainer.

First lesson you learned about putting a horse on a cow? “The horse has to be broke before they go to a cow. They need to be comfortable with stopping and turning over their hocks before even going to that cow.”

Influences: “I’ve learned bits and pieces from every one of the people I have competed with. The best advice I have ever gotten about horse training is that you better teach way more than you reprimand. The only way to someday become a horseman is to make every mistake in the book and learn from those mistakes.”

Expectations for the 2018 Bonina Colt to Cow Connection event: “My goal is to further familiarize novice cutting enthusiasts with the initiation of the cutting horse training process. Nina works so hard to promote the sport and I’m just happy to have the chance to give a hand.”

Photo: Diehl Hiner riding “Miss Stylish Rey” owned by Don & Pat Noble at the Idaho Cutting Horse Association Spring Aged Event.

Link to learn more about Hiner Performance Horses: https://www.facebook.com/HinerPerformanceHorses/

2018 Bonina Colt to Cow Connection Contestant List

Want to stay in the loop with Bonina? Follow our Facebook page!

Our 2018 Bonina Colt to Cow Connection contestants have been selected! Each trainer will step onto a 60-day colt and teach him to work a cow. Five head of cattle available per colt each day.  Competitors will be judged 25 minutes Day 1, 20 minutes Day 2, 15 minutes for Finalists on Day 3. Winner will receive a champion buckle and cash prizes will be awarded to the top competitors. Select colts will be offered for sale after contest completion during the Cindy Severe Benefit Auction.

2018 Bonina Colt to Cow Connection Contestant…

Name: Dusty Whitford, 35

Location: Ferndale, Washington

Currently Training At: Whitford Colt Company

NCHA Lifetime Earnings: $184.80

# Years Training Horses to Work Cattle: 3

Background: 7 years Sapper Army Veteran. Has background in reining, calf roping, and western pleasure disciplines. Currently focused on starting 2 year old cutting and reining cow horses.

Influences: “I got my start working for Bill Riddle in Oklahoma. I also worked for the Center Ranch where I trained the 2 year olds (by the Sire Woody Be Tough) for the NCHA Futurity Sale.”

First lesson you learned about putting a horse on a cow? “First thing I’m looking to teach is the connection to the cow.”

Expectations for the 2018 Colt to Cow Connection event: “I’m just looking forward to having fun and sharing what I know about 2 year olds.”

Link to learn more about Whitford Colt Company: https://www.facebook.com/DustyWhitfordPerformanceHorses 

2018 Bonina Colt to Cow Connection Contestant List

Want to stay in the loop with Bonina? Follow our Facebook page!

Our 2018 Bonina Colt to Cow Connection contestants have been selected! Each trainer will step onto a 60-day colt and teach him to work a cow. Five head of cattle available per colt each day.  Competitors will be judged 25 minutes Day 1, 20 minutes Day 2, 15 minutes for Finalists on Day 3. Winner will receive a champion buckle and cash prizes will be awarded to the top competitors. Select colts will be offered for sale after contest completion during the Cindy Severe Benefit Auction.

2018 Bonina Colt to Cow Connection Contestant…

Name: Jeff Bailey, 54

Location: Kennewick, Washington

Currently Training At: Bailey Cow Horses, Home of Starlights Smartchic

NRCHA Lifetime Earnings: $10,000

World Series Team Roping Lifetime Earnings: $80,000+

# Years Training Horses to Work Cattle: 20+

Background: Cowboyed all of his life and is a great horseshoer. From doctoring in the pastures to showing in the performance pen in team roping, reining, cow horse and cutters. Specializes in riding 2 year olds.

First lesson you learned about putting a horse on a cow? “Don’t get in a hurry.”

Influences: I’ve cowboyed all my life and worked around cows and horses, it’s just something I’ve always done. I’ve always enjoyed riding good horses and making good horses. I enjoy learning by sitting and watching good hands. You can learn a lot by watching folks, you can also learn a lot of what not to do. I’ve watched and visited with a tremendous amount of talented trainers throughout my career and continue to learn.”

Expectations for the 2018 Bonina Colt to Cow Connection: “I think this is just such a great opportunity. I look forward to getting to see the colts and hopefully get to ride a nice one. I wish they had more events like this.”

Link to learn more about Bailey Cow Horses: http://www.baileycowhorses.net

Photo: Jeff Bailey with “Starlights Smartchic”

2018 Bonina Colt to Cow Connection Contestant List

Want to stay in the loop with Bonina? Follow our Facebook page!

Our 2018 Bonina Colt to Cow Connection contestants have been selected! Each trainer will step onto a 60-day colt and teach him to work a cow. Five head of cattle available per colt each day.  Competitors will be judged 25 minutes Day 1, 20 minutes Day 2, 15 minutes for Finalists on Day 3. Winner will receive a champion buckle and cash prizes will be awarded to the top competitors. Select colts will be offered for sale after contest completion during the Cindy Severe Benefit Auction.

2018 Bonina Colt to Cow Connection Contestant…

Name: Shane Carlon, 27

Location: Whitt, TX

Currently Training At: Carlon Performance Horses

NCHA Lifetime Earnings: $46,674.30

# Years Training Horses to Work Cattle: 9

Background: Grew up ranching and rodeoing in Red Bluff, CA. Worked for Eddie Howard for 3 years before going out on his own. Currently specializes in 2 year olds and aged event horses.

First lesson you learned about putting a horse on a cow? “I learned the need to find release to the cow. Right thing easy, wrong thing difficult.”

Influences: “I’ve had many influences along the way but Eddie Howard would be my main influence. He taught me that it’s all about the cow.”

Expectations: “I’d like to do well of course, but the main thing I’m looking forward to is having fun and getting to share some of the knowledge I learned along the way. See Eltopia, WA while I’m at it. I think the 2 year old gets overshadowed most of the time, so it’s nice to see an event that is showcasing how it all starts. If we don’t do a good job at the beginning then the end result will suffer.”

To learn more about Carlon Performance Horses give Shane a call: 580-504-8878

Photo: Shane Carlon riding “WRJ Time After Time” at Bluebonnet Stakes Derby Finals in Brenham, TX.

2018 Bonina Colt to Cow Connection Contestant List

Want to stay in the loop with Bonina? Follow our Facebook page!

Our 2018 Bonina Colt to Cow Connection contestants have been selected! Each trainer will step onto a 60-day colt and teach him to work a cow. Five head of cattle available per colt each day.  Competitors will be judged 25 minutes Day 1, 20 minutes Day 2, 15 minutes for Finalists on Day 3. Winner will receive a champion buckle and cash prizes will be awarded to the top competitors. Select colts will be offered for sale after contest completion during the Cindy Severe Benefit Auction.

2018 Bonina Colt to Cow Connection Contestant…

Name: Travis Rempel, 31

Location: Abbotsford, BC Canada

Currently Training At: TR Performance Horses

NCHA Lifetime Earnings: $280,551.04

NRCHA Lifetime Earnings: $38,763.07

# Years Training Horses to Work Cattle: 15+

Background: Started in the cow horse and the reining and progressed into the cutting industry.

First lesson you learned about putting a horse on a cow? “Biggest early lesson I learned for first time on a cow is to try your best to make it a positive experience.”

Influences: “I’ve worked for Les Timmons, Cayley Wilson and Bob Avila. But I have gotten help and tips and been influenced by a lot of trainers and friends that have really helped me a lot.”

Expectations for the Bonina Colt to Cow Connection event? “My expectation is to try and help the horse understand that they should go with a cow.” 

Link to learn more about TR Performance Horses: https://www.facebook.com/rempel.travis/ 

Photo: Travis Rempel riding “This Cats Max” owned by Doug and Angie Weins at Silver Slate in AB.

2018 Bonina Colt to Cow Connection Contestant List

Want to stay in the loop with Bonina? Follow our Facebook page!

Happy Independence Day, friends!  We are ringing in this 4th of July with a product testimonial for FREEDOM – our mares & foals supplement. Besides being a quality supplement, this product is also easy to feed and can be shipped anywhere from our online store, just like this customer does from Tennessee. Win-win-win!

“Wanted to share how happy I am with your product Freedom. We free-choice this mixed with salt. The local hay is fair at best. Tennessee is not known for grass production by any means. Pasture is ok, but nothing outstanding. I have fed some other top-named supplements, but haven’t found any as easy to feed and efficient as your product. Thanks for producing your Freedom product.”

In a cooperative agreement with Cascade Cow Cutters, Washington Cutting Horse Association and Bonina, a saddle was given to the rider in the $15,000 Amateur who had the 6 highest points from the 22 shows offered by the 3 producers .  The Champion was Kim Burke, shown with her horse, Rip Rap Cat and her trainer, Jason Schaper.  Also pictured, Holly Jones representing Cascade Cow Cutters and Bob & I representing Bonina.

After hosting last weekend’s NCHA/WCHA Cutting Show, it is with great pleasure to share with you this feedback from the Washington NCHA Director. We hope to continue to see you at the Bonina Event Center for more quality cutting shows!

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I would like to personally THANK Nina and Bob Lundgren for the first class show this last weekend!

As being a show producer and not an affiliate, they have made every effort to make cutting in Washington a successful event for all whenever their facility is used.  Last weekend, without exception, was the same.   After commitment to producing a show, which was co-approved by Washington Cutting Horse Association, many hours, hard work and money went into making  a show flow smoothly.

Being true leaders, Bonina stepped up to the plate with honesty, integrity, and commitment to provide all attending a first-class show. Going beyond what was expected and providing anything anyone needed – even at their own expense.

Heading into NCHA Days with Madras, Oregon being our Area 1 show, I believe we should all try to follow the example which Bonina has displayed, even in the face of diversity. Thank you again Bob and Nina for showing all of us true leadership! 

Hope to see you all in Madras and Ft. Worth. Until then, keep cutting!

De Leigh, NCHA Washington Director