09/29/2011
Matt is the son of Dan and Myra Koch of Seneca Kansas
Matt Koch Wins NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Level 1 Limited Open on SDP Blue Blood
9/28/2011
In 2011, the National Reined Cow Horse Association Board of Directors introduced the Level 1 Limited Open at NRCHA produced event. The new division is open to riders who have not won more than $7,500 in Limited Age Event competition.
On Wednesday, Matt Koch, of Arthur, Nebraska, won the inaugural Snaffle Bit Futurity Level 1Limited Open Championship, which featured 47 entries. Koch was riding his horse, SDP Blue Blood, by Laredo Blue out of SDP I Got Good Genes.
For the win, Koch received a check for $5,844, a Gist Silversmiths buckle sponsored by Shirts, Caps & More – Danny & Sherri Rumph, a 100X hat from Shorty’s Hattery, an ESP pad from Classic Equine, a Farnam Horse Products gift bucket, Platinum Performance, a Cinch vest from Bob’s Custom Saddles, and a CR Morrison trophy and commemorative medallion.
SDP Blue Blood goes by the barn name of “Reno” because he was purchased as a 2-year-old in the Snaffle Bit Futurity Sales. “We used him the rest of the fall and cowboyed on him, then I went to Darren Miller’s for the winter to work on the finesse,” he explained. “Reno has doctored a bunch of cattle and done a lot of real work on the ranch.”
Koch and Reno began the Snaffle Bit Futurity with a 215.5 in the herd work, and followed that with a 212.5 in the rein work. “I cut three pretty fast cows, but Robbie Boyce helped me and we survived,” he said. “I really struggle with the reining, so I was tickled with our score.”
Going into the cow work, the duo had the lead. “I was feeling the pressure because we had the high score. The cow wasn’t really what I wanted to work, but my horse did really well,” he said of the 213.5. “The Haythorn Ranch and I are partners on this horse, so this is a really good win. We’re planning to breed him eventually.”
Koch noted that he appreciated the addition of the Level 1 Limited Open. “I thought it was a great deal. If they hadn’t had it, I could not have brought all the horses. This was a good way to get my foot in the door,” he said. “I thank the Haythorns for letting me do this while everyone else is working on the ranch. Thanks also to Darren Miller, Robbie Boyce, and Don Brown – they’ve all helped me a bunch.”
