Reining is a labor of love
for Paint Vegas co-champions

In reining events, when competitors tie, they will most often request
a run-off to determine one champion. After Friday’s Non-Pro Reining
competition, when co-champions were declared, no such request was made. The talented reiners who shared the titles of both limited and open Non-Pro Reining divisions were Nick and Cheri Wallis—husand and wife. Nick rode Smart Smokin Chic, while Cheri rode Dazzling Top Gun and their combined earnings were $4,700.

Reiners Nick and Cheri Wallis, married for 15 years, share a kiss after earning co-champion titles. They are also passionate about their Paints, from left, Smart Smokin Chic, Sheza Smart Chex and Dazzling Top Gun.

“People we knew were shouting, ‘You better do a run-off or it’ll be a
long drive home.’ Not for us. We said to each other that these horses
worked too hard to get here. They both won and we were going to leave it that way. We were happy to be co-champions together.”

The harmonious agreement between the Kaufman, Texas, couple marked a memorable beginning for the first-ever Paint Vegas reining competition. Western pleasure also began at Paint Vegas on Friday.

More Western pleasure and reining follows today, with cutting action starting on Sunday.

In all, 54 Western pleasure and 38 reining entries have been recorded
at Paint Vegas to date. APHA expects 58 cutting entries for Sunday’s
Paint Vegas cutting competition.

On the first day of Paint Vegas, the number of horses competing stood
at 342 and total entries was 470. As of late Friday, the horse total
was 375 and entries stood at 598.

Endless Invitations, owned by Jo Ellis of Granite Bay, California, and shown by Scott Suggs was 2-year-old Western Pleasure Open Division Champion Friday. The winner’s payout was $1,200.

Reiners kick up South Point dirt Reiners have been spinning and sliding their way around the South Point arena the past few days. At right, Joanne Carollo puts the brakes on her 3-year-old gelding, Repeat Plan, in Friday's Non-Pro Reining. Reining action continues today, while Sunday, the final day of the show, will be devoted solely to cutting. The action starts at 8 a.m. The gift and trade show will be open until 1 p.m. for those last-minute purchases for friends and family.