One of Cathy Coleman’s best performances was on her horse, Roper, in a reined cow horse competition in Broken Bow, Neb. They scored a 151 that day. Cheri Carter will always remember her sister as a tough competitor who loved the sport of reined cow horse events. “Cathy was one of the best at down the fence. The wilder the cow, the better she liked it,” she said.

Cathy had competed with and trained reined cow horses since graduating from high school, and had worked with trainers across the country. She had lifetime earnings in the National Reined Cow Horse Assn. (NRCHA) of $72,000. Up until her death a few months ago, she still taught clinics and competed in the event. She was just elected president of the Wyoming Reined Cow Horse Association (WRCHA) this spring.

In honor of Cathy, the directors of the WRCHA got together and decided to rename their annual futurity The Cathy Coleman Legacy Futurity. “We thought it was a great way to honor Cathy and all she has done and accomplished for the sport,” Carter said. “She was such a great teacher and clinician. She especially loved to teach children and promote the sport.”

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This year’s Cathy Coleman Legacy Futurity will be held October 15-17 at the Camplex in Gillette, Wyo. Bozo Rogers of Watrous, N.M., will be the judge for the futurity. Contestants can enter up until October 13, by mailing or faxing their entries. The fax number for entries is (303) 265-9841. Entry forms are available on the association’s website: wrcha.net under “News.”

The WRCHA was organized and held its first futurity in Cheyenne in 1983. Carter said their father, Charles Errington, was one of the founding members of the group.

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This year’s futurity will have $16,000 in added money, which is more than they have ever offered. In addition to prize money, Carter said handmade saddles will be awarded to the open and non-pro futurity winners. The saddles were custom made by Steve Morgan of Morgan Saddlery of Del Rio, Texas. All other class winners will receive Gist buckles. Rick Errington is also making handmade halters for the reserve champion winners.

According to Carter, other changes to this year’s event have also been made. “There will be a new arena layout this year. We will run two arenas during the cutting, so we will have cutting and practice all day, Friday, October 15, starting at 7 a.m.,” she explained. “There will be no finals. Instead, we added a Bridle Spectacular, a Ranch Cutting, and a Ranch Class (just reining and fence). It is a class for any aged horse, and the rider can’t have won more than $1,000 in any NRCHA sanctioned class to be eligible.”

Carter said the Bridle Spectacular can also help competitors who are trying to earn enough points to qualify for the world show.

“We have added an Amateur division to our futurity and Derby classes,” she continued. “We have also added new dirt to the arena, so the ground should be exceptional, and we are having a free “Get to Know Everyone” breakfast on Saturday morning. Jerry Peters from Kiowa, Colo., is our show secretary. He does a great job, and is the only secretary I know of who has all the winner’s checks ready for pay out 30 minutes after the show is over,” she said.

The cost to enter the futurity varies based on the class a competitor enters. A complete list of classes is available on the association’s website. Anyone can compete in the futurity with a $35 membership fee, if they aren’t already a member. Classes are available for competitors from novice to open. “Even beginners can compete in this futurity,” Carter explained.

Competitors have come from several states to compete. “In the past, we have had competitors come from Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, Texas, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Canada. We have even had competitors come from California before,” she said.

For more information about the futurity, Carter can be reached at (307) 682-5062.