Paul Won’t Defend Title
Arizona cowgirl Dema Paul won’t be among the contestants at the 2009 Snaffle Bit Futurity after sitting out much of the year following shoulder surgery and hip replacement. But that doesn’t mean reined-cow-horse fans have seen the last of the veteran hand.
“I’ll definitely be back. That event really gets into your blood. So I’m not ready to give up on it just yet. And I have to come back in 2012 when I’m scheduled to win again,” said the non-pro champion from 2004 and 2008.
Sidelined for much of the year, Paul says her young horses are behind schedule and she just won’t be able to show them at the futurity this season. She does have plans, however, to show her bridle horse and possibly compete in the hackamore class in the Snaffle Bit Futurity Horse Show.
“This will be the first time since 1999 that I haven’t shown at the Futurity,” she says. “I’m going to miss being out there, but I’ll still be hanging around.”
Paul told reporters after her 2008 victory that she’s not sure how much longer she’ll continue to show at the futurity. “Every year I keep thinking, ‘I’m going to quit and start colts and sell them for a living,’ and then this happens and I think, ‘Oh, I want to do it again!’”
Sitting out a year will probably nudge her in the direction of continuing to show, Paul says. “I’ve got a feeling I’ll want to be out there as soon as I get to Reno. But we’ll see what happens next year. I’ve got some nice 2-year-olds coming along, so I’m sure I’ll be back. My 3-year-olds are pretty nice too, but they’re a little behind after I had to lay off for six months.”
The Snaffle Bit Futurity runs September 20 through October 4 at the Reno (Nevada) Livestock Events Center. Other defending champions include John Ward in the open division, Ed Robertson in the intermediate open, Tommy Thompson in the limited open, John McCarty in the intermediate non-pro, Karey Franz in the amateur, and Sandra Collier in the ladies class.
For more information, visit nrcha.com.