LYLE LOVETT WINS AT NRBC 
SINGER MAKES HIS FIRST TROPHY A BIG ONE 

Lyle Lovett did not have firm plans to show Smart Shinetta in the National Reining Horse Association ancillary classes at the National Reining Breeders Classic when his friend and trainer, Todd Crawford, brought the talented mare to Katy, Texas, for Lovett to ride. Lovett, who is involved with several aspects of the American Quarter Horse industry and who has been a spokesman for AQHA, decided to go ahead and enter the Limited Non Pro just a short time before the entries closed for the ancillary classes that are held in the East Arena.

That decision resulted in a win for the Spring, Texas, competitor – making Lyle and Smart Shinetta the very first Champion named at the 2009 NRBC, and marked the Grammy winner's first big win in the reining pen. Todd Crawford has shown the 7-year-old Smart Shinetta to earnings of more than $112,000 in National Reined Cow Horse Association competition, and a third-place finish in Senior Working Cow Horse at the AQHA World Championship Show. The mare is sired by Shining Spark and out of Smart Hickory. Lovett has occasionally shown the mare in the Non Pro Limited at NRCHA events.

“Todd has done a great job with this mare. I appreciate everything he has done,” Lovett said.

There are prizes aplenty at the NRBC, and the country singer collected an NRHA pewter trophy and home accessory items from Home Branded. The first win puts him in an advantageous position for a shot at one of the beautiful Gist Championship Buckles that will be awarded to the high point winner of each ancillary class.

Another one of Lovett’s horses, Shiners Nu Lena, by Shining Spark and out of Annies Nu Lena, also won the Rookie Professional class under the guidance of Nicolas Howard. That win was also good for an NRHA pewter trophy and two home accessory items from Home Branded.

Last year, Lovett sang the national anthem on the closing night of the AQHA World Championship Show. You can watch the performance here.