Girl pockets victory on keeper

The debate raged on Friday night between father and daughter.

Ricky Pardue said they were looking for a horse last summer. Nicole Sutton said she was just riding horses. No matter what really happened, Sutton found her a mare, a keeper.

"We just clicked right away," she said. "She's really sweet and loves to be loved on."

Sutton continued to spoil Teninos Little Rebel, pulling a horse cookie out of her jacket pocket for her mare following their winning run in the Area 18 Youth Scholarship finals at James Brown Arena.

The 14-year-old Sutton, an eighth grade student from Cleveland, Ga., earned a $3,000 scholarship for the five-point victory. Chisolm Clark and Swinging Til Five marked 216 for a $2,000 scholarship. Brett Lawson and Decidedlys Lil Pep and Kelli Pinion and RK Purdy Playgun tied for third (214.5, $1,250 each), while Trey Allen and Seasons Miss Stylish and Christian Miller and A Jewelers Cut tied for fifth (211, $250 each).

After coming to watch the Augusta Futurity two years ago, Sutton competed here for the first time. In the 12-horse final, she and Teninos Little Rebel ran ninth. The pair cut three cows and shot to the top of the leaderboard.

Sutton couldn't recall all the details of her run. She said it was too much of an adrenaline rush.

"It was just a lot of excitement," she said. "I was just smiling the entire time and just thinking about getting through it."

Sutton's performance left Pardue in tears.

"It makes it worth all the money you spend," he said. "This isn't a cheap business. And something like this makes it worth every penny."

Sutton and her family bought the 9-year-old mare last summer from Rockin H Ranch in Cleveland, Ga. She said she liked her stop and her sweet personality.

Since the purchase, the two have performed well together. They marked three scores of 74 and a 75 recently in Florida. The pair's high mark is 77.

While she said her horse oozes potential, Sutton said it was up to her to perform. Tom and Anna Bowen helped build up her confidence. Trainer Walt Ervin gave her some simple advice: slow down.

Pardue said trainer Walt Ervin deserved credit for helping his daughter, who has a tendency to sometimes enter the herd too fast.

"You've got to go in there and control that cow," Pardue said. "And sometimes, you've got to slow down to do that. That's been one of her problems."

Reach Chris Gay at (706) 823-3645 or chris.gay@augustachronicle.com.

From the Saturday, January 23, 2010 edition of the Augusta Chronicle