Rusty Green rode Rock County Kid to a win tonight in the 3 & 4-Year-Old $1,000 Novice Horse Western Pleasure Sponsored by Southern Oaks Farms/Peek and Virginia Owen, earning a check for $13,760 in a tough class of 12 entries held at A Little Futurity in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The 2011 bay gelding, is sired by Good I Will Be and out of JDZ Madison County.

“I just love him,” says owner Sharnai Thompson. “I didn’t care how he placed, I love him and hope to keep him for awhile.”

Reserve Champion went to Andy Cochran riding Suddenly Extreme, owned by Reele Marie Rowe. They took home a check for $10,320.

This marks the fourth year the class has been featured at the A Little Futurity. A total of $34,400 was awarded this year.

Other placings are:

3rd/4th tie – $5,160 – A Certain Amble, owned by Linda Sargent, shown by Cleve Wells; Certainly On Sundi, owned by Byron Parsons, shown by Randy Wilson

5th/6th/7th  –  A Wish Right Now, owned by Stanley and Susan Scott, shown by Kenny Lakins; A Sudden Echo, owned by Diane or Randy Cantrell, shown by Amanda Jackson; She Sure Is Hot, owned by Nettie Olsen, shown by Katy Jo Zuidema

8th/9th tie – KM Call Me Honey, owned by Teresa and Kerry Love, shown by Brian Baker; Bettin Ona Krymsun, owned by Bailey Farms, shown by Jeff Cochran

10th – Choc Out My Lope, owned by Olivia Hoecker, shown by Josh Robertson

11th – My Impulses Are Good, owned by Stephanie Moser, shown by Ashley Lakins

12th – KM Best N Sheik, owned by Masterson Farms, shown by Amanda Ringer

While the crowd waited for the results to be tabulated they were treated to a rousing game of heads and tails by Gale Little. The winner received an iPad Air donated InStride Edition.

After a delicious dinner was served  compliments of InStride Edition, Holt Pope sang the national anthem to get the class underway. Judges for the event were Milt Alderman, Brett Clark, John Dean and Betsy Tuckey.