Area reining trainer scores well in competition
With champion title, Dupaul congratulated by the trainers she admires

By DAVY MOSELEY | East Texas Edition

December 27, 2001 -- The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity in Oklahoma City wrapped up Dec. 1. Professional reining horse trainer Maryse Dupaul, featured in the Nov. 29 edition of Country World, came home with top honors.

For months, Dupaul of MD Reiners, near Quinlan, prepared for the NRHA Futurity. The event is the biggest show of the year for the association, and proved to be a big win for Dupaul.

There were 81 entries in the combined intermediate open and limited open competition. She was the 71st to go, riding This is How it's Done, a 4-year-old Quarter horse sired by Hollywood Dunit.

"I looked at the list of entrants and there were a lot of big names with powerful horses. I got nervous. I watched a few horses go (ahead of me) and what I saw was riders making mistakes from over showing. I knew my horse was ready and I knew my game plan - to show smart and correct. It worked," Dupaul said.

"For 10 years, since the first NRHA Futurity I saw, I dreamed of being in the winners circle there and it felt just like my dreams. Even more important, the owner of the horse, Debby Cunningham of Commerce, was able to share the dream," Dupaul said.

Dupaul earned the champion title which came with a Morrison bronze trophy - that makes five this year (four on the same mare) - a saddle, buckle, ... and prize money.

"I think the same things that are against me, being young and being a woman, are also the same things that make me stand out. I was congratulated by several trainers that I admire. I guess that means they noticed me," a humble Dupaul reasoned.

Dupaul continues to make plans to build upon her reining success.

"I would like to qualify the mare (who won in the Futurity) for the AQHA world next year, show her at the National Reining Breeders Classic and the NRHA derby. I also have some very nice 3-year-old prospects to show next year in several futurities."

Dupaul is also planning some more reining demonstrations and clinics to help familiarize others with the world of reining.

For more information on the NRHA online, visit www.nrha.

com. To contact Dupaul, phone 903-883-9856, or e-mail to: mdreiners6@cs.com.