Shane Steffen and Von A Gun emerged as the Open Futurity champions at the 10th annual Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity, held from Sept. 11–20 in Reno, Nevada. They achieved a record-breaking composite score of 668 points.
Von A Gun, a stallion by Stevie Rey Von, excelled in all three phases of the competition. He scored 220.5 in the herd work, 221.5 in reining, and an impressive 226 in the cow work, clinching the victory with a 10.5-point lead over the second-place finisher. This margin marked the largest margin of victory in the history of the Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity. Von A Gun earned $40,000 for owner and breeder KanDu Ranch.
For Steffen, this win validated his belief in Von A Gun, affectionately known as “Moe.” Moe is the first offspring of the mare Gunna Be A Smartie, whom Steffen rode to victory in the 2023 NRCHA World’s Greatest Horseman competition.
Gunna Be A Smartie’s Legacy
KanDu Ranch bred Von A Gun before Steffen’s success with Gunna Be A Smartie in 2023. The colt was foaled in the same year and moved to Steffen’s facility in Powell Butte, Oregon, as a weanling. Steffen has been responsible for Von A Gun’s training and development ever since.
“I’ve always felt like he was a very talented and gifted horse,” Steffen remarked. “So, it was just a matter of making sure that I was challenging him enough to keep his mind moving forward and happy, but not overdoing it physically.”
Steffen noticed similarities between Moe and his dam in terms of their determination. “A lot of times, the things that she did wrong were because she was trying too hard, and he does the same thing,” Steffen explained. “Once you slow them down, build their confidence and focus on a specific goal, they improve. Both Moe and Gunna Be A Smartie possess a lot of heart, are intelligent with cattle, and excel at stopping.”
The victory also belongs to KanDu Ranch, where Steffen has been showcasing their open-caliber homebred horses for years.
The competition at the 2026 Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity was fierce, with top horses and trainers vying for the championship title. Despite the tough competition, one thing remained clear – it all comes down to the best show and whose turn it is to shine.
As the results show, Von A Gun, ridden by Shane L Steffen and owned by Kandu Ranch, took home the top prize with an impressive cow score of 226 and a total score of 668, earning a payout of $40,000. Following closely behind were other talented pairs like Karmas A Mitch with Phillip J Ralls, Cureyous George with Nicholas S Dowers, Reyz Little Peppy with Brandon C Buttars, and Snickerss with Justin T Wright.
In the midst of the intense competition, it’s important to keep a clear head and trust in the horse you’re riding. As Shane L Steffen wisely said, “Just trust the horse that you’re riding and know that God’s got the big picture in mind, and he’s going to place us where we’re supposed to be.”
For more detailed results of the 2026 Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity, be sure to check out the full list of results.