Brandon Himes, 17, of Mount Chestnut won the reserve reining championship at the Interscholastic Equestrian Association Western National Finals last weekend in Oklahoma City.

FRANKLIN TWP — A 17-year-old from Mount Chestnut climbed on a horse he had never laid eyes on before and rode it to win a championship at a national competition last weekend in Oklahoma City.

Brandon Himes captured the varsity intermediate reserve reining championship at the Interscholastic Equestrian Association Western National Finals.

Brandon, like the 12 other riders in his division, had his horse selected for him in a drawing moments before the beginning of the contest, which was held during the National Reining Horse Association Derby.

This is an excerpt — pick up Friday's Butler Eagle to read the full article.