Chris (registered name "Risky Chris") is a 1991 sorrel gelding by Bettor's Risk and Missy Top Bug. Trained and ridden by Add Waddell, Chris had great success in the futurities and derbies. In 1997, Chris won the 1D at the NBHA Finals, earning the title of World NBHA Champion for that year.

I bought Chris in 1998. My sister had seen him a year or so before at Oklahoma City. She called me from there and told me that I absolutely, positively HAD to have this horse called Risky Chris. We nagged Add relentlessly over the course of the next year, until at long last he called and said that the owners were willing to sell him. The rest, as they say, is history.

In 1999, Chris carried me to numerous championships and to my first ever National Finals Rodeo. It was a great thrill to finish up 4th in the average as rookies, but Chris and I agreed that we could do better. In 2000, Chris returned us to the NFR and was virtually unstoppable there. He placed us in nine of ten rounds, won the average, and ended up with his second world championship title.

In 2001, we were on a mission to qualify for the United States team to compete at the rodeo to be held at the Cultural Olympics in Salt Lake City. It came down to the wire; we had to win the average at the NFR. Once again, Chris came through with flying colors. We won the average and clenched our spot on the Olympic team. In the winter of 2002, Chris helped the U.S. team take the Gold Medal.

We took the year off in 2002. 2003 started off really well for Chris and me. We placed at Denver, Ft. Worth and the long rounds at Houston. Things were looking really good until the day of the short round at Houston. Chris had a freak accident; he flipped over and broke his withers. He recouperated for most of the year. Shelley Martin's good horse Jonesey carried us to an excellent spot in the standings. Chris came back strong at Dallas at the end of the year to earn us a spot at the NFR, where he completed his 40th clean run at the Thomas & Mack. We ended up second in the average that year.

Chris came back in 2004 by winning the average at Denver. We'd never had a better start on the year. Unfortunately, it was my turn for an injury; I broke my neck and was unable to compete.

Chris' major rodeo championships include these:

It has been my privilege to throw a leg over some truly great horses, but with Chris God blessed me far beyond my wildest dreams. Chris is my "once in a lifetime" partner. There has never been, and there will never be, another like him.