Nrcha/Ercha DERBY 2010
The second limited age event for the European Reined Cow Horse Association took place last week, in Reggio Emilia: the Ercha Derby, Nrcha Approved, was held from the 13th to the 16th of May, during the horse fair Salone Del Cavallo Americano, one of the biggest and most famous western fair in Europe. The show, reserved to 4 and 5 year old horses, ridden two hand with a snafflebit, started on Thursday the 13th, with the 1st Go round, and continued on Saturday 15th may, with the clean slate finals.
There were 20 competitors in the Ercha Derby, and four classes offered in this show: Open, with 14 entries, Non Pro, with 6 entries, Limited Open, with 8 entries and Limited Non Pro, with 4 competitors. For the Limited Non Pro and Limited Open classes, the champions where decided by the composite score of the preliminary Go round, while for the Non Pro and Open classes, riders had to compete in a clean-slate final. Only 10 riders from the Open and 5 from the Non Pro advanced to the finals, held on Saturday 15th may.
The show was judged by Jeannette Steffl and Brad Kelsall, with Vera Eliani and Mike Bartmann as scribes.
Non only did Samuele Poli win the Nrcha /Ercha Limited Open Championship and Reserve Championship, but he also won the Open title, astride the fabulous Cd Shinette, owned by Simona Spronelli. The nice palomino mare, by Cd Olena and out of Sheza Shinette, by Shining Spark, proved to be extremely talented and efficient, especially in the fence work. Samuele Poli, who trains in his Ranch Samisa, near Sarzana, gained the Limited Open Champion title on Thursday, thanks to a composite score of 433, marking 143 in the herd work, 140 in the rein work and 150 down the fence, which turned out to be the top fence work score of the whole show. Again on Saturday, Poli and the palomino mare had a winning day, and gained the title also in the Open class: after scoring 143 in the herd work, the pair continued with a 140 in the rein work, and a great 145 in the fence work, for a total composite of 428. ‘She’s a small, great athlete’ claimed Samuele after the award ceremony, ‘She’s so big hearted, and so strong and fast! She’s never tired, and she never gives up!’. Born in the United States, the four year old mare was trainer by Jake Telford, who showed her at the Nrcha Futurity in Reno. Poli bought her there, on behalf of the actual owner Simona Spronelli, after that Ricky Nicolazzi have suggested him to try her, and just before the Nrcha Performance Horse Sale. The mare arrived in Italy by the end of the year 2009, and Poli shown her for the first time at the Nrcha/Ercha Spring Stakes, at the end of march, winning the Limited Open title, and placing second in the Open ranking. The mare will be shown again at the Nrcha/Ercha Prefuturity, at the end of July, and will compete at the Nrcha/Ercha Futurity in Augsburg, in semptember.
Poli also gained the Limited Open Derby Reserve Championship, astride his second horse, Smart Style Dunnit, owned by Alessia Campi, with a composite score of 419,5 (145, 132,5, 142). The beautiful 5 year old, red dun mare, by Genuine Smart Chic and out of Who Dun It All, by Hollywood Dun It, was trained and shown by Markus Schoepfer, and afterwards by Max Ruggeri, always gaining the final in the special event she took part, and wining several titles. The mare, that passed under the guide of Samuele just one month before the Ercha Derby, also placed 7th in the Open final. ‘I must congratulate with Markus who trained the mare, and Max who rode her before me’ said Poli: ‘She is so perfectly trained for cow horse, so easy and elegant!’. The trainer was quick to thank all his staff, and his horses owners: ‘I am so happy! I still cannot believe it! I must thank my wife Elisa, and all the staff of Samisa Ranch; Simona and Alessia, who give me the chance to ride such great horses, and all the people who helped me in this show, especially Filippo Masi, and Markus Schoepfer’.
Poli had another horse in the Derby, Itsgoodtobelucio, a roan stallion by Boonlight Dancer x Miss Plain Doc, owned by Simona Spronelli, but did not get to the final.
The Nrcha/Ercha Derby Open Reserve Championship went to Francesca Baron and Dirty Dancer, 5 year old sorrel stallion, by Dual Pep and out of Little Dancer Lena, owned by Giorgio Guida. The pair, who was second at the end of the 1st Go, by scoring 433.5 (145-144.5-144), maintained the position, and marked 139, 143,5 and 144 in the final, ending with a composite score of 426.5.
Max Ruggeri placed 3rd in the Open ranking, astride Dual Tappis Diamonds, owned by Anna Kargol, with a composite score of 420.5 (138, 144,5, 138), while Markus Schoepfer and Shine Like A Babe, ( Shining Spark x Summer Chex) owned by Quarter Dream, placed 4th with score 417 (145, 139, 133). Schoepfer had another horse in the Derby Final, Mh Sweet Boon, 5 year old grey stallion, owned by Dominique Reynaud, who was 1st at the end of the preliminary Go round, with score 434,5. But in the final, he had a difficulty in the herd work, and also had problems in the fence work, which ended in a score zero.
Also for the Non Pro and Limited Non Pro classes of the Ercha Derby there was a unique winner: Marco Conte and Lynx Little Pepper, a 5 year old bay mare by Annies Little Pepper x Miss Badger Lynx, won both classes, even if this was their very first Ercha Show in life. The rider, who comes from Cadimare, near La Spezia, has always been fond of western horses, and used to ride in some team penning competiotions. He started some reining with trainer Enzo di Benedetto, at the breeding and training facility La Frontiera, owned by Alessio Fraboschi. His trainer suggested him to ride with his friend and colleague Francesca Baron, to learn some cow horse. As a consequence, just three weeks before the Ercha Derby, Conte and his mare moved to Baron facility near Vicenza, to prepare for the show. And the results were excellent! The pair gained the Nrcha / Ercha Derby Limited Non Pro Championship with a score of 395.5 (134, 132.5, 129), but in the final, they improved a lot, and scored 124, 132,5 ed a great 147 in the fence work, which turned to be the highest fence work score in the whole final.
The Reserve Champion in both classes went to German rider Achim Gotz, astride his bay horse One Of A Sign, by scoring 385 in the preliminary Go (130, 132.5, 122.5) and 393.5 in the final (133, 133.5, 127). One of a Sign is an Appaloosa, by High Sign Nugget, and out of Justa Doc Olena.
Bad luck at the Ercha Derby for Alessandro Roasio and Christian Brunello, non pro riders, training with Schoepfer, that where 1st and 2nd respectively, and the end of the Go round. Roasio, who is 19 years old, was leading the final after the rein work, but during the fence work he fell with his horse while turning the cow. No damage for the pair, but their fence work turned out in a score zero. On the other hand, Brunello decided to scratch from the rein work and fence work final, after that his mare, Pistol Packin Lucy (by Gangster Chic) was not sound after the herd work. The rider preferred not to risk further, in order to have his mare recovering quickly and safely.
On Sunday 16th may there was the second stage of the Ercha Championship 2010, with all the established classes: Non Pro Limited, Two Reins Open e Non Pro, Novice Riders, Hackamore, Non Pro Bridle, Limited Open Bridle e Open Bridle.
The next show for the European Reined Cow Horse Association will be the Hackamore Classic, that will be held at the facility Ranch Cà Masiero, in Mestrino (PD) from the 18th to the 20th June 2010.
The European Reined Cow Horse Association, the governing body of cow horse competition, is responsible for promoting the sport, insuring high standards of competition and educating members and the public about the history and tradition of the cow horse. Through the support of a Corporate Partner family that includes Mirko Viviani, Pira’s Cow & Horses, Double R Chant Quarter Horse Stallion, Remilore Quarter Horse Stallion, Az.Agricola Simone Porporato, Effeemme, Markus Schopfer Performance Horses, Morona Appaloosa, Balla coi lupi Ranch, Andre Fasani, Tony Muzi Western Boots, AP Hotel & Beautyfarm, Peptos Lil Bingo Quarter Horse Stallion, Orso, Nevio Lepre lavorazione cuoio, Histoire d’Or, Dirty Dancer Quarter Horse Stallion, Animal Village, Taccia Ranch, Mondelli Stable, Mecc System, MDS Media, Ranch Ca’ Masiero Arcese Quarter Horses, selleria El Cuero, Reny, Saddle Chopper, Bob’s Custom Saddles, Alba Qh, Smartaz, Old Sorrel, Salone del Cavallo Americano, Camping Gamp – Chiusa, Cowboy Service, Stable Comfort, the association works to keep the vaquero tradition alive in today’s equine industry.
