NRCHA/ERCHA HACKAMORE CLASSIC 2010 – Mestrino (PD)
The third special event for the European Reined Cow Horse Association took place in the last weekend, in Mestrino (Padova) : the Nrcha/Ercha Hackamore Classic was hosted by the beautiful facility of Ranch Cà Masiero, that turned to be a very special location for western shows: gourgeus surroundings, new stables and paddock for horses, and a marvellous outdoor arena, with good ground for cow horses!
The show, reserved to 4 and 5 year old horses, also featured the Ercha Bridle Spectacular, and a full slate of ancillary classis, valid for the Ercha Championship Ranking 2010. The competition started on Friday the 2nd in the afternoon, and finished on Sunday 4th July at noon time, and was entirely judged by Mauro Taccia.
On Friday evening, the event featured the exciting Ercha Bridle Spectacular show, with 7 entries. Francesca Baron, who had three horses in this class, took both the Championship and the Reserve title, riding Smart Dually Smoking and Peppy San Jester respectively.
Smart Dually Smoking, owned by Luciano Toniazzo, is a sorrel gelding by Smart Little Sultan and out of Pidgeon Poo: Baron won the Champion title on him, for the second year in a row, by scoring 70 in the herd work, 69 in the rein work, and finishing with a brilliant 73 down the fence. ‘He’s such a nice horse’ said Francesca after her win: ‘He is so natural and stylish working on cows. He likes them, and was very good in every run. He was magic down the fence: we made nice turns, and I felt we were going to score good!’ . The Reserve Championship came astride Peppy San Jester, sorrel stallion by Cow Master and out of Bonnie Solano, owned by Luca Destro. ‘Birillo is always nice to ride in cow horse competitions’ claimed Francesca, who already won several titles with this horse: ‘He was perfect in the herd work, working with his years straight-up, just looking carefully at the cows and doing his job! It’s great fun to ride him in cutting! We had little trouble in the rein work, but he was again good down the fence’. The pair scored 72 in herd work, 67.5 in the rein work, and 72 again in the fence work, for a total score of 211.5.
Baron had another horse in the show, Arc Turbine Ropers, a 6 year old bay mare, by Surprise Enterprise x Hoo Do You Think I Am, owned by Giorgio Guida, which placed 4th with score 209 (71-68-70).
The competition continued on Saturday the 3rd of July, with the final rush of the Hackamore Classic, whose herd work was held on Friday, before the Bridle Spectacular show.
There were 11 entries in the competition: 8 in the Open, 4 in the Limited Open, 3 in the Non Pro, and 2 in the Limited Non Pro class.
Markus Schopfer gained the Open Champion title, riding the beautiful and athletic bay mare Shine Like A Babe, owned by Quarter Dream, with composite score 218,5 (73-72,5-73). Schopfer and this daughter of Shining Spark, and out of Summer Chex, by Bueno Chex, took the lead immediately after the herd work, scoring a consistent 73, and maintained the lead, thank to a 72,5 in the rein work, and another 73 in the fence work. The pair, who won the 2010 Ercha/Nrcha Spring Stakes Open Championship in march, and was 2009 Ercha/Nrcha Prefuturity Open Champion 3 years old, is now consolidating their leading position in the cow horse rankings. ‘She’s a very sensitive mare, and she is so good on cattle’ claimed Markus after his win, ‘She enjoyed to work in the hackamore, and I am very happy about her reining, that has improved much’ added the trainer from Bressanone.
Schopfer also gained the Reserve title astride Mh Sweet Boon, the 5 year old grey stallion, by Bodee Boonsmal and out of WRs Sweet Lil Jazz, owned by Dominique Reynaud. The pair, who won the 2009 Nrcha/Ercha Futurity Open in Verolanuova, scored 70 in the herd work, 72 in the rein work, and finished with a consistent 74,5 down the fence, which was the top score of the cow work run. Their final score was 216,5. ‘He’s a great cow horse, and he was sound and nice along the whole show’ said Markus. ‘I love these two horses, as they are real cow horses, and it is fun and pleasure riding them in this show!’.
Samuele Poli was 3rd in the Open ranking, and won the Ercha/Nrcha Hackamore Classic Limited Open Championship, with a composite score of 215,5, riding Smart Style Dunnit, the elegant dun mare owned by Alessia Campi. The pair, who was 2010 Ercha/Nrcha Derby Limited Open Reserve Champion, scored 70,5 in the hred work, 71 in the reining, and a brilliant 74 down the fence. The mare is by Genuine Smart Chic and out of Who Dun It All, by Hollywood Dun It. ‘I am very happy about this mare’ said Samuele after his run. ‘We did our best, and she was so good in all the runs. we were 3rd just because Markus did better tonight: we cannot have done more than this! She is such a good, well trained cow horse!’. Samuele had another horse in the show, Itsgoodtobelucio, a 5 year old roan stud, by Boonlight Dancer x Miss Plain Doc, who placed 5th in the Open and 3rd in the Limited Open, with a composite score of 206. The horse is owned by Simona Spronelli.
Serena Bagnara and his 5 year old roan stallion Ray Gae Cat, placed 2nd in the Limited Open Ranking, and 4th in the Open, thank to a composite score of 210,5. The trainer from Ferrara, and his nice stud, by Smooth As A Cat x Miss Mary Rey, scored 70, 70,5 and 70 respectively.
Among the Non Pro riders, Marco Conte and Lynx Little Pepper claimed the Championship both in the Non Pro and in the Limited Non Pro classes of the Nrcha/Ercha Hackamore Classic, with a composite score of 199,5. ‘ We were lucky indeed also this time’ said Conte, who won the 2010 Nrcha / Ercha Derby Non Pro and Limited Non Pro Championship in Reggio Emilia, in their first cow horse show in life. ‘She is very sensitive and hot on cattle’ said Marco about his bay mare, by Annies Little Pepper x Miss Badger Lynx, ‘therefore, she enjoyed the hackamore. On the other hand, I am still inexperienced, and therefore, I did not give her enough trust with this kind of mouthpiece. This is why we did good in the rein work, but with the cattle we were not as good as at the Derby’.
Loris Raffagnato and his sorrel stallion Arc King Bar One Time (Acres Of Time x Arc Peppy Sugar Chic) placed second both in the Non Pro and Limited Non Pro classes of the Ercha/nrcha Hackamore Classes, with a composite score of 194,5.
Bad luck again for Alessandro Roasio and his bay gelding Acheron (Remilore X Pic A Whiz) that were leading after a 69 in the herd work and a 70,5 in the rein work: the pair fell to the ground during a fast turn in the fence work, and the rider was slightly injured to one foot.
The show continued on Sunday the 4th morning, with the remainin Ercha Championship classes.
The European Reined Cow Horse Association will continue the show season with the Nrcha/Ercha Prefuturity, that will be held in Flumignano, Udine, on the 31st July and 1st august 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, Quarter Dream, the association works to keep the vaquero tradition alive in today’s equine industry.
