Written by: Antonella Gliori

ERCHA/NRCHA PreFuturity 2017  – Travagliato – ITALY

The Ercha/Nrcha Prefuturity 2017 Took place on the 5th and 6th of august, in the famous facility of Palacitta of Travagliato (BS) . The special event, reserved to 3 and 4 year old horses, attracted over 50 horses and riders combinations  from 7 different countries, all over Europe.

The show was entirely judged by Nrcha/Nrha professional Maik Bartmann from Germany, assisted by the experienced scribe Manuela Maiocchi.

There were 10 horses running in the four divisions of the Ercha Prefuturity, eight of which competing for the Open title. After a thrilling run, Markus Schopfer was crowned Open Champion astride the beautiful red dun mare Sailinsun Sweety, owned by Carlos Tina Rincon. The pair started with a good 71 in herd work and took the lead after a consistent rein work (72.5) by half a point. In the final fence work, despite a chance in cow, the pair scored a brilliant 73.5 good for the Open Champion title. The nice 2013 mare is by Sailin Ruf and out of the palomino mare Jaclynn Of Sun by Doc Thinker Of Sun.

Schopfer had other 3 horses in the Prefuturity, placing 3rd with score 212(Miss Betsy Chex) , 4th with score 211.5 (Chics Smart Lover) and 5th score 210.5 (SA Rock N Ruf).

Reserve Championships honours went to professional cutting trainer Andrea Santini riding his ANS Snack Cat, a horse that he bred personally at home: the 4 year old mare is by ANS Mokie Cut, a pure cutting horse, and out of ANS Wyatt Snappy a cow horse mare. Both parents of this mare were also bred by Santini. The roman rider and his mare, that already achieved several good results in cow horse shows, were top score of the herd work and scored 71 in reining showing great circles with high speed control and nice stops, but caught a difficult cow in the fence work which ended in a 70: composite 213.

Nevertheless, Santini and ANS Snack Cat, won the Prefuturity Limited Open Championship!

The Reserve honours in this class went to Alessandro Dezzutto and Holliwood Pepito, nice sorrel geldin owned by Lorena Franzoso. The pair debuted in cow horse shows only in spring, and has improved a lot since then! 70 in Herd work and 69.5 in reining: unfortunately a very tricky cow jeopardised the fence work for this duo, that ended with 63 (composite 202.5).

Riccardo Abati riding his beautiful bay mare Be A Smart Senorita, won the Ercha Prefuturity Non Pro Championship, with composite score 210 ( 69 / 70,5 / 70,5). The mare, owned and bred by Laura Quaglia, Riccardo’ wife and great horse lover, is by cutting stud Be A Smart Hunter, and out of the multiple Cow Horse Champion mare Margarita Boonsmal, that has Lte over $ 8000 in Nrcha shows. The mare was Ercha Derby Open Champion with Ricky Nicolazzi in the saddle, and also Ercha Futurity Limited Non Pro Champion and Non Pro Reserve Champion with Abati himself. Be A Smart Senorita, have been trained to cutting for 7 months with Gianluca Munarini and then turned to cow horse by Riccardo Abati, that trains for the shows under the supervision and help of Markus Schopfer.

The pair was Ercha Futurity Champion in Mooslargue last year, when the mare was only 3 year old.

Reserve Champion in this class was Alberto Sbraga with his Dual Cat Moon, 4 year old mare by WR This Cat Smart and out of a Dual Pep mare. The pair also won the Limited Non Pro class and the Novice Amateur class of this Prefuturity. Alberto,  who usually rides on his own, is sometimes assisted in shows by Andrea Santini and Alessandro Meconi.

The summer cow horse event was enriched by a wide series of ancillary classes, eligible for the European and regional championships, in addition to the Jackpot Herd Work classes, Open and Non Pro.

On Saturday, the Herd Work all ages Non Pro class, With 11 entries, 8 of which running for The NON Pro and 4 only forse The regional section, took place.

Claudia Guerra riding her Lenas Gangster took The win in The Non Pro All ages with score 71.5. The horse is a 7 year old gelding by Lenas Starfish x Zina O’Lena. The  pair trains with professional cutting trainer Sheri Mason.

Giulio Leonardi astride Lil Scoot N Pep won the regional Herd Work all ages Non Pro with score 72, which turned out to be the top score of this whole ‘class-in-class’ competition.

In The Herd Work All Ages Open the winner was professional trainer Markus Schopfer, riding CD Miss N Cat, owned by Caroline Baudinger. The pair scored a brilliant 72. The horse is a 7 year old sorrel gelding by High Brow Cd x Missing A Jewel.

In The Open Regional, the best running was performed by Roberto Marchi, riding Mr Max Hickory Lenas, owned by Carlotta Zigiotti. The pair scored 71.

Markus Schopfer won the Open Hackamore class, riding Miss Betsy Chex, a 4 year old Quarter Horse dun mare, by Big Chex To Cash x Hollywood Betsy Cody, owned by Agostino Novaresio. The pair scored 141,5 (70 / 71,5).

Saturday was a great day for German rider Richard Forster: riding his gelding Jacs Royal Boonsmal (Royal Boonsmal x Zans Glenda Jac) to a consistent 141,5 score (70,5 / 71). The Non Pro rider won both the Non Pro Limited and the regional Non Pro Limited. Moreover, he won the Novice Horse Non Pro regional with his other horse, Fr Slidetohollywood.

Fabio Fossa riding his Sorrel stallion Cobra Tarissurprise scored 136,5 to win the Novice Horse Open Regional (66,5/70). This pair won also the Open Two Rein regional Witherspoon score 135.

The winner offerte the Open Two Rein was Markus Schopfer riding the beautiful blueyed bay stallion Achtung Baybe , owned by Susanne Goettlich. The 13 year old House by The Sharp Shooter x Miss N Playboy scored a consistent 144 (71,5 / 72,5).

This pair also topped the ranking in the Open Bridle class, with score 142.5 (71 / 71,5).

Great show time for German rider Richard Forster and his mate Genuine Ruf Dunit, 8 year old sorrel stallion by Reminic N Dunit and out of Genuine Ruf Girl. The pair, placing reserve in the Open Bridle, managed to win the Limited Open Bridle, European and regional, and also the Non Pro Bridle, both European and regional sections!

The Novice Rider completed the full Slater of ancillary classes of this hot Summer show. italian rider Alessia Marchetti rode her Gp Smart Queen to top the regional section and placing reserve in the European one, with score 133.

German rider Bettina Konigsbauer won the Novice Riders with score 138, riding Jacs Royal Boonsmal, an 11 year old stallion owned by Richard Forster.

The Next date of great Cow Horse Shows Will be in Augsburg, from 6th to 10th september, where the great western Fair of Americana will host the Nrcha/Ercha Futurity: don’t miss It!.