ERCHA/NRCHA WINTER CLASSIC 2018 – ROMA 16-18 febbraio 2018 – Fiera Roma.

The international horse fair Cavalli A Roma, held in Rome, from 16th to 18th February 2018, hosted the first step of the European and National Championship for the European Reined Cow Horse Association ERCHA, with a nice show, approved by the NRCHA.

The show, despite its international feature, was mainly attended by riders coming from Italy, as the location in Rome resulted quite far to reach for many riders coming from northern and central Europe, especially.

The show featured a full-slate of classes, eligible for the European and Regional championship, and was entirely judged by two great experienced professionals: Eugenio Latorre, and Ricky Bordignon.

Thanks to the excellent organization and strict cooperation with the Reining Association and their shows, the competitions where held smoothly and regularly, with nice showtime, which resulted in extremely high quality runs, both for professionals and Non Pro riders.

The show had its start on Thursday 15th, with the Novice Horse classes, with 7 competitors. Among the professionals, Markus Shopfer definitely won the class riding the multiple cow horse winner Miss Betsy Chex, beautiful dun mare, by Big Chex To Cash and out of Hollywood Betsy Cody, by Hollywood Dun it, owned by Agostino NovaresioThe pair scored a huge 144 (RW 72 / FW 72). Andrea Santini, riding Lil Merada Shiney (by Cats Merada x Shiney Lil Squirt), owned by Tony Dual Pep, placed second (score 131.5 RW – 68.5/ 63 FW). The Two Rein class followed, with Andrea Santini winning astride Gp Smart Queen, owned by Alessia Marchetti (score 132.5 – 70.5 / 62).

The Show continued, on Friday the 16th, with the Open Hackamore class: again the class was dominated by Markus Shopfer and Miss Betsy Chex, scoring 292.2 (145.5 / 147) while Andrea Santini and Lil Merada Shiney followed, with 270 (139 / 131).

The Bridgle classes where extremely challenging and exciting to follow: in the Non Pro Limited Bridle, Alessia Marchetti won, riding her Gp Smart Queen (by the 1999 quarter horse stallion Smart Easy Deal, by Smart Little Lena) to a 279 composite (140 rein work + 139 fence work), followed by Valerio Ader and the chestnut stallion Hollywood Pepito (Peptos Lil Bingo x Jacs Little Nugget), owned by her wife Lorena Franzoso, who scored 275.5 (136.5 / 139). Both horse-and-rider combinations where also running for the Regional championship.

A sensational ride of Markus Schopfer and the astonishing Peptos Lil Bingo received the top score of the entire show, along the Open Bridle Class: the top cow horse and reining trainer, riding the sorrel stallion by Peptoboonsmal x Conchita Gay Bingo, scored 144 in rein work, and a huge 150 in fence work, for a total composite of 294! The stallion is a multiple Cow Horse Special Events and Trophy Winner, during is long and rich show career in Ercha shows, and not only. Reserve honours in this class went to Alessandro Coppari and Taz A Boy, born in 2008, by Smartaz x Snap N Twist, by Snapper Cal Bar, owned by Cleo Pugnetti, scoring 287.5 (141.5 / 146).

In the Limited Open Bridle class, Andrea Santini took the lead with score 282.5 (140.5 / 142) riding his Ans Wyatt Pep, a product of the breeding activity of the Roman cutting and cow horse trainer. The horse is a son of Arc Play With Prizes x Ms Senorita Peppy, by Wheeling Peppy. Andrea won his first title of Aich/Ncha Limited Open Futurity Champion with this nice horse, in 2005. Franco Giani and GG Snappy Cutter placed second, scoring 275 (140/135).

The show came to an end on Saturday 17th February, with the Novice Riders and Non Pro Bridle classes. In the Ercha Novice Riders, Riccardo Bolini won the titles riding his ML Little Cal Boy, with score 284 (140 RW / 144 FW), while Silvia Manfredi placed second with 281 (144 / 137), with score 281, astride her mate Arc Dualin Surprise (Dualin For Me x ARC Ms Lena Surprise). In the Novice Riders Regional ranking, Valerio Ader took the win riding Hollywood Pepito (score 279.5 / 138.5-141) , while Alessia Marchetti and Gp Smart Queen (by Smart Easy Deal) placed second (274.5 / 136.5-138).

The Non Pro Bridle class set the end of the Ercha /Nrcha Winter Classic show: the class was won by Mattia Maurizi, riding Sto Peptos Lil Price (Peptos Lil Bingo X Quency Doc Del Maso), scoring 278 (140 / 138), with Cleo Pugnetti placing second with her Taz A Boy, with score 138 (138 / 0).

The next date with the Ercha Championship and shows will be the Spring Classic, Special Event that will be held in Travagliato, Brescia (Italy), from 23rd to 25th march 2018: the show will not only feature the three run of the Special Event, but also the full slate classes of the Ercha Championship: don’t miss it.