ERCHA SPRING STAKES 2018 – TRAVAGLIATO – 24/25 MARCH 2018
The renowned equestrian facility of Palacittà, in Travagliato (BS), hosted the first Ercha Special Event of the show season 2018, the Spring Stakes, NRCHA approved, that was held in the weekend of 24th and 25th of March, and entirely judged by experienced professional judge Enrico Righetti, from Italy.
A huge number of horses and riders from at least five different countries of Europe came to Travagliato for the this thrilling Show, which represent a good occasion to test horses from the incoming Derby of may, and for the second step of the National and European Championship of working cow.
The Special Event, Ercha/Nrcha Spring Stakes, was attended by nine horse-and-riders combinations: 7 in the Open class, 4 in the Limited Open, 2 in the Non Pro, and only one in the Limited Non Pro. The event started on Saturday, with the Herd work run, and followed on Sunday, with Rein Work and Fence Work, which closed the entire show, with high level performances, and thrilling runs.
7 competitors were running in the Open division of the Stakes, and the winner was really uncertain until the very last cow in the show pen! In the end, the title of Ercha Spring Stakes Open Champion went to great and much decorated trainer Markus Schopfer, who was riding three horses in this show. The win came astride the 5 year-old sorrel mare Cats Silver Pistol, an athletic daughter of Smart Little Pistol x Son Miss Buffy, owned by Caroline ‘Lilly’ Baudinger. The pair had scored 70 in herd work and 69.5 in rein work, and got to the final with a composite score of 138. But Markus at the stylish mare had a hard life in fence work, as they had 2 bad cows to be changed by the judge, before having the right one the gain the final score (70) and reach the top of the chart. ‘None of the first two cows wanted to cooperate’ said Markus after his long, final run. ‘Fortunately, I had enough horse to cope with all three of them. When we went in, she was just so willing to do the job!’ Markus finally reached a composite score of 209,5, just one point forward the Reserve Champion, French trainer Marine Richard, who was really close to win, either. Moreover, Shopfer placed 3rd and 4th with his other two horses: Miss Betsy Chex, by Big Chex To Chex and out of Hollywood Betsy Cody, (score 207), owned by Agostino Novaresio, and Master N Smoke, bay gelding by Master Kaweah (score 201.5), owned by Florian Jr Morawitz.
Marine Richard was riding GS Top On Wizard, a 5 year old sorrel gelding by Sail On Top Whizard (NRHA World Champion 2012)and out of Miss Tari Jez (by Doc Tari), a mare who already produced working cow horses. ‘I am so happy’ claimed the nice French lady after the fence work. The horse is born at Guerreiro Stables, in France: ‘I bought him there when he was 2 years old and a half. I began to train him at that time for reining. But I only start him last year with cows, with Markus Schopfer when I was his assistant’ told Marine. ‘Then, I have worked With André and Isaline Charmot for the cutting part since 1 month’. The French lady continued: The first part of the spring stakes in the herd work was the most complicated for me because the horse is still young in his herd work still on training. But then, for the rein work, he was good and pleasant. It’s easy for him! Also in the fence work, I can trust him and let him go down the fence even if the cow is really fast!’ . Marine enjoyed her show in Italy: ‘I took lot of pleasure on this show. The ERCHA organisation is always perfect, with nice peoples. It’s a nice place with a good ground! .
At the beginning of the Spring stakes, the pair had not set a good start, scoring only 66 in herd work, but they recovered quickly and consistently with a positive 71.5 in reining and another 71 in fence work, for a final composite of 208.5. With this score, Marine gained the title of Ercha/Nrcha Spring Stakes Limited Open Champion, with 9 points difference from the Reserve Champion, Cristiano Verzelletti, who was riding Dg Surpri Beboons, owned by Davide Alghisi (score 199.5 – 65/68/66).
In the Non Pro section of the Spring Stakes, Riccardo Abati and his beautiful bay mare Be A Smart Senorita, not only won the title of Ercha/Nrcha Spring Stakes non Pro Champions, but they also gained the Top Composite Score of the entire show, with a brilliant 214! They had 72 in the herd work (top score), 70 in the rein work, and finished with another 72 in fence work. The winning mare have been bred by Abati and his wife Laura Quaglia, at their place, and is by Be A Smart Hunter x Margarita Boonsmal (by Mr Pepto Fletch): a cutting bloodling mix that turned out to be perfect for cow horse shows. The mother of the mare, Margarita Boonsmal, had a long winning career in cow horse Special Events before starting to be a breeding mare, and the daughter, Senorita, is just following her mother’s pace: NRCHA-ERCHA Prefuturity and Futurity Non Pro CHAMPION, in 2017, and she’s just started a new show season with another win in the Spring Stakes. The Reserve honours in this class went to French rider Jacky Molliex-Donjon, who was riding his Sa Rock N Ruf, a nice 4 year old gelding, by Sailing Ruf and out of A Tim To Rock (by A Chic IN Time). The pair scored a composite of 197,5 (60/68.5/69), and won the Limited Non Pro Champion title at the Ercha/Nrcha Spring Stakes 2018. ‘SA Rock N Ruf was born in France at a friend’s home, Didier Michalak, from Saint Antoine Quarter Horses. He’s out from a great Chic in Time mare (born in Texas) and sired by Sailin Ruf’ told Jackie after his run. This horse has been started and trained in Italy by Markus Schopfer during his 1 year and an half and is now followed and trained by Marine Richard. This is my very first show with him and I get very happy of my horse’s potential. I’m happy about Markus’s work on him and the great advice about the fact of gelding him! I’m expecting a lot from this horse who is so talented and the project for this year is to reach ERCHA/NRCHA non-pro Futurity in Mooslargue in september, even if the road is still long, the challenge is great!’ continued the nice French rider.
The Ercha Spring Stakes Show was obviously enriched with a full slate of ancillary classes, eligible for the regional, end European Championships of Working Cow Horse.
On Saturday, the Herd Work All Ages classes took place, with a huge number of contestants competing. In the Herd Work All Ages Open, Poland rider Tomas Barta took the lead, riding the excellent Sugar Smartest Lena, born in 2007, with a score of 70. The horse, by Honky Tonk Player x Sugars Doc Tari, is owned by Tomas’ wife, Andrea Popp. Tomas also placed second in this ranking, astride Shelby Boogie Boon, also owned by his wife.
In the Regional All Ages Open, the co-winners were Roberto Marchi, riding Mr Max Hickory Lenas, owned by Carlotta Zigiotti, and Carlos Rodriguez, astride IR Hickory Lena Time. Both pairs scored 68.
German rider Caroline Baudinger, who trains with Markus Schopfer since several years, topped the chart in the Herd Work All Ages Non Pro, with a score of 71. She was riding her Cd Miss N Cat, 2010 chestnut gelding, by High Brow Cd x Missing A Jewel. Second place was gained by Poland rider Ingo Linke, riding his nice 5 year old, sorrel gelding Smartest Aristocrat, by Smartest Magician: the pair score 69.
In the Herd work all ages Non Pro Regional, Cristian Magnaghi topped the chart with score 70, riding his Royal Thunder Boon, while Davide Soldini was second with score 68, astride his grey mare Petra Fritz.
In the Hackamore division, Markus Schopfer and Miss Betsy Chex were the one and only competitor, in this class, scoring 141.5 (RW 70,5 – FW 71). The beautiful, 5 year old, dun mare, owned by Agostino Novaresio, is by Big Chex To Chex and out of Hollywood Betsy Cody.
With reference to the Non Pro Limited Bridle class, with 6 entries, Italian rider Alessia Marchetti took the lead scoring 140 (rw 69 – fw 71) astride her 8 year-old quarter horse gelding GP Smart Queen (by Smart Easy Deal x Cc Queen). Alessia, who trains with Andrea Santini, also placed first in The Non Pro Limited Bridle Regional class.
Peter Kun, from Hungary, placed second, by only half point, scoring 139.5 (69,5 rw – 70 fw), riding his RED Pep Whiz, an 9 year-old quarter horse gelding by Little Bo Badger X Mijah Whiz. In the regional ranking, Valerio Ader placed second riding his Hollywood Pepito (Peptos Lil Bingo X Jacs Little Nugget), a nice 5 year old gelding, trained by professional Alessandro Dezzutto.
In the Regional Novice Horse Open regional, Markus Schopfer topped the chart riding Red Lil Bingo, a nice and talented sorrel mare by Peptos Lil Bingo, with a score of 141.5 (71 rw – 70 fw). Second place in this class went to Tomas Barta and Bricks Smart Player, an 8 year old buckskin gelding. In the Novice Horse Non pro regional, the winner was swiss rider Vera Walliser riding Smooth Playin Woody, an 8 year old quarter horse sorrel mare: the pair scored 66 in rein work and 68 in fence work, for a total composite of 134. Young rider Riccardo Bolini riding Ml Little Cal Boy placed second, with a composite score of 129 (69 / 60).
German rider Bettina Konigsbauer placed first in the Novice Riders regional ranking, with 7 entries, scoring a consistend 143: she was riding Jacs Royal Boonsmal, a nice red roan stallion, by Royal Boonsmal x Zans Glenda Jac, owned by German Non Pro rider Richard Forster. Alessia Marchetti and her GP Smart Queen placed second in this class, scoring 141.5 (70/71.5).
There were 7 entries in the Two rein class. In The Open Two Rein, the winner was Poland rider Tomas Barta, riding Smartest Aristocrat (by Smarterst Magician) owned by Non Pro rider, Ingo Linke. The pair scored 138.5 (68.5/70), while the reserve champion was Andrea Santini astride Gp Smart Queen (owned by Alessia Marchetti), with score 137 (68.5 / 68.5).
In the the Non Pro Two Rein, the top score was marked by Mattia Maurizi, astride his STO Peptos Lil Price, a nice 7 year old gelding, by multiple Ercha and Nrcha Champion Peptos’ Lil Bingo. The pair scored 138.5 (69.5/69) beating by 3 points the Reserve Champion Mirko Viviani and his 7 year old mare Enterprise Dude (Steady Dude x Enterprise Wonder), who had a total composite of 136.5: nevertheless, with this score, Mirko topped the Non Pro Two Rein regional ranking, while young Isabel Rodriguez placed second scoring 129.5 with her Pc Great Night Chex.
German rider Richard Forster was the most prized rider in the Non Pro Bridle classes.. and not only! He was both champion and reserve Champion in the Ercha Non Pro Bridle, and also in the Non Pro Bridle regional: he scored 141 (71/70) with Jacs Royal Boonsmal, a nice red roan stallion, by Royal Boonsmal x Zans Glenda Jac, and was reserve with his other horse, Genuine Ruf Dunit, a 2009 quarter horse stallion, by Reminic N Dunit x Genuine Ruf Girl: score 140,5 (69.5/71). IN addition, Richard and his two horses took part to the Open and Limited Open classes: Forster placed first in the Limited Open and Open Regional, riding Genuine Ruf Dunit (score 142.5 – 70.5/72), and second with Jacs Royal Boonsmal, scoring 140 (72/68). He also won the Limited Open Bridle with this score, whit Tomas Barta placing second with Bricks Smart Player (142 – 70/72), and was also Reserve in the Open Bridle, as Markus Schopfer won the class with the astonishing Peptos Lil Bingo (Peptoboonsmal x Conchita Gay Bingo), who scored 145.5, made by a good 71.5 in rein work, and a consistent 74 in fence work.
The next stage of the Ercha Championship and show will be the Ercha/Nrcha Derby, Special Event Nrcha approved, that will be held in Cremona, from 23th to 27th may 2018: don’t miss it!!!
