ERCHA/NRCHA DERBY 2019

The Derby of the European Reined Cow Horse Association (ERCHA) was held in Cremona, from the 22nd to the 25th may 2019. The show was hosted by the international horse fair called ‘Salone del Cavallo Americano’, and was entirely judged by Manuela Maiocchi. The show is an aged event, reserved to 4 and 5 year old horses.

28 horse and riders combination took part in the competition, in five different classes: Open, Limited Open, Non Pro, Intermediate Non Pro, and Novice Amateur.

There were 14 entries in the Open Derby, but only ten of them gained a place in the Final Fence Work. Markus Schopfer from Italy won the ERCHA/NRCHA Derby Open Championship riding Oh Cay MC, a 4 year old stallion by Metallic Cat and out of Oh Cay Merada (by Light N Lena), owned by Silverstone Ranch, whose nickname is ‘Mario’. The pair Scored 71.5 in the final run, scoring a total composite of 291.5. ‘Mario is such a clever guy’ said Schopfer after his winning run. ‘Despite being a Metallic Cat bloodline, he’s very quiet and cool. He never get nervous or turn to hot. He is outstanding in all the three events: he’s gourgeous in the herd work, stops like a real reining horse in the dry work, and along the fence he is absolutely talented’. The horse was bred in the States, where Todd Crawford trained and showed him first, winning almost 48.000 dollars LTE, before coming to Italy at the beginning of the year 2019.

Reserve honours in the Open division went to Samuele Poli, from Italy, riding Snapper Solano, a powerful buckskin stallion bred and raised in Italy, by Magical Snapper (Snapper Cal Bar) and out of Hubba Dancer, owned by Vittorio Ambrosini Nobili. The pair scored 72.5 in the fence work, gaining a total composite of 287½.

This amazing horse won also the ERCHA Derby Non Pro final, the Derby Intermediate Non Pro Reserve Championship (score 210.5) and the Novice Amateur Derby Championship, ridden by Matteo Ambrosini Nobili: the young rider was at his first special event show in cow horse: in the Non Pro Final, the pair scored a good 70 down the fence, for a total score of 280.5. This nice 4 years old stallion was trained by professional Samuele Poli Barberis since one year. The horse was purchased to be a reining horse, but turned out to be an incredibly talented cow horse. ‘This was my very first cow horse Special Event, and therefore I am so happy about this win’ claimed Matteo after his final run. This young rider, born in 2002, is not new to the winning circle: in 2017, he won the World Stock Show (Wss) in Travagliato, a team penning world championship, together with his two team mates Gabriele Poli Barberis and Simone Fasce.

Swiss rider Shirley Schalcher was Ercha Non Pro Derby Reserve Champion, riding her DG Little Rey Merada, a 5 year old stallion by Roany Rey x Lenas Smart Merada. The pair scored 68 in the final fence work, for a total composite of 279.5.

In the Limited Open division, Pietro Tuberga became Derby Champion, astride the multiple Cow Horse champion Bet Command Rey, a 5 year old stallion, by Dual On Command x Dots My Bet, owned by Green Mountain Quarter Horses. The horse was previously trained and shown by Giovanni Campanaro, who led him to the Championship in several special events of cow horse: he was 2017 ERCHA Futurity Open Champion, 2018 Ercha Futurity Reserve Champion, IRCHA/NRCHA Futurity 2018 Open Champion, moreover, the horse won the Ercha Spring Stakes 2019 with Tuberga in the saddle, and in this event, the pair scored a composite of 217½.  Reserve honours in this section were shared between two riders, scoring 216: Enrico Grandi, riding DG Reypep Quixote (Roany Rey x Smartys Rockin Scoot), owned by Dora Sacchi, and Alessandro Coppari astride Bar Baby Stylish (More Than Stylish x Resketta), a 4 year old mare owned by Cleo Pugnetti.

The Derby Intermediate Non Pro Champion title, assigned after the Preliminaries, went to austrian rider Peter Trixner, riding CR Tuff Lovin Cat (by Woody Be Tuff x Cr Smart Lil Kitty), with a composite score of 211.5. The pair was Ercha Futurity Intermediate Non Pro Champion 2018 and Ercha Spring Stakes Non Pro Champion 2019. This pair was also Derby Novice Amateur Reserve Champion, with a composite score of 282.5.

Reserve honours in the Derby Intermediate Non Pro section went to Matteo Ambrosini Nobili riding Snapper Solano: score 210.5.

The Ercha Derby represented also the 3rd step of the Ercha Championship 2019, featuring all the classes eligible for the European and Regional ranking.

In the Herdwork All Ages Open the winner was Samuele Poli Barberis, riding Bossin Ann, owned by Alessandra Bologna (score 71), while french rider William Coulomb won the Herdwork All Ages Open Regional astride MR Roan Oak owned by Marie Mura (score 68). This pair won also the Novice Horse Open class, scoring a composite of 131 (63 / 68)

Giulia Zamperini was the Herdwork All Ages Non Pro winner, scoring 71 with Bossin Ann (owned by Alessandra Bologna); the pair also topped the Youth Novice Riders classe, with a composite score of 140.5 (69.5 / 71).

Swiss rider Vera Walliser won the Novice Horse Non Pro, riding her mare Smooth Playing Woody (score 61),

The Non Pro Limited Bridle class was topped by french rider Audrey Buttigliero, astride her Spangled Speedy, with a composite score of 142 (71/ 71)

Swiss Professional trainer Christoph Seiler won the Open Two Rein class, together with Magic Nu Cash, owned by Nathalie Ten Sijthoff, scoring 144.5 (71.5 / 73), while Hannes Winkler from Austria topped the Non Pro Two Rein astride Cattin Downtown (score 129.5 – 66.5 / 63).

French rider Audrey Buttigliero topped the Non Pro Bridle Class, riding her Spangled Speedy to a composite score of 144.5 (71.5 / 73), while french competitor Xavier Bailly won the regional section of this class, astride Bluster Rambolena, with score 133½ (70.5 / 63).

Andrea Panizza and his mare Ans Stylish Susy topped the Novice Riders Class, with a composite score of 140.5 (69.5 / 71)

Swiss rider Mariella Pfeiffer were crowned champions in the Box Drive Box class, thanks to a composite score of 135½ (69.5/66).

The Open Bridle Champion was Samuele Poli Barberis, scoring a sensational 146½ (72.5 / 74) astride IC Smart Acres, owned by Isabella Cracolici, while the Open Bridle regional section was topped by Xavier Bailly riding Bluster Rambolena, with score 137 (67 / 70).

The winner of the Limited Open Bridle class was Alessandro Coppari with Thaz A Boy, owned by Cleo Pugnetti: the pair scored 141.5 (72.5 / 69).

The next Ercha Show will be the ERCHA/NRCHA Hackamore Classic 2019, which will be held in Karpacz, Poland, by mid June (14th/15th), at the Western City facility, together with the 4th Stage of the European Championship 2019.