ERCHA/NRCHA Pre Futurity 2023: champions are crowned in Travagliato (Italy)
The last competition day of the European Reined Cow Horse Association Pre Futurity featured some Championship classes in the morning followed by the cow work. There were numerous 3 and 4 year old horses who challenged themselves at Travagliato before the big Americana show, at the end of the day Pre Futurity Champions are crowned.
Pre Futurity
In the prestigious Pre Futurity Open it was all about Mariateresa Mango’s 4-year-old gelding The Great Mark (Great Heartacre x Smart One Time) closing his powerful runs worth 219.5 (71.5 rein – 74.5 cow – 73.5 herd) with Italian’s Giovanni Campanaro in the saddle. “I always believed in this horse, I train him from the beginning, he’s really nice but particular. We need more shows than my usual to keep him focused. I did a schooling show at Samisa Ranch 2 week ago in order to arrive here in good shape. In the rein work I made a mistake to ask the change, during the herd work we did pretty good also if we entered in the arena at the end of the bunch and today he is special, always in position, we didn’t have the simplest cow but we managed to work. I cannot ask for more in this moment!”
Second place honours went to Italian professional rider Samuele Poli Barberis who rode 4-year-old stallion Hottish Desire (Hottish x Desires Kitty Cat) owned by VA Quarter Horse Soc. Agricola and bred by Rockin 5 Ranch LLC to a 219 (72 – 75 – 72).
Claiming top honours in the Pre Futurity Level 1 Open division with a 218.5 score (72 – 72.5 – 74) was from Italy Federico Fanti aboard 3-year-old gelding Tequila Boon Cat (Boogie Boon x Carmelita Cat) owned and bred by Hansruedi Baumann. “This horse born at my place and I trained him for entire. This is the best emotion for me, when we are able to train an horse from the beginning and see the results, it’s fantastic. This show was hard fought, many riders scored more than 70 points. Thanks to a nice herd work we are the leaders after the first two events, today we had fun in the cow work and I’m hopeful to show him at the Futurity in November.”
Italian professional rider Luigi Di Felice and DN Dual Rey Ogrady (Dual On Command x Lena Ogrady) are the Reserve Champions in the Pre Futurity Level 1 Open. The talented 4-year-old gelding bred and owned by Alessandro Del Nibletto scored a total of 214 (70 – 74 – 70).
From Italy also the Pre Futurity Non Pro and Level 1 Non Pro Champion, Matteo Ambrosini Nobili brings home the victory with his 4-year-old gelding Custom Spider Dual (Custom Blackberry x Girls Got Dual), bred and owned by Vittorio Ambrosini Nobili. 214 is their total: 68.5 rein, 72 herd and a nice 74 down the fence. “This horse is born at my place, we start together at his 2-yo age. In the rein work we haven’t a big score, yesterday in the herd work we did a good show and today we just have fun! Thanks for sure go to all Samisa Ranch who taking care about my horses and me.”
In the Boxing division of the special event reserved to 3-4 year-old horses the Champion is from Italy Marco Pulerà aboard his 4-year old mare DG Vega Dollie Rey (Roany x Madam Dollie) bred by Luca Di Giacinto. For this horse and rider combination the score was a 213 (69.5 – 72 – 71.5). Marco Pulerà got also two Reserve Champion titles in the Pre Futurity Non Pro and Level 1 Non Pro with 212 points (69.5 – 71 – 71.5). “We started this year to show in the working cow horse classes and our idea was to try, show after show she becomes more consistent and today is really satisfying. I’m really happy with her and for this I have to say thank you to Pietro Tuberga who train us at home. I hope still to improve myself. But I want to give credit to my special mare, today she gives me everything.”
Bridle Spectacular
Italian professional rider Markus Schopfer and Master N Smoke (Master Kaweah x Rum N Smoke) took home the victory in the Bridle Spectacular Open. The 9-year-old gelding owned by Davide Maria Becchio, who helped during the show as pick-up man and he is really proud of his horse, scored a total of 213 (69.5 – 73.5 – 70). Markus is satisfied and commented after the awards presentation: “We are preparing as reserve for team Italy in the Nations Cup event of Americana. We improved step by step and we know that we usually got 70 points but we know also from today that he can be really consistent in the cow work.”
Alessandro Tugnoli of Italy, who rides under the guidance of professional Pietro Tuberga, rode his 7-year-old gelding Smart Taris Deal (Smart Easy Deal x OT Taris Peppy) to a score of 203.5 (68.5 – 66 – 69) to be crowned Champion of the Bridle Spectacular Non Pro. “I’m really satisfied with both this results and my horse. I can’t trained him a lot and after 2 years from our last show, I put myself in bridle and he confirms one time more to be a really good horse. I like the spectacular events and I hope in the future to present him again! I want to thank Pietro Tuberga who helps me a lot and also my wife Lucia who works a lot to allow me to show.”
Reserve Champion Bridle Spectacular Non Pro and Open titles went to Austria with Peter Trixner and 8-year -old mare CR Tuff Boon Pickens (Woody Be Tuff x CR Dees Boon Meow). For them the score is just half point behind the winners , 203 (68 – 63 – 72)
Non Pro Boxing
Opening the competition day in Travagliato was Non Pro Boxing Class. From Switzerland Kathi Gfeller aboard Chics Smart Lover bring home the win both in the Non Pro Boxing and in the Limited Non Pro Boxing divisions, with a total 139.5 total (68 -71.5). Chics Smart Lover is a 10-year-old stallion sired by Smart Chic Olena and out of Ellevi Love Jac, owned by Eliane D. Seiler Gfeller and bred by Christoph Seiler. “I enjoy my show today, he is simply perfect and the boxing is special with him. I haven’t to do nothing, just sit on him and look at the cow. I want to say a big thank you to my daughter Eliane and to her husband Christoph.”
Reserve Champion in both categories is Cristina Cacciolatti with her CMP Mifi Leo Jac (Mifillenium x Leolena Jac). The 12-year-old gelding scored a 138 (70 – 68).
Hackamore
Hackamore Non Pro Champions is German Kerstin Breitenbach. The 5-year-old mare MA Liones Cat (SDP Justice Is Comin x Trust In Me Today) between her reins bring home a 130.5 (69.5 – 61). “The rein work felt good today, and now I know she can do a nice reining. It’s time to fix the fence work for me. I will continue to focus on this part and I want to improve and become better.”
Novice Horses
Champion title in the Novice Horse Non Pro division went to Italy with Giorgia Giacone and Lizzie Little Power with 138.5 (67.5 – 71), 5-year-old mare sired by Smart Easy Deal and out of To Much Powered owned by Marco Giacone (Giorgia’s dad). “It was an hard week for me, because I hurt myself on Wednesday and I went to the hospital. But today I have to thanks all my friends and specially my dad who gives my a special horse. She’s a 5-year-old but only showed twice. In the cow work she did everything alone, it’s incredible. I want to say a big thanks also to my trainer Pietro Tuberga, without him nothing of this can be possible.”
On the second step of the podium we saw Elena Ferrari and Stars Player (Lenas Starfish x Dual Play Shorty) owned by Marco Ferrari with 137.5 (69.5 – 68).
Level 1 Non Pro Bridle
With 142 score (70 – 72) Marco Breitenbach and his VR Lolita Pep got Level 1 Non Pro Bridle Champions title. VR Lolita Pep is a 11-year-old mare sired by Star G Grand Peppy and out of Lolita Jacs bred by Roger Kupfer. “I didn’t win this class yet this year, she was out for 2 shows, specially because we are on seventy points both in the rein and in the cow work. We did a lot of work at home last weeks and Federico Fanti helps me a lot, really hat off to him because he did a very good job with us.”
Reserve Champion honours went to Sweden with Magnus Gustafsson and his 8-year-old stallion Metallics Journey (Metallic Cat x Smart Little Chet) who marked a 141.5 (70-71.5).
In the Non Pro Bridle Regional division the winner is Eliane D. Gfeller Seiler aboard her 8-year-old mare CR Rosie The Riveter (Woody Be Tuff x Gipsy Rose Rey) bred by Center Ranch with 136.5 (69.5 – 67). “I’m very really happy because she is very good in the rein work. We are preparing for the Nations Cup event in Americana and as she is a very strong mare, for me it’s hard to stay clean, be calm and trust her. But now we find out what works for her and I’m really looking forward to show her again.”
In second position of the Non Pro Bridle Regional but bringing home the Champion title in the Level 1 Non Pro Bridle Regional is German Klaus Paucher. Between his reins the 9-year-old gelding Chics Electric Spark (Jacs Electric Spark x Smart Chic Ohoney) bred by Ludwig Quarter Horses. “In the rein work my horse always did a good job and in the cow work I had bad decisions, I was too behind the cow going down the fence but I’m happy and now I show him at Americana.”
Filippo Masi Novice Riders
Swiss Kathi Gfeller won the Filippo Masi Novice Riders class aboard Chics Smart Lover (Smart Chic Olena x Ellevi Love Jac) with a big 143 score (70-73). Reserve Champion honours went to Italy with Elena Ferrari and 10-year-old gelding Stars Player (Lenas Starfish x Dual Play Shorty), who also won the Regional division with 141 (68.5 – 72.5). “I’m happy but we can do better in both the classes. I want to say thanks to Federico Fanti and Andrea Favaretto for the support in the warm up and in the show pen but also to my horse that put all his heart.”
Limited Open Bridle
The Champion title for Open Bridle regional division went again to Switzerland, but this time is Christoph Seiler who presented 8-year-old mare CR Rosie The Riveter (Woody Be Tuff x Gipsy Rose Rey) owned by Eliane D. Gfeller Seiler, to win the class with 141 points (71 – 70). “Rosie is very nice in the rein work and I’m happy because I use this show to school her for Americana.”
German rider Sophie Paucker piloted her 17-year-old gelding Smoky Surprise to a score of 136 (69 – 67) to win both the Limited Open Bridle divisions. “I’m not very happy because my horse made all the decisions. I was allowed to decide the directions but the rest was his job. We can do better but it was ok, we will show in Americana in the bridle classes.”
Two Reins
Swiss rider Christoph Seiler rode his 9-year-old gelding Chics Smart Colonel (Mr Colonel Smart x Chics Olena Baby) to a score of 143.5 (70.5 – 73) to capture the win in the Two Reins Open. “He is my lovely horse because he is out of my first broodmare but also her last foal. This win is very special for me and I’m really happy.”
Reserve Champion Nicola Carlomagno of Italy scored a 129 (63 – 66) aboard Francesco Forastiero’s 12-year-old mare LF Miss Kelly (Double R Chant x Frozen Lelly Kelly).
Box Drive
Raimundo Segura de Lassaletta brings in Spain the Box Drive Champion title aboard his 5-year-old stallion ANS Mokie Vaquero (ANS Mokie Cat x Junes Little CD) bred by Andrea Santini. This duo scored a 135 (66.5 – 68.5). “I’m happy for sure today but we still need to improve. I worked a lot and there have been improvements, but we stay focused and continue.”
Provided by Laura Ruffino – ERCHA press office
