The third competition of the 2024 show season organized by the European Reined Cow Horse Association was the Hackamore Classic. A show reserved for horses aged 5 and under ridden with two hands that have never been shown in a bridle. The Palacittà of Travagliato (BS) Italy served as the venue for the 3-day show with riders coming from all over Europe to compete in the various classes offered by ERCHA and approved by NRCHA (National Reined Cow Horse Association). The special event Hackamore Classic was accompanied by the usual Bridle Spectacular and a wide selection of Championship classes, with a $ 7,000 total Added.
ERCHA Herdwork All Ages
With 71 points Champions in the Open division are German professional Philipp Martin Haug and 5-year-old stallion DG Sirius Rey Scoot (Roany Rey x Smartys Rockin Scoot) owned by Andreas Braeuer. Following half point behind the winner is from Italy Andrea Santini who rode SQH Wild Lil Justice (SDP Justice Is Comin x Wild Princess Bar) a 4-year-old mare for owner Raimundo Segura.
The real protagonist in the Non Pro division is Austrian Hannes Winkler who brings home the first place with his 11- year-old gelding Cattin Downtown (Smooth As A Cat x Zacks Fifty Avenue) scoring a 72. But Winkler got also Reserve Champion title on 12-year-old gending PRF One Time Thunder (One Time Pepto x PRF Shesa Shining) with 69 points.
ERCHA Filippo Masi Novice Riders
The son of art Michael Schopfer obtained his second seasonal victory today by scoring 143 (70/73) points. Between his reins the 22-year-old Quarter Horse stallion Peptos Lil Bingo (Peptoboonsmal x Conchita Gay Bingo). “I felt good just trying to do my best and to be clean as possible. My horse helps a lot for sure! I main focused on play soccer it keep me pretty busy and the rest of the time I ride my horses. I want to finish the championship this year because I want win my first buckle.”
NRCHA Limited Non Pro Boxing – NRCHA Box Drive – NRCHA Bridle Spectacular Non Pro Boxing
From Spain, Raimundo Segura won 3 classes with his 6-year-old stallion ANS Mokie Vaquero (ANS Mokie Cat x Junes Little CD). Their total score in the Limited Non Pro Boxing was a 135.5 (65.5/70.5), while in the Box Drive this duo ended with 131.5 points (67/64.5) and finally they took the lead also in the Bridle Spectacular Non Pro Boxing. “I am happy with my horse and the progress we are making in working cow horse. I know we still have a long way to go, but I always have a lot of fun.”
NRCHA Hackamore
German professional rider Philipp Martin Haug took home Champion title in the Open division. 5-year-old gelding DG Sirius Rey Scoot (Roany Rey x Smartys Rockin Scoot) owned by Andreas Breuer scored a total of 140.5 points (70/70.5). “My horse was honest, he did a good job today. He made a nice, solid rein work; he was good at the cow and he felt good to me. I hope he will stay for a long time in the show business, I definitely like him it’s a good horse.”
While in the Non Pro Hackamore the winner is Austrian Peter Trixner and his 5-year-old Quarter Horse Mare Kitty Can Dew (WR This Cats Smart x Dew It Flo). This duo marked a 133.5 (67.5/66).
NRCHA Level 1 Non Pro Bridle
Two women have taken the lead in the ranking. The victory went to the German Sylvia Bate who rode her 7-year-old mare First Cats Got Luck (Cats Got Freckles x Latex Gloves) with a total of 139.5 (69.5/70). “I’m happy with her, now she grow up and she is an adult horse. This week I couldn’t really train her and we went to cross riding around ranch. I will come back in Travagliato for the big Nations Cup event.”
Reserve Champion title honours went to Swiss Vera Walliser and 8-year-old gelding CD Fortunate Son with 139 points (68/71).
NRCHA Limited Open Bridle
Also from Germany is the Limited Open Bridle Champion, with 138.5 points (69.5/69) Marco Breitenbach took the lead with his 8-year-old Quarter Horse gelding Pep My Kim (Star G Grand Peppy x Cream Kimberly). “This wasn’t the main class, but I’m really proud of him because we worked really hard. The rein work isn’t easy for him because he doesn’t have the physical conformation needed to excel in dry work. I believe we are on the right track and continuously improving.”
Reserve Champions honours went to Sylvia Bate and First Cats Got Luck with a total score of 137.5 (68.5-69).
NRCHA Two Rein
The protagonist of the Two Rein Open class was the Italian professional Giovanni Campanaro who scored a total of 141 (70/71) with 6-year-old mare Trix Aristocrat Mr (Tassas Aristocrat x GH Dual Snappin) for owner Matese Ranch.
German Kerstin Breitenbach and 6-year-old mare MA Liones Cat (SDP Justice Is Comin x Trust In Me Today) stepped onto the first step of the podium in the Two Rein Non Pro with 135.5 points (68.5/67). “I’m really happy, for me it’s a big progress compared to the last time. I want to thank Alessandro Fulceri for his help not only in the herd work also in the reining part and in the fence work. And also I want to thank our farrier Marco Egler because he is so important for us and he’s doing a really good job not only on the shoes but also on every question we have. Today I had more self confidence because I know that my horse can do it.”
Bridle Spectacular
At the end of three thrilling days of competition the Bridle Spectacular Non Pro Champion is crowned, from Switzerland Vera Walliser topped the Non Pro division with her CD Fortunate Son. The 8-year-old gelding sired by 5 Million NRCHA Sire Metallic Cat and out of CDS Lucky Gal total score was a 208 (69.5/69.5/69). “My run was ok today, I can box one more time maybe not going so early down the fence, anyway I’m happy to had this win and I’m also super proud of my horse. It’s always a pleasure to show him!”
Hackamore Classic
Italian professional rider Andrea Sanfelici and 4-year-old gelding CLR Corona Seco Boon (Boogie Boon x Donna Secolo) owned by Micol Fontana was crowned Hackamore Classic Open, Level 1 Open and Limited Open Champions. This duo posted a total of 215 (68/74/73) with the cow work top score of the event. After his run Sanfelici commented: “I felt my horse ready for this show, we made a nice preparation and the horse became more solid. I just trust him and we got a great cow work with 73 points. My plans are to go back with snaffle and prepare for the next ERCHA major events Pre Futurity and Futurity”.
Reserve Champions in the Open division have been Giovanni Campanaro who rode 5-year-old Quarter Horse mare Just Metallic Light (Sannman x Just Getting Light) owned by Shirley Schalcher with a total composite score of 215 (72.5/70/72.5).
Samuele Poli Barberis took home second place in the Hackamore Classic Limited Open. Between his rein 5-year-old stallion Hottish Desire (Hottish x Desires Kitty Cat) owned by VA Quarter Horse Soc. Agricola with 214 points (74/67.5/72.5).
Andrea Sanfelici placed also second in the Level 1 Open division with his other horse, Girl of Sparks a 5-year-old mare (Spark N Whiz x One More Whiz Girl) owned by Giorgia Girardello. Their score was a 211.5 (69/73.5/69).
Young Italian rider Alice Bruscaini was the leader in two divisions of the Hackamore Classic, with her DG Pep Rey a 5-year-old gelding (Roany Rey x Mariah Pep) she marked a total of 214.5 (72/71.5/71) to win the Hackamore Classic Non Pro and Level 1 Non Pro. “I am very grateful to my trainer Pietro Tuberga for the excellent work he has done with me and this horse. I am happy with how the competitions went and now we have a thrilling Two Rein season ahead of us.”
Austrian Peter Trixner brought home the Reserve Champion title in the Hackamore Classic Non Pro and Level 1 Non Pro with a total of 207.5 (71/71/65.5). Trixner rode his Kitty Can Dew a 5-year-old Quarter Horse Mare sired by WR This Cats Smart and out of Dew It Flo.
📸Photo credits: @8photoagency
Provided by Laura Ruffino – ERCHA press office
