ERCHA/NRCHA Metallic Cat Derby
Derby day 1
German professional rider Philipp Martin Haug and 5-year-old stallion DG Sirius Rey Scoot (Roany Rey x Smartys Rockin Scoot) owned by Andreas Braeuer took the lead in the ERCHA/NRCHA Open Hackamore with a score of 139.5. “I’m pretty happy with him, he was really honest. This is the second time I’ve shown him in a hackamore and he is a strong stopper. We will definitely come back to Italy for the Hackamore Classic event.”
From Switzerland Boris Ramp and 10-year-old stallion DG Little Rey Merada owned by Shirley Schalcher won the ERCHA/NRCHA Limited Non Pro Boxing with 136.5 points.
Italian Cristina Cacciolatti and her own 13-year-old Quarter Horse gelding CMP Mifi Leo Jac (Mifillenium x Leolena Jac) took the lead in the ERCHA/NRCHA Level 1 Non Pro Bridle scoring a 138.5. “This was my first competition riding down the fence and I am truly pleased with the result. While I did have some faults, I am hopeful that with more practice, we will become more consistent in the future. I want to extend my gratitude to my trainer, Pietro Tuberga, and his entire team for their excellent guidance and support.”
Austrian professional rider Tomas Barta and CR Tuff Calie Rey, 6-year-old mare sired by Woody Be Tuff and out of Calie Del Rey owned by Karl Simon, are ERCHA/NRCHA Limited Open Bridle Champions with a score of 139.5. “Today, the cow was so fast and fresh that I don’t think I’ll be able to catch it. CR Tuff Calie Rey always gives her best, and I’m really proud of her.”
Derby day 2
In the ERCHA Filippo Masi Novice Riders from Italy Michael Schopfer and 22-year-old Quarter Horse stallion Peptos Lil Bingo (Peptoboonsmal x Conchita Gay Bingo) took the lead with 138 points. “In the dry work, I strive to maintain cleanliness despite potentially losing some points in the initial slow-down. However, my stops are executed well. As for the boxing, I simply enjoy the run, making sure to follow the cow correctly and feeling content with both my own performance and that of my horse.”
ERCHA Youth Novice Riders and ERCHA NRCHA Bridle Spectacular Non Pro Boxing Champions are Italian Riccardo Morano and 12-year-old gelding Tygun (Gunstar x Pidgeon Poo) with a total score of 136. “The Youth class run didn’t go as usual, but I trusted my horse, it could have gone better but I am quite satisfied. In the boxing the horse was stopping a lot and I couldn’t close the distances with the cow which was a bit difficult. After the Bridle Spectacular I am very happy, I made mistakes due to inexperience being my first bridle competition. I will continue in both categories this season.”
Giovanni Campanaro and Henry Royal Rey (Roany Rey x Mariah Pep), owned by Lorenzo Colombo, won the ERCHA NRCHA Two Rein Open class with a total of 143 points. “This horse is improving a lot, in the fence this time I felt him better. He is progressing in his training for becoming a bridle horse and I am satisfied.”
German Kerstin Breitenbach rode her own mare MA Liones Cat (SDP Justice Is Comin x Trust in Me Today) to conquer ERCHA NRCHA Two Rein Non Pro Champions title. “Today I’m really happy with the rein work, she did good and I felt her in the right way. In the last show we had some bubbles in the dry work but this time everything was ok. With cow was little bit tricky for me so I need to work more on reading those cows. That was my problem the horse was really good.”
The ERCHA NRCHA Box Drive Champions are from Germany Frank Kunkel and Snapper Lil Bingo (Peptos Lil Bingo x Snappers Victoria) with 139 points. “I’m very very nervous in the beginning then I try to concentrate in the warm-up with the help of Philipp Haug. I was able to put everything together and this time I’m really happy. My horse is one in a lifetime and during the show he is always nice. We will for sure come back in Italy and show in regional events in Germany, maybe we will go also in Karpacz (POL).”
Swiss rider Shirley Schalcher and her 10-year-old Quarter Horse stallion DG Little Rey Merada (Roany Rey x Lenas Smart Merada) took the lead in the ERCHA NRCHA Non Pro Bridle Spectacular with a 208.5 total score.
From Switzerland is also the ERCHA NRCHA Open Bridle Spectacular Champions. Antoine Cloux and 9-year-old Quarter Horse stallion Wares The Nurse (WR This Cats Smart x Nurseware) owned by Brigitte Belin scored a 217.5 to win the class. “I really enjoy this event, it went well with my horse. I worked hard this winter cause he lost confidence with the cows going down the fence during the Americana show last year. I try to rebuild this confidence. Today he holds the lines, he was not afraid from cows and he is giving is confidence back and I’m happy with him.”
Italian young rider Sara Crisci and 6-year-old Quarter Horse gelding Smart Theodore (SLJ Smart Doc x Sparks Rosellina) are ERCHA NRCHA Metallic Cat Derby Non Pro Boxing Champions closing the event with a 73 score in the boxing. “I am very happy and proud of my horse. We tried to give our best and everything worked out. Finishing with a score of 73 points was fantastic. I want to say thank you to all the Zoo Ranch team and for sure to my parents.”
ERCHA NRCHA Metallic Cat Derby Non Pro Level 1 Champions are Italian Daniele Rollè and his 5-year-old Quarter Horse mare Marlena Spark N Time (Kitas Spark x Jamie Showgun) with 284 points after leading also the Non Pro prelims. “I had a lot of fun even though I was a bit tired, but I still managed to make it to the end. I struggled a bit more with boxing, but the turns went well. I mistimed changing in the circles. This was my second special event and also my second competition ever.”
Shirley Schalcher got the second Champion title of the day when she scored a 71.5 down the fence for a total of 284 points in the ERCHA NRCHA Metallic Cat Derby Non Pro. The Swiss rider presented her 5-year-old mare Just Metallic Light (Sanman x Just Gettin Light). “My mare is simply fantastic, I couldn’t ask for more. I find it hard to realise that I won the Non Pro Derby but I am absolutely happy with this result. After the successes achieved last year under the guidance of my trainer Giovanni Campanaro, Just Metallic Light allowed me to win again today.”
From Italy is the Metallic Cat Derby Open Level 1 Champion, Luigi Di Felice rode DN Dual Rey Ogrady (Dual On Command x Lena Ogrady), 5-year-old Quarter Horse gelding owned by Alessandro Del Nibletto, to a 213 total score (70-69-74). “My horse doesn’t excel in the rein work, but in this competition he is showing his versatility and skill. In the herd work, we were able to select three good cows for a successful run. Later, during the cow work, I made the decision to challenge ourselves by keeping a difficult cow, knowing my horse had the ability to handle it. It was a rewarding experience.”
Italian professional rider Markus Schopfer and the 4-year-old Quarter Horse stallion Oh Cay Easter Cat (Oh Cay MC x Snapper Victoria) owned by Sandro Peretto took the lead in the ERCHA NRCHA Metallic Cat Derby Limited Open with a score of 72 in the cow work final, resulting in a total of 286 points. Thanks to this score, Schopfer also brings home Reserve Champion honors in the Metallic Cat Derby Open division. “My horse has grown a lot this winter, in the last few months he was very green but now I find him to be much stronger and finally ready.”
Italian Giovanni Campanaro and his 4-year-old mare Top Tuff Rey (Bet Command Rey x CR Lenas Top Tuff), owned by Carlo Mulatero, were crowned ERCHA NRCHA Metallic Cat Derby Open Champions. Their final score of 73 in the fence work brought their total to 290. “This horse is the ugly duckling of the stable, she has already competed in the Futurity with a great reining performance but we didn’t make it to the final. This year we have decided to participate in the Derby before the other events. She is the one that no one looks at and that no one would think could win. She certainly doesn’t have the ideal physique for this discipline, but she puts in a heart and a heart that are not to be taken for granted. At 3 days of life she is rescued from chronic pneumonia and no one has ever given you the right value. I am happy with this result, Top Tuff Rey deserves it all.”
📸Photo credits: @8photoagency
