A busy day of reined cow horse action ensued on Tuesday, February 19 at the Celebration of Champions in Fort Worth, Texas. NRCHA World Championship preliminary rounds were held in the John Justin Arena for the Open Hackamore, Intermediate Non Pro Bridle, and Non Pro Bridle, as well as the Finals in the Limited Open Hackamore. In the Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum the preliminaries of the Limited Open Bridle, Open Two Rein and Non Pro Limited were held. The reined work portion of the DT Horses and Hashtags World’s Great Horseman closed out the evening in cow town.
| Limited Open Hackamore World Champion The second of 15 Celebration of Champions world championships to be awarded this week went to SJR Smart Dancer (WR This Cats Smart x Like A Sundance) owned and ridden by Rebecca Sternadel. Sternadel’s cumulative score of 430.5 (216 rein/214.5 cow) earned her $3,090 and the title of Limited Open Hackamore World Champion. Purchased by Sternadel out of the 2014 Snaffle Bit Futurity Sale with guidance from Jake Gorrell, “Butter” secured his owner’s biggest career win at the Celebration of Champions. “I don’t know if it’s sunk in yet, it’s pretty exciting though,” said Sternadel. “I love this horse, I owe him a lot.” Since scores were held through the duration of the 10-horse Finals, Sternadel wasn’t sure if the chips had fallen in her favor. “I felt like my run went pretty good, I felt like he was doing his job and pulled through for me,” said Sternadel. “I’ve gotten a lot of help from Jake Gorrell and Don Murphy, they’ve helped me immensely. I got him as a long yearling and started him and have had him ever since, so I have a long history with him.” |
| Non Pro Two Rein World Champion Morgan Holmes rode The Smart Dun (Dun It Big x Poco Smart Oak x Smart Little Lena) to the top of the field of Non Pro Two Rein finalists scoring 211 in the reined work and a thrilling 220.5 on the cow for a total on two of 431.5, which was worth $3,584. |
| NRCHA World Championship Preliminaries Open Hackamore Preliminaries Leading the Open Hackamore preliminaries is Peptos Last Bet (Peptoboonsmal x Bet On Merada x Bet On Me 498) ridden by Erin Taormino for All In Cowhorses to a massive 293 composite (144.5 rein/148.5 cow). Intermediate Non Pro Bridle The top spot in the Intermediate Non Pro Bridle preliminaries belonged to Andrea Otley riding TI Smokum Plain Chic (Smart Smokum Chic x Just Plain Bop x Just Plain Colonel) with a 290.5 composite (145.5 rein/145 cow). Non Pro Hackamore Leading the Non Pro Hackamore preliminaries is Toni Hagen Heath riding Ima One Time Wonder (One Time Pepto x My Legend Del Cielo x Gallo Del Cielo) with a 285.5 composite (142.5 rein/143 cow). Limited Open Bridle Leading the Limited Open Bridle preliminaries is Cattasan (High Brow CD x Peponinos Sis x Peppys Nino 161) ridden by Matlock Rice for Susan Holmes Rice to a 285.5 (137.5 rein/148 cow. Open Two Rein Topping the Open Two Rein prelims was Electra Tuff (Woody Be Tuff x Electra Boots) ridden by Robert Chown for owners Paul and Amy Bailey to a 292 composite (144.5 rein/147.5 cow). Non Pro Limited Kristen Bacchetti rode Heart Of A Remedy (Heart Of A Fox x SDP Remedys Response) to the top of the Non Pro Limited preliminaries with scores of 142 in the rein and 147 on the cow for a total on two of 289. |
| DT Horses/Hashtags’ World’s Greatest Horseman Preliminaries The evening was capped off with the DT Horses and Hashtags World’s Greatest Horseman entries displaying their skill and athleticism in the reined work portion of the four-event bridle horse showcase.Two Northwest horsemen tied at the top of the leader board with incidental scores. Todd Bergen, Eagle Point, Oregon, rode Some Kinda Merada (Cats Merada x Ima Fern Believer x Peptoboonsmal) owned by Cable Creek Ranch, LLC, to a 221.5 which pushed him into the lead with 442 composite score. Caldwell, Idaho, professional Jake Telford piloted Sparktilion (Shining Spark x Cattilion x High Brow Cat), owned by Michelle Cannon, to the same 221.5 in the rein work, leaving them third in the composite with a 438. |
Derby Non Pro Champion
| Celebration of Champions Activities |
| Don’t forget to stop by the Sponsor Showcase where NRCHA sponsors feature their vendor wares. On Thursday, February 21, make plans to attend the SDP Buffalo Ranch meet and greet and see the leading breeder’s stallions on-site at the Will Rogers Memorial Center. Meet Smooth As A Cat on Saturday, February 23 when Manion Ranch brings the leading sire to town. |
Visit www.NRCHA.com for the latest results, event schedule and free, live broadcast provided by NRCHA Official Videographer Equine Promotion. All photos are provided by NRCHA Official Photographer Primo Morales.
