Bridle Spectaculars at NRCHA Premier Events deliver some of the best cow horse action a reined cow hose fan will ever see. The bridle horses are the veterans of the NRCHA, with all the ingredients: talent, training and years of experience.
The CD Survivor Memorial Bridle Spectacular, named in honor of the late, great stallion owned by NRCHA sponsor Holy Cow Performance Horses, is a $50,000-added contest that never fails to thrill spectators, year after year.
Sixteen elite bridle horses and their riders took to the arena Friday night, representing some of the reined cow horse industry’s finest equine athletes and most talented trainers. As it often does in NRCHA competition, the Championship came down to the final event, the fence work, where a phenomenal 227 score elevated Brother Jackson (Peptoboonsmal x Shes Icing Onthe Cat x High Brow Cat), shown by NRCHA Hall of Fame horseman Ken Wold, of Wilton, California, to the win. Brother Jackson scored a total 661.5 (220 herd/214.5 rein/227 cow), earning $23,400.
“I’ve been doing the fence work ever since I was 20 years old, and I’m 70 now, and always dreamed of having that run – and I had it. That’s all I can say. It was really special,” Wold said. “There are a lot of great horses here, and great riders. This is as tough as it gets, in my opinion. I feel very blessed, and I thank the Lord for this.”
Brother Jackson is owned by Daniel Perez, Westley, California, a longtime friend and customer of Wold’s. Perez became smitten with Brother Jackson when he saw him compete at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity in 2012. At that time, the stallion was trained and shown by NRCHA Million Dollar Rider Zane Davis. When Perez had an opportunity to buy the stallion in December 2014, he didn’t hesitate.
“It’s a privilege to have this kind of horse, and to watch Ken show him. It’s fun. I knew he was capable of having a good run. We’ve been waiting for it to come out in him, and it did tonight,” Perez said.
The support from Holy Cow Performance Horses, sponsor of the $50,000-added bridle class each year at the NRCHA Derby, was particularly appreciated by Wold.
“It enables these great bridle horses to show what they are. To see them work that well in the cutting and the reining and the fence work is really phenomenal, and without the support from Holy Cow, we would never be able to come up to this level,” Wold said. “I also thank Dan Perez, who believed in this horse from day one. We’ve had some ups and downs, but you couldn’t ask for a better customer. My wife, Ramona, has been behind me when I’m marking 208’s, too, so I’m glad that we all got to have a good night. it’s special.”
Reserve Champion
The CD Survivor Memorial Bridle Spectacular Reserve Champion was One Fine Vintage (One Time Pepto x Shiners Siena x Shining Spark), a stallion shown by Paso Robles, California, professional Phillip Ralls, and owned by Robertson Ranches. One Fine Vintage earned a 656.5 (218 herd/219.5 rein/219 fence). He claimed an $18,720 paycheck.
