In true reined cow horse fashion, the CD Survivor Memorial Bridle Spectacular was decided in an epic fence work battle to the finish Friday, June 13, at the National Reined Cow Horse Association Derby in Paso Robles, Calif.
Riding Dom Dualuise (Dual Rey x Smart Little XX x Smart Little Lena), a 2007 gelding he has trained and shown from the beginning, Phillip Ralls, Paso Robles, Calif., earned the Championship in the herd work, rein work and cow work triathlon. The pair worked their way to a composite 663.5 (217.5 herd/218 rein/228 cow) to win the $14,325 paycheck. Dom Dualuise’s name will also be inscribed on the CD Survivor Memorial Trophy, which resides with the event sponsor, Holy Cow Performance Horses. Dom Dualuise, who is owned by Chris Larson, also earned a C.R. Morrison Trophy and Gist buckle sponsored by Holy Cow; a gift certificate from Platinum Performance; and a gift certificate and cooler from San Juan Ranch/Santa Cruz Animal Health.
Dom Dualuise and another Dual Rey-sired horse, Jans Rey Cuatro, shown by Nicolas Barthelemy for owner Sheri Jamieson, were deadlocked with identical scores going into the fence work. Ralls knew it would take guts and a little luck to tip the Championship in his favor.
“It feels like it’s a World Series every time you go to one of these deals, and to pull it off, and come out on top with all the great riders and great horses – it’s amazing,” Ralls said. “Nicolas was right before me in the fence work, and we were tied going into it. He marked a 224.5, and I knew I was going to have to take some chances if I was going to pull it off. Luckily, I drew the right type of cow that ran hard enough and challenged me hard enough. He boxed really good, he had a lot of feel, and I went with him fairly early. He ran hard, and we had a huge first turn. The cow jumped up in my lap and my horse knocked him back in position and handled it.” Click here for Ron Rall’s fence run
Barthelemy and Jans Rey Cuatro took home the $11,938 Reserve Championship check, after earning the admiration of Ralls and the entire crowd at the Paso Robles Event Center for their brilliant performance. They won the herd work with a 221, and then marked a 214.5 in the rein work and a 224.5 in the cow work to earn a 660 composite.
“These bridle horse events have the cream of the crop. The best horses in the business are there and you never quit until it’s over,” Ralls said.
He thanked sponsor Holy Cow Performance Horses, whose owner, Nancy Crawford-Hall, established the CD Survivor Memorial Bridle Spectacular to honor her late, beloved stallion CD Survivor (CD Olena x Have A Lil Lena x Peppy San Badger). Ralls appreciated his herd help: Corey Cushing, Todd Bergen, Mark Luis and Boyd Rice. He also thanked Dom Dualuise’s owner, Chris Larson, along with his sponsors, for their support.
Another highlight of the CD Survivor Memorial Bridle Spectacular was the heroic high-scoring cow work by Smooth N Cash (Smooth As A Cat x Dox Gavacash x Miss N Cash), shown by Jake Gorrell for owner Roloff Ranch. They earned a nearly-unheard-of 231 in the cow work on their way to a 648 composite. Click here for Jake Gorrell’s fence run
NRCHA Derby Horse Show Champions Crowned
The National Reined Cow Horse Association Jack and Phoebe Cooke Memorial Derby is the largest and richest limited age event for 4- and 5-year-old cow horses, but on Friday, the spotlight shined on some of the NRCHA’s other show divisions. With approximately $45,000 in added money for Bridle, Two Rein, Hackamore, Non Pro Limited and Youth classes, the caliber of competition was top notch.
Non Pro Bridle Spectacular & Intermediate Non Pro Bridle
Doug Granade claimed the Non Pro Bridle Spectacular Championship and the Intermediate Non Pro Bridle Championship when he guided Wright On Ned (Lenas Wright On x Smart Sally x Smart Chic Olena) to a total 647.5 (213 herd/218 rein/216.5 cow). He also collected a pair of C.R. Morrison Trophies sponsored by Rick Machado and Paul Bailey; two gift certificates from Platinum Performance, and a gift certificate and cooler from San Juan Ranch/Santa Cruz Animal Health.
Novice Non Pro Bridle
Mikelle Azevedo rode Dirt McGrit (Smart Lil Ricochet x Holly N Zack x Zack T Wood) to the Novice Non Pro Bridle Championship with a total 429 score (208 rein/221 cow), earning $1,150. She also collected a C.R. Morrison Trophy sponsored by the Adams family, and a gift certificate from Platinum Performance.
Limited Open Bridle
Tye McDonald, riding TR Dual Jewell (TR Dual Rey x Jewelly Dun It x Lenas Jewel Bars) for owner Cynthia Belmont, won the Limited Open Bridle Championship with a 280 score (138 rein/142 cow), earning $2,000; a C.R. Morrison Trophy sponsored by Mike Herman Equine Cold Saltwater Spa; and a gift certificate/cooler tote sponsored by San Juan Ranch/Santa Cruz Animal Health.
Open Hackamore & Limited Open Hackamore
Timeless horseman Doug Williamson, Bakersfield, Calif., won the Open Hackamore Championship aboard High Brow Shiner (Shining Lil Nic x High Brow Meow x High Brow Cat), scoring a combined 294.5 (145.5 rein/149 cow). The win paid $3,072 and came with a C.R. Morrison Trophy sponsored by Sunset Ranch; and a gift certificate/cooler tote package sponsored by San Juan Ranch/Santa Cruz Animal Health.
The Limited Open Hackamore Champion horse was Coco Before Chanel (Smart Little Pepinic x Montanas Fox x Montana Doc), shown by Chris Krieg for owner Cassandra Biller. Their $1,650 check was accompanied by a C.R. Morrison Trophy sponsored by Cushing Performance Horses and a gift certificate from Platinum Performance.
Non Pro Hackamore
Oregon horsewoman Elizabeth Kania won the Non Pro Hackamore Championship aboard Uno What Time It Flo (Uno What Time It Is x Dew It Flo x Mr Peponita Flo), scoring a 284.5 (143.5 rein/141 cow). Kania’s winning paycheck, $1,192, came with a C.R. Morrison Trophy sponsored by Mike Herman Equine Cold Saltwater Spa; and a gift certificate/cooler tote sponsored by San Juan Ranch/Santa Cruz Animal Health.
Open Two Rein
Encino, Calif., professional Dan Daponde said it was a last-minute decision to show Pinchin Chics (Nic It In The Bud x Smart Hippie Chic x Smart Chic Olena) in the Open Two Rein, but it paid off when he won the Championship with a 289.5 score (143.5 rein/146 cow). Pinchin Chics also won a C.R. Morrison Trophy sponsored by Edsall Performance Horses in memory of Roy Edsall; and a gift certificate/cooler tote from San Juan Ranch/Santa Cruz Animal Health. Pinchin Chics is owned by Sandy Kish.
Non Pro Two Rein
Mary Tamme, La Jolla, Calif., piloted Im Bratman (Im Chairman x Brata Tat Tat x Paid By Chic) to the Non Pro Two Rein Championship with a 283.5 (138.5 rein/145 cow). She added $1,092 to her NRCHA earnings and took home a C.R. Morrison Trophy sponsored by Rick Machado; and a gift certificate/cooler tote from San Juan Ranch/Santa Cruz Animal Health.
Youth Bridle
Waylon Widler, Weatherford, Texas, topped the results sheet in the Youth Bridle class, riding Heza Especially Foru (Little Peppy Special x Jabos Chocolate x Jab O Lena) to a score of 280.5 (140.5 rein/140 cow). He claimed $606, a C.R. Morrison Trophy sponsored by Robertson Ranches, and a Platinum Performance gift certificate.
Youth Limited
In the Youth Limited, Hanna Self, Exeter, Calif., earned the high score, a 287 (142 rein/145 cow), aboard Dandys Red Pepper (Smart Peppy Doc x Master Lady Bar x Master Remedy). Her $275 check was accompanied by a C.R. Morrison Trophy sponsored by Robertson Ranches, and a Platinum Performance gift certificate.
Non Pro Limited
Mattie Neal, Pilot Point, Texas, guided her steady performer Instantee (Tejons Peppy Doc x Suddenly Shiney x Shining Spark) to the Non Pro Limited Championship with a combined 295.5 (147.5 rein/148 cow). She collected a $1,265 check, a C.R. Morrison Trophy sponsored by Robertson Ranches, and a Platinum Performance gift certificate.
$5,000 Non Pro Limited
Chelsea Barney, Oakdale, Calif., saddled up Clayton Edsall’s powerhouse bridle horse Skeets Oak Peppy (Skeets Peppy x Oak Ill Be x Ill Be Smart) to win the $5,000 Non Pro Limited class with a 291 (144 rein/147 cow). The Championship paid $661 and came with a Robertson Ranches-sponsored C.R Morrison Trophy and a gift certificate from Platinum Performance.
