Stuart Bozeman, Idalou, Texas, hit the cow horse jackpot in Las Vegas when he claimed the Non-Pro Stakes Reserve Championship, the Intermediate Non-Pro Championship and the Novice Non-Pro Championship on Saturday, March 30. He also won the e Stakes Amateur Championship on Thursday, March 28.
In the Stakes Non-Pro finals, rode Merada In Style 09 (Cats Merada x Stylish In White) to a total 639.5 score (213 herd/212.5 rein/214 cow) for a triple payday totaling $10,414.
Bozeman also won three Gist buckles and two CR Morrison Trophies sponsored by the NRCHA, and a CowTrac mechanical cow system sponsored by CowTrac.
Because Bozeman personally nominated Merada In Style 09’s sire, Cats Merada, for the NRCHA Subscribed Stallion program, he also collected the $1,000 Non-Pro Reserve Champion Sire Award and the $2,000 Intermediate Non-Pro Champion Sire Award checks.
In the Amateur division, the Champion was decided by the preliminary round scores, where Bozeman scored a 639.5 (217 herd/214.5/208 cow). The Stakes championship came with a check for $1,188, a Gist buckle and a C.R. Morrison trophy sponsored by the NRCHA. Bozeman also collected the $1,000 NRCHA Champion Sire Award.
Multiple division sweeps are already becoming familiar for Bozeman, 30, who just started showing cow horses last year under the guidance of NRCHA Hall of Fame Horseman Don Murphy. At the NRCHA Celebration of Champions Derby in San Angelo, Texas, in January, Bozeman and “Squiggy” swept five division championships – and the quiet-natured gelding takes all the showing in stride with minimal maintenance.
“I switched feeds after San Angelo, and he’s probably gained 100 pounds, and just filled out everywhere. When we got here, I just started feeding him three scoops instead of two, and if I go by the stall and see that he doesn’t have hay, I give him some hay,” Bozeman said. “I don’t think I’d show him this much if he didn’t act like he could take it. He’s laid back. Nothing bothers him. He’s never cranky.”
Bozeman, who farms and runs cattle on some leased ground, used Squiggy for outside chores as part of the 4-year-old gelding’s early education.
“I go check cattle on him. When I first got him, I used him all the time because he wasn’t very far along [in training] and he was kind of lazy. I used him whenever it was time to go work, and he’s pleasant to go ride around, too.”
Tyler Burkey, Milford, Neb., took the Amateur Reserve Championship aboard Survive These Lips (CD Survivor x Lipschic x Smart Chic Olena) collecting a check for $891. He also earned a place in all three Stakes Non-Pro division finals on Saturday, March 30.
