Working Cowhorse
Championship/Pennebaker Tops Intermediate Open/Barkemeyer Wins Limited Open
It seems that Smart Luck’s luck turned around at the 2010 National Reined Cow Horse Association Derby. With NRCHA Million Dollar Rider Todd Bergen at the reins, the talented cow horse won the title after an exciting run-off with the 2009 Derby Champions Corey Cushing and Smart Boons.
The win came with a check for $40,460, a Bob’s Custom Saddle sponsored by Centennial Cattle Company, Rios of Mercedes boots, a custom engraved bridle from Tom Balding Bits & Spurs, a CR Morrison trophy, and a CR Morrison commemorative medallion.
Bergen and the 4-year-old cow horse began the finals with a 220 in the herd work, and followed that with a 221.5 in the rein work. “I went in to compete like I always do – I just want to be in the position where I have a shot going into the fence work,” he said. In the cow work, Bergen and Smart Luck marked a 223 – the same cow work score as Corey Cushing, who also had a 664.5. “Corey ran early in the cow work and I went late. I saw his big run. He came and told me that he knew I could beat him, but he was going to make me work for it. After my fence work I told him I didn’t think he was going to make me work that hard!”
Cushing and Smart Boons competed first in the run-off, and when the Scottsdale, Arizona, trainer had a little difficulty with the first turn, Bergen knew he had a shot. “I saw that he had a little trouble, so my game plan was just to be clean and not get any penalties,” he said.
Smart Luck could be described as a hard luck horse. At the 2009 Snaffle Bit Futurity with Bergen at the reins, the Very Smart Remedy stallion, out of Gunna Be Lucky, fell during the fence work of the finals during what might have been Bergen’s second Snaffle Bit Futurity Championship.
Although the stallion did place in the top five at the National Reining Horse Association Futurity, he still has had little bobbles or mishaps at the major reined cow horse events. “We were beginning to think his name was a bad omen and that we’d have to change it,” joked Bergen. “This is a great horse and I’m very happy to finally get a win under his belt.”
Bergen compared Smart Luck to Smart Boons, saying, “He’s a lot like Corey’s horse. They look like cutters in the herd work, reiners in the rein work, and cow horses when they go down the fence. I think the two best horses in the field came out on top today.”
Smart Luck’s owner, Cindy Warn, was in Paso for the Derby – but she wasn’t at the event. “She thinks she’s bad luck, so she spent the whole day doing anything other than being here at the show,” laughed Bergen.
Warn agreed, saying, “I decided to do something different and not be here. I’m pretty excited. He’s a good little horse.” Even though she didn’t see the exciting run-off in person, Warn made sure to visit official NRCHA Videographer Galloping Video to order a tape. “Todd has done a great job. I’ve been with him for years and I follow his lead, because he does such a great job.”
Bergen was equally appreciative of Warn, noting, “She supports me so much and she’s the best customer in the world. She’s a great lady.”
Cushing and Smart Boons might have went home with the Reserve Championship – but the paycheck was still $29,670. Smart Boons, by Peptoboonsmal out of Smart Little Easter, is owned by Kevin and Sydney Knight of Peoria, Arizona.
Riding Haida Lena Peppy, Will Pennebaker won the Intermediate Open Championship and the accompanying check for $6,820. He also won a pair of Rios of Mercedes boots, a Tom Balding Bits & Spurs silver engraved handmade bit, a CR Morrison trophy, and a CR Morrison commemorative medallion.
“I thought he was good today. We were only a 210 in the preliminary herd work and today we had a 216. We missed one stop in the rein work, but he was solid everywhere else. I was happy with the fence work – we had a 218. He ran good and had two good turns,” the Clements, California, trainer noted.
Pennebaker purchased Haida Lena Peppy, by Haidas Little Pep out of Sallys Little Lena, as a 2-year-old. “He’s solid everywhere, but he just had trouble drawing a good cow this year.”
Pennebaker thanked his wife, Laura, and “all the other trainers because they’ve helped me a lot.”
Canadian trainer Cayley Wilson won the Reserve title in the Intermediate Open on Freckles Be Twisted, by Freckles Fancy Twist out of She Be Jazzy. Owner Diane Bern of Ferndale, Washington, took home $5,456.
Brad Barkemeyer only began riding Dulce Smart Boomer in March, and has already won a major NRCHA title. The Scottsdale, Arizona, trainer rode the horse to a 639 composite, winning $4,775 in the Limited finals and an additional $3,751 for a fourth place finish in the Intermediate Open for owners Steven and Trish Greenberg. He also won a pair of Rios of Mercedes boots, a custom engraved bridle from Tom Balding Bits & Spurs, a CR Morrison trophy, and a CR Morrison commemorative medallion.
“I came into the finals pretty confident because he was exceptional in the preliminaries. The wind got taken out of my sails in the cutting, and from that point on it was about making up ground with each event,” he said. Following the 205 in the herd work, Barkemeyer and the 5-year-old cow horse marked a 215.5 in the rein work, and a 218 in the fence work.
“I was real tickled with the fence work. I didn’t box long and had a lot of cow. This horse tries all the time so it is easy to sit up there and let him do his job.”
Barkemeyer thanked the Greenbergs. “Steve and Trish have been great to my family and I feel fortunate that I have the opportunity to show their horses,” he said. “I thank my wife, who’s such a great supporter, my sponsors Weaver Leather and Wrangler, and my herd help for this show, Doug Williamson, Brandon Staebler, Shadd Parkinson, and Cookie Banuelos.”
Jans Rey Cuatro, owned by Sheri Jamieson, won the Reserve Championship in the Limited Open with Nicolas Barthelemy at the reins. With a 623 total, Barthelemy won $2,865. Jans Rey Cuatro is by Dual Rey out of Haidas Jan.
The National Reined Cow Horse Association, now in its 61st year, is the governing body of cow horse competition, is responsible for promoting the sport, insuring high standards of competition and educating members and the public about the history and tradition of the cow horse. Through the support of a Corporate Partner family that includes Markel Insurance Company, Wide World of Horses, John Deere, Adequan®, Bob's Custom Saddles, Cinch, Inc., Classic Equine, Gist Silversmiths, MD Barns, Platinum Performance, Inc., Nutrena, Quarter Horse News, Pfizer Animal Health, Rios of Mercedes, Merial products ULCERGARD and EQUIOXX, Running W Designs, and the Silver Legacy Hotel, the association works to keep the vaquero tradition alive in today’s equine industry. For information on the National Reined Cow Horse Association, call 580-759-4949 or visit the NRCHA Official Web Site at www.nrcha.com.
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