Arizona reined cow horseman Brad Barkemeyer struck gold in the Golden State at the National Reined Cow Horse Association Hackamore Classic in Paso Robles, Calif. On Sunday evening, Barkemeyer rode Smartee to a 441-point composite for quadruple Championships in the Open, Intermediate Open, Limited Open and Novice Horse Open divisions, winning a total of $24,499.

“I had a pretty nice weekend,” Barkemeyer said modestly following the cow work phase of the event.

Smartee (Smart Little Lena x Starlight Playgirl x Grays Starlight), a 5-year-old gelding, is owned by Lucava Farms Inc., from British Columbia, Canada. The horse and Barkemeyer began the show on Friday (April 29) with a 145 in the herd work. The score positioned the pair nicely in the Open, put it second in the Intermediate Open and at No. 1 in the Limited Open

“I was really confident in the herd work,” Barkemeyer said. I wanted to be able to put my hand down and let him show how good he is. I two-handed through the first cow, but I put my hand down on the second. I think that's what got us back into the game.

“I thank my herd help – Morgan Cromer, Phillip Ralls, Corey Cushing and Doug Williamson – for keeping me confident and talking me through the cattle.”

Then it was on the second round of competition on Saturday. It’s in the reined work that Smartee, according to Barkemeyer, has a lot of natural presence.

“He has lots of style,” he said, continuing to explain that the reined work wasn’t quite as good as he’d hoped it would be. “I felt like I left a little on the table because I missed a stop and didn't get turned around to the right as good as we can.”

That being said, the judges awarded the performance a 147, which put Smartee first in the round for the Intermediate Open and Limited Open along with positioning him sixth in the Open. At that point, Smartee and Barkemeyer were at the top of the composite in the Intermediate Open and Limited Open divisions.

On Sunday, Smartee powered his way though an impressive cow work that sealed the Championship deal with a 149 score.

“We had a tough cow,” Barkemeyer said. “This horse has a lot of grit and speed and reads a cow pretty well. After we left the corner I let him run and got comfortable. It was a surreal moment ­– everything slowed down. He didn't let the slightest gap come between him and the cow.”

Smartee was bred by Pontisso Enterprises Inc., from Italy. The horse’s original name was PE Smart Star and he sold as a 2-year-old in the NCHA 2-Year-Olds by Select Sires sale at the 2008 NCHA Futurity for $24,000. A yearling full brother yearling (PE Lena Starlight) sold during the same show for $13,500. Lesley and Mora Wallace, owners of Lucava Farms, purchased Smartee and put him into training with trainer Cayley Wilson. When he arrived at Paso Robles, Smartee had $6,477 on his record.

“It's unique that this horse bounces back and forth between Cayley and I. He did a great job training and showing him as a 3-year-old, and we started swapping him as a 4-year-old,” Barkemeyer said. “This is a really intense horse. The more we do with him, the better he gets, so we also cut, head, heel and rein on him. He's won some all around titles, as well.”

Barkemeyer noted he was thankful for all the help he has received, and noted, “I really appreciate Lesley and Moro for the opportunity to show this horse. I have a huge support group in my wife, family, friends, and clients, and it makes this very special.”

The Open Reserve Championship went to Dom Dualuise (Dual Rey x Smart Little XX x Smart Little Lena) and California professional Phillip Ralls with a 438.5 composite. The win netted owner Chris Larson, Solvang, Calif., a check for $11,595. Dom Dualuise was bred by Bettina Jary-Mathis, and he’s the 4-year-old gelding Ralls took to the finals at the 2010 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity, along with winning the Intermediate Open and tying for Reserve in the Open at last year’s National Stock Horse Association Futurity.

In the Intermediate Open division, Ron Emmons piloted Reygans Smart Lena (Dual Rey x Smart Fancy Lena x Smart Little Lena) to a 429 composite (H/140-R/142-F/147) for the Reserve Championship and $3,443. The 5-year-old stallion was bred by Strawn Valley Ranch and is owned by Douglas and Cynthia Granade, Shingle Springs, Calif.

Fletch My Slippers and Greg Bieker won the Limited Open Hackamore Classic Reserve Championship and $1,209 with a score of 432.5 (H/140-R/144.5-F/148). The 4-year-old mare (Royal Fletch x Roseanna Dual x Dual Pep) was bred by Kit and Charles Moncrief and is owned by Greg Bieker, Fruitland, Idaho.

In the Novice Horse division, it was Im Dual Smart (Mister Dual Pep x Ima Smart Remedy x Smart Little Lena) and Jon Roeser who finished second with a 429.5 composite score (H/145.5-R/139-F/145), which paid $2,364. The 4-year-old stallion was bred by and is still owned by Clear Lake Land & Cattle, Reno, Nev.

Level 1 Limited Open
This year’s NRCHA Hackamore Classic featured a new division. In the Level 1 Limited Open, IX Smart Starlight (Dox White Rabbit x Amys Pic x Fairleas Dandy Pic) and Matt Hoekenga, Fallon, Nev., who bested the group with a 411 composite (H/138-R/143-F/130) for a $1,077 first-place check. This 5-year-old gelding was bred by Charles Amos and is owned by Liz Younger, Reno, Nev.

“I was very happy with the herd work,” Hoekenga said. “I haven't gone out of the herd a whole lot, so I was pleased that we got through it. There was nothing too fancy, but it was solid.

Then it was on to the next round.

“We were a little behind going into the rein work, but he felt the best he's ever felt in the reining and we caught up,” Hoekenga explained. “We drew a tough cow in the fence work, but we were able to hold on.”

Hoekenga noted that IX Smart Starlight was a little green when he started working with him in the summer of 2010.

"We worked all summer, and we got him back this spring and were able to work on some things and start getting bigger scores,” Hoekenga said. “I'm super proud of him – he's come a long way. I really appreciate Liz for letting me show this horse. I also thank Flint Lee, all our clients, and of course my family.”

Reserve in the Level 1 Limited Open was earned by Truckin Lil Miracle (NMSU Truckin Chex x Little Miraclena x Smart Retsina) and Tucker Clark, Tucson, Ariz. The pair finished with a 408 composite (H/140-R/139.5-F/128.5) and won $646. The 5-year-old Truckin Lil Miracle, a mare, was bred and is still owned by Rogers Heaven Sent Ranch, also of Tucson.

Non-Pro
Annie Reynolds again proved her remarkable talent by winning the Hackamore Classic Non-Pro Championship on Very Shiney. The duo worked a “very” nice run performance that netted a 434-point composite (H/143.5-R/146.5-F/144), winning the title and $6,135.

Reynolds had originally planned to show the week before the Hackamore Classic at the National Reining Breeders Classic in Texas, but when her horse was sidelined with an injury, she made an eleventh hour decision to enter the Hackamore Classic.

“I just had a couple weeks to work this horse in the hackamore,” Reynolds said. “I wasn't sure how it would work out, but he's a fairly light and sensitive horse, so I thought he'd be ok. I think he can use some more time to really reach his potential, but I was pleased with him.”

The show got off to a rather challenging start for Reynolds and Very Shiney (Very Smart Remedy x Shirley Shine x Shining Spark), but it went well and built momentum from there.

“Because we were a post-entry, we had to go last in the first set,” Reynolds explained. “It was a tough draw, but we got three cows cut well. He was also really good in the reining” Everything worked out in the fence work. My horse was trying."

Reynolds thanked her herd help ­– Morgan Cromer, Jake Telford, Ted Robinson and Jon Roeser – as well as Nick Dowers.

“Nick helped me get the horse ready and helped me get everything done,” she said.

Reynolds holds the distinction of being the only non-pro and only woman to have earned over a million dollars in NRCHA competition. Also, she is also one of the reined cow horse industry’s leading breeders. Reynolds bred, trained and has shown Very Shiney, a 4-year-old stallion, from start to finish. She owns the horse’s sire and dam.

Very Shiney had $53,930 prior to his showing at Paso Robles. Along with winning the Non-Pro at the NSHA Classic earlier this year, the stallion and Reynolds tied for third in the Non-Pro and finished sixth in the Open starting at the 2010 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity.

Intermediate Non-Pro
Carol Roberts piloted her Oaks Dual Rey (TR Dual Rey x Docs Pearly Oak x Doc’s Oak) to a 432-point composite (H/146-R/142.5-F/143.5) to win the Intermediate Non-Pro Championship along with finishing Reserve in the Non-Pro. All that success added up to a prize checks totaling $7,188

"I had incredible herd help,” Roberts said graciously. “I thank Phillip Ralls, Doug Williamson, Corey Cushing and Jon Roeser. I could never have done it without them. I also thank Scott Weis for helping me in the cutting.”

After scoring a strong 146 in the herd, Roberts and Oaks Dual Rey had a steady reined work round.

“In the rein work my horse was really good,” Roberts said. “We had a weird scotch on one stop, but he was quiet in the hackamore so I was happy.’

The morning of the fence work, Roberts was able to get some time in the practice pen, thanks to Phillip Ralls.

"Phillip let us come and work cattle down the fence and prepare,” Roberts said. “When it came time to show, it was insane how good he was. It just all came together and it was just like it was earlier in the day.

Roberts found Oaks Dual Rey, a 4-year-old gelding who was bred by Jamie Traiteur, through a YouTube video. She never saw Oaks Dual Rey in person – just on a computer screen – but she took a chance and bought him anyway. Her gamble paid off, as Oaks Dual Rey has become a very consistent and flashy cow horse.

“I talked to the owner and I had a good feeling about it,” Roberts explained about finding the horse online. “I had seen a promotional video of TR Dual Rey, and I knew that I wanted one of his colts.”

Reserve in the Intermediate Non-Pro went to Tammy Johnson, Lindsay, Calif., and her trusty 5-year-old mare, Nu Prize (Smokums Prize x My Nu Masterpiece x Nu Cash). The pair wrapped up with a 427.5 composite (H/143-R/142.5-F/142), and earned $1,900.

Amateur
Dakota Anderson has a lot of experience showing cutters and rodeoing. But the 17-year-old made the switch to reined cow horses, and at the 2011 NRCHA Hackamore Classic –just his third show – won the Amateur Championship aboard Soula Boom Star (Soula Jule Star x Savannah Lee 2000 x Boomernic). The two marked a solid 436-point composite (H/142-R/146.5-F/147.5) and won $1,340.

"It's a pretty big change, but I was willing to give up the other events for this – I really like this,” he said about the journey from cutting and rodeo to reined cow horse. “I love this horse. He's for sale but I don't want to sell him. I want to train cow horses for a living.

Soula Boom Star was bred by Elizabeth and Jim Kidwell, and the horse was more than a “special occasion.”

"A good friend raised him. I thought I liked him and I got him as a Christmas present,” Anderson explained. "I ride with Sandy Collier with him. I really appreciate Sandy and Tina Fry for all their encouragement and help. I also thank my parents Tony and Lisa Anderson for getting me here and helping out with expensive, and I also thank Mike and Debbie Brautovich.”

Loretta Showalter won the Amateur Reserve Championship and $1,005 purse riding Im Miss Be Haven (Ill Be Smart x Miss Lena Badger x Teninolena Badger). They finished with a 404 composite (H/139-R/139-F/126). Im Miss Be Haven was bred by Mr. and Mris, Jack Elliott.

First Round Coverage

Jake Telford

Hes Shinettes CD and Telford finished fifth at last year’s NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity, plus they went to the NRHA Futurity and finished ninth in the Level 2 Limited Open and seventh in the Level 1 Open.

Currently leading the Open Hackamore Classic Open composite is Dom Dualuise (Dual Rey x Smart Little XX x Smart Little Lena), ridden by Phillip Ralls and owned by for Chris Larson, Solvang, Calif. The pair marked a 148 in the herd work, and followed that with a 147 in the rein work for a 295 composite.

The composite high for the Intermediate Open, Limited Open, and Novice Horse Open was held by Smartee (Smart Little Lena x Starlight Playgirl x Grays Starlight) and Brad Barkemeyer. The pair earned a 292 total, comprised of a 145 in the herd work and a 147 in the rein work – the high score of the three divisions. Smartee is owned by Lucava Farms Inc., from British Columbia, Canada.

Marking the high rein work score and currently leading the composite of the new Level 1 Limited Open is Matt Hoekenga, who piloted IX Smart Starlight (Dox White Rabbit x Amys Pic x Fairleas Dandy Pic) to a 143 in the rein work for a 281 composite. IX Smart Starlight is owned by Liz Younger, Reno, Nev.

In the Non-Pro division, Annie Reynolds, King Hill, Idaho, and Very Shiney (Very Smart Remedy x Shirley Shine x Shining Spark) jumped to the composite lead with a 290 after marking the rein work high score of 146.5. Very Shiney, a stallion, has had a tremendous nine months, starting at the 2010 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity where he tied for third in the Non-Pro and finished sixth in the Open. They won the Non-Pro at the NSHA Classic earlier this year.

Rachel Eady and Diamondsaremyhobby (Diamond J Star x Smokum N Hobby x Smokum Oak) along with Karen Stallings and Chexy Little Sister (NMSU Truckin Chex x Shiners Spumanti x Shining Spark) tied for the high score of the Intermediate Non-Pro rein work with scores of 144.5.

Dakota Anderson marked the high score of the Amateur herd work, and returned Saturday to do the same in the rein work with a 146.5 - taking a firm lead in the composite with a 288.5 riding Soula Boom Star (Soula Jule Star x Savannah Lee 2000 x Boomernic).

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First Round Coverage

Phillip Ralls

Dom Dualuise (Dual Rey x Smart Little XX x Smart Little Lena), owned by Chris Larson, is the gelding Ralls rode to win the Intermediate Open and tie for Reserve at the 2010 National Stock Horse Association Futurity. At the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity last year, the pair won the preliminary herd work round and tied for second in the final herd work, then finished 13^th in the overall finals

Second in the Open and leading the Open Novice Horse are Doug Williamson and Moon Me Pepto, who marked a 147. Moon Me Pepto (Peptoboonsmal x Lenas Sissy Moon x Doc O’Lena), is owned by Barbara Hastings. Moon Me Pepto was one of the highest sellers at the 2008 NRCHA Futurity Select 2-Year-Old sale. It’s been a busy year for Moon Me Pepto, as this stallion won the Novice Horse division and tied for fourth in the Open in the NRCHA Circy Y Derby in January, then tied for sixth in the Open at the NSHA Classic in February.

In the Intermediate Open division, Smoky Pritchett rode Brits Bella Luna (Steady Tradition x Street Corner Cash x Nu Cash) to tie with Brad Barkemeyer and Smartee (Smart Little Lena x Starlight Playgirl x Grays Starlight) for the top spot with a 145. Brits Bella Luna is owned by Terry and Brit Ratto. Smartee, owned by Lucava Farms Inc., also lead the Limited Open division with Barkemeyer.

Tucker Clark and Truckin Lil Miracle currently top the Level 1 Limited Open with a 140. Truckin Lil Miracle (NMSU Truckin Chex x Little Miraclena x Smart Retsina) is owned by Rogers Heaven Sent Ranch.

In the Non-Pro herd work, it was Carol Roberts and Oaks Dual Rey (TR Dual Rey x Docs Pearly Oak x Doc’s Oak) had the high score of both the Non-Pro and Intermediate Non-Pro with a 146. At the NSHA Futurity last year, Oaks Dual Rey and Roberts finished Reserve in the Intermediate Non-Pro, while Barney Skelton rode the horse to fifth in the Open.

With a score of 142, Dakota Anderson and Soula Boom Star (Soula Jule Star x Savannah Lee 2000 x Boomernic) topped the Amateur herd work.

Along with the Limited Age Event, the Hackamore Classic hosts a full slate of NRCHA approved classes, and the herd work of the Open and Non-Pro Bridle Spectacular was held Friday evening. With Jake Gorrell at the reins, Smooth N Cash (Smooth As A Cat x Dox Gavacash x Miss N Cash) topped the first leg of the Open Bridle Spectacular competition, marking a 147. Smooth N Cash is owned by Roloff Ranch.

In the Non-Pro Bridle Spectacular, it was Laurie Ward and Kiss Me A Little (Smart Little Pepinic x Kiss Me Mister x Mister Dual Pep) who topped the leader board, posting a 147.

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