Winnemucca, NV - April 4, 2003 - When the National Reined Cow Horse Association's showcase event for hackamore horses, the Hackamore Classic, returns for the second year to Winnemucca, Nevada's Humboldt County Events Center, it brings the promise of top hackamore cow horse competition, but there's an extra bonus.

Free to the public on May 3, the Hackamore Classic will host a special Hackamore Training Demonstration by two of the cow horse industry's most revered trainers – John Brazil, Jr. and Ronnie Richards.

According to Cheryl Magoteaux of the NRCHA Headquarters office, the seminar/demonstration will take place in the coliseum on Saturday, between the horse show classes and the beginning of the Classic Open Cow Work. She commented, "The idea of having this came from one of our members, Dudley Robertson. He thought the plenty of people would welcome the opportunity to learn from these guys. And it worked right into our longer-range concept of building this show in Winnemucca. We see this as the first step in creating an event that celebrates this traditional stage in vaquero training. Ultimately, we would like to see this expanded with a cowboy trade show and other activities centered around the traditions and history of reined cow horses."

The two selected as the trainers for this year's demonstration are each icons in the reined cow horse industry. Richards is an NRCHA Hall of Fame inductee with a record of excellence in every facet of reined cow horse competition. Brazil, at 81, is still competing and winning!

The Hackamore Classic features cow horses 5-years-old or under shown in a traditional hackamore in herd, rein and cow work. The National Reined Cow Horse Association, the world-wide governing body for cow horse competition, also produces the annual NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity in Reno. The Winnemucca event represents the next step in the traditional vaquero training program which dictates that horses begin their careers in a snaffle bit, then are ridden for a couple of years in a hackamore before finally becoming finished "bridle horses."

The Winnemucca Visitors & Convention Authority is the major supporter of the Hackamore Classic, and has committed a cash sponsorship of $10,000 added towards the total purse for the 2003 event. The newly remodeled Red Lion Hotel and Casino, located just a mile from the Humboldt County Events Center, is the host hotel for the 2003 Hackamore Classic and a special NRCHA rate is available at $59 for single/queen rooms or $69 for double or King rooms. For reservations, call 1-800-633-6435.

The National Reined Cow Horse Association, 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 Bailey Hat Company, Bayer Corporation, Bob's Custom Saddles, Cinch, Inc., Classic Equine, MD Barns, Platinum Performance, Inc., Nutrena, Inc., Skyline Silversmiths, Sundowner Trailers, Quarter Horse News, Western Horseman magazine, the Reno Hilton, horsecentral.com, Rios of Mercedes and the Silver Legacy, 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.