The First NRCHA World Champions - The Class of 2003

Open Hackamore World Champion
Dun It Big
Ridden By Jay Holmes
Owned by Triple J Ranch

Jay Holmes of Sarasota, Florida, has only been teamed up with Dun It Big (Hollywood Dun It X Genuine Redbud) since the beginning of his 4-year-old year. But in that short time Holmes and "Dun Bud" have filled a whole paragraph in the trainer's resume.

The team's accomplishments include 2002 AQHA World Show 5th place in Junior Working Cow Horse, 2002 FRCHA Open Hackamore Champion, 2002 NRCHA Reserve Open Hackamore Silver Champion, 2003 AQHA World Show 4th place Junior Working Cow Horse and Finalist in Junior Heading, 2003 FRCHA Open Hackamore Champion, and 2003 NRCHA Eastern Region Open Hackamore Reserve Champion.

But this is the gorgeous young Dun Stallion’s first World Championship. Holmes said, “This horse has long deserved a World Title. I’m glad he has one now.” Likely it will be the first of many to come, as the royally bred stallion has a great mind and lots of tools in his toolbox to ad merchandise to his trophy room. Holmes shows him in calf roping, heading and heeling as well. He competed in all these events at the AQHA World Show, in fact on the way to the NRCHA World Show Holmes made a little side trip to an AQHA show in Jackson, Mississippi where they placed at both ends team roping. Holmes said, “This horse is always a pleasure to be around. He is always willing and acts more like a pet than a breeding stallion

Holmes and Dun It Big showed to a 582 score at the NRCHA World Show, and earned $3,450, as well as that long awaited World Championship Saddle.

Open Hackamore Reserve World Co-Champion
Shine Smartly
Ridden by Don Murphy
Owned by Walter Greeman and Tammy Hayes

Braving a move from California to Marietta, Oklahoma in 2003, well known and highly respected NRCHA trainer Don Murphy by now is a veteran of the local weather. He said the move was their hardest challenge in 2003

Through the turmoil, the former 3-time AQHA World Show Champion, Multiple Snaffle Bit Futurity Finalist, and Cow Palace Champion kept up his winning ways. With limited forays away from the new location, in 2003 Murphy was a finalist at the NRCHA Stakes, won the Hackamore Championship at the Stakes Horse Show, and recorded numerous wins in his new region with multiple qualifications for the World Show. Murphy still made the annual pilgrimage to the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity in Reno, leaving town with a Top Ten finish in the Open Futurity, and a Reserve Championship in the Open Hackamore at the Futurity Horse Show.

His mount for the 2003 NRCHA World Show was Shine Smartly (Shining Spark X Smartly Dressed X Smart Little Lena), owned by Walter Greeman and Tammy Hays, of St Jo, Texas. Previous highlights for the 5-year-old mare include a finalist qualification at the NRCHA Stakes, a tie for the Reserve Championship at the Pre-Futurity in Fresno in 2002, and the South Central Open Hackamore Reserve Championship in 2003.

The pair scored a 581.5 in Stephenville, and earned $2,415.

Open Hackamore Reserve World Co-Champion
Cash For A Playgirl
Ridden by Lyn Anderson
Owned by Cindy Roberts

2003 proved to be a banner year for Cash For A Playgirl, owned by Cindy Roberts, of Petaluma, California. Early in the year the stylish daughter of Nu Cash, out of Playgirl Fancy Chick by Freckles Playboy turned in a convincing win at the Valley Cow Horse NRCHA Maturity Show. According to trainer Lyn Anderson, of Madera, California, "She was awesome!" Then Cash For A Playgirl and Anderson convincingly “cashed” in on the Intermediate Open Championship at the NRCHA Derby, and placed third in the Open there. In the hackamore at the NRCHA Futurity, the pair placed a respectable fourth, top loading their points in a bid to qualify for the World Show. A fourth place finish in the Southwest Region allowed them to come to Texas.

Of the performance at the World Show, Anderson said, “The mare really did her job and I can’t fault her anywhere. In Stephenville, they prevailed with a 581.5 to take a World Reserve Co-Championship and $2,415 back to California.

Limited Open Hackamore World Champion
Eat Some Smoke
Ridden by Gary Stark
Owned by Gary and Diane Stark

Gary Stark, of Nampa, Idaho rode Eat Some Smoke (Smokum Oak X Fresno Poco Masita X Poco Husky) to the very first NRCHA World Championship ever awarded. The show schedule allowed completion of the Limited Open Hackamore to happen first, and Stark was the man on the spot. The first championship awarded was an exciting race to the finish, ending in a tied performance! Both Stark and Ruben Mageno, of Alpine, California, scored an identical 562.5. The tiebreaker, in traditional NRCHA fashion, was the cow work score, and Stark was the winner of the $1,200 first place check.

Stark said, “I joked all week telling everybody that’s my trophy saddle. It was a big shock when we won the tie, and it was very special to win the first ever NRCHA World Show”. It was also Stark’s first Morrison trophy. The former State High School Calf Roping Champion has owned Eat Some Smoke, better known as ‘Eatsa’ for two years now. He said, “At the World Show she was just like a trouper. She did her job. It was cold enough for us to feel at home, and it leveled the playing field,” and added “the cattle were really challenging, but I had the horse I needed for the cows I got.”

Limited Open Hackamore Reserve World Champion
Spatztacular Fool
Ridden by Ruben Mageno
Owned by Ruben Mageno

Edged out by a neck, Ruben Mageno, of Alpine, California and Spatztacular Fool had to settle for the Reserve World Championship in the Limited Open Hackamore at the World Show. But when added to their win at the Snaffle Bit Futurity Limited Open Hackamore class in 2003, it seems the 6-year-old bay mare by Spatztacular, out of Doc Full Vader, had a fine year.

Things were looking good in Texas, as the pair won first go, but then they drew a tough cow in the second go. Although the scores were tied at 562.5, the cow work decider split the difference between World Champion and Reserve. Said Mageno, “The mare was awfully good, it was just that kind of a cow.” In praise of the mare that he raised, Mageno said, “There is nothing bad about her. She is real low maintenance, and so easy to be around. I use her as a turn back horse, and gather cattle on her; she’s just fun to ride.” He added, “She has lots of personality and a very sweet nature.” Mageno has his own training facility in Alpine, California.

Mageno is already making plans to go back next year. He concluded, “ It was fun to see horses I have never competed against from across the nation. We got together for the first time in a true gathering of the cow horse community. It was sure good for NRCHA business.”

Non Pro Hackamore World Champion
Ima Little Dual Pep
Ridden by Jennifer Jarosz
Owned by Jennifer Jarosz

Early in 2003, Jennifer Jarosz, of Buda, Texas, made a promise to her 5-year-old mare, Ima Little Dual Pep, aka ‘Bell’ (Mister Dual Pep X Miss Chickasha Sam X Little Peppy Sam). According to Jarosz, “We were at the Southern States Derby in Georgia and it was really hot. All the events were in the same day. I told Bell that if she won, I would give her a month’s vacation!” Bell must have understood Jarosz’ promise, as the mare went out and won the Non Pro Derby, and the $1,000 added Non Pro Hackamore. Jarosz was elated, “It was my first NRCHA bronze!” She concluded, “Needless to say, at the end of her vacation it took me an hour to catch her.” Bell surely appreciated her owner’s arrangement, and they excelled throughout 2003 including wins at the Lone Star Futurity Show at Stephenville, and the SSTCS Reined Cow Horse Show in Perry, Georgia.

Jarosz purchased Bell from breeders Larry and Ellen Bell, of Midland, Texas. (Hence her name). She thanked the Bell family for the opportunity to own such a special horse.

The pair ended the year in fine shape, as the first NRCHA Non Pro Hackamore World Champions. They posted a 567.5 score and won $1,300.

Non Pro Hackamore Reserve World Co-Champion
Max McLain
Ridden by Anne Reynolds
Owned by Anne Reynolds

In a dead heat for the Non Pro Hackamore Co-Reserve World Championship, Annie Reynolds secured the title for Max McLain. Her 1998 sorrel gelding (by Sensitivio, out of Nancy McLain) achieved the Reserve Championship in a tie with Jennifer Klein, of Fresno, California on her horse Just A Plain Spring.

Max McLain was the 2003 Northwest Non Pro Hackamore Reserve Champion (He shared the same number of points as the Champion, at 20 each, so the decider came down to a mere $29.75 difference in earnings). He also was the 2002 NRCHA Derby Non Pro Champion. He shares the same mother, Nancy McLain, (Ima Cougar X Music and Rhythm X Tripolay Bar) with Reynolds’ champion stallion Cash Us McLain. This mare has produced multiple champions for Reynolds, including 9 performing foals with earnings over $125,000.

Reynolds is the top money earning Non Pro rider in the NRCHA and continually fields champions from her Idaho Ranch, long recognized as a leading breeder of reined cow horses.

Reynolds’ 558 score and $812 brought Max McLain’s earnings to over $22,000.

Non Pro Hackamore Reserve World Co-Champion
Just A Plain Spring
Ridden Jennifer Klein
Owned by Jennifer Klein

Jennifer Klein bought Just A Plain Spring from the Ward Ranch, just a week after a bad spill on another horse. It was the best move she ever made. Klein grew up riding hunters, but she has been riding cow horses for 4 years now. Said Klein, “I drive an hour each way to come to the Ward Ranch every day. I love this place, and all the people here. Every day is like walking in history.” She added, “I feel so lucky, and so proud to be a part of the heritage. Thanks to John Ward, Ronnie Richards, and Glen Aspinal for the opportunity to learn so much.”

Her horse is a walking part of the heritage. Just A Plain Spring is by Just Plain Colonel, out of Spring Remedy, by Doc’s Remedy. Spring Remedy’s foals have earned over $100,000, she is a full sister in the blood to another Ward Ranch luminary - Sugar Remedy, and a granddaughter of the legend - Fillinic. Greg Ward made the Futurity Finals on Spring Remedy in 1981. Just A Plain Spring has lived up to her heritage, by being a representative of that great breeding program at the very first NRCHA World Show. According to John Ward, “Jennifer Klein is a spectacular rider. She works really hard and rides religiously every day. She has been coming here for 3 years now.”

The pair scored a 558 and a check for $812. Klein said, “I have worked so hard to get where I am. I’m so glad all the work paid off.”