Tucker Robinson Tops NRCHA Hackamore Classic Herd Work

The National Reined Cow Horse Association’s annual Hackamore Classic is a unique event, focusing on horses shown in the traditional hackamore. Representing the second stage of training for the California Vaquero, the hackamore schooling brings a cow horse closer to the ultimate goal of becoming a finished bridle horse.

So, by definition, the NRCHA Hackamore Classic, running April 27-29, is a show that celebrates tradition and heritage and in the first day of competition of this year’s show, tradition and roots spoke loudly.

The winner of both the Open and Intermediate Open Herd Work competition at the Paso Robles Events Center was Tucker Robinson on Days Zanolena (Smart Zanolena X Chex Out This Day) with a score of 146. Like most young trainers, Tucker has been working his way through the ranks, steadily becoming a more frequent contender in cow horse events. And when he rides in on Days Zanolena, he and his horse represent a lot of NRCHA history.

Tucker is the son of Ted Robinson, the NRCHA’s most celebrated rider, who has won seven Snaffle Bit Futurities, two World’s Greatest Titles and was the first NRCHA Million Dollar Rider. Days Zanolena also has a sterling pedigree – he’s by Smart Zanolena, an NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion. He’s owned by one of the NRCHA’s most successful members, Matt Day of Bend, Oregon. Matt and his wife, Lesley, have owned Futurity champions and Matt is himself a former Snaffle Bit Futurity Non Pro champion.

Finishing tied for second with a 145 in the Open Herd Work were Cayley Wilson on Chicks Sassy Nic (Reminic X Peppys Classy Sassy) owned by James Creek Ranch and Ken Wold on Misters Brown Sugar (Mister Dual Pep X Plain Cute Sugar) owned by Douglas and Cynthia Grenade.

In the Intermediate Open Herd Work, the runner-up position was taken by Wade Reaney on John Prudden’s Nic N Chics (Nic It In The Bud X Desire A Chic), with a score of 143.

Ed Robertson topped the Limited Open Herd Work with a 138 on Luckiest Prize (Smokums Prize X Gunna Be Lucky) owned by Sheila Borjon. Second went to Terril Heaton on Peeparoo (Gallo Del Cielo X Peepin Lil) owned by Rancho Vegas Performance Horses.

In the Non Pro and Intermediate Hackamore Classic Herd Work, Marc Bourdet bested the field on Just Playing Around (Playdox X Quit Clownin Around) with a 144. There was a tie for second between Laurie Ward on Kiss Me A Little (Smart Little Pepinic X Kiss Me Mister) and JoAnne Carollo on the 2007 NRCHA Stakes Non Pro Champion, Repeat Plan (A Master Plan X Lenas Solana). Both scored 143.

Laurie Case Black’s 140 score on The Chic Doctor (Chic Please X Docsinic) was good for reserve in the Intermediate Non Pro and Cynthia Bias rode Fairlea Smart Twist (Smart Steady Date X My Happy Peppy) to a score of 133 to top the Amateur division. Robin Flournoy was next with a 131 on Annies Mister Rose (Mister Dual Pep X Fairleas Annie Rose).

Bridle Spectacular Herd Work was also held and Smokey Prichett rode the 2007 Hackamore Classic Champion Jasons Peptolena (Peptoboonsmal X Amys Little Date) to the high score of 147 for owner Terry Ratto.

In the Non Pro Bridle Spectacular, Dema Paul was the winner after she showed Primos Bob Acre (Teninas First X Bob Acre Angelena) to a score of 146.