Notable Non Pro: Sylvia Bate

from Reined Cow Horse News, Volume 26, No 3, May/June 2021

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NOTABLE NON PRO

Sylvia Bate prioritizes longevity in her reined cow horses while she enjoys competing in European events.

By Abigail Boatwright

Sylvia Bate pushes a cow out from a pen aboard her chestnut mare Justa Shiningsparkle (Sharp Dressed Shiner x Justa Little Slipper x Slip Down Lena), and begins to work the bovine in her arena near the barn and upstairs apartment that she shares with her partner, trainer Patrick Sattler. The setup is organized and efficient and could be mistaken for a small ranch in the United States. Their home in Sinsheim, Germany, however, has more ancient castles than the average American ranch. Whether they’re speaking German or English, this couple is serious about reined cow horse, and they’ve built a life around that passion.

Bate did not come from a horse family, but about 30 years ago when she was in her 20s, she discovered horses and began trail riding in the nearby countryside. Her friend rode jumpers, so she dove into the English style of riding. She particularly enjoyed crosscountry—a three-discipline event where horse-and-rider teams do dressage, cross-country courses and show jumping. Variety is the spice of life, and Bate thrives on it. After being mentored by Jake Gorrell of California, he began training reined cow horses.

“I am a pure cow horse rider now, and we also do the versatility because I think it’s really good for the horse’s mind,” Sattler said.

Sattler introduced Bate to cow horse. She was instantly intrigued and immediately switched to the event.

GERMANENGINEERING

In the early 2000s, Bate met Sattler at the barn where she was riding. Sattler used to be a professional motocross rider before he discovered reining horses. Sylvia Bate loves the versatility of reined cow horse. She’s riding Justa Little Slipper here.

COURTESY OF SYLVIA BATE

COURTESY OF SYLVIA BATE COURTESY OF SYLVIA BATE

Justa Little Slipper has been Sylvia Bate’s trusty cow horse companion for 10 years and counting. Bate has won two AQHA European World Championships in Amateur Working Cow Horse, among other awards with the horse.

“I love that I am always learning and my horse has to do three things,” Bate said. “We’re not just training the same thing every time—that’s boring. I like having a horse that has to be good at everything—reined work, herd work and, of course, going down the fence. It’s very powerful riding, and I fell in love with it right away.”

Sattler says his first impression of Bate—and the best way to describe her—is the same.

“She’s little, blonde and really tough,” Sattler said with a smile. “The first time I met her, she owned two stallions. She’d go to the English shows with these two stallions, alone. That was really tough. I was really impressed.”

Bate and Sattler have been a couple for 15 years. Both care for the breeding stock, while Sattler trains their horses and clients’ horses, and Bate manages and organizes the business. She’s a natural at management, as her day job is serving as chief secretary for the luxury-car brand Porsche.

Living in an apartment over the barn, Bate loves being so close to their horses.

“I can look out one window and see our pastures. I can look out of my living room and take a look into our indoor arena,” Bate said. “It’s great.”

SHIPPED FROM THE STATES

Bate found her first good reined cow horse in 2010 through Gorrell, an NRCHA professional from Hanford, California, and the 2017 NRCHA Open Snaffle Bit Futurity® champion.

“I wanted a horse I could learn on,” Bate said. “Patrick brought over three horses for me to see, and my mare, [2006] Justa Little Slipper, was one of them. He bought her, and flew her over [to Germany]. She was 4 years old then.”

Both Bate and Sattler showed Justa Little Slipper, also known as “Schluepfer.” Bate showed her to win two American Quarter Horse Association European Championship titles in Amateur Working Cow Horse.

Bate also loves competing in ranch horse versatility with her cow horses. The addition of events like ranch trail, ranch riding and conformation class goes well with the skills her horses already have, keeping them fresh with their ever-changing jobs. In 2016, she won the AQHA High Point International Working Cow Horse, AQHA High Point Working Cow Horse Germany and AQHA High Point International Versatility.

Finding cattle to work in south Germany is a challenge for the couple. There are more cattle in the northern part of the country, but in their area, they turn to Zebu cattle. Built like Brahman cattle, this Asian breed has distinctive horns and a much different personality than American beef cattle.

“They’re wilder and shyer compared to some of the other breeds,” Bate said. “It can be challenging working with them. But you can use them a lot. And you can put them out in the pasture and they’re fresh again.”

In 2015, Schluepfer produced a mare by German reining stallion Sharp Dressed Shiner named Justa Shiningsparkle, also known as “Spargel.” Schluepfer is currently expecting her second foal, this one by cutting sire Mas Quiero (Mister Dual Pep x What A Chickasha x Doctor What). Once Schluepfer has foaled and is back in shape, Bate plans to show the mare at the major equine event Americana later this year.

“I think it’ll be the last time I show her, because I want to have another baby out of her next year,” Bate said. “She’s 16 now, but she’s still perfect. I can take her out right now and ride her and she’s just as awesome.”

In 2019, 4-year-old Spargel and

Sattler were crowned the 2019 German Champion Chip (EWU) Junior Cow Horse Champion, and they also won the European Reined Cow Horse Association’s Pre-Derby Champion title in 2019.

INTERCONTINENTAL COW HORSE COMMUNITY

Most cow horse shows in Europe are held in Italy, said Bate, although she and Sattler also go to shows in the Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands and Poland. The couple doesn’t attend every show, but they’re strategic about giving their horses opportunities to compete.

Sattler and Bate make the trip to the United States to attend NRCHA events—their last was the World’s Greatest Horseman in 2020—and Bate has enjoyed making connections within the association.

“It feels like a family when I go to the States and visit the girls in the [NRCHA] office,” Bate said. “Going to the shows and seeing everyone is like a family you’re coming home to.”

Last year, Sattler had planned to show Spargel, but the COVID-19 pandemic shut down all of the cow horse shows in Europe. Bate has a half-brother to Spargel named Sharp Dressed Badger by the same sire, and she plans to start showing him after he’s done training on cattle.

Two years ago, Bate retired Hungarybred, 17-year-old gelding, Smart Old Fox (Smartin Off x Nita Freckle x Colonel Freckles), nicknamed “Foexle,” that carried her to an NRCHA European Region Champion Non Pro Bridle title in 2015. She’s enjoyed their career together, and now he has a well-deserved position in the pasture.

“From my two senior horses I learned a lot,” Bate said.

COURTESY OF SYLVIA BATE

Patrick Sattler introduced Bate to reined cow horse 15 years ago.

Longevity is extremely important to Bate and Sattler.

“We don’t do too much when they’re too young, we don’t start them too early,” Bate said.

Bate and Sattler aim to create good senior bridle horses—a category in which they currently don’t see a deep pool at European competitions. Their goal is to have horses that can compete in events like the World’s Greatest Horseman.

“We like to take care of our young horses,” Bate said. “Patrick has some horses for his customers, and the mare Shooters Little Sun [nicknamed “Pueppi”] is 17 now. She’s had fence scores of 76 and 77 with American judges—not just German ones. And you have to have a good horse to go down the fence and get those big scores. We’re so proud of this mare, because that’s what we’re working for. Young horses trained well, safely, so they become good old horses.”

Saturday, July 24th • Will Rogers Equestrian Center, Fort Worth, Texas I ncluding the

Annual Rocking P Ranch Production Sale

Selling Yearlings elling Yearlings Out of Select Proven Mares Including 

Boon San Spoon

Lte $171,207

½ Sister to the Earners of $764,457 & out of Boon San Kitty

Lte $565,504

Boon San Baby

Lte $244,725

Out of Stylish Baby Doll Lte $201,677

Consignments Include 

HOT MIMOSA 2020 sorrel stallion (Spots Hot x Ms Mimosa, by Freckles Playboy). Dam Earner of $177,404 - PE $291,574 HOT MONEY 2020 sorrel stallion (Spots Hot x Money Talks Smart, by Smart Mate). Dam Earner of $7,571 - PE $604,772 HOT N TUFF 2020 sorrel mare (Spots Hot x CR Tuff Tizzy, by Woody Be Tuff). Dam 1/2 sister to earners of $741,893 METALLIC BABY BOON 2020 sorrel stallion (Metallic Cat x Boon San Baby, by Boon San). Dam Earner of $244,725 - PE $27,784 METALLIC CINCIN 2020 sorrel stallion (Metallic Cat x Cinca De Maya, by Dual Rey). Dam Earner of $107,750 - PE $566,413 METALLIC DESIRES 2020 sorrel stallion (Metallic Cat x Desires Kalupa, by Dual Rey). Dam 1/2 sister to earners of $890,839 METALLIC JAY REY 2020 sorrel mare (Metallic Cat x Rey Jay Play, by Dual Rey). Dam Earner of $215,177 - PE $222,861 METALLIC LINDALITTLE 2020 red roan mare (Metallic Cat x TF Smartlittle Linda, by Smart Little Lena). Dam Earner of $139,036 - PE $306,693 METALLIC MAYO 2020 sorrel stallion (Metallic Cat x Cinca De Maya, by Dual Rey). Dam Earner of $107,750 - PE $566,413 METALLIC MIMOSA 2020 red roan mare (Metallic Cat x Ms Mimosa, by Freckles Playboy). Dam Earner of $177,404 - PE $291,574 METALLIC MONEY TALKS 2020 red roan stallion (Metallic Cat x Money Talks Smart, by Smart Mate). Dam Earner of $7,571 - PE $604,772 METALLIC MONEYS 2020 sorrel mare (Metallic Cat x Money Talks Smart, by Smart Mate). Dam Earner of $7,571 - PE $604,772 METALLIC MS 2020 red roan mare (Metallic Cat x Ms Mimosa, by Freckles Playboy). Dam Earner of $177,404 - PE $291,574 METALLIC N BOON 2020 red roan stallion (Metallic Cat x Boon San Baby, by Boon San). Dam Earner of $244,725 - PE $27,784 METALLIC N SPOON 2020 sorrel mare (Metallic Cat x Boon San Spoon, by Hes A Peptospoonful). Dam Earner of $171,207 - PE $26,042 & 1/2 sister to earners of $764,457 METALLIC N TUFF 2020 red roan stallion (Metallic Cat x CR Tuff Tizzy, by Woody Be Tuff). Dam 1/2 sister to earners of $741,893 METALLIC ONE SALLY 2020 red roan mare (Metallic Cat x One Sallycat, by One Time Pepto). Dam Earner of $48,260 - PE $129,591 METALLIC PEPTACULARS 2020 bay mare (Metallic Cat x Peptacular, by Peptoboonsmal). Dam Earner of $110,362 - PE $342,711 METALLIC PINKY 2020 sorrel mare (Metallic Cat x Pinkys Little Sue, by Peptoboonsmal). Dam Earner of $63,361 - PE $118,287 & 1/2 sister to earners of $1,573,092 METALLIC REYCIN 2020 sorrel stallion (Metallic Cat x Reycine, by High Brow CD). Dam Earner of $2,481 - PE $9,864 & 1/2 sister to earners of $569,173 METALLIC ROCKINS 2020 red roan stallion (Metallic Cat x Rockin Sallycat, by Rockin W). Dam Earner of $125,033 - PE $50,597

Cinca De Maya

Lte $107,750 Pe $566,413

Dam of Cinca Im Hot Lte $265,969

Rockin Sallycat

Lte $125,033 Pe $50,597

Rey Jay Play

Lte $215,177 Pe $222,861

METALLIC SALLY 2020 sorrel mare (Metallic Cat x Rockin Sallycat, by Rockin W). Dam Earner of $125,033 - PE $50,597 METALLIC SALLY TIME 2020 red roan mare (Metallic Cat x One Sallycat, by One Time Pepto). Dam Earner of $48,260 - PE $129,591 METALLIC SPOON SAN 2020 red roan stallion (Metallic Cat x Boon San Spoon, by Hes A Peptospoonful). Dam Earner of $171,207 - PE $26,042 & 1/2 sister to earners of $764,457 METALLIC TF 2020 red roan stallion (Metallic Cat x TF Smartlittle Linda, by Smart Little Lena). Dam Earner of $139,036 - PE $306,693 METALLIC TIZZY 2020 sorrel mare (Metallic Cat x CR Tuff Tizzy, by Woody Be Tuff). Dam 1/2 sister to earners of $741,893 METALLIC WIPPLASH 2020 red roan mare (Metallic Cat x Wipplash, by Dual Smart Rey). Dam 1/2 sister to earners of $321,797 METALLICACULAR 2020 red roan stallion (Metallic Cat x Peptacular, by Peptoboonsmal). Dam Earner of $110,362 - PE $342,711 PENDING 2020 red roan mare (Metallic Cat x Playguns Star, by Playgun). Dam Earner of $116,517 - PE $373,552 ROCKIN METALLIC CATS 2020 sorrel stallion (Metallic Cat x Rockin Sallycat, by Rockin W). Dam Earner of $125,033 - PE $50,597