Tuff Enough

UFF T ENOUGH

By Kate Bradley Byars Photography by Primo Morales

Brad Barkemeyer and CR Tuff Taffy stayed consistent through four events to capture a title that finally showed the industry what “Tuff” could do in the show pen.

Brad Barkemeyer piloted CR Tuff Taffy (Woody Be Tuff x Peptocandy x Peptoboonsmal), also known as “Tuff,” to a commanding 881 composite to earn the second-annual Open Bridle Super Spectacular championship at the 2022 DT Horses Western Derby and pocketed $1,120. On Friday night, June 10, it came down to the muley-style steer stopping to determine the champion of the event, sponsored by Holy Cow Performance Horses. The 22 entries did not disappoint the ticketed crowd in the stands at WestWorld in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Inside his hometown show pen, Barkemeyer piloted the 2015 gelding, owned by Vaquero Ventures, to the second-highest score in the steer stopping with a 225, following strong performances in the cow work with a 222.5 and the rein work with a 220. However, Barkemeyer wasn’t thrilled with his herd score of 213.5.

“I have a lot of confidence riding [CR Tuff Taffy]. If I do my job, there is a really good chance he will do his, and between the two of us, we can keep those cattle in check,” he said. “I was very disappointed after the herd work because he is an exceptional cutting horse, but in the last five seconds [of our run] the cow went real fast and we pushed to a stop where he got stuck in the ground and I had to rein him across. That cost us a point and I was disappointed with the score after he tried so hard.

“You look at these four events like you must mark a 220 in each one to win it, because cow horse is that competitive now,” he continued. “But you must stay the course. When you go through multiple event shows, you have to stay consistent and stay the course. That is the kind of horse I have, too.”

Tuff joined Barkemeyer’s program during the horse’s 4-year-old year after starting his career with Ben Baldus. The gelding impressed Barkemeyer in 2021, during the horse’s two-rein year, enough to earn an entry into the 2022 Hashtags’ and Western Bloodstock World’s Greatest Horseman event. There, Barkemeyer, the gelding and the owners all earned their first Finals berth in the four-event competition. Barkemeyer knew Tuff was special.

“He is pretty laid back, but he has some spice to him,” Barkemeyer said of Tuff. “He is so fun to rope on because he is so physical. When he feels the tug on the saddle horn, you can almost feel him shrink and his whole body squats, so he puts that extra effort into it. That is what separates this kind of horse because there are a lot of really good horses out there, but when they want to try for you and put in extra effort, that separates the cream of the crop.”

The pair’s consistent showing in the Open Bridle events, including Reserve in the Open Bridle horse show class that earned one of the eight open spots in The

Brad Barkemeyer and CR Tuff Taffy bested the 22-horse field to top the four-event Open Bridle Super Spectacular.

Run For A Million Cow Horse Challenge in August, is the recognition that was always coming for the athletic gelding, said Barkemeyer.

“The owner, my team and everyone that knows that horse has believed in him and the potential the horse and I have together, so to be included in that qualification isn’t a surprise, but it feels really good. It all came together,” he said. “That is where putting the work in and showing to the best of your ability comes into it.”

Reserve Champion was Corey Cushing aboard Heather Vatcher’s 2012 gelding Sippin Boons Farm (Smart Boons x Peppy Nicolena x Nic It In The Bud) with a composite 858.5 (H:215.5/R:216/ C:209.5/S:215) to earn $880.

NON PRO CHAMPION

In truth, Debbie Crafton planned to sell Logicality (Magicality x Boonlight Angel x Boonlight Dancer) when she purchased the 2016 gelding from breeder Anne Reynolds. However, he’s just too much fun to ride and show, she said. The pair kicked up the fun with a solid four-event show to earn the Non Pro Bridle Super Spectacular Champion title.

Debbie Crafton piloted Logicality to a composite 864.5 (H:214/R:214/C:218.5/S:218), earning the Non Pro Bridle Super Spectacular Champion title.

With a composite 864.5 (H:214/R:214/ C:218.5/S:218), Crafton took home the buckle and $300. She also redeemed herself from 2021.

“I did enter it last year and I roped that muley like it had horns, so the roping didn’t go well after two tosses to miss before I finally caught,” she said. “This year, it worked out much better and I had a nice little heifer. I just love this horse— he is so cool!”

With the high score of the 11-horse entry field in the cow work, Crafton’s solid performances in the herd and rein work had her in the hunt for the win. A past team roping competitor, she knew that it came down to how she roped. However, the gelding was still green.

“I only roped on him a handful of times then decided to do the Super Spectacular on him even though he is a two-rein horse, only 6,” she said. “I came out “I only roped on him a handful of times then decided to do the Super Spectacular on him even though he is a tworein horse, only 6...Being green in the roping, I wasn’t quite sure if this was going to go well, but it did!”

—Debbie Crafton

of the box on him once at home before showing him at McCook for one of our [Colorado Reined Cowhorse Association] shows and it has the same set up as here, and he handled it good. Being green in the roping, I wasn’t quite sure if this was going to go well, but it did!”

For Crafton, a past National Reined Cow Horse Association Non Pro Snaffle Bit Futurity® Champion and multiple limited age event winner, showing in the bridle is still out of her comfort zone. Yet her personal goals push her to stretch her skills in the show pen.

“This entire thing for me is about personal goals. What makes it so great is to achieve a personal goal of being consistent. We were a good team and that felt good,” she said. “Maybe in a couple of years be looking at the World’s Greatest Horseman on him. I love him and he is such a good-minded horse. He is willing to do whatever I want to do.”

Chantz Stewart rode Cowsmackin (Smooth As A Cat x Esthers Rita x Dual Pep) to the Reserve Champion title with an 852.5 (H:208/R:209.5/C:214/S:221) to earn $250 and the runner-up prizes.

OPEN SUPER SPECTACULAR RESERVE CHAMPION

Corey Cushing piloted Heather Vatcher’s 2012 gelding Sippin Boons Farm (Smart Boons x Peppy Nicolena x Nic It In The Bud) to a composite 858.5 (H:215.5/R:216/C:209.5/S:215), earning $880.

NON PRO SUPER SPECTACULAR RESERVE CHAMPION

Chantz Stewart rode Cowsmackin (Smooth As A Cat x Esthers Rita x Dual Pep) to the Reserve Champion Non Pro Super Spectacular title with an 852.5 (H:208/R:209.5/ C:214/S:221) to earn $250