To A “T”

TO

A “T”

By Kristin Pitzer Photos by Primo Morales

After carrying Jay McLaughlin to the Hackamore Classic Open Championship, Tee Boone was crowned with his first major NRCHA event title.

Showcasing the traditional vaquero style of training for reined cow horses, the National Reined Cow Horse Association Hackamore Classic, presented by Oswood Stallion Station, is always a fan favorite. This year’s event drew 120 entries in the Open alone, which ended October 12. When it was all said and done, Tee Boone (Once In A Blu Boon x Skeets My Bro x Docs Curious Cat) and Jay McLaughlin had risen to the top of the leaderboard with a composite 665.5, winning $24,500.

McLaughlin, of Amarillo, Texas, and the stallion, who is owned by J.T. III (Trey) and Sandra Neal and was bred by Charlotte Farms Inc., started off the week by marking a 219.5 in the herd work. The respectable score tied them for seventh before they faced the rein and cow works later in the week.

“He got cut really good [in the herd work],” McLaughlin said. “He’s always been very cool-looking out of the herd. The cattle were perfect for him the other night, very even this year, and everything just kind of lined up.”

Going into the combined rein-cow work a couple of days later, McLaughlin and Tee Boone drew up fifth. McLaughlin knew he was going to have to give the judges something to remember them by as they watched 115 more horses and riders, spread over two days, ride after them.

“I was either going to go out big or go big,” McLaughlin said. “With the rein and fence work being together, it takes a pretty special horse in itself. They have to dang sure be legged up because you’re doing two gos pretty hard. He was very in tune. Every step, he was with me the whole run.”

Tee Boone and McLaughlin tied for ninth in the reining with their 221 score, and their big 225 in the fence work was the second-highest score marked, elevating their composite total to a one-point lead that held through the remainder of the class. McLaughlin was pleased to win Tee Boone’s first major NRCHA title after hauling and showing him in the hackamore for the last year-and-a-half.

“He’s pretty simple to train,” McLaughlin said. “He does pretty much everything you ask, and there’s never an argument. He’s a good hackamore horse.” The 5-year-old stallion is currently leading the NRCHA Open Hackamore National standings with 199 points and $5,484.39. McLaughlin said he is on track to become a bridle horse in the future. In the meantime, the stallion has been doing double-duty in the show pen and breeding barn, standing at stud at Timber Creek Veterinary Hospital. The Neals are expecting his first foal crop in 2023, and McLaughlin was excited to garner them a win before those foals are born.

“This is their first major event win,” McLaughlin said. “I’ve ridden their horses since 2010 or 2011, and they’ve always had some Open horses with me, but never really gotten to win. They’ve been bridesmaids several times, and they’ve been in the top five several times, but nothing big, so this was neat.”

Seven S Party Favor (Stevie Rey Von x Seven S Party Girl x Matt Dillon Dun It), who was bred by Terry Stuart Forst, and Lee Deacon took Reserve with their 664.5 composite (H:217/R:221/C:226.5). The duo won $17,871.84 for owner Lynne Faust Performance Horses.

2022 NRCHA HACKAMORE CLASSIC OPEN TOP 10

Fort Worth, Texas – October 6-22, 2022 Horse/Rider/Pedigree/Owner/Score/Money 1. Tee Boone; Jay McLaughlin; 17S (Once In A Blu Boon x Skeets My Bro x Docs Curious Cat); J.T. III (Trey) & Sandra Neal; 665.5 (H:219.5/R:221/C:225); $24,500.00. 2. Seven S Party Favor; Lee Deacon; 18G (Stevie Rey Von x Seven S Party Girl x Matt Dillon Dun It); Lynne Faust Performance Horses; 664.5 (H:217/ R:221/C:226.5); $17,871.84. 3. Juliette Jonez; Sarah Dawson; 18M (Travelin Jonez x Shine Smarter x WR This Cats Smart); Linda Mars; 663.5 (H:221/R:221.5/C:221); $14,680.44. 4. Snapdragons; Zane Davis; 17S (Gunnatrashya x Catnaps x High Brow Cat); Shane Law; 663 (H:217.5/ R:223/C:222.5); $12,765.60. 5. Ricato Suave; Clay Volmer; 17S (Metallic Cat x Hip Sue Rey x Dual Rey); Shaleah Hester & Madeline Fountain; 662.5 (H:221.5/R:220/C:221); $9,574.20. 6 (TIE). Bad To Tha Boon; Erin Taormino; 17G (Peptoboonsmal x Bet On Merada x Bet On Me 498); Kathleen Pinkley; 661.5 (H:215/R:222.5/C:224); $7,021.08. 6 (TIE). Autumns Smokin Cat; Sarah Dawson;18M (WR This Cats Smart x Autumn Amanda x Autumn Acre); Holy Cow Performance Horses TX LLC; 661.5 (H:221/R:219/C:221.5); $7,021.08. 8. Cats Nu Shine; Nick Dowers;18M (WR This Cats Smart x Shiney Nu Annie x Shining Spark); Clinton Marshall; 660.5 (H:218.5/R:222.5/C:219.5); $5,106.24. 9. Son Of A Mitch; Phillip Ralls;17G (Call Me Mitch x Jackies Sparkle x Nic It In The Bud); The Trust/ Billie Jo Ralls DTD; 659.5 (H:218/R:220.5/C:221); $3,829.68. 10. Lil Starlight Cat; Lance Johnston;17S (High Brow Cat x Lil Foxie Starlight x Grays Starlight); Kenneth & Karen Haugland; 659 (H:213.5/R:221.5/C:224); $3,829.68. With a 665.5 composite, Tee Boone earned his owners J.T. III (Trey) and Sandra Neal their first premier event championship at the 2022 NRCHA Hackamore Classic, carrying Jay McLaughlin to the Open win.

OPEN RESERVE CHAMPION, INTERMEDIATE OPEN CHAMPION INTERMEDIATE OPEN RESERVE CHAMPION

The 2018 gelding Seven S Party Favor (Stevie Rey Von x Seven S Party Girl x Matt Dillon Dun It), who was bred by Terry Stuart Forst, and Lee Deacon rode to a 664.5 composite (H:217/R:221/C:226.5), taking home the Open Reserve Championship and Intermediate Open Championship. The pair collected a total of $25,478.01 for owner Lynne Faust Performance Horses.

LIMITED OPEN CHAMPION

The 2022 NRCHA Western Derby Champion, CR Hes A Tuff One (Woody Be Tuff x Cat Digs Lucinda x High Brow Cat) and Brendon Clark, were in the money again at the NRCHA Hackamore Classic, scoring a composite 651.5 (H:214.5/R:222.5/C:214.5) for the Limited Open win. Clark and the 2018 Center Ranch-bred stallion, who is owned by Jill Olerich, garnered $2,446.74.

LEVEL 1 OPEN CHAMPION

Tamarack Ranch LLCbred TR Guns And Roses (One Time Pepto x Miss Silver Gun x Colonels Smoking Gun) and Garrett Cooper were the Level 1 Open Champions after compiling a score of 647.5 (H:217.5/R:216/C:214). The 2017 mare collected $3,730.14 for owner Karla Steckel. Craig Cowley and his homebred 2017 stallion, Home Creek Twilight Cat (Metallic Cat x Homecreek Dusk x Brooksipep), who is registered through the Australian Quarter Horse Association, claimed the Level 1 Open Reserve Championship with their composite 643 (H:212.5/R:211.5/C:219). They banked $2,919.24.

Brandon Buttars navigated This Cats The Mark (WR This Cats Smart x Shiney Miss Marker x Shining Spark) to a score of 658 (H:216.5/R220/C:221.5) for the Intermediate Open Reserve title. The 2018 gelding, bred by Wagonhound Land & Livestock LLC, is owned by Lori Adamski-Peek, who banked $5,850.90.

With a 651 (H:219.5/ R:215.5/C:216), PSR Poison Cat (Metallic Cat x Supercats CD x CD Olena) and John Love collected the Limited Open Reserve title for owner Sandhills Remuda LLC, who received a check worth $1,914.84. The 2018 stallion was bred by Hartman Quarter Horses Inc.

LIMITED OPEN RESERVE CHAMPION

LEVEL 1 OPEN RESERVE CHAMPION

OPEN NOVICE HORSE CHAMPION

With a 654 composite (H:219/R:212.5/C:222.5), SJR Diamonds Justify (CD Diamond x Highly Unlimited x High Brow Cat) and Matt Koch finished tied for 17th in the Open and won the Open Novice Horse Championship. The 2018 gelding is bred and owned by San Juan Ranch, who received a check worth $2,356.20 for the title. Roadreyge (Dual Smart Rey x Princess Clarence x Peptoboonsmal) carried Luke Jones to a total score of 650.5 (H:215.5/ R:215.5/C:219.5), nabbing the Open Novice Horse Reserve Championship and a paycheck worth $1,851.30. The 2017 stallion was bred by Lannie Louise Mecom and is owned by Thomas and Melissa Sims.

OPEN NOVICE HORSE RESERVE CHAMPION

ThankYou!

AtthestartofeachYearlingandBroodmareSaleSessionsatthe2022NRCHA WesternBloodstockSales,breedingstoselectstallionswereauctionedoffto benefittheNationalReinedCowHorseYouthAssociation.

BADBOONARISING•BETHESABOON•CRGOTCHACOVERED•DONTSTOPPBELIEVIN•DUALRSMOKIN•DUALREYISH DUALSMARTREY•HASHTAGS•HICKORYHOLLYTIME•MAGICALITY•METALLICREBEL•METELESCAT•ONEFINEVINTAGE ONETIMEPEPTO•ONETIMEROYALTY•REYZINTHECASH•ROLLZROYCE•SMOOTHTALKINSTYLE

Thankyoutoallthestallionowners,bidders&

WesternBloodstockforsupportingtheNRCHYA!