AWIN TO LOVE

The day after Valentine’s Day, Metallic Casanova charmed Fort Worth, Texas, carrying Clay Volmer to the Tres Osos Cow Horse Derby Open Championship.

BY KRISTIN PITZER | PHOTOS BY PRIMO MORALES

2023 Open Top 10

Fort Worth, Texas – February 10-20, 2023 (Horse/Rider/Pedigree/Owner/Score/Money)

1. Metallic Casanova; Clay Volmer; 18S (Metallic Cat x Dark And Sultry x Spots Hot); Pitzer Ranch/ Dack Cattle LLC; 663 (H:219.5/R:220/C:223.5); $35,000.

2. Stylin Metal; Justin Wright; 18S (Metallic Cat x Stylin Playgirl x Docs Stylish Oak); Jim & Linda Schrack; 662.5 (H:221/R:221.5/C:220); $26,000.

From the moment Clay Volmer got Metallic Casanova into his program, he knew the roan stallion was special. Even as a 2-year-old, the horse displayed a lot of try and athleticism, leading Volmer to believe he could be one of his biggest contenders in the future.

The pair went on to make the Finals at the 2021 National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity®, where they finished sixth, along with other aged event Finals. However, a first place finish eluded them throughout 2022. Finally, during the 2023 Tres Osos Cow Horse Derby Open fence work at the NRCHA Kalpowar Quarter Horses Celebration of Champions, the duo secured their first big win when they scored a composite 663 and won the Open title, along with $35,000.

“I’ve always loved this horse,” Volmer said. “I feel like he’s always been the bridesmaid a little bit, and this is the first time he got to be the bride, so that was pretty exciting.”

Volmer and Metallic Casanova (Metallic Cat x Dark And Sultry x Spots Hot) kicked off the competition by marking a 219.5 in the herd work, despite a late draw. That score put them in a good position going into the rein work, where they marked a 220. The duo’s fence work, where they scored a 223.5, elevated them to the top of the leaderboard.

3. Itchin Ta Shine; Sarah Dawson; 19S (Call Me Mitch x Sheza Shinette x Shining Spark); Holy Cow Performance Horses TX LLC; 662 (H:217/ R:217.5/C:227.5); $21,500.

4. Dollar Signs; Brandon Buttars; 19M (Hickory Holly Time x Wright About Now x Lenas Wright On); Sophia Flinders Buttars; 661 (H:221/ R:221/C:219); $18,500.

5 (TIE). Cash Reyzen Boon; Corey Cushing; 18G (Reyzin The Cash x Bela Sera x One Time Pepto); Teton Ridge; 658.5 (H:217/R:218/C:223.5); $12,500.

5 (TIE). Von Cali; Clayton Edsall;18G (Stevie Rey Von x Hotel Cali x Smart Aristocrat); K & L Phillips LLC; 658.5 (H:221/R:219/C:218.5); $12,500.

7. LookAtLittleSister; Erin Taormino; 18M (Stevie Rey Von x Smart Playing Chic x Smart Chic Olena); Tres Osos Performance Horses; 656.5 (H:214.5/ R:221/C:221); $10,000.

8 (TIE). Reysin Sum Hash; Corey Cushing; 19G (Hashtags x Reynanza x Dual Rey); Eric & Wendy Dunn; 656 (H:216/R:219/C:221); $6,333.33.

8 (TIE). Gimmee Three Steps; Shawn Hays; 18G (Metallic Cat x Ara Mae Rey x Dual Rey); Walter or Jocelyn Greeman; 656 (H:219/R:217/C:220); $6,333.33.

8 (TIE). WR Iceman; Corey Cushing; 18S (WR This Cats Smart x Lean Irish Playgirl x Paddys Irish Whiskey); Eric & Wendy Dunn; 656 (H:219/ R:217/C:220); $6,333.33.

“He loves the fence work. He just craves it so much,” Volmer said. “He’s probably one of the most intense fence horses I’ve ever ridden, and I’ve ridden a lot of good ones. He lives for it.”

The stunning 5-year-old red roan stallion, bred by Kelly Mahler, is owned by Pitzer Ranch/ Dack Cattle LLC. He first caught the eye of Jim Brinkman, manager of the Pitzer Ranch in Ericson, Nebraska, and a member of the American Quarter Horse Association executive committee, at the 2020 National Cutting Horse Association Futurity Sales.

“We really liked this horse because he is a very good representative of the American Quarter Horse breed standard as it was written in the book,” Brinkman said of Metallic Casanova, who was registered under a different name at the time. “I was wanting to buy him [at the sale] but didn’t really feel like I had the money, and there’s so much risk from that 2-year-old year to where we’re at here.”

Brinkman continued to follow the stallion as he grew up, hoping to buy him one day. Then in 2022, Volmer told him the owners were ready to sell. Brinkman drove down immediately and bought the horse.

Both Brinkman and Volmer are looking forward to continuing the stallion’s show career this year, then Brinkman will possibly start breeding him in 2024. One of the many qualities he expects to see him pass on to his get is his quality movement.

“The best thing that horse does is he just moves efficiently,” Brinkman said. “He makes it look very easy. When he does stuff, it doesn’t look like he stresses; he just moves really fluid, and that goes a long way.”

Justin Wright rode to the Reserve Champion title aboard Clint and Debby Matthews-bred Stylin Metal (Metallic Cat x Stylin Playgirl x Docs Stylish Oak), a 2018 stallion, with a 662.5 (H:221/R:221.5/C:220). The pair collected $26,000 for owners Jim and Linda Schrack.

IS HE JUST MOVES EFFICIENTLY. HE MAKES IT LOOK VERY EASY. WHEN HE DOES

IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE HE STRESSES; HE JUST MOVES REALLY FLUID, AND THAT GOES A LONG WAY.”

Open Reserve Champion

Clint and Debby Matthews-bred Stylin Metal (Metallic Cat x Stylin Playgirl x Docs Stylish Oak), a 2018 stallion, carried Justin Wright to a 662.5 (H:221/R:221.5/C:220) for the Open Reserve title. The pair collected $26,000 for owners Jim and Linda Schrack.

Intermediate Open Champion

With a composite 656 (H:219/R:217/C:220), Gimmee Three Steps (Metallic Cat x Ara Mae Rey x Dual Rey) and Shawn Hays clinched the Intermediate Open Championship. The 2018 gelding, bred by Crown Ranch LP, collected $11,000 for owners Walter or Jocelyn Greeman.

Intermediate Open Reserve Champion

The 2018 gelding Sweet Lil Rebel (Cats Merada x Sweet Lil Shilo x Sweet Lil Pepto) and Dale Clearwater secured the Intermediate Open Reserve Championship with a 655.5 (H:219.5/R:216/C:220), banking $8,000 for owner/breeder Karen Radda.

LIMITED OPEN CHAMPION

With a composite 648 (H:213.5/R:214/C:220.5), Bet Shesa Lena (Bet Hesa Cat x Shiners Miss Lena x Shining Spark) and Richard Winters took home the Limited Open title and $3,500. Linda Mars bred and owns the 2018 mare.

Limited Open Reserve Champion

DropThatKittyDownLow (Metallic Cat x Shiney Sparklette x Shining Spark), a 2018 mare bred by Linda Mars, and Clinton Anderson picked up the Limited Open Reserve title with a composite 647.5 (H:214.5/R:220/C:213), garnering $3,000 for owners Thomas or Melissa Sims.

Level 1 Open Champion

The Level 1 Open Championship went to Dirty Look (Woody Be Tuff x Sucha Smartlookn Cat x High Brow Cat) and Garrett Cooper with a composite 642 (H:213.5/R:214.5/C:214). For the win, Cooper and the 2019 Center Ranch-bred stallion collected $4,500 for owner Ty Smith.

Level 1 Open Reserve Champion

Homebred 2018 stallion Hat Six Okie Jonez (Travelin Jonez x Hat Six Okie Chick x Short Oak) and Ricky Nolan picked up $3,600 for owners Walter or Jocelyn Greeman after scoring a composite 639.5 (H:213.5/R:212.5/C:213.5) for the Level 1 Open Reserve title.

Open Novice Horse Champion

Michelle Cannon’s homebred 2018 mare Gold Plated Cat (Metallic Cat x Lil Shiny Long Legs x Shining Spark) brought home $5,500 after carrying Cayley Wilson to the Open Novice Horse Championship with a composite score of 662.5 (H:221/ R:217.5/C:224).

Open Novice Horse Reserve Champion

LookAtLittleSister (Stevie Rey Von x Smart Playing Chic x Smart Chic Olena) and Erin Taormino finished second in the Open Novice Horse with their composite 656.5 (H:214.5/R:221/C:221). The 2018 mare, bred by Liz Armenta, brought home a check worth $4,000 for her owner, Tres Osos Performance Horses.

Open Chrome Cash Champion

With a 661 (H:221/R:221/C:219), Dollar Signs (Hickory Holly Time x Wright About Now x Lenas Wright On) and Brandon Buttars collected the Open Chrome Cash award and $1,375 for owner Sophia Flinders Buttars. The 2019 mare was bred by Garth and Amanda Gardiner.