Pin Oak
NRCHA Stallion Stakes Champions Awarded
Andrew Ryback Photography
Andrea Fappani & All Bettss Are Off
Jef Lauwers & Calipso Jef Lauwers and Calipso earned a commanding victory in the $30,000 La Primera Hacienda USHJA International Hunter Derby on Friday, April 9. From a field of 23 entries, Lauwers and Calipso led from beginning to end of the two-round class, marking both a winning debut for Calipso in the horse’s first Derby and Lauwers’ first International Derby win. “It’s amazing. Pin Oak is one of the most special shows that we go to, so it’s always exciting to be here,” said Lauwers, who is based out of PJP Farm in Magnolia, TX. “It’s such a gratification to do well at this horse show.” Lauwers and Calipso concluded the first round on a total score of 181. Going into the second round, Nada Wise and Vendetta Semilly sat in second with a 172 total. While Wise’s handiness would be rewarded, earning her a total second-round score of 185.5 for a 357.5 overall total, it wouldn’t be enough to catch Lauwers and Calipso whose second-round score of 193 and a total of 374 took the win. w
Andrew Ryback Photography
Klas Kud- Klas Kudlinski linski has al- & NKH Cento Blue ready made his inaugural trip to Texas a winning one. In Kudlinski’s Pin Oak Charity Horse Show debut on Wednesday, April 7, the 26-year-old German rider claimed both first and second place in the $20,000 Welcome Stake. Kudlinski earned the top call aboard NKH Cento Blue and finished in a close second with NKH Darco Son, both owned by NKH LLC. Both horses are regularly ridden by Christian Heineking, but when the accomplished, fellow German rider broke his foot this winter, he called upon Kudlinski. “He offered for me to come to his barn in Texas to show his horses a little bit as long as he’s out,” explained Kudlinski, who arrived in Texas last week, just in time to prepare for the third and final week of the Show. w 8
SouthWest Horse Trader May 2021
Six set of finalists put on a show worthy of the Las Vegas lights on Saturday, April 3, at the South Point Arena & Equestrian Center for the 2021 NRCHA Stallion Stakes Open and Non Pro Finals! The event saw riders of all levels compete in reined cow horse classes in three arenas at the South Point. It was a record number of entries this year, and while a large show, the cow horse family spirit was still as evident as ever. On Saturday afternoon, NRCHA professional Shadd Parkinson, of Scottsdale, Arizona, donned an Easter Bunny suit to entertain the youngest of our youth enthusiasts during an egg hunt immediately before the Finals began. Though there were minimal bodies in the stands due to COVID-19 restrictions in place in the state of Nevada, every seat emptied when cow crew boss Lloyd Faria carried the American flag to John Wayne’s classic “America, Why I Love Her.” NRCHA member Lexi Kastanis sang the National Anthem to kick of the Finals and that uplifted spirit carried into the Non Pro, and then Open, rein work. The night wrapped with the crowd favorite fence work. In addition to awarding the horse, rider and horse’s owner, the NRCHA Stallion Stakes pays an incentive to the stallion owner that subscribed to the NRHA Subscribed Stallion Program. The Stallion Stakes has $198,970 in added money for the events. Horses entered in the limited age event must be sired by stallions nominated into the NRCHA Subscribed Stallion program. Open Stallion Stakes Champion Winning $43,789.40 as your 2021 NRCHA Stallion Stakes Derby Open Champion is Erin Taormino riding Linda Mars’ 2016 stallion Hazardouz Material (Metallic Cat x Scooters Daisy Dukes x Dual Smart Rey). The red roan and the Lipan, Texas, NRCHA professional scored a whopping 666.5 composite score to best the reserve horse and rider team by a halfpoint. “I kept telling myself to work with
what [cow] they kick out; work with what you get and that’s what I did,” she said of her fence run. “That cow was good and my horse felt phenomenal.” Receiving the win was emotional for Taormino, whose son joined her in the saddle for her dirt floor interview with Russell Dilday after the event. She was brought to tears discussing her support system. “I couldn’t do it without them, they’re amazing people. They’re the reason I can do this,” Taormino said through tears. “My family hasn’t been able to come down from Canada [because of COVID-19] my friends, my family, I have the best support system in the world.” Yesterday, Friday, April 2, Taormino rode the stallion to a 218.5 in the herd work. In the Finals rein work a 224 and a matching 224 down the fence carried the win. There were big scores during the four sets of cow work, but it was Hazardouz Material who saved a show for near to the end of the night, with his go in the fourth set. The Stallion Stakes champion sire, Metallic Cat, receives $3,500 from the Subscribed Stallion Incentive and a C.R. Morrison NRCHA trophy. In reserve was Saddling At Sunrise (WR This Cats Smart x Sunshine Ingredient x Mr Sun O Lena), a 2016 stallion owned by the Burnett Ranches LLC, winning $32,263.66 for the title with Kelby Phillips, of Weatherford, in the saddle. Their composite score of 666 (Herd 219 / Rein 221.5 /Cow 225.5) included the high cow score of the night. Phillips was reserve and third place in the Finals. The sire of the reserve champion, WR This Cats Smart, receives $2,000 from the Subscribed Stallion Program incentive. The Intermediate Open was worth $70,416.71. Ryan Gallentine rode One Ata Time (One Time Pepto x Hip Hip Sue Rey) to a 655.0 composite to win the NRCHA Stallion Stakes Intermediate Open worth $13,379.18 payday. The 2017 stallion is owned by Steve Mattson and bred by Flag Ranch, LLC. Tyson Benson rode Back In The Blue (Metallic Cat x Shinin Melody) also to a 655.0 composite to lose the tie-breaker and take Reserve and a check for $9,506.26. The 2016 Stallion is owned by Ken and Continued on page 13
