Some show results

Some results from the most recent shows: Todd Crawford and Sinful Cat (WR This Cats Smart) were 5.5 pts back heading into the final cowwork in the NRCHA Derby finals. Leading after two events (herd and reinwork) was Todd Bergen and Very Shiney over 2nd place The One Time and third Docs Catty Jo. After a superb run down the fence Crawford and Sinful Cat scored a 224 winning the cowwork and securing the Derby win with a combined 660.5 pts. 1/2 pt behind, claiming reserve was Docs Catty Jo & Corey Cushing. Early leader Very Shiney and Bergen fell back tio 3rd with a modest 216 in the cowwork. (Actually looked at a 3/4 yearling brother to Sinful Cat last year by Cats Merada - Sinful Playgirl, but nothing came of that.)

Sinful Cat & Todd Crawford (Photo: Primo Morales)

NRCHA Derby results

In Oklahoma the Non-Pro and Open wrapped up last night with the 4 year old and 5/6 year old Open finals. George C Merada (Cats Merada) & John Wold secured the win in the 5/6 yo division for owner Furst Ranch. A 224 pt run held off Super Stakes Classic champ Cat Man Blue and Sean Flynn with 0.5 pts to spare!

George C Merada & John Wold

Good to see Waltons Rocking W Ranch Sallycats Hot making the finals and earning a check. A very nice mare with a lot of fancy action in her.

Sallycats Hot

5/6 yo Open Finals

 Oklahoma seems to be where Arbuckle Mtn Futurity champions, Once In A Blu Boon & James Payne are at their best earning another championship last night. A 221 was what it took to hold off reserv champ Little Kitty Sista and Jonathan Rogers scoring 218.5. Once In A Blu Boon is closely related to both my fillies sires, Wild Thing DNA and Peeka Pep. His sire is Peptoboonsmal and dam is Autumn Boon making them 3/4 siblings! Wild Thing is by Smart Little Lena-Autumn Boon (Dual Pep-Royal Blue Boon) and Peeka Pep is ofcourse by Peptoboonsmal-Peek A Boon (Smart Little Lena-Royal Blue Boon)

Once in a Blu Boon & James Payne

Once in a Blu Boon & James Payne

4yo Open finals

 Gave Annelies trotter mare Ritzy's Dream another workout on the Straightaway last night. She feels really strong and the work at the racetrack last weekend did her good. Will try to alternate alittle here in the coming weeks riding my two fillies and driving Ritzy every other day. I just don't have the time working all three when I get home from the office at night.

Hopefully we'll have some more news in the horse department here in a few day's. We'll keep you posted!

NRCHA Derby herdwork

Phil Ralls x2 leads the NRCHA Derby after the herdwork. Dom Dualuise tops on a 222 followed by Annie Renolds owned Very Shiney posting a 221.5. Boyd Rice follows third with Cowans Moostruck Pepto 220.5. Shiners Dun Juan & Todd Bergen is in the hunt though with a 216.5. Good to see Les doing well also scoring a 216 with Nic It Smartly.

 In Oklahoma City The Non Pro cutting got a start with a NCHA Open championship class.
Ed Dufurrena placed third onboard Auspicious Cat scoring a 221. Winner, Intentions Del Rey & Steve Oelhof scored a strong 226. 2nd place: Phil Rapps super mare Dont Look Twice 221.5.

Weary

Long weekday's at the moment. Up at 4.30 (more like 5 maybe...) feeding & watering, letting the horses out and cleaning stalls. Off to work at 6am. Home at 6.30pm, two horses to ride and one to drive. Home to supper at 9.30-10 pm and crash in to bed.

The mares summer pasture

 The horses are all doing pretty good.

Kick The Cat

Cat has grown with the task and the clinics we attended have been pretty beneficial for her. I have to quiet her down alittle though as she gets pretty wound up when it's cow work on the menue.

La Flor del Viento

 Polly is getting alittle better too. She still has to question everything but no more tantrums atleast!

Ritzy's Dream

 We took Annelies trotter mare to the racetrack Saturday and she felt really good! Away's to go still before she's race-ready but she's definitely on the right path.

The NRCHA Derby starts today in Paso Robles. Todd Bergens Snaffle Bit Futurity Champ Shiners Don Juan will have a rematch with Res.Champ Moonstruck Pepto & Boyd Rice. HerdWork today followed by Reinwork and Fencework. An extra eye on Les Vogt and his Nick It Smartly.

The Non-Pro & The Open kicks off today for the cutters in Oklahoma City.
Not many draws posted yet as the 4 and 5/6 yo will run later in the week.


New pics of the Spades I have for sale.

4C Spade bits

Theese beauties arrived the other day! A couple of Santa Barbara Spade bits I had made in the old bit and spur making village of Amozoc, Mexico where the silversmithing craft has been honed for centuries. 4" spades, 5 1/4" wide. Braces set where they need to be for the horse to be able to pick up and hold the bit properly.  Copper rollers on braces and top of spade and a copper cricket. Silver is inlayed with a very nice ingraving. The bits are rust oxidized with slobber chains and 10" reinchains.

Sorry for the poor quality pics, will take some better ones that does the bits more justice.

A tough week comes to an end

A super hectic week came to a great end yesterday. Starting last Sunday with the $500.000 Elitlopp, 30.000 people in the stands and all that comes with covering one of the trotting industrys premier races.

Commander Crowe winner of the 2012 Elitlopp

After that a 2-day clinic with Idaho cowboy and cowhorse trainer Todd Fitch, more or less the first trip anywhere for my 3yo filly Kick The Cat. The mare was excellent and showed some real talent and expression on a cow. Todd and his wife Julie are super nice people, really humble and we got some good things done.

Kick The Cat at the Todd Fitch clinic

 Thursday & Friday saw me at the office trying to get all the pics from the Elitlopp sorted through. Friday I got a call from friend Styrbjörn who had to cancel his spot at another clinic due to illness. A chance to train for cutting horse trainer Josh King and his wife Amy Saturday and Sunday had us packing up and heading out on the road again.

Josh & Amy King clinic participants

 Once again super nice people the Kings, down to earth & very humble. Saturday started off great working out of the herd. A first for Kick The Cat who basically has seen a total of three cows in a bunch before. She did really good and I tried really hard not to get her in a bind. She worked really good and showed some neat stuff both during the morning and afternoon session.

Sunday morning she was a little tired and I didn't think I had much horse left. Again working out of the herd, but this time she got alittle intimidated by the cows and started worrying about entering.  Josh helped me free her up some and she finished on a good note.

 Afternoon session had most participants working in a show situation. 2.5 minutes and Josh going over the run and giving out pointers and things to work on. Me and Cat got to work too but not within that format. She was even more worried about the herd this time around, being 20 or so head in there.
Josh helped us through it though and she relaxed some and we got her going. Josh had her finish the clinic working with the cows in the middle and she got over most of her herd anxiety and finished really strong. She is extremely cowy and sure athletic enough to have a future in the cutting pen.

I'm very proud of my mare and would like to give a BIG thank you to Todd and Julie as well as Josh and Amy for all your advice and help!! Thank You!

Josh coaching me up