Doug Williamson Wins 2009 NRCHA Hackamore Classic on Smart Miss Merada
![]() And after experiencing a grisly fall just seven months ago during the 2008 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity cow work, he has once again come back to win – this time taking the 2009 NRCHA Hackamore Classic Open Championship on Smart Miss Merada. For Williamson, the comeback is all about getting to do what he loves – train and show reined cow horses. “I’m just a lucky man to still be doing what I love to do. I have to thank my wife, Carol, and all my help. They’re my inspiration, because they believe in me so much. I am so grateful to them,” he said following the awards ceremony held at the Paso Robles Event Center in Paso Robles, California. At the Hackamore Classic, Williamson piloted the mare to a 148 in the herd work, and followed that with a 145.5 in the reining. “She was really cute and good in the cutting, and she was very strong and nice in the reining,” he said. “In the cow work, we had tough cattle, but she handled it anyways. We wound up marking a 149.” Because he owns Smart Miss Merada (Leo Merada x Uno Smart Lady), Williamson was awarded a check for $17,180, a Bob’s Custom Saddle sponsored by Lacey Livestock, a monogrammed tooled breast collar from Classic Equine, a full handcrafted hackamore from Krause Mecates and San Benito Braiding, and a CR Morrison NRCHA trophy. With Robertson at the reins, That CD Rocks (CD Lights x Shiney Tari) marked a 149.5 in the herd work, and followed that with another 149.5 in the rein work. “We were last in the set, and I got to cut the cows I had picked out. This horse was awesome and was just dead on. In the reining, he was smooth as glass, and he just floated through,” he explained. At the 2008 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity, Robertson and the stallion earned the Intermediate Open Championship, and barely a month ago earned the Open and Intermediate Open Championships at the NRCHA Stakes in Nampa, Idaho. The stallion’s future looks bright. “We’re just going to save him and take him to the big ones,” he explained. Brandon Staebler earned Intermediate Open Reserve honors on Chic Ostarlight, owned by Kim Routh. Chic Ostarlight, by Smart Chic Olena and out of Cassandra Starlight, had a 431.5 composite, worth $3,168. Will Pennebaker won the Limited Open Championship on his horse, Snorty Little Pep, by Snorty Lena and out of Badger Sis. Their 417 composite came with a paycheck for $2,010. “I had a hot quit in the herd work – my second cow wouldn’t quit, and when it did I was just a little too slow getting off of it. But then we went in the reining and that was the best she’s ever done. We had a tough cow down the fence, but we got her shown. This is actually her first show this year,” said the Clements, California, trainer. Although Pennebaker hopes to show the mare at the NRCHA Derby in June, he noted that the mare was for sale. Jimmy Flores earned Limited Open reserve title, and a check for $1,340 on Lil Shady Playgirl. Lil Shady Playgirl, by Whoa Bubba and out of Doctors Shady Kitten, is owned by Kerry Schmidt. The National Reined Cow Horse Association, celebrating its 60th Anniversary in 2009, is the governing body of cow horse competition, is responsible for promoting the sport, insuring high standards of competition and educating members and the public about the history and tradition of the cow horse. Through the support of a Corporate Partner family that includes John Deere, Adequan®, Bob's Custom Saddles, Cinch, Inc., Classic Equine, Gist Silversmiths, MD Barns, Platinum Performance, Inc., Nutrena, Quarter Horse News & Performance Horse magazine, the Peppermill Hotel/Resort, Fort Dodge West Nile Innovator, Rios of Mercedes, Merial products ULCERGARD and EQUIOXX, and the Silver Legacy Hotel, the association works to keep the vaquero tradition alive in today’s equine industry. For information on the National Reined Cow Horse Association, call 580-759-4949 or visit the NRCHA Official Web Site at www.nrcha.com. |




The first day of competition at the 2009 National Reined Cow Horse Association Hackamore Classic, held April 24-26 at the Paso Robles Event Center in Paso Robles, California, not only featured the herd work of the limited age event, but also three NRCHA approved horse show classes.
Mike Miller and Bucks Genuine Fever have become the team to beat at National Reined Cow Horse Association premier events. They began their career with a third place win in the Non Pro at the 2007 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity, and followed that with a Championship at the 2008 NRCHA Derby, before winning the Non Pro Hackamore at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity in October.
On Saturday, March 28, Brody Fitch earned the Youth Bridle Championship on Frosted Pistol Chex at the 2009 National Reined Cow Horse Association Stakes, collective $606 and a CR Morrison NRCHA trophy. The win helped brighten a day that was darkened by a rough fall earlier in the Limited Open Hackamore.
Wade Reaney was all smiles after completing his Open Hackamore runs at the 2009 National Reined Cow Horse Association Stakes. The NRCHA Stakes, held March 25-29 at the Idaho Horse Park in Nampa, Idaho, featured a full slate of NRCHA approved classes on Saturday, March 26.
Coming in as the last draw in the Limited Open Hackamore at the National Reined Cow Horse Association Stakes in Nampa, Idaho, Jacob Waggoner knew exactly what he’d need to score to win the Championship. Riding Miss Behavin Shiner, he managed to outdo that needed score by four points!
Ed Robertson of Paso Robles, California leads the open riders going into the fence work at the 2009 NRCHA Stallion Stakes in Nampa Idaho on That CD Rocks. Robertson blew away the competition in the reined work marking a whopping 224 and leads the Open Stakes Composite score of a 441. Ed leads all Open Competitors by 5 1/2 points going into the cow work. That CD Rocks is sired by CD Lights and out of Shiney Tari. Robertson won the 2008 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Intermediate Open Championship on That CD Rocks.
On Wednesday Lance Johnston rode Shes Ful Of Diamonds (Hes A Peptospoonful x Shining Rings X Shining Spark) to a preliminary herd work score of 218 that topped the Open herd work round at that National Reined Cow Horse Association Stakes in Nampa, Idaho.
The 2009 National Reined Cow Horse Association Stallion Stakes in Nampa, Idaho began with the Non Pro, Intermediate Non Pro, and Amateur divisions. The elite event is open only to foals of NRCHA Subscribed Stallions, and is held March 25-29 at the Idaho Horse Park.
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