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NSHA serves up a Classic in Paso

From Horsetrader staff reports - May 19th, 2016 - Cover Story, Show & Event News

1605B_coverPASO ROBLES — It had been five years since the last go of the National Stock Horse Association’s Classic in 2011, a popular aged event that returned April 22-24 to rave reviews at the Mid-State Fairgrounds.

Longtime NSHA supporters Mark and Shari Luis spearheaded the resurrection of the three-day show that was headlined by a pair of aged events — a Derby sponsored by Cactus Saddlery and a Bridle Challenge sponsored by DT Horses and Hickory Holly Time. Many other sponsors came on board to make the show’s comeback a big success.

“The response was tremendous,” said Shari, who along with Mark joined the NSHA Board this year with founding partners Russell and Tanna Dilday and Jake Gorrell. “What made this show a success, in addition to the team that does such a good job making the NSHA run, were the sponsorships. The sponsors were amazing and overwhelmed us with their generosity.”

Central California is the cradle of reined cow horse, and the NSHA has always been an innovator in crowd-pleasing aged events that showcase horses beyond their futurity year.

When the National Reined Cow Horse Association moved the date of its Hackamore Classic in Paso Robles to coincide with the September NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity, the NSHA moved to secure the April dates for the rebirth of its Classic, which also featured NRCHA and CCHA horse show classes.

The order of go read like a Who’s Who in reined cow horse, drawing the region’s top talent. In the Bridle Challenge, Lyn Anderson rode David and Barbara Archer’s Tuckers Smart Cat (WR This Cats Smart x Smoke Time Tuck) to the Open title with a 298.5, edging Randy Paul on Linda katz’s LenaLilToTheWright (Lenas Wright On x Shining Survivor). In addition to the Open reserve, Paul and LenaLilToTheWright won the Intermediate Open.

In the Derby Open, Phillip Ralls won the open on Estelle Roitblat’s Call Me Mitch (Metallic Cat x Hickory Hill), with Monica Caetano in reserve on John Pascoe’s Smokin Little Ringo (Smart Little Pepinic x Smokin Sabrina).
Caetano also won the Intermediate Open Derby.

“The horse just gets smarter and smarter,” said Caetano, who credits her supoprt team and her faith for her success. “He always has tried really hard, but as far as reading cows, he reads them a lot of times before I do, which makes him great.

“That’s why John Pascoe is so good,” she added. “He tells me, ‘just show him — show what he can do. If it doesn’t work, then we’ll try something different next time, but let’s see what he can do this time.’

“That’s always good to hear before you go in. Instead of trying to be perfect, see what he can do. And the little horse comes through!”

MORE ONLINE: Http://bit.ly/605B_NSHA

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