Steve and Andrea Archer had quite a good day on Tuesday, April 13.

The husband-and-wife training team from Richmond, Texas, showed five horses on the first day of the National Reining Horse Association ancillary open classes at the National Reining Breeders Classic and took home three trophies.

Riding Debra Smith’s Hes At Bat and Carolyn Tellepsen’s Custom Strategy, Steve marked a 147 on both horses to share the first place award in Intermediate Open (1). Both horses earned $733.

“They are both really good horses and let me do whatever I want to do,” Steve said. “They didn’t challenge me anywhere and went where I told them. They are both good horses and have great owners.”

This is the first time Steve has shown Hes At Bat, a 7-year-old gelding with NRHA lifetime earnings of almost $29,000 who is by Rowdy Yankee and out of Rambos Smart N Smoke.

“He’s so good for me at home and was a lot of fun to show today,” Steve said. “He’s just a sweet horse who never wants to be bad.”

By Custom Crome and out of Topnotch Melody, Custom Strategy has been in Steve’s barn for a couple of years. The 9-year-old gelding has almost $35,000 in NRHA lifetime earnings.

“When I die and go to heaven, he’s the kind of horse I want,” Steve said. “He just comes out everyday in a good mood. He’s a very good horse.”

Meanwhile, Andrea marked a 143.5 on Montana Smart Joe to take first place in the Limited Open (1) and Rookie Professional (1). Also owned by Carolyn Tellepsen of Simonton, Texas, the 14-year-old gelding is by Smart Chic Olena and out of Montanas Lena. His paycheck of $259 in the Limited Open and $293 in the Rookie boosts his NRHA lifetime earnings to almost $9,000.

“He’s just so awesome and such a great horse,” Andrea said. “We bought him as a 3-year-old, and he showed for Steve, showed for Carolyn, showed for Carolyn’s son, Trent, and now he’s showing for me. There are like 11 or 12 grandchildren in the Tellepsen family, so he’ll be retired soon and giving lessons.”

Andrea, who says she’s “been carrying the grooming bucket” for Steve for 23 years, finally started showing herself about two years ago. “I’m very blessed to get the opportunity to have Montana Smart Joe to teach me and that’s what he’s doing, he’s teaching me how to show,” Andrea said.

But will Andrea some day follow Steve to showing in the big pen at NRBC? “No, I like it here in the East Arena,” she said with a laugh.

As the Archers walked out of the East Arena’s warm-up pen carrying their three trophies and many ribbons, Steve turned to Andrea and quietly said, “I feel almost guilty. It’s like we hit the jackpot.” That just about sums it up.

Second place in the Limited Open (1) and Rookie Professional (1) went to Cody Stark, who marked a 142.5 on Craig and Ginger Schmersal’s Blazing In Black, an 8-year-old mare by Rowdy Yankee and out of Topsail Blaze.

The National Reining Breeders Classic, celebrating its tenth anniversary at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas, is the most successful stallion incentive program in reining history. In just thirteen years, the NRBC has grown to include upwards of 230 subscribed stallions and in 2009, there were over 2,800 enrolled foals. Annually, the payout at the National Reining Breeders Classic exceeds $1.3 million. For information on the NRBC, visit the web site at www.nrbc.com or call 580-759-3939.