Winning one title at the National Reined Cow Horse Association Hackamore Classic in Paso Robles, California, is impressive. Winning two – like John Showalter – is even more exciting. Showalter, of Fresno, California, topped the Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro divisions of the 2010 Hackamore Classic on Tangys Classy Chick.

“It’s been a great three days. It’s been perfect!” he noted following the awards ceremony, at which he collected two monogrammed breast collar sponsored by Classic Equine, two full handcrafted hackamores from Krause Mecates, and two CR Morrison trophies. Showalter also left Paso Robles with $7,988 in earnings.

“We cut three good cows in the herd work. I had great herd help and my horse was perfect. Aside from one little bobble on a run-down in the rein work it was really good. I was very happy with her.” He laughed, adding, “The cow work was awesome. It happened so fast!”

Showalter was especially proud of Tangys Classy Chic, by Tangys Classy Peppy out of Crimson Sassychick, because it was his first time to show the 5-year-old mare! “Rob Leach showed her at the Snaffle Bit Futurity and made the Intermediate Open Finals. I had a couple other horses and didn’t get her ready to show last year, so I decided I really needed to this year,” he said.

Showalter said he had a lot of people to thank, but gave a special nod to his herd help – Jake Gorrell, Jon Roeser, Russell Dilday, and Ted Robinson.

“This mare’s a keeper. I would love to keep her and let her have babies,” he said.

Reigning Snaffle Bit Futurity Non Pro Champions Anne Reynolds and Shiney And Verysmart won the Non Pro Reserve Championship with a score of 416.5. Reynolds and the 4-year-old marked 142 in the herd work, a 142.5 in the rein work, and a 132 in the cow work to collect $4,296.

Karen Stallings earned the Reserve Championship of the Intermediate Non Pro Hackamore Classic on Star Time Truckin, by NMSU Truckin Chex. Stallings and Star Time Truckin, who had a 415.5 total, also won the Non Pro Hackamore Horse Show Championship. Their take for the event totaled $2,820.

In only her second reined cow horse event, ever, Toni Hagen won the Amateur Hackamore Classic Championship on Just Ask Me Nice. The win garnered a check for $1,920, a Classic Equine monogrammed breast collar, a full tooled handmade hackamore from Krause Mecates, and a CR Morrison trophy.

Hagen and “Justi” marked a 140 in the herd work, a 138 in the rein work, and a 142 in the cow work. “I had good cattle and my horse was wonderful in the herd work. Except for a little glitch, the rein work was beautiful. We also had a pretty good cow work,” she said.

Hagen is a former National Finals Rodeo qualifier in barrel racing, and only took up reined cow horse competition last November. “Dan Heath got me started. He has some great cow horses and encouraged me to start,” she explained. So Hagen went on a search for a cow horse, and found and purchased Just Ask Me Nice, by Captain Nice out of Missy Dual Master, “I bought this mare in November, went for lessons with Jim Paul Sr. in January. I showed in my first show in March. I’m now riding with Dan Roeser – both Dan and Jim have done so much and I’m really grateful to them.”

Tanna Dilday earned the Amateur Reserve Championship on Lil Smarty Pep, by Mister Dual Pep out of Smart Lil Sallinic. The Reserve title came with a check for $1,600.

The National Reined Cow Horse Association, now in its 61st year, 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 Markel Insurance Company, Wide World of Horses, John Deere, AdequanR, Bob’s Custom Saddles, Cinch, Inc., Classic Equine, Gist Silversmiths, MD Barns, Platinum Performance, Inc., Nutrena, Quarter Horse News, Pfizer Animal Health, Rios of Mercedes, Merial products ULCERGARD and EQUIOXX, Running W Designs, 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 .