The 2010 National Reined Cow Horse Association Derby Holy Cow Performance Horses $50,000 Open Bridle Spectacular, held at the Paso Robles Event Center in Paso Robles, California, began Wednesday, June 16, with the herd work.

Bridle Spectacular horses are the most highly schooled horses in the reined cow horse industry. In the Vaquero tradition, a horse only becomes a bridle horse after years of training so it truly is the best of the industry that competes.

The $50,000 Added Holy Cow Performance Horses Open Bridle Spectacular is the largest NRCHA produced bridle spectacular. It features the CD Survivor Memorial trophy – in honor of Holy Cow Performance Horse’s great bridle horse CD Survivor.

NRCHA Million Dollar Rider Jon Roeser set the pace in the Open Bridle Spectacular on Mister Smart Remedy with an impressive 220, taking the lead by a single point. Mister Smart Remedy is owned by Larry and Sharon Rose of Lindsay, California.

The 9-year-old black stallion, by Mister Dual Pep out of Ima Smart Remedy, has already won over $100,000 in competition. Along with placing in the top-five at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity, he has been a finalist at every NRCHA Premier Limited Age Event.

The winner of the Open Bridle Spectacular will receive a specially-designed hand-crafted Gist Gold and Silver buckle, sponsored by Newt White of Santa Fe, New Mexico, a beautiful CR Morrison bronze, and have his or her name inscribed on the CD Survivor Memorial trophy, which will reside at Holy Cow Performance Horses.

In the Non Pro Bridle Spectacular herd work, Anne Reynolds and her stand-out athlete, More Magic Please, took the lead with a 220 – 3.5 points higher than the next closest competitor. Reynolds and the eight-year-old gelding, by Chic Please and out of Magical Lena, have earned over $70,000 in the show pen. Amongst other great laurels, Reynolds and More Magic Please were the 2005 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Champions. More Magic Please was bred and raised by Reynolds, who holds the distinction of being the only Non Pro and only woman to be an NRCHA Million Dollar Rider. In fact, More Magic Please is out of Reynold’s 1998 Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion, Magical Lena.

Both Bridle Spectaculars will conclude on Saturday, June 19, with the rein and cow work.

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.