Saturday, March 26, was a big day for Virgil Valdez. He was competing at the National Reined Cow Horse Association Stakes in Nampa, Idaho, where he won two Championships and one Reserve title on his horse He Be Fierce.

With a 650 composite, the pair won the Coyote Rock Ranch Non Pro Bridle Spectacular Reserve Championship and $1,992. They also finished as the Champions of both the Intermediate Non Pro Bridle and the Novice Non Pro Bridle with a 433.5 total on two, taking home $1,300 in the Intermediate Non Pro Bridle and $1,200 in the Novice Non Pro Bridle.

“He worked really good in the herd work of the Non Pro Bridle Spectacular,” noted Valdez, who marked a 216.5. “I thank my herd help, which was Corey Cushing, Todd Crawford, Zane Davis, and Darren Miller.”

That herd work was followed by a 216 in the rein work and a 217.5 in the cow work. “The night before the rein work Keith Vogel and Chase Trahern helped me with my run downs. I really appreciate them. My cow work was awesome. It was really good and we had a real good cow,” he said.

Valdez has owned He Be Fierce, by Peptoboonsmal out of Smart Starlight, for a year-and-a-half. He Be Fierce was originally trained by Zane Davis, who won the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity on Reymanator shortly after Valdez bought the gelding. “Zane has been great and helped me a bunch. This horse is maturing and making a nice bridle horse – he has a world of talent,” noted Valdez.

The Alamosa, Colorado, Non Pro had several people to thank. “I thank Don Murphy, as well as his daughter Nelle. Don has probably been the most influential person,” he said. “I also thank Blue Allen. He’s my neighbor and he lets me take cattle over there and use his arena. I also thank my brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Betty Lou Valdez – they haul my horse around a lot.”

Daniel Perez and Colonels Classy Cash were the Intermediate Non Pro Bridle Reserve Champions with a 424, collecting $975. Colonels Classy Cash, is by Nu Cash out of Tangy Cha Cha.

Debbie Proctor and Hes A Smokin Indian, by Hickorys Indian Pep out of Baroak Again, won the Novice Non Pro Bridle Reserve Championship. The pair scored a 428 and won $900.

The National Reined Cow Horse Association, now in its 62nd 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 Adequan, Bob’s Custom Saddles, Cinch, Classic Equine, Gist Silversmiths, John Deere, Markel Insurance Company, Nutrena, Pfizer Animal Health, Platinum Performance, Quarter Horse News, Rios of Mercedes, Running W Designs, the Silver Legacy Hotel and Casino, and Merial products UlcerGard and EQUIOXX, 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.