May 3, 2007 — There were familiar names but new faces at the top of the results sheet at the 2007 National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) Hackamore Classic when Tucker Robinson won the event on Days Zanolena (Smart Zanolena X Chex Out This Day) April 29.
Tucker put together an event-high score of 149 in the cow work to clinch the composite title by five points. That claimed both the Open and Intermediate Championships at the Paso Robles Events Center, earning $16,200 and $4,872 for owner Matt Day of Bend, Ore. For most reined cow horse fans, the 28-year-old’s success has been predictable ever since he began training in 2003, and his talent and consistency showed up early.
In 2005, he was the NRCHA Derby Reserve Limited Open Champion. Then, teamed with Days Zanolena, he finished 4th in the Intermediate Open at the 2006 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity. Together, he and the mare represent a lot of NRCHA history.
Tucker is the son of Ted Robinson, the NRCHA’s most celebrated rider, who has won seven Snaffle Bit Futurities, two World’s Greatest Titles and was the first NRCHA Million Dollar Rider. Days Zanolena (“Jo”) also has a sterling pedigree–she’s by Smart Zanolena, an NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion. Jo is owned by one of the NRCHA’s most successful members, Matt Day of Bend, Oregon. Day and his wife, Lesley, have owned Futurity champions, and he is a former Snaffle Bit Futurity Non Pro champion.
Tucker was born and raised in Oak View, Calif. Throughout high school he attended rodeos on the west coast, competing in team roping, calf roping and cutting and still takes some rope horses in training.
Besides the substantial cash, Tucker’s 438.5 composite (146, 143.5, 149) collected a Bob’s Trophy Saddle sponsored by Lacey Livestock, as well as a full handcrafted hackamore–including bosal, hanger and Mecate from Krause Mecates, along with Sam Benito Braiding and a tooled breast collar from Classic Equine and the CR Morrison NRCHA Trophy.
The Reserve Open Championship and $12,960 went to Doug Williamson on Docs Soula (Soula Jule Star X Docs Hickory Nut) owned by D & S Quarter Horses for a score of 433 (143, 144.5, 146). Williamson picked up another $11,340 for third on Sierras Lullabye (Had A Larrabee X Tunders Gay Bar Gal) for owner Sandie Braden.
The Reserve Intermediate Title and $4,002 went to Corey Cushing on Ray Gay Quixote (Lenas Peppy Cutter) owned by Cathy Corrigan Frank.
Ed Robertson led throughout and won the Limited Open Championship with a 420.5 (138,142,140.5) on Luckiest Prize (Smokums Prize X Gunna Be Lucky) owned by Sheila Borjon. The Intermediate Open Reserve went to Terril Heaton on Peeparoo (Gallo Del Cielo X Peepin Lil) owned by Rancho Vegas Performance Horses.
Dema Paul made it a double, when after winning the Non Pro Bridle Spectacular, she came back and earned the Non Pro Hackamore Classic Championship. Her partner was Masters Nu Fox (Master Merada X Nu Cash Foxy Lady) and their 429 score (140, 145, 144) was good for a $7,500 check. The news of of the win came along with some more good news about fellow competitor JoAnne Carollo, who was injured in the cow work and taken away in an ambulance. Carollo, who suffered a broken ankle, and some other injuries, was released later that evening.
The Reserve Non Pro Championship and $6,250 went to Tish Wilhite on Hes A Smokin Indian (Hickorys).
Marc Bourdet rode Pete Bourdet’s Just Playing Around (Playdox X Quit Clownin Around) to win the Intermediate Non Pro and $3,000. Laurie Case Black collected the Intermediate Reserve Title on The Chic Doctor (Chic Please X Docsinic).
Robin Flournoy became the Amateur Hackamore Classic Champion on Annies Mister Rose (Mister Dual Pep X Fairleas Annie Rose), earning $1,760 for the win.
