She is a former National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Champion and is consistently a major contender at all levels of reined cow horse events, but there’s been something missing from Sandy Collier’s show resume for the last few years – a championship at an NRCHA major event.
That changed at the 2008 NRCHA Hackamore Classic, held April 25-27 at the Paso Robles Event Center in Paso Robles, California. There, she rode Tazs Precious Peppy to a 438 composite, topping the 59-horse field and earning $18,700 for owner Dominic Conicelli.
Collier and the 4-year-old mare by Pepto Taz and out of Splash A Lil Color, marked scores of 143 in the herd work, tied for first in the rein work with a 146., and finished up with a 148.5 down the fence for the title.
Although Sandy and Tazs Precious Peppy missed the finals at the 2007 Snaffle Bit Futurity, they won the 2007 Mid State Fair Futurity and earn a finals berth at the 2007 National Stock Horse Association Futurity.
Idaho trainer Jake Telford earned Reserve honors on Spark N Loulena, owned by Floyd Miller and P. Newton White. Telford guided the good mare to a 437 total, consisting of a 145 in the herd work, 144 in the rein work, and 148 down the fence. The Reserve Championship was worth $14,025. Spark N Loulena is by Shining Spark and out of Mary Lou Lena.
In the Intermediate Open division, Shawn Hays earned the Championship on Peppy Nicolena, owned by his wife, Tammy Jo Hays and father-in-law Walter Greeman. Scores of 140 in the herd work, 143.5 in the rein work, and 146 in the cow work combined for a 429.5 total. Hays earned $5,000 for the Championship, and an addition $4,975 for 8th place in the Open. But the Hays family had even more to celebrate – earlier in the day, wife Tammy Jo earned the Intermediate Non Pro Championship!
The Intermediate Open Reserve Championship went to Tucker Robinson and Days Zanolena, a 5-year-old mare by Smart Zanolena and out of Chex Out This Day. Robinson and Days Zanolena have been on a hot streak lately, most recently winning the 2008 NRCHA Stakes. Robinson rode the talented mare to scores of 143 in the herd work, 140 in the rein work, and 142 down the fence for a 425 total. The Reserve Championship garnered a check for $4,000.
The Limited Open Championship and $2,370 was won by Billy Martin and his horse MH Im Just Booning. They marked 143 in the herd work, 128.5 in the rein work, and 144 in the cow work for a 416 total. MH Im Just Booning is by Bodee Boonsmal and out of Little Smart Ginger.
Tommy Thompson and Caros RB Lena clinched the Reserve title with a 415.5 total, comprised of 140 in the herd work, 143.5 in the rein work, and 132 down the fence. The Reserve Championship added $1,975 to the lifetime earnings of Caros RB Lena’s, by Lenas Wright On and out of Wyatts Remalee.