Horse Illustrated Magazine

The Fort Dodge Animal Health National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) Celebration of Champions, which runs Feb. 16-24 at the Lone Star Arena in Stephenville, Texas, is really four shows in one. During the event, the World’s Greatest Horseman, NRCHA World Championship Show and the Southwest Reined Cow Horse Association Derby all run concurrently, giving reined cow horse exhibitors and fans exciting competition brought together in one big event. The week-long competition culminates with the finals of the World’s Greatest Horseman on Feb. 24.

The events will have an international flavor this time around. This year’s World Championship Show marks the first time in the event’s history that qualifiers from the European Reined Cow Horse Association will be eligible to compete.

Competing for the NRCHA Open Hackamore World Championship will be Italy’s Markus Schoepfer on Peptos Lil Bingo (Peptoboonsmal  x Conchita Gay Bingo by Bingo Hickory). Peptos Lil Bingo, the International Region Open Hackamore Champion for 2007, is owned by Braam Quarter Horse (The Netherlands) and the 6-year-old sorrel also has cutting and National Reining Horse Association earnings to his credit.  

Ricky Nicolazzi, also from Italy, will be riding Coeur D Lenas Bar (Smart Little Lena x Miss Cal Sen by Cal Bar) in the Open Bridle World Championship class. The 11-year-old stallion, owned by Markus Schoepfer, is the 2007 International Region Open Bridle Champion. Like Peptos Lil Bingo, Coeur D Lenas Bar has cutting and National Reining Horse Association earnings.  

The Circle Y Ranch Derby, which also takes place during the NRCHA Fort Dodge Celebration of Champions, has an international entry, Italian Andrea Fasani on his Troubled Gangster (Gangster Chic x Shesa Commander Cody). Fasani is an entry in the Non Pro, Intermediate Non Pro and Amateur Derby. (The Circle Y Ranch Derby does not have a qualification process.)