Every great story has a beginning and the emergence of each champion reining horse has its roots in the first handling, first rides, and first introduction to maneuvers. The late Dick Pieper said that from the relatively short time a horse is started until it walks into the arena at Oklahoma City, there’s no time for rider errors. He felt that there was never time for the horse to have a bad day and that started with square one.
The Non Pro Champions of the 2022 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel had a lot of good days – days when the communication between horse and rider increased to an extreme level that propelled them ever closer to the history books – and that began at the beginning!
Level 4 Non Pro Champion Tribbiani Shown by Jack Medows, Started by Damian Rico
Damian Rico started Tribiani while working with Trevor Dare. He remembers, “We always talked at that time about how he was really, really nice. I worked for Silver Spurs for 15 years and we started a lot of good horses. That experience helped me tell if one was going to be good or maybe not able to take the
pressure. I always liked Joey and thought he’d be good.”
He remembered that he and Trevor felt that, out of 35 or so 2-year-olds that year, he was one of the best ones. Maybe it was because of how easy things came to him from the very first.
Damian only rode him three or four days in the round pen and from then on just went right to the arena and he was fine.
Circling and turning around came easy to the colt and he was with Damian from the first of the year to right after the NRHA Derby when he went to Fernando Salgado.
When he left, Trevor and Damian kept track of his progress. “We’d ask how he was doing because we always liked him. He was really good-minded and we both felt he was special and would do well.”
Level 3 Non Pro Co-Champion Red Dirt Paleface Shown by Francesca Sternberg, started by Craig Schmersal
Craig Schmersal started Red Dirt Paleface and all five of his full brothers. He remembers, “He was always as cute as he could be. He looked like a little halter horse from the beginning. He is built low-headed – how I like, and he was by one of my favorite stallions.”
But, at least in the beginning, his looks were not matched by his performance. He was different than his siblings. There were two factors. First, Craig remembers, “He was just so feely and looky. If someone walked into the barn, he noticed it. He saw everything to the point it was hard for him to concentrate.”
Craig said, “It just took a while for him to come into himself.”
And with the wisdom of a true horseman, Craig opted not to rush him. “I didn’t show him at the (NRHA) Futurity. He was a little more emotional than the brothers – more reactive and sensitive. It was a process, but once he got broke, he was good.”
And there was another factor that may have led to the ultimate success of the horse that is nicknamed “Solo.” From the beginning, this one horse hated to be ridden around other equines.
Craig laughed and explained, “He doesn’t like being in the makeup pen with other horses. Maybe that’s why he’s so good when he shows. He likes having the whole arena to himself!”
L3 Non Pro Co-Champion Level 1 Champion A Cool Back Story Shown by Jennifer Kasper, Started by Leo Kellerman
Leo Kellerman distinctly remembers starting A Cool Back Story. He said, “It was my first year working for Andrea Fappani and he was one of the set of 2-year-olds that were mine to train. I first thought he might not make it with that bad scar on his back because I thought when we put a saddle on it would hurt him, but the owners wanted us to try so we did.”
Leo started with an extra soft pad although he was uncertain as to what might happen, but the colt handled it well. Leo said, “I rode him for two days and nothing was happening. I thought it looked like we were going to be able to make this work.”
Unlike many colt starters, Leo got to continue riding him as the colt they called “Rocky” went on in his career. But other factors worked against the young horse. Leo explained, “He started to have a hard time
– sick with colic and other things. Everyone thought he wouldn’t make it because of the time off and he was already 3-4 months behind when I started him, but Andrea said to focus on him so I put all my time on him. Then by the end of the year, he started to catch up with other horses and show that he could be a good horse.”
By the time he was a 3-year-old, Rocky had gotten stronger and more solid. He was never lame or sick after that and got better and better. Leo showed him for the first time at the Best of the West Futurity, topping the Level 1 futurity on him with a score of 216. After that, it was decided to let Leo show him
at the NRHA Futurity where he qualified for both the Level 2 and Level 1 finals.
He said, “I didn’t feel he was a superstar horse – but he gave everything. A lot of horses have a lot of big maneuvers but they don’t give it all to you. He is not ever going to miss a maneuver.
There was never a show where he did bad. He always showed. That’s how big his heart is and the other thing is when he goes in to show, he’s better than he is warming up or schooling.”
Leo added. “One thing I remember about him is when the owners came every month to look at him. No matter how he was during the week, even if he was not great, as soon as their car parked in front of the barn he was a different horse. It was like he wanted to show off. If he saw someone watching him, he’d show what he had. I think he shows well because he likes to be watched.”