Line Drive to Victory

Culminating on February 28 at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas, the National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) Kalpowar Quarter Horses Celebration of Champions Open Hackamore World Championship showcased the finest horses and their skilled riders. Clifton J. (CJ) Shopbell emerged victorious by four points aboard Shes Reys Cat (WR This Cats Smart x Shes Playin Rey x TR Dual Rey), a horse special to the Shopbell family. 

The 6-year-old mare shares a deep-rooted connection with the Shopbells. In 2016, CJ won his first world championship in the Open Bridle on Shes Reys Cat’s dam – Shes Playin Rey (TR Dual Rey x Playin Acre x Playin Stylish). Recognizing this horse’s potential early on, the Shopbells acquired her from Gregg Lafitte, a longstanding family friend, in 2021.

“Gregg had brought this mare to us as a yearling to start, and we just fell in love with her and had to have her,” CJ said. “She looked just like her mother, and her mother meant so much to us that we ended up buying her from Gregg. She’s a barrel of monkeys. She’s a pet of the family, and everybody loves her; but she’s a dragon. There’s a lot of pony in there. She’s just turned out to be a phenomenal mare, and it’s been a blessing to ride her.”

Entering the finals, CJ adopted a focused, yet relaxed, mindset – avoiding overthinking and choosing to trust in the bay mare’s abilities. A timely piece of advice from his wife before their run resonated with him.

“My son plays baseball, and his batting coach always tells him, ‘Don’t swing for a home run. Just swing to get on base. Sometimes when you hit those line drives, they’ll carry and go out of the park.’ My wife stopped me and told me, ‘Just go hit a line drive, and see where it carries you.’ I feel like we hit a line drive, and it took me out of the park,” CJ recalled. “I couldn’t do it without my wife. She’s been through it all, and she’s a great set of eyes to tell me when things look right or don’t look right.”

CJ’s approach paid off, as the duo delivered a stellar performance, earning a composite score of 440.5 with a 217.5 in the rein work and an impressive 223 in the cow work. Reflecting on their journey, CJ admires Shes Reys Cat dedication.

“She’s quirky and weird, but she’s a sweet mare,” CJ said. “And it seems like once I got her to have my back, she’s been there through thick and thin. I think she’d break her legs off for me if I asked her to. It meant so much to me for her to win it. For her to go out and win that title, that meant everything.”

This win is not the end, but a stepping stone for the Shopbell family and this mare. CJ plans to continue to compete on her in the Open classes, as well his daughter, Baily, in the Non Pro. Looking further ahead, CJ has big hopes for Shes Reys Cat this year.

“We’re just going to roll through it,” CJ said. “I really want to do The Run For A Million this year on her, so I’m kind of setting that for a goal. But, we’re going to tag team her in the Non Pro and the Open and see what we get.”

Securing the reserve title in the Open Hackamore World Championship, Veronica M Swales and Spanish Nights (Metallic Rebel x Lil Bit Reckless x CD Royal) earned a 436.5-point composite score with a 219.5 in the rein work and a 217 in the cow work. Close behind in third place, Erin L. Taormina and Droppitlikeitshott (Hottish x Some Kinda Merada x Cats Merada) finished with a 219.5 in the rein work and a 216.5 in the cow work for a 436-point composite score.