Winnemucca, Nevada – May 2, 2003 – At the National Reined Cow Horse Association's Hackamore Classic in Winnemucca, Nevada, it's been Jon Roeser and Very Smart Remedy, all the way so far.

Former Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion Roeser got off to a great start - riding the Smart Little Lena son to the lead in the Open division herd work, scoring 150 points for owner Anne Reynolds. Then the duo came back and marked 148.5 in the rein work. That was good for second place in the reining, but more importantly, the 298.5 has them leading the composite by 7 points over the next closest exhibitor.

Ron Emmons is holding that second place designation in the composite on Roo Star (Gallo Del Cielo X Anna Paulena) owned by Ron and Bobbie Emmons, after winning the rein work with a 149.5. Emmons also leads the Intermediate composite with his 291.5 aggregate , followed by Wayne Hinder on Fairlea Ranch's Silver Gun (Playgun X Miss Freckles Reed) at 288.

In the Limited Open, the composite lead belongs to Coloradan Tim Unzicker at 282 (141,141) on Smart Lil Indian (Ill Be Smart X Nu Little Sandy) owned by Magic Dog Ranch. Ruben Mageno, at 278, is next in the Limited Open on Spatztacular Fool (Spatztacular X Doc Fools Vader).

Fresh off their NRCHA Stakes win in Scottsdale a month ago, Dema Paul and Primos Bob Acre (Teninas First X Bob Acre Angelina) seem invincible. Dema scored 146 to win the Non Pro herd work, then dominated the rein work with a 147 to take the lead in the composite with a 293. Tish Wilhite was second with a score of 286.5 (143,143.5) on Tequila Slide (Freckles Face Smoke X Smokey Tequila). That gave her the lead in the $50K Non Pro, as well.

In the Amateur division, the leader is Shannon Haskins on Gata Mia (Senor Peppy Gato X Tunders Gay Bar Gal) with a 283 score.

The show continues tomorrow at 8 am, with more reined cow horse action. Mid-day, there is a special free hackamore clinic by cow horse icons Bobby Ingersoll and John Brazil and then the climactic Hackamore Classic Cow Work to decide the title championships.

The National Reined Cow Horse Association, the governing body of cow horse competition, is responsible for promoting the sport, insuring high standards of competition and educating members and the public about the history and tradition of the cow horse. Through the support of a Corporate Partner family that includes Bayer Corporation, Bailey Hat Company, Bob's Custom Saddles, Cinch, Inc., Classic Equine, MD Barns, Platinum Performance, Inc., Nutrena, Skyline Silversmiths, Sundowner Trailers, Quarter Horse News & Western Horseman magazine, the Reno Hilton, horsecentral.com, Rios of Mercedes and the Silver Legacy, the association works to keep the vaquero tradition alive in today’s equine industry. For information on the National Reined Cow Horse Association, call 580-759-4949 or visit the NRCHA Official Web Site at www.nrcha.com.