NCHA METALLIC CAT SUMMER CUTTING SPECTACULAR Brad Hauerland and Metallic Dual Cat took the Limited Amateur Classic/ Challenge Championship with a 217.5.
Molly holds special sentimental value to the couple because her dam, Starlight Starbrite, carried Spud to the Reserve Championship in the 2011 NCHA Futurity Limited Open. “She’s so much like her mother, we’re going to keep her,” Sheehan said. “We’ve been offered [to sell her], but we’re going to keep her and breed her.” Bo Buckley of Salado, Texas, took the Reserve title and $3,453 with a 218 aboard Pawzitively Smart (Smart Sugar Badger x Catalena Lights x High Brow Cat). —by Lillian Kent
LIMITED AMATEUR CLASSIC/CHALLENGE
Even the bright lights inside the Will Rogers Coliseum couldn’t phase cutting newcomer Brad Hauerland, who stepped into the herd during the Limited Amateur Classic/Challenge finals with a steady hand and emerged victorious. Hailing from Columbus, Texas, Hauerland has been cutting for less than three years, and his mare Metallic Dual Cat is only his second cutting partner. The duo advanced to the finals after scoring a 216.5 in the go-round. 66
CUTTING HORSE CHATTER • SEPTEMBER 2020
“I was really proud of my mare,” Hauerland said. “We had a good finals run. I studied the cows real hard and looked for what was fresh.” Scoring a 217.5, Hauerland and Metallic Dual Cat (Metallic Cat x Duallys Little Lady x Dual Pep) earned $1,753. The mare was bred by Whitley Ranch LP of Brenham, Texas, and was purchased by Hauerland during her 2-year-old year. She now has more than $22,000 in earnings to her name, according to the NCHA. “My family has always raised horses and had cutting horses, but I’ve never had the opportunity to show,” Hauerland explained, “It’s always been a dream of mine to do it.” He added, “This is my second time to show in the Will Roger, my second time at the Summer Spectacular.” Hauerland owns an auction barn in Columbus and ranches for a living. Horses are an integral part of life for him and his family.
Safari Smooth Cat and Astrid Chacon scored a 217 for the Limited Amateur Classic/Challenge Reserve Championship.
“My kids have started [cutting] and shown an interest in it,” he said. “My family has always been behind me, and Clay Cerny and his wife, Jodie, really supported me.” According to Hauerland, he’s even more hooked on the sport. His three children—Will, 16, Hudson, 14, and Josie, 8—along with his wife, Tana, help him practice throughout the week. “They sacrifice what they want to do on the weekends to go and watch me [compete]. I’m very thankful for my kids and I’m thankful for my wife, Tana, for supporting me in whatever I want to do,” Hauerland said. “I’ve always wanted to do this, ever since I was a kid. I never had the opportunity to do it and I finally got old enough,” he said. Hauerland edged out Reserve Champions Astrid Chacon and Safari Smooth Cat (Smooth As A Cat x Safari Fever x Playin Safari) by a half-point. Chacon took home $1,668 for the performance. —by Lillian Kent