NCHA Open Horse of the Year

BY JENNIFER HORTON

After claiming the 2020 NCHA Open Futurity championship, All Spice jumped to the lead for Open Horse of the Year. In less than one year of competing, All Spice earned $382,281.

Bred by Royce Stallcup, All Spice (Once In A Blu Boon x Show Biz Kitty x High Brow Cat) was owned by the Holmes and Hill Partnership.

Started by Stallcup, All Spice was placed with NCHA Hall of Fame trainer Adan Banuelos to prepare the mare for her aged event career, beginning with the NCHA Open Futurity.

“From the get-go, she was unbelievable,” said Banuelos. “I didn’t know it was possible for a horse to be that good. She would sacrifice anything to hold that cow.”

Her Open Futurity championship was the first Futurity win for Banuelos. He had earned the reserve championship for two years prior, including one with Badboonarising, a full brother to All Spice, in 2018, making this win particularly sweet.

“She is so beautiful,” Banuelos said. “She’s a big, physical mare...she could get so low and she was so smart on a cow.”

In July 2021, the mare was sold to Teton Ridge, where she now headlines as an elite broodmare.

“We are thrilled All Spice is being recognized as Open Horse of the Year,” said John Sanislow, Teton Ridge general manager. “She is an incredible asset, and we are excited about the future of her offspring.”

In addition to the Open Futurity championship, All Spice took impressive wins as a four-year-old at the Cattlemen’s Open Derby, El Rancho Futurity Open Derby and the PCCHA Futurity Open Derby.

“All Spice is the most pure-hearted and kind mare you’ll find,” Banuelos said. “She always wanted to do the right thing by the cow. I was second to her, the cow was first. She was extremely smart - the full package.”

Banuelos appreciates Gail Holmes and the Hills for putting the mare with him.

“I’m thankful for their trust, for my team, my help and my family for making this possible.”★