The WRANGLER Horse and Rodeo News is an equine and rodeo publication with circulation in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota, Utah and Idaho.
Issue link: http://thewrangler.uberflip.com/i/1520612
The Judge: FROM THE BARREL PEN O THE ROPING PEN, WE ARE TRACKING THE SORY OF HOW THIS AMAZING ALL AROUND SALLION CAME ABOU. S EVS Judgement Day, (AKA "The Judge") has recently partnered up with Colby Lovell, proving he not only can do it all, but he can do it at an elite level. Fresh o« a nearly $60,000 payday at the Bob Feist Invitational, The Judge has been a hot topic in the barrel racing and roping industries. The 2015 gray stallion is a son of the great Judge Cash, out of Dancing Kaweah Jet. I was able to chat with several people who have played crucial roles in this great stallion's journey and the roads that led him to where he is today. Scottie Johnson, owner of Cross Country Ranch, standing Judge Cash, Flingin Dinero, Mulberry Fame, and Pieorities, was the breeder of SEVS Judgement Day. "I had a Judge Cash filly and someone wanted to trade the mare. I looked her up and realized she was a half sister to Louie's (Lisa Lockhart's An Oakie With Cash) dam. What really connected me is that Louie's dam is by Judge Cash. She was a great mare and I thought if I bred her, I might get a stallion prospect." "He hit the ground and looked the part, he was the perfect package. He was a Judge through and through, but his dam gave all that extra ability I think and a good mind. The mare was one of those wise beyond her years, we loved her. We would let her roam the place, she was like a mascot. She taught him well, she raised a really good boy." Johnson made the dižcult decision to sell the colt, because she felt like he deserved the chance to prove himself. "Back then I couldn't a«ord to send one o« to campaign them. Sterling Equine (Hull Lantern Ranches) bought colts and bred to my stallions every year, so I told them about him and they wanted him. They kept me updated on how he was doing and we've become like family." The Barbee family (Sterling Equine/Hull Lantern), purchased The Judge and chose Hilary Hilzendeger to campaign the colt in the barrel pen. He had a successful futurity showing, finishing the year in the top ten in the WPRA futurity world standings. Showing his versatility early on, The Judge also racked wins in pole bending his futurity year. Like Johnson, Hilary's husband Cody described The Judge as a very special individual from the beginning. "He was just a great horse and was going to be great, no matter who had him." Despite his humble take on their role, Cody and Hilary did an exceptional job training, showing, and exposing the stallion. Unfortunately, The Judge contracted pneumonia the winter following his futurity year. "They would call and tell us some nights that there was nothing else they could do, but the next morning By Teal Stoll Court is in Session SVE Judgment Day Photo Credit: Bee Silva Photography Hilary & The Judge Photo Credit: SJ Equine Photography