At just 3 years of age, TRR Dual Smart Olena won the USA Reining Cow Horse Association Non Pro Snafflebit Futurity. The colt known as Chief was ridden by Abbie Phillips, who is on record as saying his ability and attitude gave her confidence.
Chief is from a family of champions. His full brother, a gelding called Duals Lucky Charm, won the 2016 NRCHA Snafflebit Futurity and has earnings over $270,000 (US).
He is of course by $9 Million Sire (US) Dual Smart Rey, and is out of a Pepcid mare called TRR Ms Pepcid Olena. Pepcid is the sire of money earners across disciplines including cutting, reining and ranch horse.
How Chief came to Australia is an unusual story. His owners Marcus Curr and daughter Georgia Curr, say that it was a stroke of luck more than any intention that resulted in them importing him.
Georgia was in hospital in Brisbane for quite a while and was getting bored. She said, “We had always talked about one day importing a horse, so I just decided to ask Pete Ryan to see if there was anything around that we might like.
“I thought it would take something like 12 months to find a horse that suited campdrafting, with size and ability to chase a cow. Pete came back to me after only 2 weeks.”
Chief wasn’t actually for sale. However when approached his owners were receptive to selling him. Marcus was unable to travel to the USA at the time and relied on videos, and having friends go and see him, as well as vet checks. He admits he took a risk, but is happy that it paid off.
Marcus felt that Chief ticked all the boxes for what they were looking for. “He was just what we wanted and it just felt right’’. There was really only 1 thing Marcus didn’t like about the horse – his colour, having been clear that he did not want to buy a chestnut.
What Marcus really liked about the colt was his type, the way he travelled and his ability. He preferred to look at reining horses over cutting trained colts, because he wanted to know the horse he bought could chase a cow.
“He is more of a Stock Horse type, he has good rein and nice front end. He travels well and is definitely not a downhill little quarter horse.”
Marcus describes Chief as having a big stop, smooth way of travelling, and being very switched on and cowy.
Chief arrived in Australia in January, 2022. He was allowed time to settle in and the plan was not to rush him into competition or breeding, and was only bred to mares owned by the Curr family, and a handful of outside mares in early 2022.
He took everything in his stride and has never been fazed by much. Marcus and Georgia say he is easy for his age. He is very cool, wants to play and is fun to be with. He enjoys being around people and is smart and quiet.
The plan as at May, 2022 is for Jon Templeton to prepare and compete on Chief at the Cloncurry Stockmans Challenge. From then he will more than likely enter other Challenges and make a transition to Campdrafting when Marcus and Georgia feel the time is right.
