When Kathy Copus and her 5-year-old stallion Gunball Machine entered the arena 10th in the draw for the Bayer Select reining finals, last year’s Select world reining champion Kelly Bergo-Gully was leading with a 218.5, which she marked on Sailors Luv Freckles. But Kathy ended up tying that score, which brought her back five horses later for a runoff for the world championship title. Kathy and her 7-year-old mare were first to go. They turned in a good run. Next up was Kathy and Gunball Machine. Their first circles were a little shaky but after their first set of spins, things improved and the little bald-faced stallion thrilled the crowd. However, Kathy didn’t think it was good enough, and as she and Kelly waited as the last two in the arena to hear who was the reserve champion, Kathy moved Gunball Machine forward before the exhibitor number was announced. However, it wasn’t Kathy’s number of 245. Instead it was Kelly’s 155. Kathy stopped her horse and broke down in tears, amazed that she had won the gold trophy. Between hugs and congratulations, the Journal was finally able to catch up with Kathy to ask about her spectacular winning runs.
Q. Tell me about your first ride tonight.
The first ride today was incredible. He is just an amazing horse. He’s a little 5-year-old stud and he’s just amazing. He just does what you want and then afterwards, he goes, “OK. I’m done.” He doesn’t get overexcited or anything. He’s just fabulous.
Q. What about the second ride?
I was a little mad at him. I just wasn’t guiding correctly. I had a little bit of rough time in my first big circles, and he just wasn’t guiding good enough for me. I was more worried about one of the rollbacks, and I was concentrating more on that than I was anything else. But he came through where he needed to. He was a little tired that second time because I had pushed him so hard in that first run. So he was a little airy. Kelly’s horse had a longer time to rest.
Kathy Copus reacts to discovering she and her stallion, Gunball Machine, won the Select world championship reining title.
Q. You’re out there waiting to learn who won the run-off and before the announcer is finished, you start riding forward. Why was that?
I just assumed she won it because I had the bad guiding, and my trainer said I had a swap and so I figured, “OK. She won it.” When they said second place, I just went out and everyone was saying, “No! No! No!” I go, “Oh, my gosh!” So I started backing up and ripped his tail out. But it was just so exciting. I’m just thrilled to death. But I would have been just as thrilled with silver. I was just thrilled with anything. It was my first time here.
Q. This is your first world championship. What does it feel like?
It’s unbelievable. Just unbelievable. I’ve shown National Reining Horse Association and some local stuff. A week ago, I won the Jack and Linda Baker Finals in California. I’ve been showing in that for 13 years and I’ve had a lot of seconds but this was the first time I won it. This year is just great – just wonderful.
Q. What do you think about your first Bayer Select World?
It’s fun! It’s really fun! If I’m lucky, I’ll be back again next year, and my husband will be back, too. So it will be worth it.
Q. Tell me about Gunball Machine.
I bought him as a 3-year-old at the (NRHA) Futurity, and my former trainer brought him through his 4-year-old year and she retired. So I went with a new trainer, Tom Foran. And he’s just done wonderful with him. He’s only had him since March. I’m just thrilled. Love him to death.
Kathy and Gunball Machine marked a 218.5 in their first run, tying them with Kelly Bergo-Gully and Sailors Luv Freckles. They came back in the runoff to mark a 217.5 to beat Kelly's 216.
Q. Who would you like to thank?
I want to thank everybody! I want to thank my husband for buying me the horse two years ago. I want to thank Tom Foran for getting me here and just everybody that supports me. They’re just wonderful. And the other three contestants who are in our barn. I’m just thrilled that they made it top 15. That’s really exciting for all of us. We can go home on a happy note.
Fun Fact: Kathy and her husband, Dewayne, live in Santa Barbara, California, and own Montecito Inn , which was built in 1928 by Charlie Chaplin and Fanny Arbuckle. Their three grown sons run the hotel, which helps allow Kathy to get away to show her horses and Dewayne to spend time with his hotrods and his own horses.
WINNER STATS
Horse name: Gunball Machine Pedigree: 2003 sorrel stallion by Colonels Smoking Gun x Pearlly Handles by Gun Start Exhibitor: Kathy Copus, Santa Barbara, California Owner: Dewayne & Kathy Copus, Santa Barbara, California Trainer: Tom Foran, Simi Valley, California
Total class entries: 59
World Champion Prizes: Custom-designed gold-tone trophy, Montana Silversmiths buckle, neck wreath, gold medallion, Cripple Creek-logo jacket, world champion patch, Tex Tan product
