Jose Vazquez and his homebred mare Like Shiner added an NRHA Reserve World title to their already impressive show record.
By Kaycie Timm
Jose Vazquez and Like Shiner (Smart Like Juice x Wind Her Up Shiner) aren’t strangers to the show pen or the winner’s circle. Vazquez has been showing his homebred 2012 mare since she was a 3-year-old, earning over $148,600 LTE. Now, the pair has added the 2019 NRHA Non Pro Reserve World Championship to their achievements.
“She’s one of the horses I’ve been showing forever,” Vazquez shared. “She’s as good in the pen as she is at home. She’s really nice and kind. I wish could have more like her.”
Vazquez wasn’t aiming to take home a 2019 title, but the pair’s success landed them in reserve. In fact, Vazquez mostly showed in 7 and Up classes, several of which ran concurrently with the non pro division.
“I was very lucky to end up second,” Vazquez revealed. “I never thought I’d be this close. It’s special because it’s hard to win a title. You compete with hundreds of others. At the end of the year, it takes a lot of horse and a lot of luck. It doesn’t come easy. She did really well.”
Now, Vazquez plans to harvest embryos from his mare in hopes of producing another champion. However, Like Shiner’s show ring days are far from over.
“People ask me when I’m going to retire her, and I say, ‘when I get another one like her,’” Vazquez said with a laugh.
