Precious Metals

Copperton Tops Equinety Platinum Medal Futurity Heeling Preliminaries with Joseph Harrison
Copperton is “one of the best 4-year-old heel horses” Joseph Harrison’s ever ridden, and he had his chance to shine at the Platinum Medal Futurity Heeling Preliminaries.
Joseph Harrison ropes on Copperton
Joseph Harrison got to show off "one of the best 4-year-old heel horses I've ever ridden" at the 2023 Platinum Medal Futurity. Photo by Andersen C Bar C.

Joseph Harrison and 4-year-old gelding Copperton navigated a challenging field in the Equinety Platinum Medal Futurity Heeling preliminaries on Friday Sept. 1, 2023, emerging victorious with a composite of 874.46.

“This is one of the very best 4-year-old heel horses I’ve ever been on in my life,” Harrison, a six-time NFR qualifier said. “He is super cool. He doesn’t get worried in the box, and you’re never asking him to go. You’re always just letting him cruise.”

Copperton is sired by Spots Hot and out of Copperish, a cutting mare with more than $185,000 in lifetime earnings. He was started as a part of Lloyd Cox’s cutting program before being offered to Harrison to train for the roping futurities.

“Lloyd’s my neighbor and he had a couple of horses he wanted me to come look at, and this was the one that I picked,” Harrison said. “I’ve had success on cutting-bred horses. My old horse I rode at the NFR five times Main Street Boon. That horse was from Phil Rapp’s program.”

Copperton’s Platinum Medal Futurity Heeling sidepot checks:

3/4 Year Old Sidepot – No. 1, $2,512

Royal Crown Sidepot – No. 1, $2,838

Copperton’s talents

Harrison expects Copperton—who’s already 14.3 ‘and then some’—to continue growing and maturing as a competitor.

“To be honest, a lot of the time I’m not doing a lot up there,” Harrison said. “I’m just joy-sticking, holding the bridle reins. I hardly ever have to kick him. He’s so fast that you’re usually saying, ‘Hey buddy, it’s ok, stay right here.’”

Harrison said he usually “keeps everything in front of younger heel horses,” but with Copperton he can bump him further up with less concern about missing the turn.

“I’ve never had him miss the turn,” Harrison said. “When you put your hand down and tell him to go get in his spot, that’s where he goes. He’s real tied to the ground and butt-draggy. I am very lucky to have him and appreciative to have him.”

Harrison rode Copperton on the head side, too, but says the horse’s true talent is on the heel side.

“He always wants to look into the cow, and he doesn’t want to cow off and pull his shoulders away, which may be why he didn’t make it as a cutter,” Harrison said.

Copperton was a little looky when Harrison first got him in the barn but has settled in now. Harrison’s theory is that the gelding was so willing to please that any time there was a chance he’d get in trouble, he would get worried.

Copperton and Harrison will compete in the Equinety Platinum Medal Heeling Short Round Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023.

The competition will be streamed live for free on Roping.com.

Platinum Medal Futurity Preliminary Heeling Results

PlacingRider NameOwnerHorse NameSire x Dam (Dam Sire)BreederAverage Score
Platinum Short Round
1JOSEPH HARRISONCOX AND MOORE PARTNERSHIPCOPPERTONSPOTS HOT x COPPERISH
(METALLIC CAT)
2019 STALLION
JIMMIE MILLER SMITH874.46
2MILES BAKERRELENTLESS REMUDA LLCLITTLE RUF GUNNERNOT RUF AT ALL x GUNNERS EASTER LILLY
(COLONELS SMOKING GUN)
2019 GELDING
VAUGHN C ZIMMERMAN872.78
3JOSEPH HARRISONPREMIER ROPE HORSES LLCNU ONE TIME BLUESONE TIME PEPTO x NU BAY BE BLUE
(NU CASH)
2019 STALLION
RYAN O SELLERS872.55
4DAKOTA KIRCHENSCHLAGERKALEB DRIGGERSCR PEPTO TUFF LENAWOODY BE TUFF x CR CATALENA CAT
(HIGH BROW CAT)
2019 GELDING
CENTER RANCH871.33
5TREVOR BRAZILESOLO SELECT/RELENTLESS REMUDAPRIDE AND JOYYSTEVIE REY VON x FUN N FANCY FREE
(PEPTOBOONSMAL)
2019 STALLION
TY M SMITH868.74
6COLE DAVISONMICHELLE CANNONA LIL STYLISHDOCS STYLISH OAK x LIL LENA LONG LEGS
(SMART LITTL LENA)
2019 MARE
MICHELLE CANNON866.33
7BILLIE JACK SAEBENSSOUTHERN RANCHESHELLUVA TIMEHICKORY HOLLY TIME x JEST A SPARKNSHINE
(SHINING SPARK)
2019 MARE
DONALD J MURPHY865.22
8BILLIE JACK SAEBENSSOUTHERN RANCHESTHE NOTORIOUS BIGCD LIGHTS x DT SUGAR CHEX WHIZ
(SHINERS LENA CHEX)
2018 STALLION
DIXON FLOWERS QUARTER HORSES864.52
Gold Short Round
9DANIEL REEDCHRIS OR MICHELLE SUTTONPROBABLY SMART N NUSMART NU SHINER x PROBABLY RED BUCK
(TOW EYED RED BUCK)
2019 GELDING
MIKE IVAN EGDOM863.77
10COLE DAVISONJB6 LLCPARA MI BOONBOON TOO SUEN x PARA MI AMOR
(CATS MERADA)
2019 MARE
REED GRAFF863.13
11JOSEPH HARRISONBOBBY E LEWISTIME TO GLOHICKORY HOLLY TIME x LOOK AT HER GLO
(CD O CODY)
2019 STALLION
BOBBY E LEWIS861.96
12BILLIE JACK SAEBENSPATRICK GIDEOND-F BET HESA LEGENDBET HESA CAT x GUNNA BE A LEGEND
(LITTLE LENAS LEGEND)
2018 GELDING
DIXON FLOWERS QUARTER HORSES859.55
13JACE NIELSENJACE NIELSENMIDNIGHT CATMAGNETICAT x NIGHT STAR ANGEL
(STARLIGHT MIDNIGHT)
2019 MARE
RODNEY & MIDGE WARD859.12
14MILES BAKERRELENTLESS REMUDA LLCGUNNERS NITE TRAINGUNNERS SPECIAL NITE x BELLE STARR DUN IT
(HOLLYWOOD DUN IT)
2018 GELDING
TURNABOUT FARMS INC854.81
15JACE NIELSENSHAWN WHITTENEYES ON A DIVADUKES N DIVAS x REDS BLONDIE
(EYES ON RED)
2018 STALLION
PITZER RANCH853.79
16COLE DAVISONSTEVE & MONICA ZIMARIKTHE LONE STARA SPARKLING VINTAGE x NEXT STEP TO CASH
(WIMPYS LITTLE STEP)
2019 GELDING
SILVER SPURS EQUINE849.35
Silver Short Round
17DAKOTA KIRCHENSCHLAGEREXCLUSIVE EQUINEDT HICKORYS MISTYCATHICKORY HOLLY TIME x CAT MIST
(HIGH BROW CAT)
2017 MARE
DT HORSES LLC848.11
18BILLIE JACK SAEBENSSLICK ROBISONTUFF DESIRESWOODY BE TUFF x DESIRES NU CATILLAC
(HIGH BROW CAT)
2017 GELDING
BLAKLEY COLGROVE847.76
19SLICK ROBISONSLICK ROBISONBAMA MONTANABAMACAT x SHORT CANDY
(SHORTY LENA)
2018 GELDING
KELLY SCHAAR847.54
20NICK PULLARAWENDY S AND CARL C CHRISTIANSHINEY NU RESORTNU N SHINEY x MEXICAN RESORT
(POPULAR RESORTFIGURE)
2019 MARE
MATTHEW K & ROBIN N WIKUM846.79
21ZANE BRUCELLOYD BURGESSTWENTYFOURCARATGUNSHOLLYWOOD COOL GUN x MISS RAZZ BERRIES
(DUALIN RAZZ)
2018 MARE
MARK WILCHER841.85
22NICK PULLARAKEVIN & WANDA MCINTOSHJ P BLU METALLICONCE IN A BLU BOON x MATALLIC MAGIC
(METALLIC CAT)
2018 STALLION
JASON PARKER839.59
23DAKOTA KIRCHENSCHLAGERDT HORSES LLCDT HICKORYS PLAYTIMEHICKORY HOLLY TIME x PLAY LIKE CLAY
(FRECKLES PLAYBOY)
2017 MARE
DT HORSES LLC839.3
24BILLIE JACK SAEBENSSEAN LEHANEDF AMERICAN STARLIGHTSHADY LIL STARLIGHT x DT AMERICAN HONEY
(SHINERS LENA CHEX)
2018 MARE
DIXON FLOWERS QUARTER HORSES838.89

 Platinum Medal Sidepot results

PlacingRider NameOwnerHorse NameSire x Dam (Dam Sire)BreederAverage ScoreOwner PayProgram Pay
1TREVOR BRAZILESOLO SELECT/RELENTLESS REMUDAPRIDE AND JOYYSTEVIE REY VON x FUN N FANCY FREE
(PEPTOBOONSMAL)
2019 STALLION
TY M SMITH868.74$3,652.00$3,652.00
2BILLIE JACK SAEBENSPATRICK GIDEOND-F BET HESA LEGENDBET HESA CAT x GUNNA BE A LEGEND
(LITTLE LENAS LEGEND)
2018 GELDING
DIXON FLOWERS QUARTER HORSES859.55$2,175.00$2,175.00
3BILLIE JACK SAEBENSSEAN LEHANEDF AMERICAN STARLIGHTSHADY LIL STARLIGHT x DT AMERICAN HONEY
(SHINERS LENA CHEX)
2018 MARE
DIXON FLOWERS QUARTER HORSES838.39$1,450.00$1,450.00

Owner/Rider Sidepot results

PlacingRider NameOwnerHorse NameSire x Dam (Dam Sire)BreederAverage ScoreOwner Pay
1BILLIE JACK SAEBENSSOUTHERN RANCHESHELLUVA TIMEHICKORY HOLLY TIME x JEST A SPARKNSHINE
(SHINING SPARK)
2019 MARE
DONALD J MURPHY865.22$648.00
2BILLIE JACK SAEBENSSOUTHERN RANCHESTHE NOTORIOUS BIGCD LIGHTS x DT SUGAR CHEX WHIZ
(SHINERS LENA CHEX)
2018 STALLION
DIXON FLOWERS QUARTER HORSES864.52$432.00

Royal Crown Sidepot results

PlacingRider NameHorse NameSire x Dam (Dam Sire)BreederAverage ScoreOwner PayStallion PayBreeder Pay
1JOSEPH HARRISONCOPPERTONSPOTS HOT x COPPERISH
(METALLIC CAT)
2019 STALLION
JIMMIE MILLER SMITH874.46$2,838.00$608.00$608.00
2MILES BAKERLITTLE RUF GUNNERNOT RUF AT ALL x GUNNERS EASTER LILLY
(COLONELS SMOKING GUN)
2019 GELDING
VAUGHN C ZIMMERMAN872.78$1,703.00$365.00$365.00
3JOSEPH HARRISONNU ONE TIME BLUESONE TIME PEPTO x NU BAY BE BLUE
(NU CASH)
2019 STALLION
RYAN O SELLERS872.55$1,135.00$243.00$243.00
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