From the barrel pen to the roping pen, we are tracking the story of how this amazing all around stallion came about!
SEVS 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 all at an elite level.
Fresh off 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 a 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 half sister to Louie’s (Lisa Lochart’s A Oakie With Cash) dam. What reall 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 the 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 difficult decision to sell the colt because she felt like he deserved the chance to prove himself. “Back then I couldn’t afford to send one off 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 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, Hillary’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 he’d be better. There was a lot of time we didn’t think he was going to pull through, let alone be able to compete,” Cody remarked.
After a long stay under veterinary care and further care with the Hilzendegers, The Judge made a full recovery. Due to the intensity of his illness and concerns for his well-being and longevity, the Hilzendegers chose to focus on heading with the stallion. Coincidentally, while Hilary had been competing at barrel futurities, Cody had roped the sled and see a lot of promise in the roping pen on The Judge.
”He could just do anything.”
In 2022, Cody showed him at the Royal Crown in Arizona, winning the limited open heading derby.
Ultimately, the Barbee family decided to sell the stallion. Johnson felt if they put him in a sale, they could get better exposure. The sale held in conjunction with the Barrel Futurties of America in November is the pinnacle of barrel horse sales and Johnson felt that would be an ideal fit.
Johnson quipped, “We had the experience of a lifetime. He sells and we find out within an hour it was this incredible roper!”
Industry titan, Solo Select Horses will be managing the breeding of The Judge while Lovell maintains his competition schedule for 2024. His foals are eligible for Pink Buckle, Ruby Buckle, Riata Buckle, Young Guns, and the Royal Crown.
Lovell and co-owners Clint Sumers and Griffin Marshall will Breed personal mares to the stallion for 2025 foals and they accepted public mares on an application basis. Breeding applicants closed April 15, but there is a wait list. His 2024 and Summers, a switch-ended, has qualified for the NFR previously on the heeling side. He felt that the experience and seasoning The Judge would gain in a season with Lovell was invaluable.
From barrel horse, some things are simply meant to be. The Judge has had an incredible team behind him from the beginning, from a greener and trainers who believed he was special, to competitors who have given him the chance to shine on the largest stages in the roping world. We look forward to seeing what this incredible stallion accomplishes.
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