Spark Plug Cat

April 30, 2020

“Cat” is a 1998 AQHA Bay Mare

Spark Plug Cat, shown here in 2019 at 21 years old, has highly talented and versatile foals for ranch or competition.

Spark Plug Cat has earned her place as the matriarch of our broodmares. Cat is sired by the legendary stallion Shining Spark. Her dam is NRHA money earner Catalyst Lady Di by Taris Catalyst, a Doc Tari son who was the 1983 World Champion Open Jr. Cutter (NCHA LTE $181,373).

Cat was a broodmare when we purchased her in 2006. We wanted to prove her talent to us, so we invested in a few months reined cow horse training, which she excelled at immediately. Her limited showing in 2007 and 2008 was very successful, with Cat earning her AQHA ROM and 10.5 points; NRCHA North Central Region 2007 Open Two-Rein high point, and champion Open Senior Working Cow Horse at the AQHA Region II Experience.

Then she came to the ranch. With her phenomenal disposition, strong conformation and never-ending work ethic, Cat quickly became a favorite. Deb chose Cat as her personal ranch horse and continued to show her occasionally at local open events.Cat helped young and inexperienced riders become confident on the range and in the showpen.

Spark Plug Cat has given Long Pines 7 foals. She is the dam of Frexseptional (by Sir Fred Von Freckles x Freckles Playboy) one of Sterling’s favorite ranch horses who joined our broodmares in 2021, Judges Chambers (by Judgemental), who did very well in versatility and cow horse competitions before becoming a rope horse in Colorado, and the next 5 by Bettin Yer Smart. Betting Limits and Bet Ya Shine are top ranch horses. Inside Bet was purchased as a weanling as a rope horse prospect. Yer Destiny Calls, born in the worse blizzard of 2020 and protected by Cat so well that she only froze the very tips of her ears, is the only filly and will be staying at Long Pines.

Cat’s last foal, born in 2021, is a sassy colt who is sure to make his mamma proud. At 23 years old, Cat deserves her rest on the range.

AQHA Registration

Featured Offspring

Competition Highlights

AQHA Open Performance ROM
Overall Open Two-Rein Champion – 2007 SDRCHA/NRCHA, Rapid City, SD
1^st Ranch Horse 6+ Years – 2007 Cow Country Quarter Horse Association
1^st Open Sr. Working Cow Horse – 2008 AQHA Show, Rapid City, SD
5^th in Money Earnings & 9th in Points – 2007 NRCHA North Central Region Year End Open Two-Rein
3^rd Open Sr. Reining – 2008 NRHA/AQHA Show, Rapid City, SD
4^th Open Sr. Reining – 2008 AQHA Show, Rapid City, SD
4^th – 2007 Little Missouri Madness Reined Cow Horse
7^th Open Ranch Horse – 2008 Black Hills Stock Show

Additional Visuals

Yer Destiny Calls was born in the pasture as a spring storm was moving through. She was born tough and we think she’s a keeper.

Spark Plug Cat with her 2019 colt by Bettin Yer Smart.

Long Pines invested a few months cow horse training when Spark Plug Cat was about 8 years old, and she excelled immediately, earning her AQHA ROM in about a year of limited showing.

This powerful mare ran down calves in the pasture and in the showpen.

Even though Cat never had any barrel training, she took care of this young rider who wanted to give it a try.

Judges Chambers, 2014 son of Spark Plug Cat by Judgemental, was sold to Colorado for a rodeo horse.

Bet Ya Shine, the 2017 colt by Spark Plug Cat by Bettin Yer Smart.

One of Spark Plug Cat's first foals is Frexceptional by Sir Fred Von Freckle. "Gator" has packed into the mountains, pasture doctored calves, cows and bulls, calved in the worst blizzards and knows every inch of the Long Pines ranch. (Debbie Hamilton photo)