The first time cow horse, reining, and cutting professional Todd Bergen laid eyes on Soula Jule Forever (Soula Jule Star x Forever Sparked by Shining Spark), he liked her conformation and beauty, but he wasn’t sure she’d be enough horse to compete at the top levels of NRCHA events. However, as the 2006 mare’s training progressed, he saw her talent and things began progressing. The pair made the finals of the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity in 2009, and then went on to win the Idaho Reined Cow Horse Association’s futurity a month later.
“She’s good-minded, really pretty, and has great conformation,” Bergen related. All traits one looks for in a potential broodmare.
From Contender to Producer
The mare moved to Garth and Amanda Gardiner’s ranch when Garth wanted a solid non pro mount for himself. He showed her as a non pro horse until 2013. Then her career shifted focus from being a contender to producing them, including 2017 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Reserve Champion, Bet Hes Black, by Bet Hesa Cat.
In 2020, “Roxanne” returned to the show pen with the Gardiners’ son Gage at the reins. He piloted the mare during the cow horse events at the Oklahoma High School Rodeo Association State Finals, qualifying for the National High School Rodeo Association National Finals. Even after her hiatus from competing, the pair qualified for the National High School Rodeo Finals. Bergen said the mare passes that trainability to her offspring today.
A Leading Dam
The mare, now owned by Teton Ridge Performance Horses, currently sits at No. 5 on NRCHA’s leading dams list, with offspring earnings of close to $600,000.
“The thing I see in all of her babies is that level of longevity,” Bergen shared. “They all seem to just go do their jobs—they have great natural ability. That goes a long way for a show horse and as a producer. She’s been crossed on many different sires, and her babies have been in many different types of training programs, and they all seem to work really well.”
The mare’s outstanding conformation certainly plays a role in her ability to bounce back from broodmare to performer. Bergen said she passes that to her offspring, too.
“Ability and conformation go a long way,” Bergen concluded. “It makes it easier on us as trainers, non pro riders, and on the horses.”