Australia the 2010 MT ISA Rodeo.
Stephanie Gard placed second with
Pebbles, an exceptional mare out of
Jessica Morn and bred at Santa Rio.
Together Jo and County Roc have
enjoyed tremendous success. Jo says,
"I purchased County Roc in 2009, it
took us a while to work each other
out, I think we both learn't a lot from
each other, now we have a bond that
is very strong he knows my every
move and we really are in sync with
each other.
This is a few of the major events he
has won,
•2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 Mt Isa
Barrel Racing Champion.
•2017 Nebo Rodeo Barrel Racing
Champion,
•2016 North Queensland Elite Rodeo
Barrel Racing Champion.
•2015 & 2016 Cloncurry Barrel
Racing Champion.
•2016 Runner Up Mt Isa Barrel
Racing Champion.
•2016 Runner Up ABHA 1D Barrel
Racing Champion.
•2015 ABHA 1D Barrel Racing
Champion.
•2015 Makin it Mega 1D Barrel
Racing Champion.
•2013 Flying H Invitational 1D
Barrel Racing Champion.
•Many times ABCRA & NFR
Qualifier."
When asked, how has Traditional
Roc contributed to the Barrel Racing
Horse Industry in Australia? Jo
answered, "Traditional Roc has
sired some of the best Barrel Racing
Horses in the country."
Jo commented on what makes
Traditional Roc's progeny such
standout athletes. "The Traditional
Roc x Morn Deck mares seemed to be
an amazing combination."
The 1st Annual Flying H Ranch
Invitational Barrel Race held at the
prestigious Australian Equine
and Livestock Events Centre in
Tamworth was won by Jamie-Lee
Williams and Rocs Classical Morn
Q-53741. A 2001 chestnut gelding by
Traditional Roc and from Vogue Of
Morn Q-24808, a daughter of Morn
Deck and Belford Quarter Grecia,
bred at Santa Rio.
When asked what makes the progeny
of Traditional Roc such dominating
barrel racing horses, Mathea Usher
comments, "When crossed with the
mares by Morn Deck, Traditional Roc
foals are the be all and end all of the
barrel racing industry. They have
dominated barrel racing. I believe
that the speed of the Traditional Roc
foals comes from Morn Deck and his
incredible pedigree."
To cross with the daughters of
Traditional Roc and Morn Deck at
Santa Rio, Mathea acquired the
stallions Flashy Pepto Q-53998, a
2002 chestnut son of Peptos Stylish
Oak (imp) Q-39269 and Freckles
Bonita Two Q-30651 and Streak
OLena Q-33346, the son of Roc
O'Lena (imp) Q-1662 and Holiday
Streak (imp) Q-3566. Streak OLena
has earned 201.5 AQHA Points
and has accumulated Register of
Merit's in Halter, Trail, Performance,
Hunter Under Saddle, Trail Class
and Western Pleasure. He has
also been awarded with an AQHA
Superior Horse for Halter and an
AQHA Quarter Horse Champion for
Performance. Santa Rio are awaiting
the first foal crop by Streak OLena
from their Traditional Roc and Morn
Deck daughters. Santa Rio have
also retained Traditional Spinner
Q-58943, a 2005 son of Traditional
Roc and Magnolia Morn Q-16912, a
daughter of Morn Deck and Roxanna
T Q-6901 (Doc T Bar (imp) Q-1341 x
Roxana Bar (imp) Q-1158, a proven
cross in the barrel racing arena time
and time again for over two decades.
Traditional Roc was awarded the
Australian Barrel Horse Association
Sire Recognition Award in both 2016
and 2017, an award that was
introduced in 2016. The progeny that
secured this award for the second
time for both Traditional Roc and
Mathea, were;
•County Roc, owned by Jo Caldwell
•Traditional Nefertiti Q-51404 (from
Morns Cleopatra Q-14445), owned
by Katina Matthews
•Rocs Royal Rebel Q-62719 (from
Royal Denny Q-25169), owned by
Ryley Menz
•Salty Roc A2-1612 (from Olympic
Morn A1-1580), owned by Jackie
Learmonth
•Rocs Royal Princess Q-56922 (from
Morns Dutchess Q-43649), owned
by Trish Johnston
•Cowboy Roc Q-37829 (from Ima Roc
Star Q-10615) ridden by Brianna
Learmonth.
Santa Rio Quarter Horse Stud's super
sire Traditional Roc passed away
on the 27th of July, 2017 in his barn.
Traditional will be sadly missed
by the Usher family and all who
had the opportunity to know this
extraordinary Quarter Horse sire.
Traditional was laid to rest beside
Morn Deck under a kurrajong tree
at Mathea's home in Parkes, New
South Wales.
"It comes with a heavy heart that we say farewell to our outstanding
wonderful natured stallion, Traditional Roc. At a grand age thirty-
three this year. Traditional has sired a multitude of champions
throughout his lifetime, with a record hard to match. He wasn't just a
horse, he was part of our family, Rest In Peace old mate," said Mathea.
Adele Edwards & Rocs Rager Q-37465
Photograph By Kylie R. Melrose.
Rocs Royal Cowboy (By Traditional
Roc) Q-42792 & Helen McVicar.
Photographs By Kylie R. Melrose.
Page 34 • The Australian Quarter Horse Magazine • November • December • 2017
Cowboy Roc Q-37829, by Traditional Roc.
Ridden by Emily Learmonth. Photographs
By Kylie R. Melrose.