The Nebraska grand prix rider doesn’t have to jump-off to win in Colorado.

Karen Cudmore couldn’t lose.

She brought four horses to the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colo., to show in the Jack Daniels $45,700 Grand Prix on Jan. 19. And she turned in the only clear rounds of the night on Southern Pride and Ulano.

After weighing her options, Cudmore decided to forgo the jump-off and leave the two bay stallions tied for the blue.

“I felt bad not doing the jump-off because there was such a great crowd,” said Cudmore, who along with husband Blair Cudmore owns and operates a large scale breeding and training business, Heartland Farms, in Omaha, Neb. Cudmore planned to ship her horses to Wellington, Fla., to show at the Winter Equestrian Festival after the grand prix, so she erred on the side of caution.

Both Southern Pride, an 11-year-old Holsteiner stallion, and Ulano, an 8-year-old Holsteiner stallion, were born and raised by the Cudmores. Southern Pride’s oldest foal crop will be 3-year-olds this year, and the stallion has had the most grand prix experience of the four horses Cudmore rode in Denver.

“He had a very smooth and easy round,” said Cudmore. “I felt he was really ready to tackle the jump-off after that round, which didn’t happen, but he felt great.”

For Ulano, the young stallion Cudmore has brought up through the levels since starting him at local shows as a 5-year-old, this is his first win at grand prix level. The two stallions experienced success earlier in the week with a first- and second-placed finishes in the $10,000 Gambler’s Choice class as well.

Karen credits her husband Blair, whose father Glenn Cudmore is a former event rider, for his knowledge and expertise in their breeding program.

“Blair, especially, and I each have a good eye for good horses and talent,” said Karen, who trains all of Heartland Farms’ young horses. “We started with some good young stallions, mares and young horses, and everything we have built upon since then has led us to where we are now. Blair knows so much. He’s my ground person at all of the shows. It really helps your riding to ride quality horses; it makes you step up your game.”

With more than 300 horses on the farm, the Cudmores program includes starting about 14 2-year-olds every spring. They employ a team of workers who help take care of the farm while they are traveling and help with the breeding program and starting the young horses.

Although most of the 19 starters in the grand prix experienced trouble, Karen did not think the course extraordinarily difficult. “Sometimes it just goes like that and folks are unlucky,” said Karen. “This is a very special event for our family. We love coming to the Stock Show. My daughter [Brooke, 15] competed this year as well and won in the high junior/amateur-owner jumper division on Ceonto. We have lots of friends here, and the facility is wonderful with the best indoor arena and footing.”

Karen also rode Ceonto, the horse her daughter usually competes, in the grand prix, finishing eighth.

With the fastest four-fault round in the grand prix, John McConnell claimed third place with The Klein Ranch’s Carolina. The Kleins are also the proud owners of Cudmore’s fourth mount in the grand prix, a newly imported Dutch gelding, Total Touch, who finished in ninth place. Janine Carhart took both fourth and fifth place honors with Chris Falewitch’s Panache and the Phoenix Equestrain Center’s Lieutenant Kije, respectively.

“We always try to spread the word to other grand prix riders to try to attend this venue,” said Karen. “Not only do you have the prize money, but the show organizers also add back money in every class. The stabling is inexpensive and everything is very convenient from a working standpoint. The best of all is that Colorado and the Denver area have such an enthusiastic horse show following. I see the same kids lined up along the rail, cheering on the riders and horses year after year. Now when they come back to barn to see the horses or say congratulations I am amazed they are all still there cheering for the horses and for the sport in general.”