In Step with Golden State

Newsletter of the
Golden State Versatility Ranch Horse Association

MARCH 2021

Happy New Year to our Versatility family!

I hope everyone has been making the most of all the dry weather we have had so far this year.

While Covid is still with us, we are figuring out ways to get our shows held and have managed to come up with a full calendar. Please check our GSVRHA.org website, or this newsletter, for current 2021 listings.

Unfortunately, the popular March Show in San Martin has been cancelled due to the COVID restrictions in Santa Clara County. The Ione show April 16-18, now put on by Running T Ranch, is going to be our first show of the season. This covered arena and grounds has undergone some great improvements such as permanent stalls and water!

Do you remember when we announced that we were giving away 3 saddles to the top point earners in Novice, Limited and the combined Intermediate and Advanced divisions? Well, then Covid hit and we could only get 3 shows completed for the 2020 season. The Board of Directors has voted to carry over the scores from those 3 shows and roll them into the tabulations for 2021 shows. Our saddles will be given out at the awards banquet along with all the other awesome All Around Awards for each division. You will be able to see your scores on our website shortly after each show and a running total will let you know where you stand.

To start off the new season I wanted to make you all aware of AQHA and/or WSVRHA rule changes that may affect you. Here is a quick run down but for more detail you can check the newly updated rulebook for 2021 at WSVRHA.com.

  1. We now officially have a Limited Open subdivision. Check it out and see if it applies to you.
  2. AQHA has initiated a new ROOKIE division that is like our NOVICE division. Now when you enter a WSVRHA show that runs a concurrent AQHA show, you no longer have to enter 2 different cow classes to be in the all around.
  3. There are now youth options for each division.
  4. Intermediate Division riders are no longer required to step out of this class. You may stay indefinitely.

All of this is such exciting news! VRH is growing across the country and just keeps getting better. Here’s to a great 2021- Let’s go have some fun!

Your President,
Kathy Torres

GS Members Out & About

Catching Up With Laurel Laba

Laurel Laba

Many of you will remember VRH competitor Laurel Laba who rode with our president Kathy Torres. Recently she and her husband Mark moved to Florence, Montana to retire. She agreed to an interview for this newsletter.

  • So Laurel, why Montana? We reached our long term goal to retire and chose Florence, in the Bitterroot Valley of Western Montana, moving in September 2020.
  • What about those Montana winters? It’s been quite an adjustment for my California horses. Fortunately this winter has been relatively mild. Their winter wardrobe has grown by necessity-they each have three different weight winter blankets plus neck covers.
  • How is it different trail riding in winter? Many horses have snow pads to prevent snowballs in the horse’s hooves. Some riders use bohrium nails in the shoes for traction.
  • How about show horses? Sliders can be a challenge as they are dangerous for outdoor turnout. Often show horses stay indoors all winter and riders need access to indoor arenas.
  • How’s the VRH scene there? We don’t have a local club so VRH enthusiasts must attend AQHA events. Sometimes it’s necessary to travel quite a distance for a VRH show.
  • Where was your latest show? We just returned from the Black Hills Stock Show in Rapid City, South Dakota. There were over 40 entries and professionals such as Matt Koch from Colorado, and Kirk Hall from Wyoming, were there competing in the Open/Cowboy Division.
  • How did you do? VRH Rookie All-Around!
  • What do you want your California friends to know about your new home. Versatility is alive and well East of the Rockies. The shows have a fun, relaxed atmosphere where everyone was willing to help one another.

Ride for the Brand

Golden State Logowear Apparel

You too can look as cute as Kelly Roemer or Andrea Pasek. Let everyone know you’re proud to be a member of Golden State Versatility Ranch Horse. Click here to shop.

Kelly modeling the GS vest

Andrea wearing a GS cap

Youth VRH Schooling Show

Co-Sponsored by Golden State and the Carmel Valley Trail & Saddle Club

A youth schooling show will be held March 27 (rain date April 3) at the Carmel Valley Trail & Saddle Club. There will be four classes–Flagwork, Ranch Riding, Ranch Trail, Ranch Reining–and three divisions–“Never Shown in VRH Show”, “Have Shown in VRH Show”, and “Walk-Trot.” If you are a GS member you will have gotten an email with the details. View the GS Calendar for more information or to enter online.

Christian Scanlan and Ole Pal Hal

Odds & Ends

Board Member Challenge

In last month’s newsletter readers were challenged to name all nine of the GSVRHA Board Members. The first successful member would get a $25 Visa card. No one was successful, but special kudos to Heather Bryant who tried just about every iteration of members possible! Our Board Members are:

  • Kathy Torres, President
  • Andrea Pasek, Vice President
  • Kelly Saunders, Treasurer
  • Meghan Carr, Secretary
  • Cori Vowell, Member
  • Jen Harden, Member
  • Kim Schnittger, Member
  • Dawn Poston, Member
  • Sarah Clifford, President Emeritus

Need Your Help

Please send ideas for our newsletter. Also pictures!!! Around the barn, schooling, at shows, goofy horse pictures, dogs, candids, send what you have. All feedback is welcomed. Contact Dawn Poston at [email protected].

ERRATA!

There was a date error regarding the Golden Hills Farm Show in Paso Robles in last month’s newsletter. The correct dates are July 9-11, 2021.

2021 Show Dates

Date Name Location Show Rep
March 27 CVT&SC/GSVRHA: Youth Schooling Show Carmel Valley, CA Dawn Poston
April 16-18 GSVRHA: Running T Ranch Horse Roundup Ione, CA Jen Harden
May 21-23 GSVRHA/AQHA: Central Coast Ranch Horse Classic Carmel Valley, CA Kelly Saunders
June 17-20 AQHA: VRH World Show Guthrie, OK n/a
July 9-11 GSVRHA: Golden Hills Farm VRH Show Paso Robles, CA Sarah Clifford
August 13-15 GSVRHA: Carmel Valley GSVRHA Clinic & Show Carmel Valley, CA Meghan Carr
Sept 4-5 GSVRHA: Paso Pastures Playoff Paso Robles, CA Dawn Poston
Oct 1-3 GSVRHA: Central Coast Fall Classic San Luis Obispo, CA Mike Lund
Oct 21-24 WSVRHA Year End Finals Las Vegas, NV Kathy Torres

Show Representatives = Show Helpers

  • Who are the Show Reps?
    GSVRHA Board Members
  • How else can I find out who the Show Rep is for a specific show?
    • On the entry form
    • Facebook posting
    • Ask the show manager
    • Name of Show Rep will be posted at each show office
  • What is the role of the Show Rep?
    The role of the Show Rep is to be a resource for the show manager from beginning to end of the process, and to act as a liaison between competitors/judges/show management. The show rep is there to help make the show and showing as problem free as possible.

Quote of the Month

Theodore Roosevelt: 26th president of the United States

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

Colonel Theodore Roosevelt of the Rough Riders, 1898