In Step with Golden State
Newsletter of the
Golden State Versatility Ranch Horse Association
SEPTEMBER 2020
Letter from the President
Hello to all GSVRHA /WSVRHA members and friends,
If you have made it through this year with a smile on your face then I want to shake your hand , or bump elbows, or maybe just wave from 6 feet! If you have had your fair share of ups and downs, I want to tell you about a show you can get excited about.
We have prepared our WSVRHA Ranch Horse Challenge in Las Vegas at Horseman’s Park to be one huge, fun event! Forget about year-end stuff this year and just come have fun and win some amazing prizes. (WSVRHA is combining 2020 & 2021 for year-end awards and next year we will again have a Championship show. They will be taking your best 5 shows for counting toward year end.)
It’s all outdoors and there is plenty of room to spread out. This will be a double show for WSVRHA, AQHA and Ranching Heritage. The dates are October 22/23 & October 24/25. This can count as 2 shows for each of those 3 designations.
We will also be bringing back the wildly popular Ranch Riding Freestyle as well as a fun Barrel Race for Ranching Heritage qualifying horses. This event is also open to anyone who has entered at least one class in either show. As we did last year, Arizona, Nevada and California will each be hosting a night of food and fun. Entry forms are now on the http://wsvrha.com/ website and the deadline is Oct 11 so don’t delay. Sam’s Town is the host hotel, which is conveniently located within a mile from the arena, is giving us a block of rooms at a discounted rate but only through Sept 27th so hurry! Nevada as well as Horseman’s Park have Covid protocols in place so bring your favorite mask, horses are exempt ;-).
Look for another update on GSVRHA news in the next few days. We have a lot to talk about! Make sure you continuously check our https://gsvrha.org/ website for news and information. We will always keep you updated there as well as direct you to other sites as needed.
Now, go get those horses tuned up and enter the WSVRHA Vegas Ranch Horse Celebration!
Your President,
Kathy Torres
Show Results
Hot & Wonderful: Paso Pastures Playoff Sept 5-6
It was hotter than the hinges of Hades but that didn’t stop the 45 competitors from having a great time. Most were practically giddy seeing old friends and getting to show their horses. Show Manager Vanessa Lawrence and her amazing crew adjusted the schedule so we didn’t ride in the heat of the day. The Saturday clinics started at 7:00 am, ended at 11:00 am. Trail began at 4:00 and Cow Work at 6:30. Sunday began with cutting at 7:00, Ranch Riding at will, and we were finished by 11:00. Everyone liked the schedule so much there’s a high probability we will see it at Vanessa’s next show (yes she’s already agreed to host another show!)
Division and Special Class Winners
OPEN DIVISION
Champion-Tina Robinson & Step To The Light
Reserve-Jo Anne Carollo & Rey On Top
ADVANCED AMATEUR DIVISION
Champion-Dawn Poston & Fresnos Plain Peppy
Reserve-Nicole Ditmars & Nic It Ona Full Boon
INTERMEDIATE DIVISION
Champion-Bonnie Garcia & Grays Mercedes
Reserve– Kelly Roemer & Im Guna Show You Shine
LIMITED DIVISION
Champion- Kelly Dixon & Keepin My Style
Reserve-Jody Smith & Xander
NOVICE DIVISION
Champion-Peter Smoot & Starlight Dillon
Reserve-Jessamy German & Docs Bugs Buddy
YOUTH DIVISION
Champion- Olivia Bethe & Simon Says Whoa
Reserve-Christian Scanlan & Ole Pal Hal
WALK-TROT DIVISION
Champion- Luke Johnsen & Spatstacular
Overall Show High Point Champion
Olivia Bethe & Simon Says Whoa
Reserve Overall Champion
Dawn Poston & Fresnos Plain Peppy
High Point Junior Horse
Meghan Carr & Louis Bonner
High Point Reining
Tina Robinson & Step To The Light
High Point Cow
Tyler Follett & Reydioactive Rey and Susie Richards & No Chic Flicks
High Point Ranch Riding
Kelly Dixon & Keepin My Style
High Point Herd
Joanne Carollo & Rey On Top
High Point Trail
Dawn Poston & Fresnos Plain Peppy
From the Trainer’s Perspective
Just in time for Vegas: “The Heart of a Competitor”
By Barbra Schulte; Personal Performance Life Coach, NCHA Champion, Trainer, Author, Clinician, Inductee of the Cowgirl Hall of Fame
When you go into the show ring, you are there to show your best and your horse’s best. When you show, you are a performer for the judge. Your ‘stage’ is the arena. It’s easy for all of us to worry about not exposing our weaknesses… and… we tend to compare ourselves to others. But I have a challenge for you. What if you saw yourself as a beautiful rider and awesome showman or woman? What if you saw yourself walking into the arena, fully calm, fully focused, so ready and so connected to your job and to your horse that, at the appointed time, you exhibit your best qualities. And to boot, you stay ‘cool’ on the inside about your weaknesses. You have the mindsets of a champion.
Here are 12 of them to keep in mind. Print them out. Post them in your trailer. Read them often. Claim them as yours. Above all, have fun.
• I build a flow at home and then I have routines to ensure that that is what is expressed in the show arena
• I’m here to show my horse’s strengths and my strengths.
• I never turn against my horse
• I am the leader of my horse… he/she needs me to be my best.
• When I get ready and enter the show arena, I have no thoughts of outcome.
• I strive for excellence not perfection.
• Success is measured by my scorecard.
• I am courageous and vulnerable… not perfect.
• Errors do not discourage me. They show me where I need to improve.
• I expect positive results.
• I love learning! One of the greatest reasons I show is to keep improving.
• Ultimately showing is about who I am becoming. This lasts far beyond any individual show.
Treat yourself! Learn more about Barb’s upcoming clinics, books, personal performance training, etc. at https://barbraschulte.com/
News Flash
John Deere VRH Double-Qualifying Incentive for 2021 AQHA VRH World
The American Quarter Horse Executive Committee approved offering the John Deere VRH Double-Qualifying Incentive, a special side pot available only to Versatility Ranch Horse competitors who qualified for the 2020 AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse World Championships and who also qualify for the 2021 AQHA VRH World.
Due to the uncertainty of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, AQHA made the difficult decision to the cancel the 2020 AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse World Championships and National Ranch and Stock Horse Alliance National Championship Show. As a result, AQHA made the decision to rollover qualifying to the 2021 event.
The John Deere Double-Qualifying incentive offers a total side pot of $20,000 to the highest placing 2020 and 2021 qualifiers in each division who compete at the 2021 AQHA VRH World. All-Around entries in each division who qualified in 2020 and 2021 are eligible to receive:
Junior, Senior, Cowboy, Amateur and Limited Amateur Divisions will receive $3000, 1st $2000, 2nd $1000. Youth will receive $1500, 1st will receive $1000 and 2nd will receive $500.
Go to https://www.aqha.com/disciplines/showing/shows/vrh-world for all the details.
Did You Know?
All-Around Awards
What happens in the event of a tie for an All Around? All-around ties for competition and year-end awards will be decided by the highest placing in the Ranch Cow Work class in the applicable division. If a tie still exists the tiebreakers will be in this order: Cutting, Ranch Rein Work, Ranch Trail and Ranch Riding.
Quote of the Month
Tony Robbins: Life and Business Strategist
