Vol 3 No 11

Letter from the Editor

Dear Golden State Members and Friends,

December is upon us!

Tis the season! We’ve got those winter blankets out, long nights to spend time reflecting on our past year of competition/fun, and with those same long nights, can begin planning for more fun and competition 2023. Oh, and there are some major holidays to enjoy as well.

What’s new for Golden State? Our annual luncheon banquet has been scheduled for February 11, 2023, at The Grill at Bayonet and Black Horse in Seaside, 11:30 a.m. to 3:00. The 2022 awards will be presented, a general meeting will be held, a couple of special awards will be presented, good food & drink, and great conversation with your friends will make the day complete. As in years past, the luncheon is free to members, $32 for guests, and you will be able to choose your entrée. Watch your email for further details re the menu and how to sign up.

We’re busy nailing down our competition calendar for next year—we have one new show, a new location for a previous show, and a return of a previously held show. Check out the 2023 calendar in this issue.

The Western States Championship Shows culminated in the awarding of year end saddles—pictures in this issue. There were lots more awards, too many to list, but read on for the Circuit Champions and pictures of fun events.

Results from the Plymouth show and a “Didya Know?” are included in this edition.

As we spend those long nights reflecting and planning, let’s all remember how blessed we are to be Americans, to live in this wonderful country, to own horses, and to have the absolute privilege of competing with our fabulous horses. As we reflect, gratitude is a quiet necessity.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

Dawn Poston
Editor

Send comments, concerns, & ideas to [email protected]

Chestnuts roasting by an open fire, indeed!

Annual Golden State Luncheon & Awards Banquet Scheduled

Free to Members

How Did We Move Cattle in Las Vegas?

The Old-Fashioned Way!

Western States Championship Shows

Results

It was a lot of showing in three days. Two full AQHA shows, two full Western States Shows, and one Ranching Heritage show. The weather was perfect, and the show moved along at a nice pace. Venue, footing, cattle, judges, office staff, all good. As always, the prizes were phenomenal thanks to Cynda Rice. Each individual show had its winners and awards. Also, there were “Circuit” Winners, combining points from Show #1 and Show #2. Finally, there were the saddle winners—year end overall champions in divisions that met the criteria.

WSVRHA 2022 Circuit Champions, Reserve and Third

(combination of shows #1 & #2)

Open
Sarah Clifford, Cee My Foolish Tangy

Advanced
Dawn Poston, Fresnos Plain Peppy
Nicole Ditmars, Nic It Ona Full Boon
Janie Welch, Mr Starlights Lady

Limited
Heather Bryant, Stylish In My Boots
Lydia Lawson, WFR Little Boon Doc
Joi Brackenbury, Gunnaberrya

Novice
Candice Terry, Redi To Rock
Debbie King, Wild Haired Weezle
Amy Larson, Autumnated

Youth
Emma Carreon, Peppy Lil Drifter
Christian Scanlan, Louis Vuitton Please
Kirra Hicks, JGD Olena Chex

Walk/Trot
Paula Drossman, Im Smart N Shiny
Brooklyn Henson, Gypsy Freestyle

Jr Horse
Heather Bryant, Stylish In My Boots
Select Jodie Smith, Xander

Let’s Not Forget Socializing

The WS Show Was Lots of Fun

Click any picture below to see captions and more pictures

Running T Ranch Round Up

Results

All who participated in the October show at the Amador County Fairgrounds were pleasantly surprised by the venue. Reminiscent of an old-time fairground it showed its age, but the stabling was adequate, and the show pens were very good. Plymouth is a charming gold rush era town with cute buildings and good restaurants. Not a lot, but enough to meet the needs of hungry VRH competitors.

Division Champions & Reserve

Open Champion: Sarah Clifford, Cee My Foolish Tangy
Open Reserve: Debby Sanguinetti, Playtime Pepto
Advanced Champion: Nicole Ditmars, Nic It On a Full Boon
Advanced Reserve: Kelly Saunders, Hillreycious
Intermediate Champion: Renee Jackson, Nics Black Jax
Intermediate Reserve: Bryan Jaeger, Carambas Tuck and Run
Limited Champion: Heather Bryant, Stylish in My Boots
Limited Reserve: Marty Raynor, Whiskeys Smart Shine
Novice Champion: Candice Terry, Redi To Rock
Novice Reserve: Doug Walsh, Look Again Mister
Youth Champion: Christian Scanlan, Louie Vuitton Please
Walk/Trot Champion: Victoria Adams, DB Smartshine Spook

Didja Know?

Golden State VRHA Doesn’t Produce Any Shows!

GSVRHA sanctions all Golden State Shows but doesn’t produce them. All of our shows are put on by individuals (God Bless them!) Tony Agredano, Carmel Valley Trail & Saddle Club, Sarah Clifford, Sue Kvern, Stephanie Lewis, Dawn Meinhold were show producers during 2022. They choose the dates in coordination with Golden State and had a GS “Show Rep” assigned to them. The “Show Rep” acts as a resource and advises along the way from show approval to show production. Secretary, clinicians, judges (must be on approved list), awards, schedules, cattle, office staff, courses/patterns, etc. are the responsibility of the show producer. Golden State provides show approval, insurance, and email/Facebook/newsletter promotion. We are grateful for our show producers who take all the risks to provide us with shows. Next time you see one of them, say “thank you.”