Letter from the Editor

Dear Golden State Members and Friends,

Covid, EHV – it’s enough to make us lose heart. But we’re made of sturdy stuff and moving on. After all, we’ve all had a big horse stand on our foot and lived to tell the tale.

The Running T Round Up, April 8-10, will make our hearts all happy again, be sure you are entered. Word has it that there is a fun social event planned! Next month is the Central Coast Ranch Horse Classic in Carmel Valley, always a competitor favorite. In this issue, find details and an interesting piece of history about it. If you’re hesitating to enter, read the article “Am I Ready To Show” for some wisdom. None of us wants to consider lameness but there are some handy facts following that may help. We may be seeing new faces at our shows, fifteen “newbies” attended an “Introduction to Versatility” in Moss Beach in February. And finally, the quote of the month.

Keep the shedding blades going!

Dawn Poston

Editor

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

Happy April!

Letter from the President

Criteria For Western States Year End Saddles

Hello all Ranch Versatility enthusiasts!

2022 show season is underway and it’s going to be a busy year with a lot of opportunities for learning and competing.

We are offering saddles through our parent Association WSVRHA of which you get points in each time you show at an affiliate show such as GSVRHA, AzVRHA, NQHA.

Here are the criteria for qualifying for the available saddles:

  1. In order for an individual competitor to be awarded a WS year-end high point saddle, the following must occur. All-around points, awarded based on the number of riders a horse-rider combination has beaten through a given show, will be the determining factor. This point system is outlined on page 23 of the 2022 WSVRHA handbook.
  2. A horse-rider combination must attend at least five WS sanctioned shows. A horse-rider combination must enter and complete the all-around to receive points toward the saddle. At least four of those shows must be affiliate-level shows prior to the finals. At least one of those shows must be the WS Finals in Las Vegas. If a horse-rider combination should attend more than five shows, points will be taken from that competitor’s best five shows.
  3. For a horse-rider combination to be awarded a saddle, five competitors in that rider’s division from across the WSVRHA must complete the above requirements. This does not mean that there needs to be five competitors within a division at any given show; it is possible for a show to be a qualifying event with fewer than five riders in a division.

Kathy at 2021 Awards Banquet

Any questions, feel free to call me or send an email off our website.

LETS GO SHOW!!

Kathy Torres
GSVRHA President

408-655-0725

The Central Coast Ranch Horse Classic

Longest Running AQHA VRH Show in California

Back in the day – 2013 Ranch Horse Classic Participants

The CCRHC has so many great features! Great show, great management, great footing, great judging (Laura Wachtel from Nevada), great awards, great silent auction, great restaurants nearby, etc. It’s a “three-fer”, sanctioned by AQHA, Ranching Heritage, and Western States VRH. (The Western States sanction is a courtesy to our Golden State/Western State members, a low cost opportunity to pick up points.) Wild horses ought not keep you away!

Go to https://trailandsaddle.club/calendar/ to enter and for more details. See you in sunny Carmel Valley May 21-22!

The Story of the CCRHC Logo

The show is already steeped in tradition–oldest ranch horse versatility show on the west coast, held at the historic Carmel Valley Trail & Saddle Club, in Carmel Valley, home to historic Spanish ranches. The show has a distinctive logo used online, on entries, etc. What’s the story of the logo?

Look closely at the artist’s signature. Jack Carrel was a famed cow horse rider and trainer from tiny Birney, MT, population (110 as of 2019). The closest big city is Sheridan, WY. He and his wife Nancy raised their family of four children on the “FL” a large cattle ranch in the Tongue River Valley. Jack was known for training excellent cow horses. He was a talented artist, capturing scenes from the ranching and cow horse world. Jack Carrel drew the logo for the CCRHC show. What else is Jack Carrel known for? He’s none other than Sarah Clifford’s father! So now you know the rest of the story.

Tony Agredano

A Picture in Positivity

After months of preparation, what a disappointment it was for everyone for the Cinch Up Productions March show to be cancelled. Yet Tony Agredano painted a picture of positivity for all of us. Sitting in his office, surrounded by awards planned for the show, he said “we’re all healthy, our horses are healthy, this isn’t a cancellation it’s a postponement. I am a very blessed man.”

As a result, the Golden State Board is working with Tony to come up with another date that works with all of our calendars, the available venues, etc. With Tony’s positivity it’s bound to happen. Stay tuned!

Am I Ready To Enter A Show?

Do It!

  • Horses don’t get broke at home. Be brave and enter!
  • EVERY disappointment at the show is a learning opportunity…. Be humble, be open to change.
  • Everyone gets nervous. Everyone has bad days. Everyone makes mistakes. Literally: EVERYONE!
  • Don’t watch others in the warmup ring and start changing what you have been doing – if you see something cool or you want to step up your game that’s homework for after the show!
  • When we run out of knowledge, we often punish our horses. Seek help instead.
  • Be a competitor! But be a horseman first. There is always someone watching who sees you as a role model.
  • Supporting your fellow competitors and engaging with people will enrich your show life.
  • Know the rules of competition! Make sure your attire and tack are legal. Read the rule book, ask questions and be well prepared.
  • Have FUN, don’t sweat the small stuff! And remember, it’s ALL small stuff.

Marty Raynor competing at the Paso Pastures show in 2021

Handy Facts About Lameness

It’s More Than A Head Bob

  1. A forelimb lameness is identified by looking for the head nod. The head will go up when the lame limb hits the ground and down when the sound limb hits the ground. It is easier to notice the ‘head nod’, therefore when the head nods, it is the opposite leg that is lame.
  2. Check for heat and a pulse. Inflammation brings blood to the area.
  3. A horse with arthritic wear and tear (common in older horses) will often get better as he goes, which is known as ‘warming out of it’. The lameness will usually be less obvious after a few minutes. Additionally, he will often be worse on hard ground (tarmac) in comparison to the ménage. This is due to more concussion on his joints.
  4. A horse with soft tissue damage will often get worse as he goes and is often lamer on a soft surface (ménage), as the tissue such as an affected tendon or ligament is being stretched more than it would be on a hard surface with no give.
  5. A horse with bilateral forelimb lameness will be harder to detect, as the head nod will now be apparent when both limbs hit the ground. However, he will show a shorter cranial phase (his forelimbs will not come out very far from underneath him resulting in a ‘choppy’ gait).
  6. If you are struggling to detect lameness get the Slo-Pro app for your mobile phone and record your horse. This will slow everything down until you train your eye into detecting lameness.
  7. A hind limb lameness is more difficult to detect. If you watch the horse trotting away from you, the lame leg usually has more movement at the hip. It helps to attach white sticky tape to both hipbones to make this more obvious to the eye.
  8. Putting a horse on a circle (lunging), often shows up a forelimb and hind limb lameness more easily.
  9. If the horse looks lame on one limb, but has a stronger pulse in the opposite limb, it is usually because the sound limb has taken more weight to allow pressure relief of the affected limb.
  10. A horse can look completely sound without a rider, and then almost three legged once someone is on board. Therefore, if you’re getting a feeling that something just isn’t quite right, do not just jog him up on the straight or on the lunge and assume all is well.

Dr. Alex Eastman, photo courtesy of Steinbeck Equine

Dr. Amanda Hedges, photo courtesy of Steinbeck Equine

** Shoeing/trimming intervals should be kept as short as possible. Studies have shown that as the toe grows, the foot ‘shoots’ forward (long toes, low heel), putting excess strain on the flexor tendons. If your horse always looks slightly ‘off’ just prior to shoeing, then this is a very probable cause, and it may be worth shortening your shoeing cycle.

As a horse owner, developing an eye for lameness is one of the greatest skills you can learn. This will not only allow you to have your horse treated more quickly, but also will hopefully nip smaller issues in the bud before they escalate into far bigger ones.

E. J. Westwood
Reprinted with permission from Nantwich Equine Vets
http://www.nantwichequinevets.co.uk/

Introduction to Versatility Ranch Horse Clinic

A Great Success

On February 19th, Golden State Versatility Ranch Horse Association hosted an Introduction to Versatility Ranch Horse clinic at Ember Ridge Equestrian Center in Moss Beach. Sixteen riders from San Mateo and surrounding counties participated, as fifteen auditors watched on. Clinicians GSVRHA President, Kathy Torres and WSVRHA President, Sarah Clifford instructed riders ranch riding, flag work, trail obstacles, and roping/rope handling. A lively Q&A session at lunch break focused on how Versatility Ranch Horse classes are scored and judged.

Riders and auditors alike learned a ton, had lots of fun with their horses and ended the day excited for more opportunities to learn and compete in Versatility. Most of the clinic participants are new to GSVRHA. Give them a warm welcome if you see them at a show this year!

This clinic was sponsored by SMCHA, in partnership with GSVRHA. A big thank you to Ember Ridge Equestrian Center for making this a very special day for all involved.

L-R Marty Raynor, clinic organizer, Kathy Torres & Sarah Clifford, clinicians, Jen Harden

Candice Terry enjoying the clinic

2022 Calendar

Show Dates

For more information, click here to view the complete calendar in a new window

Date Name Location
April 8-10 GSVRHA: Running T Spring Ranch Roundup Clinic & Show Ione, CA
April 23 GSVRHA: Novice Versatility Ranch Horse Clinic Milpitas, CA
May 21-22 GSVRHA, WSVRHA, AQHA: Central Coast Ranch Horse Classic Show Carmel Valley, CA
June 20-25 AQHA: VRH World Show Guthrie, OK
August 12-14 GSVRHA: Clifford Horse Training Versatility Challenge Carmel Valley, CA
Sept 3-4 GSVRHA: Central Coast Fall Classic Clinic & Show San Luis Obispo, CA
Sept 30 – Oct 2 GSVRHA: Running T Fall Ranch Roundup Clinic & Show Ione, CA
Oct 27-30 WSVRHA: Year End Finals Las Vegas, NV

Quote of the Month

Charles Marion Russell, American artist of the American Old West.

“You can see what man made from the seat of an automobile, but the best way to see what God made is from the back of a horse. “

Dude Wrangler, ca. 1915. Watercolor on paper.