Vol 4 No 1

Letter from the Editor

Dear Golden State Members and Friends,

Happy New Year to everyone. Obviously 2023 needed to be lunged a bit longer before we tried to take her for a spin! By the time you read this, one hopes everyone has dug out of the mud and the arenas are starting to be ridable. The upside of a bad situation is that we’re all in the same boat preparation-wise . . .

In this issue you’ll read about the new score sheets for Ranch Riding, Ranch Trail, and Ranch Reining. Included too will be tips for herd helpers and turn back help from Rock Hedlund – a two time World Champion cutter.

Are you signed up for the GSVRHA Annual Meeting and Awards luncheon? Details on the how in this issue and on our Facebook page. As the kids say, “it’s going to be epic.”

The following Letter from the President lists more information and changes. All good.

We’ve got a lot of good versatility showing ahead of us—let’s get to it!

Dawn Poston
Editor

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

Letter from the President

Happy 2023 to All!

I hope this finds you well and getting ready to hit the show and clinic trail. Winter can be a tough time for some to keep their ponies ridden so let us help you with that. Come to our first clinic/ show of the year in Corning at the Rolling Hills Equestrian Center. More information, with clinicians and our format, will be on our Facebook and Website page soon. This will be a GSVRHA as well as full AQHA VRH for those looking to get qualified for the AQHA VRH World Show.

Please take time to reacquaint yourselves with our rule book. There have been a few changes which you will see underlined. Of special interest is our change to the Intermediate Division. We are excited about this revision as it truly keeps the levels graduating as they were intended. (See the entire rule in this newsletter-Editor)

For those that have goals of attending our WSVRHA finals in Vegas, we are introducing some exciting incentives at every GSVRHA show this year. Every entry will be entered in a random drawing for free credits toward the finals such as free stall, free shavings, free rv space/hotel room, etc. Drawings will be held at the riders meeting at each show. We will also be reducing the entry fee for the finals this year. You must attend a minimum of 3 shows to be qualified for this show and to receive year end awards at both GSVRHA and WSVRHA.

Keep an eye on our calendar page on the website as we are expanding and working on holding shows both south and north of our current locations. We understand that fuel prices are high along with everything else involved in our sport and want our members to have choices when planning their year.

As you are gearing up for 2023, please take the time to get on the GSVRHA.org site and fill out your online membership as well as your horse ID form and eligibility level form. If you have a new horse, congratulations and make sure you fill out a new Horse ID form! This will save time when you show up at your first show of the year.

Now, go find some sunshine and get those horses ready for another exciting and fun year of showing with Golden State Versatility Ranch Horse Association. I hope to see you all very soon!

May you always ride your best,
Kathy Torres
GSVRHA President

Rules: Exciting Changes in the Intermediate Amateur and Youth Cow Work

Free to Members

For the WSVRHA Rulebook, go to the Member Resources page on the wsvrha.org website. New rules and additions to rules are underlined. See pages 39-40.

Intermediate Amateur and Intermediate Youth Divisions

The goal of this class is to introduce the advancing rider to the “fence work” and “roping” phases of the cow work.

• If run concurrent with Ranch Reined Work after completing the pattern the rider will signal the cow boss that he/she is ready for a cow to be released into the arena.
• If run as a separate draw the rider will enter the arena, face the cattle entry gate, and call for the cow to be released into the arena.
• Each contestant upon receiving a cow in the arena, shall hold that cow on the prescribed end of the arena demonstrating the ability of the horse and rider to control the cow.
• When the rider is satisfied that he/she has control of the cow they will set up to drive / rate the cow down the fence to the opposite end of the arena. The distance for driving should be 1/2 to 3/4 the length of the arena. Upon reaching the opposite end of the arena, the rider will then stop and release the cow and move horse toward center of arena to set up for boxing. Rider will then regain control and hold the cow at the opposite end of the arena to demonstrate the horse’s ability to hold the cow. Exhibitor will then drive/ rate the cow back down the fence on the original side past the center marker.
• After completion of the box, drive, box, drive maneuvers, rider will take down his/her rope (breakaway) build a loop, move into position to rope (tracking/rating); throw the rope completing the dally and stopping portion.
• There is no expectation that the exhibitor will make a “fence turn,” the drive down the fence demonstrates correct position and control around the corner.
• Each contestant will have 2 and 1/2 minutes to complete the cow work, working the full time is not required.
• There will be a 45 second warning, the announcer will signal when time is up.
• The judge will blow the whistle when the rider has completed all requirements prior to time running out.

Awards Luncheon

Sign Up ASAP

Ranch Horse Appearance

Big Change to Score Sheets

Take note of the “Ranch Horse Appearance” column at the end of the maneuver strip. This addition has been made for Ranch Trail, Ranch Riding, and Ranch Reining. A score in this column has to be given for every horse on every run. Like all maneuvers, it will range from minus one and a half to plus one and a half. What is meant by “Ranch Horse Appearance?” Most of this refers to the horse’s way of going. Anything in excess is impractical to how a horse would need to move on the ranch. A natural and easy way of going is rewarded for horse and rider. For example, if the horse is over bridled, or carrying his head too low, he would be less likely to get a job done efficiently on the ranch. The same applies to a horse that travels too slowly in any gait or a horse who appears unable to move his tail naturally. Some of this refers to the rider. For example, too much drape in the reins is completely impractical on the ranch, as is throwing the hand way ahead (near the ears) in the extended trot.

Before the Flood

Cutting Clinic at Rock Hedlund’s

On January 30, twenty intrepid riders gathered at Rock Hedlund’s place in Wilton, CA located on Dillard Road, that same road you saw on the news January 31st as being completely covered in flood waters. Gratefully Rock’s home, arena and barn are high enough to escape flooding. And we all got out ahead of it. Sarah Clifford was co-clinician with Rock. The group was split in half, and each clinician worked with all the riders

The participants learned a great deal from Rock and Sarah throughout the day. Some of the information unique to this clinic was the herd help/turn back direction taught by Rock. Apologies to Rock if this writer doesn’t report faithfully what he taught. These nuggets were “gleaned” from the wonderful video received as part of the clinic. (Parenthetical comments have been added by the editor to help comprehension of words Rock was using when gesturing.)

TURN BACK HELP– “ONE at a time. When both come to bump the cow, they chase the cow ‘over the cutter.’ Which one? The one the cow is facing. The touchy part is when the cutter is coming up to cut and the cutter hasn’t started the cow. Then who’s going to start the cow? Whichever one is closest or whichever way the cow is looking.”

“It is the TURN BACK HELP’S responsibility to ‘clear the cows’ so the cutter is clear to cut. If the HERD HELP tries to do that, they’re out of position.”

The TURN BACK HELP (at the appropriate time) can back up to help the cutter have a legal quit.

HERD HELP (or Corner Help)– “As the cutter is moving into the herd and pushing forward, the HERD HELP each can move forward on both sides of the moving herd to help the cutter keep the group moving forward. The worst thing HERD HELP can do is to be out there so far that the cutter’s cows funnel between the HERD HELP and the cutter (back to the herd). When the cattle are ‘rolling around’ (flowing) and the herd help is up top (too far forward) the HERD HELP is funneling them (all) right back to the herd.”

“Watch the cutter, if they’re in the middle and there is a cow they are going to cut, then the HERD HELP can move up to encourage cattle back to herd.”

“HERD HELP can slow ‘flowing’ cows by staying close to herd.”

“The HERD HELP always stays ‘underneath’ (having the bulk of the herd, or the group you are responsible for, in front of you) the herd.”

AQHA Judges Clinic in Ft Worth

Golden State Well Represented