Vol 4 No 2

Newsletter of the
Golden State Versatility Ranch Horse Association

MARCH 2023

Letter from the Editor

Dear Golden State Members and Friends,

There is a lot going on in this issue-pictures from the Year End Awards Luncheon, some good stuff from The Art of the Cowgirl, notice of a new show in a new place, shopping/sleeping/showing at Back 2 Basics, a reminder about eligibility, a definition of “Out of Frame”, our complete calendar, and none other than a Henry Thoreau “Quote of the Month.”

Dust off your saddle, scrape as much hair as you can off your horse, our competition year starts March 31st-April 2. Plan to have fun!

Dawn Poston
Editor

ERRATA: Editor Error
In the January edition of “In Step With Golden State”, this editor made two errors. One, Debby Sanguinetti was erroneously identified as not a Golden State judge—she certainly is one of our judges! Two, Karen Arlin’s name was misspelled. The “e” belongs in “Karen” and the “i” belongs in Arlin. My apologies to both of these wonderful women.

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

Group photo of Golden State members at luncheon

GSVRHA Awards Luncheon & Membership Meeting

A Fun Day

Among the great company and food, there were several fun surprises at the February 11 Golden State luncheon. First, Mike Lund was presented “The President’s Award for Excellence” for all he does for our club. Second, Youth Champion Christian Scanlan was presented the “Peter Smoot Memorial Saddle”. Both awards were complete surprises to their recipients.

President Kathy Torres reviewed the new rules for the Intermediate Division and took some questions. Member Renee Jackson got an award for coming the farthest distance to attend—Tuscarora, Nevada, a 14-hour drive both ways!

Renee Jackson drove 14 hours one way to attend our luncheon. She was awarded a nifty hat holder for being such a star.

The “fun” table. L-R Bill Sanguinetti, Kelly Saunders, Kim Donlon, Carol Kurtz, Meghan Carr, Julie Gleason, Debbie King, Karen Arlin, Debby Sanguinetti.

In Grateful Appreciation to Mike Lund: Thank you for your tireless dedication, superior horsemanship, and teaching excellence, to our sport, our shows, and our competitors. You are appreciated and respected more than you know. Presented by the Golden State Versatility Ranch Horse Association Board of Directors

Youth Champion Christian Scanlan receives The Peter Smoot Memorial saddle from Kathy Torres. It was a total surprise!

Champions in each division were able to choose from six amazing bits provided by Kim Tuney from Twin Trees (twintreesjewelry.com). Reserve Champions got romels with GSVRHA on the poppers and third got saddle pads with GSVRHA on leather corners.

Kathy Torres and Novice Champion Candice Terry.

Reserve Novice Champion Jesse Smoot, Kathy Torres, and Novice 3rd Kim Smoot. Quite a battle between mother and daughter. Jessie won by two points! That’s keeping it in the family!

Kathy Torres and Limited Champion Heather Bryant.

Limited Reserve Champion Lydia Lawson, Mike Lund, Kathy Torres

Limited Third Meghan Carr, Kathy Torres.

Sarah Clifford, Dawn Poston, Intermediate Champion Renee Jackson. Reserve Intermediate Champion Bryan Jaeger and Third Jessamy German not pictured.

Kathy Torres, Advanced Amateur Champion Dawn Poston, and Advanced Amateur Reserve Champion Kelly Saunders. Only 3 points separated Dawn and Kelly. Only three points separated Third place Nicole Ditmars (not pictured) and Kelly. Talk about a tough division!

Open Champion Sarah Clifford and Kathy Torres.

Kathy Torres and Reserve Open Champion Debby Sanguinetti.

First Golden State Show for 2023

The Running T Round Up Has a New Venue

With two covered arenas the March 31st-April 1st show at Corning will be dry and comfy for the competitors. It’s also AQHA VRH sanctioned. Everyone is anxious to show, get your entry in asap.

Download Flyer
Entry Form

Art of the Cowgirl

Congratulations to Golden State Members and Family

Bev Sparrowk’s grand niece Morgan Holmes was Reserve Champion World’s Greatest Horsewoman. Pictured here with her mom Rhonda Holmes and the amazing Monster Truk. We at Golden State are proud for all of them.

Our very own Harlee Burtschi had the second highest selling horse in the prestigious Art of the Cowgirl horse sale. Pictured here with Marilyn and better half Jarred Terra.

New Show, New Venue

Way Out West Spring Classic

Show secretary Harlee Burtschi is teaming with Golden State member Kelly Engel to put on a brand-new Golden State Show in a new-to-us venue, the Diamond Bar Arena in Ceres. It will also be AQHA sanctioned. It’s a covered arena so we’re good to go rain or shine. Let’s make a big effort to support these women in this great new endeavor. Entries are open so don’t wait!

Download Flyer
Entry Form

Back to Basics AQHA Show

Wet, Chilly and Fun

A few hardy Golden State members braved the cold and wet to attend the Back to Basics show in Rancho Murieta. Here are a few fun pictures to commemorate their time there.

Sarah Clifford congratulates Emily Wilbur on a gritty reining run. Bee Garcia in background

Lots of down time? Members Samantha Scanlan and Josie Driscoll took shopping to a new level.

Josie Driscoll gets her new horse Gucci properly spoiled.

Before Your First Show

New Eligibility Form Required

New this year! Every amateur, novice amateur, and youth member in GSVRHA, who plans to show, must now fill out an Eligibility Form each year.

It’s easy and quick, so get it done before you plan to show:

Division Eligibility Form

“Out Of Frame”

Mystery Explained

This editor often thought “out of frame” might mean not bridled up. Thanks to Sarah Clifford, that mysterious penalty is explained.

Every AQHA VRH and WSVRHA score sheet includes a one-point penalty for “out of frame.” This penalty can apply at any time, per maneuver, so it can be given repeatedly throughout a run. What does this mysterious penalty mean? I like to think of a horse’s body, his head and neck in particular, as being “framed” by two things: First, by a horse’s natural way of going, especially if a horse is balanced. Secondly, by the bridle and the reins. Each time a horse moves out of that frame, the penalty can be applied. Mostly commonly, a horse is “out of frame” when he responds poorly to a pull on the bridle reins, usually by throwing his head up or sideways. Sometimes, that pull is executed poorly by the rider. Sometimes, a poorly balanced horse will throw his head or body “out of frame” in an attempt to regain balance.

Thank you, Sarah!

Quote of the Month

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)
American naturalist, essayist, poet, and philosopher.

If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.

2023 Calendar

Show Dates

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

Date Name Location
Mar 31- Apr 2 WS & AQHA: Running T Ranch Spring Round Up Corning, CA
Apr 28 – 30 WS/AQHA: The Way-Out West Spring Classic (New!) Ceres, CA
May 20 – 21 AQHA: Central Coast Ranch Horse Classic Carmel Valley, CA
May 27 – 28 Paso Pastures Playday Paso Robles, CA
Jun 20 – 24 AQHA VRH World Show Guthrie, OK
Jul 8 – 9 Ranch Versatility Challenge San Martin, CA
Jul 27 – 30 Silver State Circuit WS & AQHA Winnemucca, NV
Aug 11 – 13 Clifford Horse Training VRH Show Carmel Valley, CA
Sep 1 – 3 Central Coast Fall Classic San Luis Obispo, CA
Oct 20-22 WSVRHA Finals Las Vegas, NV