Vol 4 No 7

Newsletter of the
Golden State Versatility Ranch Horse Association

AUGUST 2023

Letter from the Editor

Dear Golden State Members,

Can we impact legislation/regulation/public perception of the impact our horses/sport make on the economy? Yes, we can. Read about it and follow the link in this issue to take the survey done by the American Horse Council.

Cinch Up Productions show results & pictures in this issue. What’s next? The Clifford Horse Training Show in beautiful Carmel Valley. If you haven’t entered, stop reading and do so! Oh, keep reading, details in this issue. When you’re at the Clifford Show, be sure to check out the new Golden State branded denim shirts.

The August “Quote of the Month” prompts us to stop, think and reflect about the moments of our lives.

May all your runs, not the weather, be sizzlin’ hot in August!

Dawn Poston
Editor

Send comments, concerns, & ideas to JumperDawn@aol.com

This editor is never really alone when Fred Poston is nearby.

The Economic Impact of Horses: American Horse Council Survey

Is The Horse Industry a Big Player? You Betcha!

Does horse ownership, horse sports, etc. have an effect on the state and national economies? We know it does! We know that we contribute a great deal monetarily at home and when we are on the road showing our horses. The American Horse Council has followed equine contributions to state and national economies for the past 50 years. Those and many more facets of our industry may be found at horsecouncil.org.

We can be heard! The American Horse Council has opened the 2023 National Economic Impact Study, which is the most comprehensive and widely used study of the industry’s contributions to employment, volunteers, equid population, acreage, etc. You will find the survey here. It is open until September 29, 2023.

The pictures reflect the myriad of ways the American Horse Council helps all of us—the survey, statistics, informational podcasts, safety, etc.

This study is a critical tool to create an awareness of and an interest in the equine industry’ developing congressional and media relations; and identifying the industry as a player in local, state, and national economies. The horse industry contributes approximately $50 billion in direct economic impact to the U.S. economy and has a direct employment impact of 988,394 jobs. Additionally, the industry itself contributes $38 billion in direct wages, salaries, and benefits.

Participation in the study, could merit a very cool prize! Sponsored incentives for individuals and groups include a John Deere Z545R ZTrak Mower valued at $7500, one year of Nutrena feed for one horse (a $2,000 value); one year of Purina feed for one horse (a $500 value/horse); gift certificates from Trafalgar Square Books (total value $180); enrollment in Texas A&M AgriLife Equine Reproductive Management Online Course valued at $300/enrollment; plus more.

“The Economic Impact Study is the most effective tool in our advocacy quiver,” says Julie Broadway, president of the AHC. “When the industry needs to take aim at an issue, this data is invaluable in helping us paint the picture of the contributions the industry makes and the breadth & depth of its composition.”

It is very important for the general population and the powers that be to understand the economic contribution of horses. This editor encourages you to do the survey.

A few factoids from the last survey:

  • Estimated number of horses in the United States:
    • 7.2 million
  • Estimated number of horses by activity:
    • Recreation-3,141,449
    • Showing-1,227,986
    • Racing-1,224,482
    • Working-537,261
  • States with estimated greatest number of horses:
    • #1 Texas, approximately 767,100
    • #2 California, approximately 534,500
    • #3 Florida, approximately 387,100

The full report is fascinating and can be ordered here:
HTTPS://HORSECOUNCIL.ORG/PRODUCT/2017-ECONOMIC-IMPACT-STUDY-U-S-HORSE-INDUSTRY/

Cinch Up Productions

A Feast!

Tony Agredano’s shows historically are a feast in terms of quality clinicians, great judges, unique and awesome prizes, and last but not least, the food he generously provides! The recent show was no exception. Saturday’s clinicians were NRCHA Hall of Famers Lyn Anderson and Sandy Collier, renowned AQHA Professional Horseman Eric Thomas, and noted roper Bob Pivetti. As is often the case, the prizes were unique and ranged from buckles for All Around to tack to clothing to stable supplies to art, etc. for first place awards, with each winner getting to choose their own award.

Results

Youth Champion: Angelo Greco
Youth Reserve: Adalyn Jefferson
Novice Champion: Jeannie McDevitt
Novice Reserve: Jessie Smoot
Limited Champion: Jody Smith
Limited Reserve: Meghan Carr
Intermediate Champion: Bryan Jaeger
Intermediate Reserve: Candice Terry
Advanced Champion: Dawn Poston
Advanced Reserve: Jennifer Harden
Open Champion: Sarah Clifford (Cee My Foolish Tangy)
Open Reserve: Sarah Clifford (Ol Pal Hal)

Tony and his amazing awards table.

Youth Reserve Adalyn Jefferson and Youth Champion Angelo Greco. Angelo is a new Golden State competitor, and we’re glad he’s joined us.

Tony Agredano and Novice Champion Jeannie McDevitt.

Novice Third All Around Josie Driscoll, Novice Reserve Jessie Smoot, & Tony Agredano.

Limited Champion Jody Smith, Tony Agredano, Limited Reserve Meghan Carr (notice she is wearing one of the new GS branded shirts).

Intermediate Champion Bryan Jaeger and Tony Agredano.

Intermediate Reserve Candice Terry and Tony Agredano.

Kelly Saunders Advanced Third, Dawn Poston Advanced Champion, Tony Agredano, and Jennifer Harden Advanced Reserve.

Sarah Clifford, Tony’s “Biggest Helper” awardee, was also Open Champion on Cee My Foolish Tangy and Open Reserve Champion on Kim Donlon’s Ol Pal Hal.

Special shout out to Christian Scanlan who stepped up from the Youth Division to the Open Division and was third in the All Around.

Cori Shields, Champion Jr Horse, and Tony Agredano. Cori is a new GS competitor and we’re so glad she’s a part of our club.

The famed Agredano lunch spread!

Cinch Up Productions amazing crew-Harlee Burtschi/Show Secretary, Tammy Huntley/Announcer, Alex Hindman/Food Manager, and Tony Agredano/Show Producer.

A group enjoying the blue skies while waiting for Trail.

After a hiatus from showing, Jan Jeffers and Chuys Lil Jewel showed us how it was done in Limited Trail. Welcome back Jan!

Even the bathrooms are fun at Thorson’s Arena!

Vegas Ranch Horse Celebration

Incentive Awards

New Golden State competitor Angelo Greco was the lucky winner of the drawing for six bales of shavings at the Las Vegas show in October. (He was also Youth Champion; he was on a roll!) Congrats to Angelo! The Ranch Horse Celebration will be a single show, double-judged. It will include an AQHA sanctioned VRH and a Ranching Heritage Challenge in Cow Work, Ranch Riding, and Cutting. Previous drawing winners are Kim Smoot, Amanda Johnson, and Bryan Jaeger. There will be drawings at all the remaining shows. Maybe you will win!

Riding For The Brand

Golden State “Branded” Denim Shirts

Support our organization with these fabulous shirts. They come in Men’s & Women’s sizes and in light denim, dark denim, and black colors. They are of good quality and offered at $40 each. See Kelly Saunders at the Clifford Horse Training Show to purchase.

August Delight

Clifford Horse Training Versatility Show & Social

The Clifford Horse Training Novice Cowgirls are starting what we hope will be a trend at horse shows-a division sponsored social. Scheduled for Saturday night, there will be wine, cheese, other ‘nummies’, maybe a few surprises, and lots of fun. If that isn’t enough to get you to the show, consider the great weather, the beautiful venue, the new and wonderful footing done specifically for cow horses and cutting horses, respected judges Karen Arlin & Mike Lund, and awesome prizes once again chosen by Kelly Saunders. There’s a great line up of clinicians as well: Bobby Cotta/Cutting, Mike Lund/Cow Horse, and Sarah Clifford Rope Handling & Pole Work. The clinics will be Friday and Saturday morning, the show begins Saturday afternoon with Trail. The rest of the events will be on Sunday. Consult the calendar at gsvrha.org for more info and get yourself entered!

Quote of the Month

Craig Cameron (b 1949) is an American horse trainer. He won the Road to the Horse colt-starting contest in 2010 and has been inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame.

“Each moment is a place you’ve never been.”

Mark Strand, Pulitzer Prize winning American poet, essayist & translator.

2023 Calendar

Show Dates

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

Date Name Location
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