Vol 6 No 7

Letter from the Editor

Dear Golden State Membership,

This editor was able to attend (as a spectator) the AQHA VRH World Show in Amarillo for four days! Such fun. Some of the pictures and info are from my visit there, some are screen shots of the last day of showing after I returned home. The first article in this newsletter covers the show.

After a brief hiatus, Golden State shows are ready to rock and roll. (One is offering $1500 in prize money!) Check them out. Have you ever attended the California Horse Expo? Member Jen Harden did, and we have her report.

Our “Marketplace” features a very nice young gelding Kathy Torres has for sale. Check him out!

Let’s go show!

Sincerely,

Dawn Poston
Editor

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

Golden State Members at AQHA World Show

They Made Us Proud

After moving the World Show to Amarillo last year, the show got off to a bit of a rocky start. But in 2025, the AQHA VRH World show really hit its stride. The AQHA listened to competitor suggestions and implemented changes in response. The heat wave that afflicted the country didn’t spare Amarillo and it was hot, but the show was very good.

This writer was happy to not be showing but rather a spectator. The climate-controlled exposition center was a welcome relief. Some exhibitors rented huge (like way over my head) swamp colors that blew a gale down the entire barn aisle. They could have paid the rental by simply charging a fee to each exhibitor/spectator that stopped to revel in the cool air.

The trail course was brilliant! In addition to a forward going track and interesting obstacles, there was a herd of 8-10 horned cattle roaming freely around the pen. Piles of hay next to the bridge/jumble, lope over, serpentine, and ground tie, kept them moving. The exhibitors were told to “do what you what do on the ranch if a group of cattle were in the way of where you were headed.” They were pretty feely and moved when horses approached but still . . . imagine heading at an extended lope toward the lope over, and there is a group of cattle standing on and around the pole!

One unfortunate horse had his nightmares come true when in the ground tie, as his rider walked to the cooler to fetch a cold drink, the herd of cattle as a group faced him and started to approach him! He turned partially, his rider turned and said “whoa”, her turning stopped the cattle and the horse, but when she continued on her way to the cooler the cows resumed their stalking, and the horse moved again turning away from them. This happened several times. Cows moving, horse moving slightly away, rider saying “whoa” until finally the horse began quick walking right down the pen in the opposite direction. If it wasn’t your horse and your run, it was pure comedy. The revenge of the cows! They finally had their chance to move a horse, not the other way round. In a show of good horsemanship, outside the pen the rider patted her horse and commented “that’s horse showing for you!”

Last year the food was abysmal. They rectified that with a variety of local food trucks. There was an array of choices from barbeque to paninis to kettle corn to tacos to fancy lemonade that came in 30 different flavors! If anyone went hungry it was their fault.

The “Horsepitality Room” offered up free goodies each day (fancy lemonade with hand muddled lemons and sugar, pizza, chicken wraps, etc.). and a huge play area for the kiddos with a sand hill, trucks, play horses cattle corrals, etc. and a variety of roping dummies set up with ropes. Kids were happy campers.

Our Golden State friends comported themselves well with lots of placings and awards. We can all be proud of them. Some of the results may be found in the photo captions. It’s a long, hard, hot haul but our friends made it worth the effort. Congratulations to all.

California Horse Expo

Member Review

By Jennifer Harden

Hey Hay! It was my FIRST visit to the Horse Expo, at Rancho Murieta in June, and I had a BLAST. I only had one day but I crammed in Jec Ballou (fitness training), Jim Masterson (connecting for body work), our own Johnny Flores (ranch versatility) and Cirque Ma’Ceo (roman riding). I missed SO MUCH but I hung out with Backcountry Horsemen and melted into a BEMER chair. I was going to attend a “University” class, but I fell into a long chat with a jewelry maker about (of all things) self-made careers, science, and AI. The best part? HORSE PEOPLE! Even I, recalcitrant me, could start up a chat with absolutely anyone because we were all in the horse bubble! The event was SUPERBLY organized. I know y’all “went years ago when it was really big and lots of ……..” but hey, hay it was FUN. Next year, GO!

What’s Next?

Upcoming Golden State Shows

The truly beautiful mountain community of McArthur is the host town for the Inter-Mountain Ranch Versatility Summer Show. Situated 1 ½ hours east of Redding along scenic Hiway 299, it’s like the small town that time forgot. Ample accommodations and a few truly great restaurants, close to Burney Falls, fishing on the Upper Falls River, golfing, hiking biking, this show makes for a great family summer getaway. Cash payouts for All Around Champions. Youth (All Around Youth receive a $100 stipend from GSVRHA) and trainer incentives (bring 2 students get 1 night free stall, bring 5 students 2 nights free stall) make this a particularly appealing show choice. If you’re looking for AQHA and/or Western States year end points, the Silver Circuit Show in Winnemucca begins the Wednesday after the Macarthur show. Easy peasy to do both. News flash! For the first time ever at this show, Ranch on the Rail (Open, Amateur & Youth) will be offered. For more information go to gsvrha.com

It’s always exciting when we have a new show at a new venue with known management! Jessica and Vernon Lawrence present their Ranch Rendezvous Buckle Series at Yolo Farms in Woodland! Golden State and World Ranch Horse Association approved, there’s something for everyone. Paybacks, prizes, and buckles. Let’s give these new shows our full support and enter at www.lawrenceshowmanagement.com.

This year $1500 in paybacks will be paid to Golden State competitors! As in the past, buckles customized with winner’s name will be awarded for the AQHA division champions. Galante Vineyards has donated “Kick Ass Red” wine as first place awards for every class (Youth will receive $25 gift cards). In addition to money, Golden State division champions will receive a bottle of Galante “Grand Champion” valued at $300/bottle. Ranching Heritage Champion will receive a lovely stable sheet donated by Sparrowk Livestock. A “social” sponsored by Golden State and Bernardus wines, will be provided Saturday evening before competitors head out for a fabulous Carmel Valley dining experience. Consider the historic Los Laureles Lodge (sponsor), right across the road from the road to the CVT&SC, for dinner. Call for reservations 831-659-2233. Clinicians Bobby Cotta and Sarah Clifford will round out a perfect show.

Go to gsvrha.org for entry information.

Head Markings

How Many Have You Owned?

Like color, there are lots of head markings and names for said markings. Most of us know the names but here’s a reminder. Question? How many different head markings have YOU owned? I’ve had 7. Respond to JumperDawn@aol.com. A prize to the person with the highest number.

Marketplace

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