Aaron Brookshire and his fiancee Allyson Tapie embrace after she accepted his proposal in front of the judge’s stand at the Southern California Reined Cow Horse Association Shootout on Oct. 16.

Dave Tapie photo

TEMECULA — It seemed routine to Allyson Tapie, who had just completed her reining and boxing runs Sunday at the Southern California Reined Cow Horse Association Shootout in the final go of the day. Then, as she and her Little Yellow Vett started their trot out of the arena, the show manager called her to the judges stand for a bit check.

“I was confused because bit checks are not normally done before you leave the arena,” she said. “But it can be called if the judge sees a need to call one.”

Aaron Brookshire came over to assist her, unbridling the horse and showing the bit to the judge. Then, surrounded by friends and family, Aaron told Allyson — the lady he had been going with for more than four years — that the bit check was not the real reason that she had been called over to the judge’s stand.

“He said to me that we’ve been together for a while now, and since we were among family and friends, that this was as good a place as any,” Allyson says.
Aaron then went to one knee and proposed.

“It was all I could do to not interrupt him, and then I said, `of course!’ and quickly ‘yes!’,” she says. “After I left the arena, I found out that everyone knew what was going to happen except for me. I could not have asked for a better proposal, and he got me good!”

Clearly, the Brookshire-Tapie proposal was the highlight of the day, but Aaron also scored big in the show pen, winning the SCRCHA Shootout Open on his Very Smart Cowhorse. Allyson, competing in the Non Pro Limited Division, finished reserve in the to Tim Alward on his Tommy Olena. Kim Boydstun was a close third in the Non Pro Limited on her Mr Dualin Pep.

In the Non Pro Division, Sandy Miller won the saddle with her Cee Mr Cats Merada, and in the Youth Division, Kaylie Mason won the saddle on Brazilian Boutique.

The SCRCHA Shoot Out, held Oct. 14-16 at Casner’s Ranch, also included the Cut For A Cause and determined year-end SCRCHA standings.

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