More than 1,000 entries vie in five days of WCRHA shows

Eileen Maxinoski / for the Horsetrader

RANCHO MURIETA — Nearly 200 exhibitors recently beat the COVID-19 pandemic blues by competing in the successful, well-run third and fourth affiliate shows of the West Coast Reining Horse Association.

With over 1,000 actual entries, it proved to be the largest show for the WCRHA in years. Five days of showing June 24-28 gave trainers, non-pros, and youth plenty of opportunities to get ‘in the pen’ under the watchful eyes of NRHA judges Kelly Sapp of North Carolina and Mark Turner of Indiana.

The double-affiliate show, held at the beautiful Murieta Equestrian Center in Rancho Murieta, started the week off with a full slate of classes going through mid-Friday, at which time the Fourth Affiliate show, with duplicate classes in a different order, began.

The Equestrian Center and WCRHA directors put in place COVID-19 health restrictions — from allowing only exhibitors, trainers, owners, and essential personnel on the show grounds to encouraging the wearing of masks and social distancing. The viewing stands were off limits for spectators, and there were designated entrance and exit gates into the show pen and the warm-up pen.

One horse in particular slid and spun his way to multiple wins for his trainer as well as his non-pro owner. NRHA pro Liz Rammerstorfer and Like Madd won the championships in all three levels of the first set of Novice Horse Open classes with a score of 71.5.

Not to be outdone, Like Madd’s owner Kelly Staley showed him in several classes during the five days and placed first, second, or third in all entered, in addition to winning the Rookie 2 and Prime Time Rookie with a whopping 72.5. Like Madd is a 7-year-old gelding by Maddox out of Peppys Chexy Diva. He was bred, raised, and trained by Christian and Liz Rammerstorfer.

Another horse that enjoyed wins was Mister Smartypants. With a 72.5, “Smarty” and NRHA trainer Gabe Davide bested 45 other entrants to win the Championships in three Novice Horse Open classes in the fourth Affiliate show. Smarty was also Co-champion of the Limited Open on the first day. Smartypants is a 7-year-old sorrel gelding owned by Eileen and Gordon Maxinoski. He is by Smart And Shiney and out of Peppys Lady Di.

Excelling in the Youth classes was Lauren Hanson showing Xtra Dream Step, owned by her dad, David Hanson. Lauren scored 70s and 71s to win firsts and seconds in the four Youth classes that she entered. She also did well in the Non Pro classes. Xtra Dream Step is an 8-year-old gelding by Magnum Chic Dream. Lauren, one of the Youth Representatives for WCRHA, will be heading to Texas A&M in the fall of 2021.

David Hanson started the Affiliate #3 show off with a high-scoring run of 73 on Smart Little Dunnit, owned by Lisa Dentoni.

Braving the toasty mid-afternoon June temperatures of the Sacramento area were the Rookie reiners. Twenty-eight hopefuls rode in the Rookie I. Coming out on top of both Rookie 1 and Rookie 2, with a score of 70.5, was Mackenzie McDowell and her own Rio Killer Gun.

Day two began in the cool of the morning with 19 eager riders in their first- or second-year of showing reiners, the WCRHA Green as Grass class. Continuing with a strong showing of the day before was Brianna Madill and her Spook Dunit. The horse/rider combo scored a 70.5 to win the class.

Mid-morning saw the start of 64 runs in the competitive Non Pro classes. Jim Grech guided his 4-year-old Sparkle Whiz A Banjo to Co-championships with Julie Ridgeway on Gunnaout Shine Ya, owned by Rolling Hills Ranch LLC, in the Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro as well as to the Co-Reserve title in the Prime Time Non Pro classes. They were awarded with scores of 71.5 for those runs. Mister Big Gun, owned and shown by Danica Caravetta, Chics Love Chrome, owned and shown by Patricia Fenner, and Gunnachicya, owned and shown by Abby Chavez all earned 70s to share the Championship of the Limited Non Pro class, featuring 29 entries. Lara Prindiville was the Champion of the Prime Time Non Pro class with a score of 72. For riders aged 60 and over, the Masters Non Pro at WCRHA shows continue to get bigger every year. Jim Grech with his Sparkle Whiz A Banjo topped 19 entries with his 71.5.

Ending the day were 23 goes in Novice Horse Open, Levels 1, 2, and 3. A score of 71.5 by Like Madd, piloted by Liz Rammerstorfer, captured the Championships of all three classes.

In the second slate of Open classes, David Hanson proved too hard to beat as he scored yet another 73 on Lisa Dentoni’s Smart Little Dunnit to win the Open class for the second time in the week. Mike Boyle on Betty McHugh’s Chics Dream and Jordan Larson on Dias Cameron-Miller’s My Lucky Jersey were Co-reserve Champs with scores of 72.5.

The heat of the afternoon welcomed more than forty Non Pro riders to ride on into the early evening. Kathleen Cook, riding Chics Double Magnum, and Lisa Dentoni, riding Smart Little Dunnit, were Champion and Reserve Champion, respectively, in the Non Pro, Intermediate Non Pro, and Prime Time Non Pro classes, Kathleen scoring a 72 and Lisa scoring a 71.5. Lisa was also Champion of the Limited Non Pro, and Kathleen was Champion of the Masters.

Kelly Staley and her Like Madd continued with their week of wins by claiming the Championship of the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 with a score of 71.5

With 28 entries, Youth competition was tough. Co-champions of the Youth 13-under were Brooke Banks on Roosters Who, owned by Kristie Banks, and Naudia Gilliam on Suga Suga, owned by Jennifer Gilliam. The girls scored 68.5. With a score of 70, Lauren Hanson was awarded championships in both the Youth 14-18 and the Unrestricted Youth classes. Julia Fry on her dad’s Iz A Whiz, and Jenevieve Welker on her own Spookebility, were Co-reserve winners in the Youth 14-18 with 69.5. Jenevieve also won the Youth Rookie class. The Short Stirrup 10-under winner was Naudia Gilliam on Suga Suga with a 69.5.

Much gratitude is given to the Directors and the Murieta Equestrian Center for going ahead with the show, especially after having to cancel their Affiliate #2 show due to COVID-19 restrictions back in May. Thank you also to the many sponsors who have the faith in the reining horse industry to assist in keeping the shows moving forward. The Northern California and Nevada reiners will vie later this month at the next WCRHA show, the Year End Show at Murieta Equestrian Center, Aug. 20-23.

More online: https://bit.ly/08wcrha