West Coast Reiners come out in numbers

By Eileen Maxinoski / for the Horsetrader

RANCHO MURIETA — It had been a long two months between shows for the West Coast Reining Horse Association members and exhibitors as the first show of the year was in early March. So, it was little surprise that this Spring show, held on May 21-23, exceeded expectations to the extent that a second arena had to be employed to accommodate all the runs that were entered.

As reiners guided their mounts through their patterns in the spacious arenas at the Murieta Equestrian Center, judges Allen Mitchels from Indiana and Ryan Kail from Arizona expertly scored runs which began at 7:30 every morning and ended with sundown every evening. Although the COVID-19 crisis has impacted most events held in California for the past year and a half, the WCRHA shows have continually hit record number of entrants as did this show.

Jordan Larson, showing Tim Anderson’s Hold My Ground, led the pack of 18 entrants in the Open class with a blistering score of 74.

David Hanson and Eric Laporte tied for Championship honors in the Intermediate Open class. With scores of 73, David showed Anne Driscoll’s Xtra Needs A Drink, and Eric showed Megan Meyerdick’s Sugar Baby. Eric was also Champion and Reserve Champion in the Limited Open where a score of 74 on Ronald Shatley’s Gotta Good Nite earned him the first placing, and the score of 73 on Megan’s Sugar Baby brought in the second placing. Mike Boyle was also Champion in the Prime Time Open on Chics Dream with Christian Rammerstorfer being Reserve on his own Reinsincalifornia with a 71.5.

David Bunfill stepped up to the plate in the Rookie Professional showing his Custom Whizett to the Championship with a 72.5.

After scoring over 60 runs in the Open classes, the judges welcomed nearly 50 NRHA Green Reiners into the show pen. Sophie Guntren was awarded top honors in both the Green Reiner Level 1 and Level 2 classes on her own Kiss My Pale Face, scoring a 71. Reserve honors in the Level 1 was shared by Casey Richards showing her Lil Nu Gunz and Shelley Young showing her Chica Dream, both earning 70.5 scores.

Finishing the day were the entrants in the WCRHA Youth Reining class. Megan Lynch emerged victorious with a 70.5 on Vicki Dias’ I Spook. Coming in second with a 68.5 was Taylor Banks on her mother’s UB A Stylin Diva.

Saturday dawned a bright and beautiful day with perfect temperatures for showing. Ten horses in the Snaffle Bit/Hackamore class began the second day of the show. Martin Padilla, showing Isabelle Ord’s Gunna Get Tipsy, won first place awards for his score of 72.5. With a score of just a half point less, Mike Boyle earned second place on Victoria Ferrioli’s Xtra Voodooccino.

Nearly 60 Non Pros were next to show in the three levels of Novice Horse Non Pro. Rica Macalvey laid down a credit earning score of 72.5 to win the Championships of Levels 1 and 3. She showed Got Guns A Blazin owned by Doree Macalvey-Sims. Rica was also Reserve Champion in the Level 2 class, which was won by was Holly Valerio on her own Lanas Lil Joe with a 73.5.

Forty-five Open riders were on the scene to conclude day two in all three levels of the Novice Horse Open classes. Eric Laporte, showing Sugar Baby owned by Mega Meyerdick, won the Championship of the Level 1, tied for the Championship in Level 2, and tied for the Reserve in Level 3.

More online: https://bit.ly/107wcrha