A variety of classes fill FRIDAY, Aug. 21 at the NSHA Futurity, including several NSHA and VCHA classes.

FRIDAY, 8 a.m.
Cattle enjoy an oat hay breakfast behind the main arena. Fresh cattle, 840 of them here, are a key to good competition. Cattle manager Pat Russell says the trail of this group of Mexican cattle began last winter.

“One key is to go to a supplier with cattle from a single source, not from multiple previous owners. You want them relatively even, from front to back, and from an outfit with a good, all-weather shipping facility and a good crew that knows how to handle cattle. All contracts for this year were done by last Dec. 15 — it’s easier for the ranchers. We want them all about 500-550 lbs. This group is from Milt Rudnick out of Bakersfield. They came up from Mexico last winter, never used, weighing about 380 lbs. We checked them for size and condition weekly — see how they were eating, how healthy they were. Right before the show we get them on oat hay. These cows are fresh.”

FRIDAY, 8:15 a.m.
Kara Morris, Ranch Horse Manager for the Fairlea Ranch in Exeter, says good morning to Electric Gun — one of 83 horses in the NSHA Select Sale Saturday morning at 11. Eleven of the horses are consigned by Fairlea Ranch, six yearling stud colts, a pair of mares with foals, and one bred mare.

“It’s really nerve-wracking to think what tomorrow is going to bring. It’s almost like an art show. I’ve been sculpting these guys for a long time, making them look as they should. These horses are the finished products. All the time, energy and care making something — you hope you get a benefit from it. Our horses grow up in the mountains, so they get a little muscle on them in their first year. They get to be a horse for a while. All of them are halter-broke, but they’re not handled until May of this year. Then, we begin a daily regimen to get them ready for this sale. After all the time, you want to see them go to someone who’s going to put them to good, productive use.”
Click here to see Auction Horses!

FRIDAY, 9:30 a.m.
“Use your leg!” Russell Dilday (left) yells encouragement to First-timer Ty Burk on Rocket in Friday morning’s NSHA First-timer Class. Amateur rider Tammy Adams Edsall of Oakdale (center) says the trainers’ enthusiasm makes a difference.

“They’re all good cheerleaders for each other. Also, if you have ever have an issue or question, they’re super easy to call and talk to. They listen. And there are so many First-timer classes, Green classes, Youth classes — they make it so much easier for the entire family or for beginners to get involved.”

FRIDAY, 9:45 a.m.
First-timer Tucker Clark, who works for Kevin Stallings of Bandolero Ranch in Tucson, Ariz., poses for his “first-win photos” after taking Hickorys Pepibella to the NSHA First-timer Championship and Peppys Prize Freckle to Reserve. Tucker, 22, began showing last December.

“When we got here, I showed in the Limited Open Bridle, and they were announcing about the First-timer deal, so I got in. It gives me a chance to compete and get some confidence. It’s great the way everybody helps you out — Russell (Dilday) and Jake (Gorrell) are out there helping me and all, cheering me on. Everybody wants everyone to do the best they can. They want to win, but they want everyone else to do well, too. Now I’m thinking about going home and getting everything corrected. I want to get where I can let my horse be as good as she is. On my stops, there was a little hesitation on my part. And I need to loosen up a little bit — let the horse show herself. I’m learning.”

FRIDAY, 2 p.m.
Danielle Paskowitz (left), the leading rider on the 2009 NSHA Non Pro Stock Horse standings, reviews with Mark Matson her go on Smart Tom Tucker in Friday’s NSHA Non Pro and Novice Non Pro Bridle class. She took fourth.

“It’s such a fun group of people, and they are so supportive. I tried something different today and it didn’t work. I wanted faster circles, and in order to go faster, I thought I’d try leaning forward instead of kicking, kicking, kicking to get them. Then I didn’t line up and come across straight, and I lost the lead change. It was my fault — I didn’t set it up right. Cost me six points. But hey, if you don’t take risks…”

FRIDAY, 2:45 p.m.
John Ward (from left) and Bo and Casey Branquino relax at the Paso Robles Events Center Friday. John says talk of today’s futurity horses being the best ever is like comparing the great sports teams of different eras.

“One trainer starts pushing. The next guy starts pushing. Then you add the breeding factor, and the bar is raised. It’s called competition — people want to win, and the bar rises. From my perspective, the horses now may not necessarily be the best ever. Thirty years ago, when Greg Ward, Bobby Ingersoll, Les Vogt — those guys were tough to beat. Maybe the conditions are better than ever today. The facilities. The cattle. It’s always interesting comparing eras, trying
to figure out what really is the ‘best ever’.”

FRIDAY, 4:40 p.m.
Tish Wilhite of Clovis, Calif., finishes Friday’s last class in winning form, taking Just Ask Me Nice to the Non Pro Hackamore title with a 440.5 total score.

“With Just Ask Me Nice, I asked her nice and she said OK! She was good last year in the futurities, but now — all of a sudden — she has just come into her own. She’s getting really easy to show. She’s always been talented, and now she’s getting it all. Kathy Wilson, who went right before me (and won the Non Pro Hackamore reserve riding Dandy Little Randy), set the bar really high with a couple 218 scores. I just lucked out with a really good cow, a tough cow, but it was darn sure a money cow! So that made all the difference in the world. I’ve never scored that high on this mare.”

FRIDAY, 5:00 p.m.
Local wineries, J. Lohr, Sculpterra and Hearthstone, kicked off the World’s Richest Draw Party and Wine Tasting for Saturday evening’s big bridle competition, the World’s Richest Stock Horse.

FRIDAY, 6:00 p.m.
Bob Avila picks a wine glass and checks the bottom to see his draw number in the traditional World’s Richest Stock Horse Draw Party. Dana Avila (left) looks on along with Heather Hayes. » See more draw photos by clicking here!