TEMECULA — For Danielle Paskowitz, this year’s Sherri Gilkerson Memorial Bridle Spectacular will be remembered as the Year of Changing Horses.

For the last eight years, the San Juan Capistrano non-pro had been partnered with Smart Tom Tucker, her first cow horse that she acquired from Bob Avila and then rode to a staircase of success. Her new horse, Shiners Rojo (Shining Spark x Little Lena Lady x Smart Little Lena) made his California debut under Avila May 13-15 in the $5,000-added Open Bridle Spectacular at the Gilkerson event, and they won — just three days after Paskowitz had sold her 14-year-old “Tucker horse” to a new home.

Brian Smith / EQ Images photo

Lyn Anderson and Tuckers Smart Cat, owned by David and Barbara Archer, win the $5,000-added NRCHA Open Hackamore Spectacular at the Sherri Gilkerson Memorial and Big Horse Wine Country Classic May 13-15 in Temecula.

“I was absolutely thrilled out of my mind when he won,” said Paskowitz, who acquired the 2005 sorrel gelding early last year from Carol Rose Quarter Horses in Gainesville, Texas. “It helped me get over the emotion of saying good-bye to my other horse — I cried for three days straight. It didn’t make it all better, but a little bit better.”

The Southern California Reined Cow Horse Association’s Sherri Gilkerson Memorial Bridle Spectacular brought top trainers and performance horses to the Casner Ranch for the fifth straight year.

The show commemorates the life of Sherri Gilkerson, who died after a horse accident at age 34 in 2006, and it helps fund the Sherri Gilkerson Memorial Scholarships for undergraduate college and university students with an interest in reined cow horses.

This was Avila’s first performance on Shiners Rojo (Shining Spark x Little Lena Lady x Smart Little Lena) with the intent to compete after a series of schoolings – and a year of patient work.

“The horse has got a lot of talent,” said Avila, who opened the event with a two-point lead after herd work and never gave it up. “I think he’s had a few setbacks in his life, and we’ve spent the last year revamping him and giving him some time to think — letting him become a horse. Now he is kind of ready to come out of his shell.”

Brian Smith / EQ Images photo

Shannon McCarty rides her The Colonels Nu Flame to victory in a big field of 17 entries in the $5,000-added Non Pro Bridle Spectacular class at the Sherri Gilkerson Memorial and Big Horse Wine Country Classic.

When she brought him home, Paskowitz realized she needed help with the young horse which had yet to show in the hackamore. She had trained under Russell Dilday and Mark Matson in Porterville, but the five-hour drive to the Central Valley was a problem. She asked the Temecula-based Avila if he would work with both of them.

“Russell Dilday helped me find the horse, and I love Russell dearly, but I had to get a trainer closer to me,” she recalled. “I called up Bob and said ‘I need your help!’– and he was kind enough to take me on. The horse and I have definitely been a project,” she added. “We are BOTH learning from Bob. I am starting all over again, really. And he’s a cool horse. I’m definitely just starting – I’m at the bottom. So it’s kind of nice because nobody expects anything from me on this horse. Although now that Bob won the Open Bridle on her, I don’t know!”

Smart Tom Tucker may have moved to a new owner, but his impact on Paskowitz will stay with her.

Brian Smith / EQ Images photo

Steven Debolt and Reminics Double Chex take the Rookie Rider Non Pro Limited title at the Sherri Gilkerson Memorial and Big Horse Wine Country Classic.

“He was a horse that gave her the courage, the feeling that she could go show,” said Avila, who also showed Smart Tom Tucker. “That horse gave her the confidence she could go and do what she wanted to do. And she was ready to step up to another, younger horse.”

“And, she was wiling to let me take the time to get it together with the new horse,” added Avila, who took Shiners Rojo last January. “It takes some time. We’ve been doing a lot of pre-work on this horse and a lot of quiet work on him, and this is the first time that we’ve actually broke him and said, ‘hey, let’s go see what happens’.”

Paskowitz, who admits she was more nervous as an observing owner than as a rider, likes the challenge the new horse brings.

“I had just decided I had a lot more to learn,” she said. “And that was kind of why I got the horse that I got. I wanted a little bit of a challenge, and I got it. I needed to push myself. He’s not like the Doc Tom Tucker horse for me to ride. This one is definitely more of a challenge.”

Other top winners at the Sherri Gilkerson Memorial included Lyn Anderson on Tuckers Smart Cat. Last year’s Open Bridle Spectacular winner on Lil Time To Smoke, Anderson took David and Barbara Archer’s Tuckers Smart Cat to titles in the $5,000-added Open Hackamore Spectacular, the American Quarter Horse Association Junior Working Cow Horse title, and both the SCRCHA and NRCHA Open hackamore classes.

2011 SHERRI GILKERSON MEMORIAL (Saturday) – 1st Place winners

• NRCHA Open Bridle – Nics Black Diamond, Phillip Ralls   Mark&Kelly Gowing
• SCRCHA Open Bridle – (tie) Whos Gonna Know, Jake Gorrell (Kim Ramsden, owner);  Shiners Rojo, Bob Avila  (Danielle Paskowitz owner)
• NRCHA Limited Open Bridle – Miss Cattlemaster, Roy Rich (Jodi Sypherd, owner)
• SCRCHA Limited Open Bride – Miss Cattlemaster, Roy Rich (Jodi Sypherd, owner)
• AQHA Sr. Working Cowhorse – Shiners Rojo, Bob Avila (Danielle Paskowitz, owner)
• NRCHA Open Bridle Spectacular – Shiners Rojo, Bob Avila (Danielle Paskowitz, owner)
• NRCHA Limited Open Bridle Spectacular – Chic San Olena, Tucker Clark  (Don Rogers, owner)
• NRCHA Non Pro Bridle – Smart Time Tuck, Murray G. Thompson (rider/owner)
• SCRCHA Non Pro Bridle – Smart Time Tuck, Murray G. Thompson(rider/owner)
• NRCHA Intermediate Non Pro Bridle – Smart Time Tuck, Murray G. Thompson (rider/owner)
• SCRCHA Intermediate Non Pro Bridle – Smart Time Tuck, Murray G. Thompson (rider/owner)
• NRCHA Novice Non Pro Bridle – Talkin Prize, Stephen Silva (rider/owner)
• SCRCHA Novice Non Pro Bridle – Skeets Majic Peppy, Darleen Wood (rider/owner)
• NRCHA Non Pro Hackamore – Nu Prize, Tammy J Johnston (Trystin L Johnston, owner)
• SCRCHA Non Pro Hackamore – Nu Prize, Tammy J Johnston (Trystin L Johnston, owner)
• AQHA Amateur Working Cowhorse – Brother White, Dana M Avila (rider/owner)
• SCRCHA Rookie Rider – SCR Sams Playgun, Whitney Sims (rider/owner)
• NRCHA Non Pro Bridle Spectacular – The Colonels Nuflame, Shannon McCarty
• NRCHA Novice Non Pro Bridle Spectacular – Talkin Prize, Stephen Silva (rider/owner)
• NRCHA Non Pro Hackamore Spectacular – Nu Prize, Tammy J Johnston  (Trystin L Johnston, owner)
• NRCHA Open Hackamore – Tuckers Smart Cat, Lyn Anderson  (David & Barbara Archer, owners)
• SCRCHA Open Hackamore – Tuckers Smart Cat, Lyn Anderson  (David & Barbara Archer, owners)
• NRCHA Limited Open Hackamore – Very Smart And Sure, Roy Rich   (Sarah J Bradley, owner)
• SCRCHA Limited Open Hackamore – Very Smart And Sure, Roy Rich   (Sarah J Bradley, owner)
• AQHA Jr. Working Cowhorse – Tuckers Smart Cat, Lyn Anderson  (David & Barbara Archer, owners)
• NRCHA Open Hackamore Spectacular – Tuckers Smart Cat, Lyn Anderson  (David & Barbara Archer, owners)
• NRCHA Limited Open Hackamore Spectacular – Smokin Mister Sister, Monica De Bie (John R. Pascoe, owner)
• SCRCHA Youth Bridle – Tangys Sugar Nic, Tiffany Neal (rider/owner)
• AQHA Youth Working Cowhorse – Tangys Sugar Nic, Tiffany Neal (rider/owner)
• NRCHA Open Two Rein – Itsy Bitsy Slider, Russell Dilday     Susan L Caratan
• SCRCHA Open Two Rein – FLS Cowboy Kool, Becky Holman   Valerie McKay
• NRCHA Open Two Rein Spectacular – Itsy Bitsy Slider, Russell Dilday (Susan L Caratan, owner)
• NRCHA Non Pro Two Rein – Rein My Belle, Claire Edwards (rider/owner)
• SCRCHA Non Pro Two Rein – Rein My Belle, Claire Edwards (rider/owner)
• NRCHA Youth Limited – TF Montalena, Kailey Culligan (Shannon Culligan, owner)
• SCRCHA Youth Limited – TF Montalena, Kailey Culligan (Shannon Culligan, owner)
• SCRCHA Jr. Youth Limited – TF Montalena, Kailey Culligan (Shannon Culligan, owner)
• NRCHA $5000 Non Pro Limited – AR Splash Of Pep, Susan Carter  (rider/owner)
• SCRCHA $5000 Non Pro Limited – AR Splash Of Pep, Susan Carter  (rider/owner)
• SCRCHA Rookie Rider Non Pro Limited – Haidas Dolly, Alexandra Veen  (rider/owner)
• NRCHA Non Pro Limited – Legendinhisowntime, Cheryl Harmon-Teets (rider/owner)
• SCRCHA Non Pro Limited – Play Lika Martin, Daniella Irvine (rider/owner)
• NRCHA $5000 Non Pro Limited Spectacular – AR Splash Of Pep, Susan Carter  (rider/owner)

2011 BIG HORSE WINE COUNTRY CLASSIC (Sunday) – 1st Place winners

• NRCHA Open Bridle – Gallos Rojo Rio Star, Tucker Clark (Linda A Mars, owner)
• SCRCHA Open Bridle – Saturday Night Dual, Becky Holman (rider/owner)
• NRCHA Limited Open Bridle – Gallos Rojo Rio Star, Tucker Clark (Linda A Mars, owner)
• SCRCHA Limited Open Bridle – A Boomer Sooner, Christopher Martinez (Edmund R Fries, owner)
• AQHA Sr. Working Cowhorse – Gallos Rojo Rio Star, Tucker Clark (Linda A Mars, owner)
• NRCHA Non Pro Bridle – NMSU Truckin Chex, Karen Stallings (Kevin Stallings, owner)
• SCRCHA Non Pro Bridle – CP Remedy, Tony Mendoza (rider/owner)
• NRCHA Intermediate Non Pro Bridle – (tie) Zo Flo, Nina S McCorkle (rider/owner); Smart Time Tuck, Murray G Thompson (rider/owner)
• SCRCHA Intermediate Non Pro Bridle – (tie) Zo Flo, Nina S McCorkle (rider/owner); Smart Time Tuck, Murray G Thompson (rider/owner)
• NRCHA Novice Non Pro Bridle – Be Smart Go Smokum, Sandy M Miller (rider/owner)
• SCRCHA Novice Non Pro Bridle – Be Smart Go Smokum, Sandy M Miller (rider/owner)
• NRCHA Non Pro Hackamore – Top Rienmakin Blonde, Tia Harari (rider/owner)
• SCRCHA Non Pro Hackamore – Top Rienmakin Blonde, Tia Harari (rider/owner)
• AQHA Amateur Working Cowhorse – NMSU Truckin Chex, Karen Stallings (Kevin Stallings, owner)
• SCRCHA Rookie Rider – SCR Sams Playgun, Whitney Sims (rider/owner)
• NRCHA Open Hackamore – Tuckers Smart Cat, Lyn Anderson (David & Barbara Archer, owner)
• SCRCHA Open Hackamore – Tuckers Smart Cat, Lyn Anderson (David & Barbara Archer, owner)
• NRCHA Limited Open Hackamore – Fresnos Indian Chief , Roy Rich (Gabriel Stanton, owner)
• SCRCHA Limited Open Hackamore – Fresnos Indian Chief , Roy Rich (Gabriel Stanton, owner)
• AQHA Jr Working Cowhorse – Tuckers Smart Cat, Lyn Anderson  (David & Barbara Archer, owner)
• SCRCHA Youth Bridle – Tangys Sugar Nic, Tiffany Neal (rider/owner)
• AQHA Youth Working Cowhorse – Tangys Sugar Nic, Tiffany Neal (rider/owner)
• NRCHA Open Two Rein – Miss Skeets Cowgirl, Roy Rich (Barbara J Hastings, owner)
• SCRCHA Open Two Rein – Miss Skeets Cowgirl, Roy Rich (Barbara J Hastings, owner)
• NRCHA Non Pro Two Rein – Rein My Belle, Claire Edwards (rider/owner)
• SCRCHA Non Pro Two Rein – Rein My Belle, Claire Edwards (rider/owner)
• NRCHA Youth Limited – Soula Boom Star, Rene Ferini (Dakota Anderson, owner)
• SCRCHA Youth Limited – Soula Boom Star, Rene Ferini (Dakota Anderson, owner)
• SCRCHA Jr. Youth Limited – Spring Olena Meloday, Georgia Smith (rider/owner)
• NRCHA $5000 Non Pro Limited – Legendinhisowntime, Cheryl Harmon-Teets (rider/owner)
• SCRCHA $5000 Non Pro Limited – Legendinhisowntime, Cheryl Harmon-Teets (rider/owner)
• SCRCHA Rookie Rider Non Pro Limited – Reminics Double Chex, Steven Debolt (rider/owner)
• NRCHA Non Pro Limited – Legendinhisowntime, Cheryl Harmon-Teets (rider/owner)
• SCRCHA Non Pro Limited – Play Lika Martin, Daniella Irvine (rider/owner)

For complete results, visit: www.scrcha.com