Eric Laporte, who came to Pleasant Grove two years ago, was very happy after a standout showing in the West Coast Reining Horse Association’s fifth affiliate show of 2014, held July 3-6 at Brookside Equestrian Park. Laporte continued a strong year on Linda Hardy’s mare, Whiz N Steady, by taking the Open, Novice Horse and the NRHA $2,500-added Open Level 4 and Level 3 Derby titles — marking a 75 and 76.
“She really is a very special mare,” said Laporte, who has consistently finished atop standings since taking her reins earlier this year. “She is so good-minded. Yes, she’s really, really athletic, but her mind is remarkable. Every time she shows, she shows her best.”
After schooling Whiz N Steady in January at the WCRHA Affiliate 1 show and the subsequent Rancho Murieta event, Laporte’s first true competition on her was at the Cactus Classic in Scottsdale, Ariz., and they finished in the money in the Limited Open classes. At the Rein For The Roses, they were outdueled by a half-point, which inspired the hard-working Laporte to dig a little deeper.
“We wanted to make sure this time that wouldn’t happen again,” said Laporte, who grew up in southern France where he trained Camargue horses alongside his father and worked the wild cattle there.He first arrived in North Carolina in 1999, then returned to France until 2006 when he began his “second tour” in the U.S. He moved to Northern California in 2012.
“The whole group of trainers here has been great,” he said. “Dave Hansen, Thad Carr, Christian Rammerstorfer — we’ve talked and exchanged a lot. What we’re doing, what we’re not, what we should be doing — that makes everybody better and pulls everybody up. It’s awesome. I really appreciate the group of trainers.”
He is fond of his owner, too.
“It’s a pleasure to work with owners like Linda who trust my program,” he said. “It can be difficult to arrive in a big affiliate like West Coast. There are a lot of established trainers who work really hard, so to come here and create a new business is a challenge.
“I’ve been here for two years, an we’ve been showing hard,” he added. “I’ve been winning a lot, but it takes more than that. For someone like Linda who trusts me with that mare, it will help to show people that my program can produce successful horses.”His formula is a simple strategy with Whiz N Steady. A steady dose of happiness.
“Just keep her happy,” said Laporte, who also credits farrier Richie Franklin for the mare’s performance. “Those horses, they know their job. What you’ve got to do is keep them happy. What I try to do is keep them sound and happy, and then we’ll go do our work.”
Other top winners included Stacy Hamilton, who took her Whiz I Was Smart to the NRHA $2,500-added Non Pro Derby Level 4 and Level 3 titles, and Shawna Smith, who took the NRHA $1,000-added Non Pro Maturity on Cash N Too. Ollie Galligan rode Lavonne Sturgeon’s California Shine to victory in the NRHA $1,000-added 7+ Open Maturity.
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WCRHA Affililate #5 Star Spangled Slide
July 3-6, 2014 * Brookside Show Park, Elk Grove Calif.
Class/ Horse/ Rider/ Owner
Thursday Results
OPEN Whiz N Steady/ Eric LaPorte/ Linda Hardy
INTERMEDIATE OPEN Whiz N Steady/ Eric LaPorte/ Linda Hardy
LIMITED OPEN Ghostsliderinthesky/ Amy Walden/ Morgan Davis
PRIME TIME OPEN Whizbe A Star/ Mark Harnden/ Jess Sanders
ROOKIE PRO AR Oakies Last Stand/ Joanne Morrison/ Kristie Banks Keda Cat/ Cody Smith/ Cody Smith
NOVICE HORSE NP L1 Our Happy Hour/ Hailey Robison/ Hailey Robison
NOVICE HORSE NP L2 Cash N Too/ Shawna Smith/ Mike Mallo & Shawna Smith
Our Happy Hour/ Hailey Robison/ Hailey Robison
WCRHA 2-HANDED BRIDLE Snoopy/ Mike Boyle/ Jill Ramleth
Friday Results
SNAFFLE BIT/HACKAMORE Electric Lena Chex/ Marcelo Cruz/ Marcelo Cruz
YOUTH 13 & UNDER Taris Topsail/ Ellie Madsen/ Ellie Madsen
YOUTH 14-18 West Coast Hick/ Kaela Ranhoff/ Kaela Ranhoff
YOUTH ROOKIE Taris Topsail / Ellie Madsen/ Ellie Madsen
UNRESTRICTED YOUTH West Coast Hick/ Kaela Ranhoff/ Kaela Ranhoff
SHORT STIRRUP 10 & UNDER Slide Zone/ Lauren Hanson/ David Hanson
NRHA GREEN REINER 1 A Shining Magnum/ Felicia Puerta/ Felicia Puerta
NRHA GREEN REINER 2 A Shining Magnum/ Felicia Puerta/ Felicia Puerta
7+ OPEN MATURITY California Shines/ Ollie Galligan/ Lavonne Sturgeon
NON PRO DERBY LEVEL 4 Whiz I Was Smart/ Stacy Hamilton/ Stacy Hamilton
NON PRO DERBY LEVEL 3 Whiz I Was Smart/ Stacy Hamilton/ Stacy Hamilton
NON PRO DERBY LEVEL 1 Our Happy Hour/ Hailey Robison/ Hailey Robison
Wimpys Yellow Jacket/ Rhonda Dunlap/ Rhonda Dunlap
NP 4-YEAR STAKES LEVEL 4 Wimpys Yellow Jacket/ Rhonda Dunlap/ Rhonda Dunlap
Okie Wimpys/ Britta Jacobson/ Britta Jacobson
NP 4-YEAR STAKES LEVEL 1 Wimpys Yellow Jacket/ Rhonda Dunlap/ Rhonda Dunlap
Saturday Results
NP 7+ MATURITY Cash N Too/ Shawna Smith/ Mike Mallo & Shawna Smith
West Coast Hick/ Kaela Ranhoff/ Kaela Ranhoff
NON PRO Cash N Too/ Shawna Smith/ Mike Mallo & Shawna Smith
INTERMEDIATE NON PRO Cash N Too/ Shawna Smith/ Mike Mallo & Shawna Smith
LIMITED NON PRO Plan Your Luck/ Debbie Valdero Tweedy/ Debbie Valdero Tweedy & Stacey Cook
PRIME TIME NON PRO Great Banjo/ George Deffterios/ George Deffterios
Bay Gangster/ Penny Wright/ Penny Wright
NON PRO MASTERS Great Banjo/ George Deffterios/ George Deffterios
Got No Diamonds/ Shari Burns/ Melinda Nash
OPEN DERBY LEVEL 4 Whiz N Steady/ Eric LaPorte/ Linda Hardy
OPEN DERBY LEVEL 3 Whiz N Steady/ Eric LaPorte/ Linda Hardy
OPEN DERBY LEVEL 1 Chics Sugar Daddy/ Christian Rammerstorfer/ Norm Witt & Debbie Witt
OPEN 4-YEAR STAKES LEVEL 4 Chics Sugar Daddy/ Christian Rammerstorfer/ Norm Witt & Debbie Witt
OPEN 4-YEAR STAKES LEVEL 1 Chics Sugar Daddy/ Christian Rammerstorfer/ Norm Witt & Debbie Witt
Sunday Results
NOVICE HORSE OPEN LEVEL 1 Magnums Chic Dun It/ Ollie Galligan/ Avalon Heinzig
NOVICE HORSE OPEN LEVEL 2 Whiz N Steady/ Eric LaPorte/ Linda Hardy
ROOKIE LEVEL 1 Buenos Home Run/ Margaret Munro/ Margaret Munro
ROOKIE LEVEL 2 Country Custom/ Debbie Witt/ Debbie Witt
PRIME TIME ROOKIE Country Custom/ Debbie Witt/ Debbie Witt
WCRHA GREEN REINER Dunit With An Indian/ Amanda Lawrence/ Gary Van Hoosen
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