Competitors shine at SCRCHA Pot Of Gold Show

By SUSAN CARTER / for the Horsetrader

TEMECULA — Weather-wise, it’s always a bit of a crap shoot to hold a March show, but the Southern California Reined Cow Horse Association held its second 2021 show on March 13-14 at California Ranch Company.

The covered arena was a saving grace, as the previous week’s rain forced all classes into the indoor arena. Competitors held great attitudes with the decreased warm-up areas and smaller spaces. If 2020 taught us anything, it was “be grateful for the ability and opportunity to show!”

Friday’s cutting and herd work classes were well attended with Bob Grant, Roy Rich and Phillip Ralls taking home winning checks in cutting. Besting the non-pro cutting classes were Eric Trostad and Charlene Lane.

Charles Stevens aboard All That Boon won the sizeable Open Herd Work title, and Ruth Noring, riding her own Mister Olena Chic, brought home a first in Non Pro Herd Work.

In Saturday’s cow horse classes, Charles Stevens captured the Open Bridle crown on All That Boon, cinching the Open Spectacular spot for the pair. Jesus Roman had an incredible 147 score to win the Senior Cow Horse and Open Two Rein. His 147 score was repeated on Sunday and held the high score of the weekend. Dustin Turk, Paul Bonello and Nicolas Barthelemy were also winners in the Open Divisions of the Limited Age Classes.

Standouts in Non Pro were Lisa Fonden riding RJ Where’s My Sock, Catherine Deel on RJ Boon Docs, Karen Dixon on Nics Starlite and Lynne Burchell-Heyer on Sheza Good Bet in the fence classes on Saturday. Noring and Mister Olena Chic had the high three-event composite to win the Spectacular in the Non Pro Division.

Candy Flock aboard Montas First Report and Say No Way, respectively, took first and second in Non Pro Limited and Select Non Pro Limited on Saturday. Misterey, with Vanessa Stevens in the stirrups, dominated the field in 5K Non Pro Limited and 1K Non Pro Limited. These victories earned her the Non Pro Limited Spectacular award, alongside her husband, Charles.

“Spectacular Couple”

The path of Charles Stevens, a resident of Hawaii, to the Southern California cow horse scene is an interesting one. As a teen in Hawaii, he attended a clinic with Ted Robinson. Already an accomplished roper, Charles was intrigued with the finesse of reined cow horse, and he took up Robinson on an invitation to come ride with him in California. That was the start of an amazing mentorship and friendship that has spanned more than a decade.

Charles shared the origins of the Hawaiian “paniolos”: King Kamehameha III invited vaqueros from Spanish California to come to Hawaii to teach cattle handling skills. The first vaqueros were brought to the Parker Ranch in 1823. They were called Espanoles (Spaniards) which the native Hawaiians pronounced as “paniolos”. Charles and Vanessa, with their two children Chloe and Cooper, fly their show string and prospects to the mainland at the start of show season. They have lived this trans-Pacific rhythm for many years. Home is on the SC Ranch in Pauuhilo on the Big Island of Hawaii, where Charles runs a cow calf operation with 1,300 broodcows grazing on 8,000 acres. Four years ago, the Stevenses started their own breeding program with 14 top broodmares. The first foal crop is now three and will be testing their mettle in the show ring. Being a Heritage Breeder is an exciting and rewarding venture for Charles and Vanessa.

Sunday’s stars

Sunday brought out diehard cow horse enthusiasts for Day Two competition. In the Open Divisions, Roy Rich, Jesus Roman, Dustin Turk and Caitlyn Showalter brought home first-place checks, making a nice sweep for The Rich Group.

Giacomo Mattoli, riding Annie’s Smart Cat, swept the Non Pro Bridle division, earning a check in three classes. Catherine Deel and Karen Dixon won the Limited Age divisions of the Non Pro Fence classes.

The Non Pro Limited classes were won by some familiar pairs. Vanessa Stevens riding Misterey, Joel Jewett aboard I’m Smooth and Smart and Susan Carter riding Von Halo Nic took home first place in their respective classes.

Youth Riders

Gabriana Wagner, riding Patty Naskia, won both divisions Saturday and Sunday of Youth Limited. It’s always great to see the youth riders of our sport, and first-time competitor Kiersten Fry was trying her hand at cow horse and did a great job both days. Another first-timer, 10-year-old Hayes Stroschein, showed well in the Youth Boxing on her aunt Jessica Saenz’s horse, Blingblingboom.

In loving honor of Grant Berg, SCRCHA and Mike and Christy Berg announced an exciting new youth update: Beginning May 14-16 at the Jimmy Flores, Sr. Memorial Horse Show at Green Acres Ranch, SCRCHA will introduce the Grant Berg Memorial Fund and Youth Ride Free. All cow horse and ranch riding classes will be free, although some restrictions apply.

SCRCHA is soliciting sponsorships and donations toward this tax-deductible fund. More information is available at scrcha.com.

Old friends and new faces always highlight SCRCHA events. Ted Robinson and Phil Ralls were welcome additions to the Pot Of Gold Show, as were first-time cow horse enthusiasts Marlene Holmquist, Matt Bradley, Kiersten Fry and Hayes Stroschein.

More online: https://bit.ly/104scrcha