Master horseman, teacher and friend passes away at age 82

From staff and published reports

Doug Williamson, a legend in performance horse circles who taught and inspired a generation, passed away Aug. 14 in his home alongside his loving wife Carol. He was 82.

Williamson was born March 15, 1942, and grew up on his family’s ranch in Vale, Ore. From a young age, he worked on the ranch and developed his cowboy and horsemanship skills. After graduating from high school, he worked on several ranches where he was in charge of large herds of cattle and also continued training horses. He became a full-time horse trainer in his twenties and embarked on a successful career that spanned over six decades.

Over the years, he had training facilities in Nampa, Idaho, Bakersfield, and ultimately in Scottsdale, Ariz. His lifelong passion was to be the best horseman he could be. Two special accomplishments of his career included his induction into the NRCHA Hall of Fame and securing his place as a NRCHA Million Dollar Rider.

Four-show series concludes its 2024 summer run

By Horsetrader staff

HUNTINGTON BEACH: The four-show Surf City Circuit series, put on by Track One Events for the Los Serranos Award Circuit, wrapped up its successful season Aug. 17 at the Huntington Central Park Equestrian Center.

Beautiful buckles and other awards were icing on the cake for winners at this refreshing circuit of open shows, which featured popular classes in ranch, reining, pleasure, horsemanship and trail.

One gratified Circuit Champion was open reiner Sophia Ritchie, an assistant trainer for Rick Baer Performance Horses that is based at the Huntington Central Park Equestrian Center. Ritchie rode I Whiza Gangsta to the title for owner Patricia Houk.

PCHA ‘Pink Classic’ Show comes to LAEC Oct. 31-Nov. 3

From the Horsetrader sales staff

The very popular Pink Classic Horse Show is returning to the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. Always a very popular show in the past, it was sidelined — as many were — because of the pandemic.

This show has quite a history, as 32 years ago it held the first Pacific Coast Horse Shows Association Jack and Linda Baker Reining Classic. Managers Poncie and Larry Gimple of Track One Events started this special horse show at the Orange County Fairgrounds during the Orange County Fair over 30 years ago. Many great horse shows of the past were held in conjunction with county fairs.

A solid foundation in ground work started Sabrina Smith’s college ride

By Horsetrader staff

RAMONA — Gainesville, Texas, is about 1,400 miles from Sabrina Smith’s growing grounds in Ramona, but she is right at home.

The 21-year-old sophomore competes on the North Central Texas College equestrian team, working toward a degree in criminal justice on a full-ride scholarship she earned from the ground up.

The daughter of Ramona-based trainer Tony Smith, Sabrina credits the versatility of her riding experiences for her selection to the NCTC equestrian team. Trail. Western. English. Ranch. Reining. Working cow. Versatility with a capital “V”.

And both she and her dad credit her early foundation in showmanship and horsemanship for a seemingly natural connection across different disciplines.

Kailty King-Hale and Gotta Have Style are finding their groove

By Horsetrader staff

After a year, it’s safe to say Kailey King-Hale and Gotta Have Style, the grey mare she acquired last year, are connecting.

Kailey, a non pro who rides at her family’s King Performance Horses in Chino Hills, was looking for a next-level reiner to develop in spring 2023 when a friend at the Cactus Reining Classic in Scottsdale arranged an unforgettable test ride in a busy warm-up arena at the show.

Popular ‘kids ride free’ SCRCHA event also inspires adults

By Sue Carter / for the Horsetrader

TEMECULA — The future of horses is the youth of today, and it looked bright at the 2024 Grant Berg Memorial Horse Show put on by the Southern California Reined Cow Horse Association on July 4-7.

Green Acres Ranch hosted the four-day horse event honoring Grant Berg, and there was a nice turnout of horses and riders for the warm days that included three full slates of National Reined Cow Horse Association classes.

Ranch Horse competitors say ‘mahalo’ for 2024 Summerfest

Special to the Horsetrader

TEMECULA — West Coast Ranch Horse has had a great 2024 season of ranch horse competition so far. Their popular Ranch Summerfest Show was held on July 21 at California Ranch Company, and exhibitors wore Hawaiian shirts to beat the heat and adorned themselves and their horses with festive leis.

The event featured tropical ranch trail, open disciplined ranch rail and a non-pro ranch rail stakes class with a Hawaiian-themed silver belt buckle to the champion. Saltwater Riders, the title sponsor for the third straight year, sponsored t-shirts of the winners’ choice for the Top 10 in the stakes and disciplined rail classes. Bentley Show Pads sponsored multiple show pads for the winners, too.

Rancho California Horsemen’s Association celebrates its success

Special to the Horsetrader

TEMECULA — Rancho California Horsemen’s Association recently celebrated 55 years as the premier equestrian organization in the Temecula Valley.

A wonderful BBQ dinner catered by South Fork and sponsored by Darrell and Brenda Cowan, a silent auction sponsored by Temecula Valley Rural Lifestyles, and line dancing led by Nita Bowers were highlights of the evening which also included the awarding of an RCHA-sponsored Scholarship at Green Acres Interactive Therapy (GAIT) to Kaylee Long so she can pursue her love of riding, and the annual Friend of RCHA Award to Lorraine Harrington for her support of the equestrian lifestyle in Temecula Valley.

Cool Bonsall breezes just one allure to Hidden Hills Ranch

From the Horsetrader sales staff

When someone suggests you “come to your senses” when looking for a boarding or training facility, it’s not a bad idea! Hidden Hills Equestrian Ranch in Bonsall checks all the boxes, and it also appeals to all the senses — starting with the cool breezes from the ocean and to the peaceful, pastoral environment immersing the remarkable facility. Hidden Hills offers a private country club lifestyle for you and your equine partner in a relaxed & tranquil setting, offering everything from boarding, support care for the serious equestrian, maintenance programs for the busy working folks, to full training.

More than a learning barn, Devenport Training’s rodeo program is now a ‘family’

By Horsetrader staff

ESCONDIDO — By 6 p.m. at the San Pasqual Valley Ranch arena, the weekday junior rodeo practice is winding down. All 14 girls — ranging from age six to 15 and from beginner to advanced — listen to their coach’s comments as each one takes their horse’s turn through one last practice pattern. It’s clear the young riders are learning, and even clearer they are having fun.

“Many of my members have been together on this team for years now,” says the coach, Mindy van Loggerenberg. “They are growing up with each other. Older members are like big sisters, and the younger ones are mentored, monitored, loved and treated like… well, little siblings.”