From GOOD to ‘GREAT’
Nicole Donahoo brings home 2024 NRCHA World’s Greatest Youth Horseman title
By Horsetrader staff
The packed Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas, was a loud pressure-cooker when Nicole Donahoo and Very Smart Pearl stepped into the arena for her final go in the NRCHA World’s Greatest Youth Horseman finals in February.
Then, she nailed it.
Her championship crowned a 10-year youth show path from junior rodeo to cow horse, along the way putting tools into her toolbox that she continues to build as a freshman at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
Which tool did she rely on as she entered the final? Start with her mindset.
Cow horse Kick Off
New year, same excitement in SCRCHA opener
By SUE CARTER / for the Horsetrader
TEMECULA — Southern California s cow horse community came together Jan. 5-7 to salute its 2023 champions and also launch the Southern California Reined Cow Horse Association’s 2024 campaign.
SCRCHA members were glad to be back on their horses after the bustle of the holidays, and the Kick Off Show sponsored by Dr. Doug Lawrence and Dr. Wayne McNeel of Equine Health Management was a great start to the new campaign.
Tucalota Creek Ranch hosted the show, including a fun pizza party with wine tasting that took place while SCRCHA 2023 Year End Champions received their buckles and awards.
Simply Spectacular
SCRCHA’s Jimmy Flores, Sr. Memorial show attracts top talent
By Sue Carter / for the Horsetrader
TEMECULA — The Southern California Reined Cow Horse Association hosted its annual Jimmy Flores, Sr. Memorial Horse Show on May 11-14 at Green Acres Ranch. Great weather treated the riders, horses and cattle with cool temperatures.
There was some fun to be had with the added team branding class on Saturday afternoon. Exhibitors and spectators alike enjoyed watching the teams have success — and calamity! The SCRCHA will have more opportunities for exhibitors to practice their roping skills with a steer stopping class at its next show July 7-9. The July Show is also an opportunity for the youth riders to try their hand at cow horse, as youth ride free at the Grant Berg Memorial show at Green Acres Ranch.
Ranch and cow horse combine
New cow horse division comes to WCRH
Special to the Horsetrader
Since 2020, West Coast Ranch Horse has been producing high quality and well-attended ranch horse shows throughout Southern California. This year, WCRH is introducing a new Ranch Cow Horse Division, featuring three classes: Ranch Cutting, Ranch Boxing and Ranch Reining.
There is a division for all levels of horse and rider including Open, Amateur, Green Horse, Green as Grass, Youth 18-under and Short Stirrup 10-under. This line-up of classes and divisions is designed to make cow horse and reining events more accessible, as it does not require a finished reined cow horse or reiner.
The club will introduce this new division with a two-show buckle series April 8 and May 6. Silver buckles will be awarded in every class for the two-show series. As part of the April event, the club is also offering an AQHA Ranching Heritage Challenge on April 7.
Up to the Challenge
BURBANK — The region’s top reining horses and riders returned to the Los Angeles Equestrian Center Oct. 26-31 for The Challenge, California Reining Horse Association’s pinnacle event of the year. Warm weather greeted equally hot performances during the show.
Hite gets it right
$100,000 Interactive Mortgage “Ticket To Ride” Grand prix concludes series
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO — Laura Hite and Calypso VD Zuuthoeve put the final exclamation point on an exciting season at Blenheim EquiSports with victory in the $100,000 Interactive Mortgage “Ticket to Ride” Grand Prix on Sept. 25.
Saddling up in San Marcos
The Twin Oaks Valley Equestrian Association in conjunction with the Horse Heritage Conservancy brought together current — and future — equestrians to the 15th Annual Ride & Stride Oct. 17 at Walnut Grove Park in San Marcos. The event encouraged the “two-legged” contingent to join in and bring their other best friend to stride a three-mile loop through the valley on City of San Marcos trails. Participation in this event helped the Walnut Grove Equestrian Park, a rare gem in the heart of the Twin Oaks Valley.
Season of success
SCRCHA wraps up super 2021 at Green Acres Ranch event
TEMECULA — Smiles, great runs and beautiful weather were all part of the Southern California Reined Cow Horse Association’s final scheduled show of 2021, the September Classic.
Reining in Paso
CRHA Summertime Slide enlivens Midstate Fairgrounds
PASO ROBLES — There were familiar faces and familiar horses at the 2021 California Reining Horse Association Summertime Slide, but one new item this year that had everyone’s attention was the venue itself — the iconic Midstate Fairgrounds. Steeped in history and Western heritage, the Central Coast town hosted a CRHA reining for the first time.
Ranch on the rise
WCRH continues its successful Summer Classic Buckle Series at Tucalota Creek Ranch
Special to the Horsetrader
TEMECULA — Beautiful Tucalota Creek Ranch came to life Aug. 21 for the second of three shows in the West Coast Ranch Horse Classic Buckle Series. The series is just part of the WCRH line-up of popular 2021 events, which will culminate Nov. 5-7 with the big Ranch Horse Rendezvous at Tucalota Creek.
The three shows in the summer Ranch Horse Classic Buckle Series, featuring classes in Ranch Riding, Ranch Rail, Ranch Trail and Ranch Conformation, will wrap up at the series finale Sept. 25 at Green Acres Ranch in Temecula where winners of eight series belt buckles will be determined. All shows count for points in the series, and competitors must show in at least two shows in order to be eligible for high-point and division awards.
November’s WCRH Rendezvous 2021 promises to be an exciting two-day event. In addition to the popular horse show with divisions for all levels and a futurity for 4-under and 5/6 year-old horses, there will be ranch horse clinics with Sami Hernandez and Cowley Performance Horses, as well as a silent auction, wine and cheese reception, vendors, and a banquet dinner with live cowboy music from Eric Gorsuch.
Adding to the excitement Saturday, Nov. 6, will be the Ranch Horse Select Sale produced by XIT Western Productions, who says 35 high quality ranch horses will be ready to be your next partner. Sale preview will take place during the wine and cheese reception at 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 5, and the sale is scheduled for Saturday at 6 p.m.
Consignor check-in and vet checks will take place on Thursday, Nov. 4, beginning at 8 a.m.. Horses can then begin moving into their stalls and can be ridden during the open riding that evening from 4-7 p.m.
More online: http://bit.ly/09awcrh
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