Vol 1 No 4

Letter from the Editor

Dear Western States Membership,

Personal growth is important, isn’t it? Making mistakes just gives us opportunities to grow, right? The last issue of our newsletter gave me several growth opportunities! In the piece on “Master Colonel Chex” I very creatively rearranged the words in his name several times. Then, because I needed more growth, I reported the sire of Katie Moon’s new filly incorrectly. Katie’s foal is by Woody Be Tuff and out of Oskars Spoonful. The contest continues, submit ideas for a name!

Last month I was ready for sunshine, this month I’m ready for cool. There’s just no pleasing me! Except for Western States shows, they please me!

Cinch Up Productions was typical Tony Agredano wonderful, and the show was enjoyed by all. Results in this issue. Not one, not two, but three wonderful shows to enjoy in April. Wild n’ Wooly in Gardnerville, NV; Back to Basics, Jordan, UT; and Way Out West Spring Classic in Ceres, CA. Hoping you get to at least one, maybe all?

Rulebook? Still being edited, but there is an addendum at the beginning that lists changes. Read on. Did you know there are differences between an AQHA and WS VRH All-Around? Board member Debbie Weisheim fills us in.

Are you following all the great media posts Katie Moon is putting online? Among them is a video series by Marty Simper. Check it out.

Please reward our sponsors with your thanks and your business! Starting this month, all our sponsors will be included in each newsletter. The money you win, came from their generous pockets!

This is a big year for Western States Versatility, be a part of it!

Dawn Poston
Editor

Send comments, concerns, & ideas to JumperDawn@aol.com

What’s Happening in April?

Three Western States Shows

Nevada, Utah AND California! Since the Western States affiliates have merged, we have so many more opportunities to show. This editor would love some pictures of the action from the Nevada and Utah shows—please send to jumperdawn@aol.com. Candids, action, whatever you send will be great. We hope you go to all of them but remember that your five best shows will count for year-end awards. Entry details may be found at wsvrha.org/calendar.

Cinch Up Productions Delivers Again

Results

The Cinch Up Productions Versatility show was typical for Tony Agredano and his amazing crew—it was wonderful. The weather cooperated and was perfect—sometimes not the case for a March show. Clinicians Bobby Cotta, Travis Mankins and Jimmy Stickler were stellar. If you ever get a chance to clinic with any of them do it! Tony & Crew are known for wonderful hospitality—welcoming, good food, and always ready to help. Jessica & Vernon Lawrence managed the show and the office so everything ran efficiently and effectively. Tony surprised Christian Scanlan with a birthday cake and when the awards came round, special presentations were made to Colt Rapko (his first belt buckle), a youth who rode beautifully both days; Rachel Clifford for being a good and supportive competitor; and Kodi Fowles for great sportsmanship when she had to scratch her horse AND great riding skills when she catch rode Karen Holcomb’s great “Thunder.” The show was extra special as Tony has endured some serious health challenges. Despite the challenges, he powered through with good humor and caring for his show and all the competitors. If you attended and would like to do so, you’re encouraged to write Tony a note. Contact editor at JumperDawn@aol.com for his address.

Results:

Rulebook Update

Where to Find New/Changed Rules

Our Rulebook is in the process of being re-formatted and edited. The Rulebook Committee has provided an addendum with new rules to augment the existing rulebook until it is ready to be published in its entirety. You can find it at wsvrha.org. Click on “Resources”, then click on “Rulebook.”

The Addendum covers:

• New Class Addition: Ranch on the Rail
• All-Around Competitions: All-Around with Cattle and Dry All-Around
• Updated Rules for Intermediate Cow Work*
• Clarification of Walk-Trot Eligibility and Rules Update
• Green Rancher and Cowboy Divisions-(these divisions no longer offered)
• Prohibited Equipment

Prohibited Equipment:

• Protective boots, leg wraps, and bandages are prohibited in all divisions of WSVRHA Ranch Riding, Ranch Trail, and Working Ranch on the Rail.
• Wire chin straps, regardless of how padded or covered
• Any chin strap or chain narrower than one-half inch
• Martingales and draw reins
• Nosebands, cavesson, tie downs and roping reins

NRSHA

The Gathering

By now you’ve probably gotten an email from Sarah Clifford and NRSHA regarding “The Gathering.”  The venue for the show is the Lazy E in Guthrie, Oklahoma, well-known for the beauty of the property. Riding on the outside trail course is an absolute delight. Thirty-Nine Western States members have qualified to attend.

Congratulations Western States Qualifiers

We are very excited that so many Western States members have qualified for “The Gathering” in Guthrie, OK. Those marked with 2x or 3x qualified on two or three horses (great going guys!). By now you’ve received an email from Western States and NRSHA stating your eligibility and entry information. If you think you have qualified and weren’t notified, contact ranchhorse.net . Several members have reported that their letter went to their “spam” or “promotions” file so be sure to check to see if it landed somewhere other than your regular inbox. Western States qualifiers:

Year End Points Are Posted!

Why Do You Care?

Year End points for the first four shows

• Ranch Spectacular #1/Corning
• Ranch Spectacular #2/Corning
• Back to Basics #1
• Back to Basics #2

are currently posted. Cinch Up Productions will be up very soon.

Starting with the 6th show, Year End All-Around points will be based on horse/rider’s FIVE BEST SHOWS. So, the total column may not (probably won’t) represent who is leading in a division. Go to wsvrha.com, click on “Events” and then “Standings” to see points.

What’s Important to Know About AQHA All-Arounds?

Submitted by WSVRHA Board Member Debbie Weisheim

Many of our shows are co-sanctioned with AQHA shows. It’s an economical way to get points in both organizations. There are some important things to know about an AQHA All-Around as it differs from a Western States All-Around. (Western States requires that the horse/rider team compete in all five of the events.) At a co-sanctioned show the labels on the classes are sometimes confusing. AQHA if often labeled “VRH” and despite also being VRH, Western States classes will be labeled “WS”.

In AQHA VRH competition, eligibility for the All-Around award requires that a horse and exhibitor compete in three key divisions during the show. To qualify for All-Around consideration, the entry must show in:

• A cattle class: Such as working ranch cow horse, cutting or boxing.
• A performance class: Examples include ranch riding, ranch trail, ranch reining.
• Conformation: Ranch conformation assesses the horse’s structural correctness, balance, muscling, and overall suitability to perform sustained ranch work.

By requiring participation in cattle work, performance work, and conformation, AQHA ensures that the All-Around Versatility Ranch Horse title recognizes the entry that best represents the traditional goal of the program — a horse that is athletic, durable, well-trained, and physically built to handle real ranch demands. A common misconception in AQHA Versatility competition is that an exhibitor can choose to drop out of one of the required classes or substitute a different horse in a class where they feel they may be more competitive, such as conformation or a cattle event. Not so.

That horse-and-exhibitor combination would then not be eligible for the All-Around. When an entry does not complete the required divisions — cattle, performance, and conformation — it can no longer be considered in the overall standings. This can unintentionally affect the distribution of All-Around points, because only those entries that remain fully eligible are included in the final ranking used to determine the descending 50-point All-Around scale. This can affect fellow competitors!

The 50-point distribution then works as follows: Tabulations from each class are figured using only horses eligible for the All Around. After each class is completed, the eligible All-Around horse is ranked, and points are assigned on a 50* pt scale. The highest eligible horse in the class receives 50 points, the second receives 49 points, the third receives 48 points, and so on. Horses that are not eligible for all around are not tabulated, ensuring only those that met the requirements for the All Around are considered.

Another important example of the All-Around tabulation is that if the highest placing horse finishes third, in the class but is the highest placing eligible All- Around horse, that horse receives the 50 points in the all-around tabulation. The next eligible receives 49 and so on. This method ensures that the all-around standings are calculated solely on the eligible horses.

*Western States has adopted the 50-point scale

Save the Date

Carmel Versatility Challenge

Great weather, great ground, always a wonderful show. Look for entry details on the web site soon.

Meet Board Member Janie Welch

Carmel Versatility Challenge

I was born in Sacramento, California. I moved with my family to a ranch in Nevada when I was four years old because my sister needed to be in a drier climate. That must have been when my passion for horses began. I haven’t been without one since then.

I began showing horses in 4-H, then I competed in high school rodeos and college rodeos. Later I was introduced to cowhorses and loved it! Then the versatility shows started up and I wanted to try that. Versatility shows are so fun because you can still do the cowhorse while challenging your horse and yourself in other classes. You don’t come to a show for one class and go home. You get to compete in four other classes and wait for the final tally to see how it all shakes out.

The friends you make and the laughs you all have together are the reasons you keep coming back for more.

I appreciate all of the hard-working people that put these shows together.

That includes great board members like you Janie! Thank you for working so hard for Western States.

Rope Handling Skills

Video Series by Marty Simper

Do you want to plus your rope handling skills? A plus here and a plus there helps win those Ranch Trail classes! Board member Marty Simper has created a series of videos for rope handling and Media Director Katie Moon has been posting them to our Facebook page. As soon as all of them have been posted there, we will get them on our web site. Check them out on Facebook!

We would like to extend a special thank you to all of our sponsors. In addtion to the businesses listed above, we are grateful to Jen Harden, Josie Driscoll, Bill and Debbie Sanguinetti and Paula Taylor. For information on becoming a Western States sponsor, please click below:

Quote of the Month

Learning From a Legend

Many of us watched in horror as Lindsey Vonn’s Olympic comeback dream died within 12 seconds of her leaving the start line. From her hospital bed, her words are valuable for all of us who compete.