News

The West Coast’s 1st big AQHA Circuit of 2017 starts the year off with a bang! 

Professionally managed by TEEM (Total Equine Event Management), the annual event has always experienced large classes providing the opportunity for a lot of AQHA World Show qualifying points up for grabs. This year even the horse show couldn’t avoid some rain the first few days, but with all of the covered arenas at MEC it was a non issue. By Friday the skies were clearing and the rest of the show had beautiful weather and all week long the exhibitors were in good spirits.

 

Year after year, this creative group brings new ideas, launches exciting changes and as always provides a fresh approach to holding a competitive, yet fun horse show. It’s been a long time since a show has continued to draw such high numbers of entries & spectators on the West Coast. With exhibitors coming from so many different states and as far as Canada, the good word about this show has certainly spread. New for 2017 were NSBA dual approved classes, in addition to some adult walk/jog/trot classes and Ranch Horse Conformation.

RL Davis pointed out “Sun Circuit is one of the biggest shows in the country each year. We’ve always had a buffer for people coming home from that huge circuit before they head to our 5 day event. But this year Sun Circuit moved to March and is almost a month later than our circuit, so that gives people a chance to come here first. We believe it was a benefit for the Back 2 Basics AQHA Circuit.”

First & foremost for 2017, the show added Ranch Conformation and brought back AQHA & All Breed Ranch Trail. “Cherie Vonada designed all of our trail & ranch riding courses this year and she did an excellent job. There was constant, positive feedback from exhibitors regarding her course designs. She was very creative as well and the competitors enjoyed riding a variety of fun courses.” For those unfamiliar with Ranch Trail, the event was designed to show a horse’s ability and willingness to perform several tasks that might be asked of him during the course of a normal day’s ranch work. “Whenever possible we are going to try and use realistic or natural obstacles which is something we also do in the Ranch Riding courses for the Back 2 Basics AQHA Circuit. Exhibitors seem to enjoy that we are offering something new and I think trail exhibitors especially have fun showing on Cherie’s courses. One course she designed started in the show arena and the pattern took them outside for part of the course and then they rode back into the show arena to finish.”, says Mr. Davis. AQHA Ranch Trail it has 3 mandatory obstacles: Gate/Rider dismount & remount/Log Drag, and from that point there are a variety of optional obstacles that can be included in a course design, such as: A Slicker, Roping a fake Steer, etc.

(Picture above is Mead Gerfen showing in the outdoor portion of the Ranch Trail course)

The horse industry can always benefit from new ideas and a fresh approach and the fast growing popularity of this show is proof of that TEEM can produce that type of event. For exhibitors and their friends & families, the Back 2 Basics AQHA show also offered some schedule that makes time for people to get together, relax and have fun outside of the intense competition of the show. Each year we’ve had nice weather and a very large show.

This year we had rain the first couple of days and then it finally cleared for the last part of the show. But the facility has 2 indoor arenas and 2 covered arenas, so it wasn’t an issue. The challenge each year is taking the long list of AQHA classes and crafting a schedule that doesn’t make the show days too long for exhibitors. But the exhibitors overall seem happy because of all of the points available at such a big show.” says Kathy Davis, Show Secretary. “On Thursday night we had an Exhibitors Welcome Party hosted by Lucas Oil/Protect the Harvest. And on Saturday night we had dog races, which is hilarious to watch – the dogs have such a great time running and playing in that big indoor arena.”

The horse industry lost a great horseman recently. Benny Guitron was a horseman known internationally and he fought a brave fight against cancer. At this year’s Back 2 Basics AQHA Circuit, the Senior Working Cowhorse Circuit Champion award was a sculpture dedicated in Benny’s honor. To make it even more special the Senior Working Cowhorse Circuit Champion was Les Oswald, a fellow trainer and Benny’s nephew, taking home that special sculpture in 2017.

The Lucas Oil/Protect the Harvest Dirt & Diamonds NRCHA Derby portion of the show continues to draw increased attention. Lucas Oil Products Inc. and Protect the Harvest are the title sponsors and are very supportive of the equine sport industry as a whole. In addition, since it’s inception the derby has been supported by Dan Perez and his nice stallion Brother Jackson, as well as Ken & Ramona Wold’s stallion Real Smooth Cat. Total payout for the Open Derby division was $9,100, the Non Pro payout was $4,250 and the new Limited Non Pro division of the Derby had $740.

Coming out on top of a very tough field of Open riders was Casey Branquinho riding Dressed In Oak for owner Nichole Scott taking home a custom trophy from Protect the Harvest/Lucas Oil and a check for $2,730. 

Reserve Champion was Peptosboonshakalaca, ridden by Canadian Cayley Wilson for Jenta Madsen and taking home a custom chest from Protect the Harvest/Lucas Oil plus a check for $2,275. 3rd & 4th place went to Les Oswald showing Lookslikelucktome and Smart Blues for owners Norene Barclay & Linda Thompson receiving checks for $1,820 & $1,365. Casey Branquino also took home a check for 5th place in the amount of $910 riding Master of the Seas for owner Ruth Jackson.

The Non Pro division of the Lucas Oil/Protect the Harvest Dirt & Diamonds Derby increases every year and entries were up 14% over last year. Competitors were vying for the $4,250 pot. Many were return competitors from last year’s event, in addition to several new exhibitors. It was a close race among the top 2 and they battled it out. Cynthia Bias and her horse Truckin On Ice set the mark from day one with the high herd work score of 143 and in the end they were the 2017 Non Pro Champions with a total score of 420.5. This team came to show and along with the championship title took home the custom crystal trophy from Protect the Harvest/Lucas Oil and a check for $1,275. Glynis Wileman riding Gina Reylena were Reserve Champion, taking home a custom chest from Protect the Harvest/Lucas Oil and a check for $1,062.50. Loretta Showalter received 3rd place riding Cash For My Oak taking home a check for $850. 4th place was Shannon Haskins riding Tangy Don Juan and this team took home a check for $637.50. 5th Place and a check for $425.00 went to John Showalter riding Yellow Roze of Texas.

New for 2017 was the addition of a Non Pro Limited division in the Derby. Glynis Wileman showed her 2nd Derby horse, Smart Lil Driver to become the Non Pro Limited Derby Champion and took home a check for $333.00. Along with the championship title and check this duo took home a beautiful custom crystal trophy from Protect the Harvest/Lucas Oil. Reserve Champion honors went to SH Powdercat and Jessica Wright, taking home a custom chest from Protect the Harvest/Lucas Oil and a check for $259. Receiving 3rd place honors and a check for $148.00 from the Non Pro Limited Derby were Amy Wright riding Cashmere Lights.

The Back 2 Basics AQHA Circuit has support of great sponsors such as: Lucas Oil, Protect the Harvest, Ron Zanetti of George Petersen Insurance Services, Eric Felt Show Horses, Reynolds Ranch & Farm Supply, Busick Quarter Horses, Markel Insurance, Ulcergard, etc There were classes for everyone, at every level of ability and age group - both AQHA and All Breed. From Halter to Pleasure, Cattle classes to Trail, Ranch Riding to Hunter Under Saddle; this show offered it all.

The 11 & Under All Breed youth exhibitors competed for a Hi Point 11 & Under buckle. “Overall, folks just seemed to be enjoying the show. All of our staff work to provide friendly & efficient customer service and we try to hire great judges that can judge the long list of events we offer. Everyone seemed to be in good spirits all week, most of the classes were really big so a lot of points were available. TEEM tries to have positive attitudes both inside the office and out….Happy people are contagious and it spread across the show grounds for the entire week.” says Kathy Davis/Show Secretary.

With the continued success of the National Reined Cow Horse Association sanctioned Lucas Oil/Protect the Harvest Dirt & Diamonds Derby and the non-stop growth of the Back 2 Basics Circuit, there is an added bonus for all exhibitors on the West Coast to come to this great event. It drew contestants from Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, Arizona, California as well as Canada.

“We have some plans we are tossing around for the 2018 event….so stay tuned!” AQHA, PCQHA, NSBA & NRCHA are the governing bodies of this competition, and are responsible for promoting the sport, insuring high standards of competition, ethical treatment of the animals and educating members and the public about the history and traditions of the horse.

Visit the TEEM Web Site at www.teemshows.com for upcoming shows and for more “Unofficial Results” go to www.horseshowing.com **Additional pictures are available on our TEEM Facebook page.”