2023 California Championship Ranch & Rail Show is a Huge Success Over Labor Day Weekend with over 300 Stalls and 1540 Entries
Perfect California horse show weather followed the 2023 CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIP AQHA Show, August 31-September 3, 2023 at the Paso Robles Event Center, Paso Robles, CA. “With temperatures in the 70-80’s, hundreds of exhibitors and over 300 stalls filled with the best of California’s horses competing in the historic Paso Robles Event Center – all vying for amazing prizes, titles, and gift cards” shared Cece Campbell, CA Championship Chair. This unique show has become California’s favorite Ranch & Rail show with a strong class list of Ranch, Reining, Western, English, Trail, All Breed Walk-Trot, and Futurity classes.
As always, the prizes were over-the-top, including the coveted PCQHA 3-horse headed trophies, Silver Chippendale Platters, All Around Feature Stories in Pacific Coast Journal and numerous $250 gift cards, plus some really special tack and gear. All in all, it was a fabulous show with huge awards, great competition and way fun parties!
One of the fun new additions to the show was the FREE SNACKS & SHOW VIEWING STANDS by each arena. Comfortable seating around tall round tables with flowers and snacks/water gave exhibitors the perfect view to watch the competition. Thanks fo the generous sponsorship of Caroline McKoane & Barbara Fletcher Show Horses
We are excited to announce our 2023 High Point Champions, Best Walk/Trot Champions, All Around Champions and Futurity Champions:
HIGH POINT PATTERN HORSE CHAMPIONS (RAIL) CHAMPIONS:
L1 Youth Pattern Horse High Point – Lovin U For Certain/ Audrey May
L1 Amateur Pattern Horse High Point: Im A Good Bar Deluxe/ Elise Guerra
Youth Pattern Horse High Point– None Qualified
Amateur Pattern Horse High Point – Its Southern Blues/ Parris Rice
Select Amateur Pattern Horse High Point – One Dynamic Krymsun/ Rebekkah Rosa
HIGH POINT CHAMPIONS RANCH HORSE CHAMPIONS:
L1 Youth Ranch Horse High Point – Sofia Margaryan
L1 Amateur Ranch Horse High Point – Dru Meyenberg
Youth Ranch High Point – Casey Skadden
Amateur Ranch High Point – Jennifer Dawson
Select Amateur Ranch High Point – Carol Kurtz
BEST WALK-JOG PATTERN HORSE (RAIL) CHAMPIONS:
Best W/J All Breed 11 & U Pattern Horse High Point – Betterlazythancrazy/ Elizabeth Rene Montez
Best W/J All Breed Youth Pattern Horse High Point – A Chance For Sleep/ Isabella Rose Torres
Best W/J All Breed Amateur Pattern Horse High Point – Hesa Heart Rush/ Dana Thompson
BEST WALK/TROT ALL BREED YOUTH RANCH HORSE CHAMPIONS:
Best W/J All Breed 11 & U Ranch Horse High Point – Huckleberry Cat/ Kendall Dawson
Best W/J All Breed Youth Ranch Horse High Point – Captain/ Payton Ingram
Best W/J All Breed Amateur Ranch Horse High Point – Haidas High Noon/ Robert Job
RAIL ALL AROUND CHAMPIONS:
W/T 11 & U All Around – Elizabeth Rene Montez/ Betterlazythancrazy
W/T Youth All Around – Isabella Rose Torres/ A Chance To Sleep
W/T Amateur All Around – Dana Thompson/ Hesa Heart Rush
L1 Youth All Around – Audrey May/ Lovin U For Certain
L1 Amateur All Around – Elise Guerra/ Im A Good Bar Deluxe
Amateur All Around: Taylor Lauren Deppen/ Flat Otto Money
Select All Around: Jim Stubbs/ Suddenly Acquited
Sr Horse All Around – Lisa Simon/ It’s A Fine Line
RANCH ALL AROUND CHAMPIONS:
W/T 11 & U All Around – Kendall Dawson/ Huckleberry Cat
W/T Youth All Around – Payton Ingram/ Captain
W/T Amateur All Around – Robert Job/ Haidas High Noon
L1 Youth All Around – Sofia Margaryan/ Shootin Fireball
L1 Amateur All Around – Dru Meyenberg/ Gunna Be Fashionable
Youth All Around – Casey Skadden/ Lights In The Waves
Amateur All Around – Jennifer Dawson/ Huckleberry Cat
Dru Meyenberg/ Gunna Be Fashionable
Select All Around – Carol Kurtz/ Spooky Gunner
Jr Horse All Around – Sophia Georgia Cowan (Owner)/ Rider: Kristin Brock/ Xtra Okie Shiner
Sr Horse All Around – Kristin Brock/ Sweatin Bullets
FUTURITY CHAMPIONS:
NSBA All Age Non Pro Ranch Riding – Haylee Brock (owner: Kristin Brock)/ Sweatin Bullets
NSBA Jr Ranch Trail – Victoria Crettenand (owner: Victori Crettenand)/ Einsteins Ichi Kitty
NSBA All Age Open Trail – Barbara Fletcher (owner: Caroline McKoane)/ Doin Big Things
NSBA ¾ YO Open Western Pleasure – Gary Roberts (owner: Michelle Coulter)/ VS Dress Code
NSBA ¾ YO Non-Pro Western Pleasure – Michelle Coulter/ VS Dress Code
NSBA ¾ yo Open Trail – Sarah Faught (owner: Patricia Avila)/ A Cherry On Top
NSBA Jr Ranch Riding – Rosie Cowley (owner: Kristina Tracy)/ Smokejumper
NSBA All Age Open Ranch Trail – Melissa Zanetti (owner Michelle Ingram/ Caucha Spin N)
On Thursday night, exhibitors enjoyed an incredible FIESTA PARTY with Taco Salad (15 ingredients) and Margaritas, thanks to the sponsorship of Jim/Kathy Rauch, Oliver & Kelly Dixon, plus lots of assistance from Sandy Ballard and Dan Mannion. Afterwards, the attendees had dessert with the vendors, plus received valuable gift cards via the raffle. Everyone shopped after the party with the 12 vendors who stayed open late so everyone could enjoy the western shopping!
Friday night, we had MINI MULES (one of a kind local spirits) from the Paso Robles Distillery Trail organization (exquisite brandy, whiskey, gin, vodka, liquors and grappa).
The Paso Robles Distillery Trail is an affiliation of farmers, winemakers, brewers, bartenders, chemists, and overall spirit enthusiasts with the common interest of crafting world-class distillates in the heart of the Paso Robles wine region, and beyond.
After the MINI MULES, the youth of PCQHYA (led by Melissa Zanetti and assisted by Justin Wheeler), put on a HORSEY FAMILY FEUD GAME (They Said What??!?). After 175 PCQHA and FB Friends were polled to create “They Said What!?!” This fast paced Family Feud style game challenged the teams to be the first one to come up to with what may not be the “right” answer but what is the most “popular” answer as reflected by the survey. There was music, buzzers, and lots of laughs! Congratulations to all who participated!
Thanks to our Show Manager – Casey Devitt and Show Secretary – Heidi Lane and staff for their expertise and management of this great show, plus the California Championship team. We also want to give a special shout out to Don Lehman for the exciting City Trail and Ranch Trail courses. In addition, please check out the wonderful photos from Topline Image (ToplineImage.com) as they are amazing!
We are grateful to each of our 2023 California Championship sponsors:
GOLD PLUS SPONSORS:
The EMO Insurance Agency/ Chris Hocutt
The Equine Chronicle/ Tom Grabe
Katy’s Show Equipment/ Sterling Saddles/ Stacy Dial
Pacific Coast Journal/ Denise Munson
Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Assn/ The PCQHA Board of Directors & California Championship Committee
GOLD SPONSORS:
Frodsham Farms/ Judy Bonham
Black Oak Best Western/ Angela Mckee
Monterey T-Shirts/ Dean Hudson
Hayes Hat Company & Lucky You Designs/ Tara & Drew Hayes
Total Image Show Apparel/ Tammy Ashbaugh
Patrice Vernand Performance Horses/ Patrice Vernand
Sarah Faught Quarter Horses / Sarah Faught
Hoyt Performance Horses LLC/ Michael Hoyt
Barbara Fletcher Performance Horses/ Barbara Fletcher
Busick Quarter Horses/ David & Cheryl Busick
Zanetti Performance Horses/ Melissa & Ron Zanetti
Rick Kelley Performance Horses/ Rick & Allison Kelley
Roberts Ranch Performance Horses/ Gary & Kelley Roberts
Premier Ag/ Glenn Aspinall
Rockin JP Ranch/ Jennifer Ray
Liz Place Performance Horses/ Liz Place
Silver Star Ranch Saddlery/ Brian Harms
Starlight Design/ Andrea & John Briar
C & C Performance Horses/ Jason/ Terri Contreras
SILVER SPONSORS:
Sterling Essentials/ Teal Shoop
Cowley Performance Horses/ Rosie Cowley
BRONZE SPONSORS:
West Coast Ranch Horse/ Ranch Horse Supply / Jenni/ Sean Dawson
World Ranch Horse Assn/ Carolyn Dobbins
Adelaide Inn/ Audrey
Topline Image/ Karissa Landis
Carolyn Rice Quarter Horses/ Carolyn Rice
Paso Robles Distillery Trail/ Lynette
Jim/ Kathy Rauch/ Sandy Ballard
Flying Cowgirl/ Vickie Bryne
Kathy Gomer & Oliver/Kelly Dixon
Kelley Engel Training Stables/ Kelley Engel
Pasquetti Equipment Rentals/ Jacque Landeene
Michael Weaver Performance Horses/ Michael Weaver
Equine & Canine News/ Nola Johnson
Diane Gaudreau Performance Horses/ Diane Gaudreau
Kristin Brock Performance Horses / Deb & Ron Shatley
CLASS SPONSORS
DM Equine & SolEquine Ice Boots/ Taylor Deppen
Moore’s Cover Ups/ Katie Moore
Churchill’s Tack/ Debbie Churchill
Hats by Claudia/ Claudia Ferretti
Monica Albair Performance Horses/ Monica Albair
Lindsey Minor Performance Horses
Performance Equine Therapy/ Julie Rowe
Cowdog Saddlery/ Tony Zimmerman
Geary Whiting Equine Massage/ Geary Whiting
Hanna’s Boutique/ Hanna