RCHA Paso Robles Spring Show Hits High Note, Again

FOR THE THIRD YEAR, the California Reined Cow Horse Association’s Paso Robles Spring Classic returned to the historic Paso Robles Event Center in Paso Robles, California, April 11-16. In addition to the National Reined Cow Horse Association-approved $100,000-added Derby, presented by Borjon Auto Center, the event also featured an NRCHA-approved $16,500-added Spectacular, presented by Brother Jackson and Wold Stallion Services, and a full slate of NRCHA-approved and CRCHA horse show classes, presented by Santa Lucia Farm, with $7,850 added.

More than 100 Derby entries in each division vied for more than $196,000. The three-event Spectacular classes had more than 80 entries riding for $19,500. There were 219 entries in the horse show classes, which paid $25,250, for a combined total event payout of $263,850, an increase of $57,420 from 2022 .

On Friday evening, Container Stop sponsored a ranch branding where 25 four-person teams, with at least one member entered in the horse show, competed for $7,500 in cash, with the first-place team also winning Henry lever- action rifles. The winning team— comprised of Kain Eaton, Andy Holcomb, Jared Jones and Bear Pascoe—split $2,100 in cash. Six other teams took home shares of the remaining $5,400. Throughout the event there were three social activities, including the Central Coast Wine Competition Gold Medal Wine Tasting, San Luis Obispo County Cattlemen’s Association BBQ & Derby Awards Presentations, and the Bonnie Marie Catering Mexican Fiesta.

Justin Wright, of Santa Maria, California, marked a 666 in the $60,000-added Open division on Zak 34 (Woody Be Tuff x Cat Digs Lucinda x High Brow Cat), owned by Melissa Fischer. The $30,000 payout, sponsored by Call Me Mitch, pushed the stallion’s lifetime earnings to more than $300,000.

In the Non Pro, Jayson Fisher, of Nipomo, California, riding Wood

U Just Do

It (Woody Be Tuff x Spookys Cash x Miss N Cash), owned by Fisher and wife, Teresa, won with a 650 to claim checks for $7,000 and $2,250.

Phillip Ralls rode to the top prize in the Open Bridle Spectacular on his mother Billie Jo’s 2017 gelding, Son Of A Mitch, scoring a 656.5 and earning $5,850. In the Non Pro Bridle Spectacular, Stephen Silva aboard Metallic Babe (Metallic Cat x Somebodys Lil Babe x Sombody Smart) came out on top with a 646 to take home $2,520.

Every rider earning a check in the Derby also won a Gist custom trophy buckle, with unique buckles going to the Open, Non Pro and Non Pro Boxing champions. The champions in all the Derby classes also took home Nutrena feed coupons. The spectacular champions were awarded Gist custom trophy buckles and Nutrena feed coupons. The champions in the NRCHA horse show classes received Nutrena feed coupons, and the champions in the CRCHA horse show classes earned Nutrena feed coupons and custom embroidered jackets sponsored by the CRCHA.

A COMBINED TOTAL EVENT PAYOUT OF $263,850.

Today, the CRCHA has 372 members, and the club has seen a 205 percent increase in member numbers over the last six years. Members hail from 39 of California’s 58 counties, with most living in Southern California and the Central Valley. Because show entries have increased year over year, all CRCHA shows have expanded from one and two days and are on the verge of going to three days due to continued growth in entries.

“We try to make it a welcoming atmosphere at the shows and make it a place that people like to be, a place where they’ll have a good time—the top end open people and the weekend non pro people,” Thompson said.

Reined cow horse trainer and NRCHA Open Futurity Champion Jake Gorrell of Porterville, California, has been a member for 24 years. An avid competitor, he says the show office at events makes entering simple.

“Laura and the office are unbelievable,” Gorrell said. “It’s easy to enter, and they help us trainers get entered on time, so that’s good. The customer service is just great.”

Gorrell said the club’s dedication to putting on wellrun shows with good judges, cattle and facilities are critical to a successful organization—and important to cow horse in the area, too.

“Without this club I think we wouldn’t be near as strong on the West Coast these days,” Gorrell said. “We used to have all the major events on the West Coast, and now we have none—the closest one is in Las Vegas. I think the CRCHA is instrumental in keeping the Vaquero and reined cow horse traditional methods alive on the West Coast.”

That welcoming atmosphere extends from the board, show staff, owners and riders, Thompson said.

“It’s a very supportive, family-type atmosphere,” Thompson said. “We do a lot of outreaches to members who have some kind of hardship. Everyone involved in the association is really committed to the reined cow horse and keeping it active in California.”

Gorrell agrees, saying the club attracts folks from surrounding states such as Oregon, Idaho, Nevada and Arizona, as well as California. He says the club winning NRCHA Affiliate of the Year is well-deserved.

“They run it very well, like a national organization,” Gorrell said. “They make sure we have all the elements that make a good horse show, ground, cattle, judging, facilities, and then great payouts and super spectacular awards. I think that extra effort they put out to make it a big deal is extraordinary, and they just keep going. It caters to everybody, from the boxers to the Open guys. From the beginners to the trainers. That’s what keeps it going.”

Norman says the club board members are thoughtful and value all the exhibitors.

“Everybody who comes and spends this much time and money in their hobby deserves respect, and to have a very good experience,” Norman said. “And this club shares that value: all exhibitors and owners, the extended group that is the cow horse family, they’re all valuable to the club, and they demonstrate that by being thoughtful. Beyond what is going on at the show—it’s a whole relationship throughout their lives.”