Around the Rings – 2024 SJPHC NCPHC Fall Color Challenge

By Jennifer Barbee, Show Manager:

The Fall Color Challenge & All Breed Horse Show happened on August 22-25, 2024, at Murieta Equestrian Center in Rancho Murieta, California.  This show is a collaboration between San Joaquin Paint Horse Club and Northern California Paint Horse Club, two APHA Regional Clubs.

Running as a four judge POR, the judges included Jason Contreras, Sally Jo Freund, Sandy Curl, and Trisha Shorten Armstrong.  The event was run by Show Manager Jennifer Barbee, Stall Manager Meredith Biasca, and Secretary Jennifer Mendes, along with the combined SJPHC/NCPHC Show Committee volunteer staff.

On Thursday, the day prior to kicking off the show, SJPHC held a clinic taught by APHA-approved Clinician and World Champion trainer, Karen Qualls, an opportunity called “Unlocking the Judge’s Score Card: Western Riding.”  Karen graciously donated her time for the clinic. Participants demonstrated their lead change abilities, heard real time feedback from Karen on how to earn credit, and worked on two exercises to improve their quality on the cross lead changes as well as changes coming down the line. The clinic concluded with a brief Q&A session involving the participants and the auditors. Thank you to Barbara’s Custom Hats for supporting the clinic.

On Friday, the show started with a challenging Trail course by designer, Don Lehman. Congratulations to Champion, Invest in Tats Rhythm, exhibited by Asta Oelsner, Karla Louise Lund Knudsen, and Melissa Sachs, for taking home the High Point Super Trail Horse scooter for the second year in a row! An electric scooter was awarded for the highest point earning Super Trail Horse based on a one horse/any rider.

On Friday evening, the Add More Leg Amateur Reception celebrated non-pro exhibitors. Wine, light appetizers, and sweet treats were served in the main arena. Blue Butterfly Show Apparel held a trunk show featuring their latest designs for show clothes and saddle pads. The Reception occurred while the Bridleless Western Pleasure Jackpot class was shown -and it was a wild time!

 

(See Scott Cooper’s Tik Tok video: To the little girl who referred to me as “the clown,” you are absolute… | dcc cheerleaders | TikTok)

 

On Saturday, One of Them Girls earned the title of Super Halter Horse. The mare is owned and shown by Bonnie Ball. A custom crystal trophy was presented to the winner by Fred Tabor on behalf of Ingrid McPhearson, and sponsored by Brooks Last Dance, APHA Stallion.

Saturday night was the Exhibitor Appreciation party! All exhibitors earn a chance to win a free work saddle. The random winner is drawn Saturday evening during the BBQ. Continued sponsorship from TS Paints allowed the clubs to giveaway an Exhibitor Appreciation Saddle which was won by Donna Hover, a long-time member of Northern California Paint Horse Club.

Sunday’s All-Breed Longe Line Jackpot Futurity is a highly sought after win every year. This year’s Champion was Huntin For The Stash exhibited by Cindy Polley. Cindy was also Reserve Champion with CNC Above The Lights. With five entries, the jackpot paid to 3rd place. Top finishers received neck sashes, goodie bags and awards including insulated aluminum beverage bottles and more.

Sunday afternoon, the show included a variety of all breed and APHA Ranch Horse classes, doubling the number of Ranch entries from 2023. The World Ranch Horse Association (WRHA) sponsored a High Point Ranch Horse Exhibitor Award recognizing the WRHA member earning the highest number of show points. Congratulations to Cathy Murphy who showed Reysin A Gangster to win the award.

The third annual Dave Ruby DIY Non Pro High Point Exhibitor Award went to Betsy Ninekirk of Eureka, CA. Named for the APHA State Director and long-time SJPHC Ring Steward who passed away in 2021, this award remains sponsored by Michelle McBride in honor of someone who inspired her in and out of the show arena. Exhibitors in the race for the DIY award compete without a paid trainer or coach for at least 90 days prior to the show. Betsy showed Fancy Huslers Necoia in seven classes to clench the award. She received a prize package including a custom award buckle, a Dewalt rolling tool kit, and $100 Amazon Gift Card.

Thank you to the generous sponsors who make the Prize Patrol possible. Enthusiastic show volunteers were in the arenas and barns giving horse goodies galore. Random lucky exhibitor drawings had giveaways of over $8,000 of products and gift certificates from 100x Equine, State Line Tack, Holistic Horseworks, 5Strands Equine Testing, Robinhoods, Elk Grove Milling/Stable Mix, and Caballo Cookies.

Turquoise polo shirts by JKD Tack and t-shirts by Sassy Pony Boutique were worn by volunteer staff for easy identification. There were also a limited number of show logo t-shirts given as random exhibitor appreciation awards. Anyone wearing one of the show logo t-shirts at the APHA Western National Championship Show at South Point in Las Vegas, NV in October might receive a random gift certificate on the spot!

Official Show Photographer, Gail Bates, was center ring for special awards and even found time to do portrait sessions. After decades of equine photography, Gail knows all the exhibitors and has seen several generations go through the arena from behind her lens. For proofs from the show, please visit https://gailbatesphotography.shootproof.com/

Did we mention that the show gave awards from JKD Tack and Mel’s Craft Spot to Champion though 5^th Place in 17 categories? Here are the high points:

Here are the high points:

 

Keep scrolling for futurity results!