articles | Spring Fling Recap 2006
Spring Fling Recap 2006
Apr 25 2006
Author: Kim Lansidel
Wenatchee --to our kids means "Crystal Mountain" and lots of dirt and climbing, but to those who show their horses, it means the beginning of the Washington Reining Horse Association's Affiliate Series. The WRHA Spring Fling show ran from April 5th to the 9th and we had well over 100 horses on the grounds. This is our prestigious Derby Show where we had $2500 added in both the Open and Non Pro divisions with Bob Berg buckles as additional first place prizes.
The WRHA had two major festivities. On Thursday, we had a pizza welcoming party in conjunction with our year end awards, special board member gifts and general membership meeting. On Saturday, we had our annual BBQ feed of Chicken and Salmon. It worked great for me…never had to cook the whole weekend!
Our judges for the Spring Fling were Joyce Swanson from Colorado and Mark Turner from Indiana. They both did an excellent job over the weekend and we hope to see you back in our state for another one of our shows!
The Easter bunny managed a visit while the show was taking place on Sunday. Two handfuls of kids ran and screamed about as they gathered eggs hidden in the grassy hillside, filling their buckets with goodies. One egg had a special prize donated by Raindancer Video--a rather life size bunny rabbit. When the egg was cracked and the note was read, the glorious BIG bunny‘s new dad screamed with excitement.. DJ Stancik. DJ proceeded to show off his new big brother to all, but it was decided that horses just didn't appreciate this Easter bunny, so he was buckled safely into his seat belt for the ride home in the back seat of the freightliner.
The Future Reiners of America class was brewing with talented riders, horses and a couple of ponies. Our announcer, Bob, does his best to interview each child prior to their performance. Then, the child calculatingly performs the maneuvers of their choice. It's a time for us to relax, giggle and show our smiles. And oh, how the screams and clapping of on-lookers just makes the kids smiles grow wider & your heart grows with their efforts. 
It is entertainment in its purest and simplest form.
The WRHA Spring Fling Derby
Our WRHA Spring Fling Open Derby had 13 entries riding for the $2500 added monies and prizes. A big, strong bay mare ended up finding her way down the sweet path of success to win the NRHA Open Derby with Rider Darren Stancik. Godiva Chic (a Chocolate Chic Olena daughter) just keeps getting better with age. Is this just like Chocolate? Bred and raised by Sally Hoppe and out of the successfully shown mare Miss Cutter Clone, this mare will probably follow in her mothers footsteps and go on to green pastures and produce nice babies, just like herself, for current owner Amy Roy. Darren and Godiva won a Lawson, a Bob Berg buckle and $1,313.00. Darren operates Stancik Quarterhorses in Monroe, Washington. His wife Nancy has taken some time off from the show pen to pursing becoming a message therapist. She recently finished her schooling and opened her own business. She must have been inspired by all of us riders who have a few back issues from, well, riding horses!
A flip of the coin decided who would take home second place, which was a much coveted pad from Avila's pro shop and Jeff Parish game up with the winning ticket. Jeff was riding Girls Like Peppy and tied with Christian Rammerstorfer who was riding his own stallion Slide N Chic.
The Limited Open Derby had a three way tie for first that needed to be settled with a run off - not the flip of a coin. Jeff Parish rode Girls Like Peppy for Dwayne Zukowski, Meaghan Shea on Sheza Tricky Rooster for Kim Hendryx and Christian Rammerstorfer who was riding his own stallion Slide N Chic. Christian put the petal to the metal and the end result was a scorching 72 from both judges. This marked the second Limited Open Derby win aboard the Smart Chic Olena bred stallion for the year. The pair just returned from winning the division down in Las Vegas. Terrell lives at the Oregon State University equestrian campus where Dr. Rammerstorfer teaches the Equine program with his wife, Liz. There are a couple of handfuls of babies romping around the grassy pastures at OSU awaiting their turn to run into the show pen.
The Non Pro Derby had 14 entries and the Limited Non Pro Derby had 24 entries. Skidding her way to the top of the list was Dawn Johnson on her home grown mare, Dontquestionthischic. This is a very striking gray mare, who is also by Chocolate Chic Olena, and out of Doc Chex My Smoke. Dawn gathered a working total of 144 to bring home the Lawson and two Bob Berg buckles! Dawn was especially excited to win since this was a baby they had raised and invested time, energy, hopes and money into. The mare has a limited show career, but won a prestigious limited Open class at Rancho Murrieta in 2003. Dawn rides under the guidance of Darren Stancik.
Gina Wigen entered the pen on a darling palomino -- Uno Hickory Chex (wearing a vest I wanted to put into my line-up of show clothes) and immediately went to work on bringing home a pay check. Trained by her son Travis Wigen, the family acquired Uno from Frank Bolea in the beginning of his three year old year. Gina and Uno nabbed second place in both the NRHA Non Pro Derby and the Limited Non Pro Derby. She was awarded pads from Avila's pro shop for her accomplishment.
The rest of the WRHA Spring Fling Story!
Lyell Ernst is considered a short-timer in his riding career --five short years. Before that, he was a professional hitching post for his wife Susan. Upon climbing aboard a horse for the first time, he tackled learning to rope at the same time! A good friend of Lyell's, Janet Hurlburt, told him one day " you like athletic events, you would love reining ---- by the way I know this horse for sale" . So began his reining career with Hopper. He rode him for a year as a "Reiner without a trainer" until Darren Stancik moved up from Oregon. Last year, he attended the NRHA Derby to search for a new horse. He came home with a stout bay gelding named "Tom Cattin Tejon" - Gato. Lyell said, "I feel lucky to be a part of the WRHA. It is a very competitive, friendly and supportive group of people. I have come from being totally intimidated by the warm up pen to the thrill of getting thru a pattern without a penalty". He confessed he loves it when someone will say "go get ‘em", "good luck" or congratulate you on a personal best score, which is what he achieved over the weekend when he marked his 71 and won the NRHA Rookie class. He said, "Janet was right --- Reining is a blast!!!!" Lyell you too are a blast to have at the shows!
Darren Stancik also won the NRHA Novice horse Open class on Baci Dun It for owner Karen Larson. Having had the opportunity to hold Baci myself (I was an unassuming passerby who gladly became a hitching post) I would describe him as a mega-muscled, gorgeously kind horse. He has that curly black mane and those big Hollywood Dun It eyes that just make you melt. I am sure that is one reason Karen Larson fell in love with him. Darren slid to a 72.5 in this class and pocketed $290.84 for the win and a pewter.
Amy Roy, who rides under the guidance of Darren Stancik, maneuvered Godiva Chic once again into the winner circle. She marked a 71 on her big bay mare and took home a pewter for her efforts. I would say, all in all, Amy had a great weekend. In fact, she did well buying this mare on Darren's advice a couple of years back. Godiva now has NRHA earnings over $6000, which includes this weekends earnings.
If I could have had a hand-me-down horse, I certainly would have stood in line for the opportunity to hold the reins linked to Dancing With Cows. A few years ago, Ryan McKinzie assumed the driver position from her sister Carlie. Ryan and Peppy Doc have continuously excelled since. Over the course of the weekend, this eye-catching team managed consistent scores of 71's in both our NRHA shows in the 13 and under division, which gave them two first places.
Boot N Jose is another one of those horses who's teaching the ropes of the pen to another young, prosperous rider full of dreams. This wonderful gelding has now fulfilled a years worth of dedication and education to one of his riders, Rachel Shirley (the other is sister Aubrey). Together, Rachel and Jose added another notch to the win stick in the NRHA youth 14-18 division. Judy Caton is the proud mom and owner.
Traveling all the way from Huson, Montana was Hailey Hagen with her horse Extra Pep N Chex. Helped by Megan Shea over the weekend, Hailey took top honors in the NRHA youth 14-18 in the first slate of NRHA classes for our show. She also placed second in the NRHA Limited Non Pro class and won over $110.00 dollars. Great Job and thanks for making the trip west--we hope you felt welcomed and had fun!
In our $1000 NRHA added Open and $500 Intermediate Open divisions, we had to have a run off between Liz Rammerstorfer on Angela White's mare Whiz N Chic and Aaron Doss on Smart Chica Whiz for owner Lee Dick. Liz had scorching circles in her first go and marked plus ones each way (Ok, I have to mention that this mare has a chiseled head and tippy ears that any Arabian would die to have grace their neck). Aaron had two plus ones too –a stop and a spin. Each pair had a high show score of 73. In the run off, they once again asked for it all, and indeed, they ended once again in a tie at 72.5's. I would say that these duo's were just plain consistent! The WRHA would also like to congratulate Angela and her Husband on the birth of their new daughter Savannah Taylor White. In the Limited Open division, Aaron Doss took first place. Varr Heaton tied for second on SaintReminic for Molly St. Hilaire with Christian Rammerstorfer (owner and rider) on Slide N Chic.
Aaron Doss has just plain been on a winning streak here in Washington. He once again put himself in first place on Joshua Green's sorrel gelding Peppys Double Chant in the $200 added NRHA Open class, which was part of the second slate of NRHA classes we held.
Maureen McCann came and tackled this show without the help of her brother, coach and trainer. She stood the test of the venture and came from the pen with a huge win in both the $1000 added Non Pro class and the $500 added Intermediate class. Maureen was riding her mother Shirley's bay Smart Chic Olena gelding, Chics In Demand. Another home grown model, he is known to be the same horse day in and day out (don't you just love geldings!) Maureen said she is having a great time riding him. This is her second year showing him. She said she doesn't get to ride as much as she would like because she is constantly doing the Mom job--running after her two kids Colton and Hunter. She also works for her dad's construction company.
Kelsey Davis was wishing she had been entered in all the Non Pro divisions, as she would have taken all the loot with her score. But, as fate would have it, she was only entered in the Limited division. Kelsey was riding her fabulous sorrel gelding LSR Whizdom. Kelsey is no stranger to winning. She went back to OKC last year for the NRHA affiliate competition and came away with the Championship title in the 13 and under division! She also did very well representing the northwest in the Rookie competition and is helped by Cory Hutchings. She is definitely one to watch for more spectacular wins!
Our newly elected President Judy Caton won the second slated NRHA $200 added Non Pro class on Parnelli Chic Olena. Judy was last years NRHA's Intermediate Non Pro Affiliate Champion on her other horse Meerly Inwhizable, and she took second on him in this class. Judy has four daughters and runs her ranch Caton Ranches in Snohomish, Washington and rides with Darren Stancik
Our list to thank is always long, but here are a special few that need mentioning: Bob Garrett - irreplaceably friendly announcer; Jeff Lansidel - show secretary; Joelle --the gate keeper; Matt and Alayne -- behind the scenes volunteer gatherer and all the little stuff they do; Caroline Schaffer --the new show committee chairman and Cathy Martin --the old, but ever helpful show committee chairman; Brian Huber --show manager; Karen Patton and Cindy McKinzie-- organized the food and prizes awarded; Andrea Kohen--past president; Inger Helsen--organizing the Easter hunt and the kids awards; Raindancer Video-- for preserving our great or not so great moments on film; Cheryl James--our new web keeper and show photographer (your awards were fabulous) and the show committee and board members--fabulous job on keeping it fun for all!
Our next show will be in June at the Evergreen Fair grounds in Monroe, WA. We have a ton of sponsors and a complete list of class available on our web site at www.wrha.net. Come visit us and there is a drive through Starbucks just around the corner!
I am going to take a small liberty to reflect on a personal experience at the show. We sent our seven year old daughter into the show pen on her 90% predominately left leaded, gate savvy 10.2 hand palomino pony. He can spin, but he doesn't do lead changes. It was her request and pure desire to show her pony, Trigger (Wimpyslilstepsonjr Trigger by NRHA's standards). She fully knew a zero was highly possible, but I told her to go have a good time. She stayed the course and rode like a trooper. The smile she wore and the pure joy of being in the show pen lit up the entire arena and crowd. I was now a horse show mom reflecting on my own experience in the show pen (and more recently lack of). It was overwhelming apparent that we sometimes forget the mere grandeur of being in the show pen & simple goal and yet, we often forget to enjoy what we are doing most. So, in parting words, what she taught me most was, "The next time you are in the show pen, no matter if it is good or bad, REMEMBER to enjoy the ride!"