articles | Fall Spectaular 2003
Fall Spectaular 2003
Nov 11 2003
Author: Kim Lansidel
The 2003 Wenatchee Fall Spectacular demonstrated once again, the WRHA is a premiere reining organization on the West Coast. With 542 paid entries, the show shattered the prior year’s record of 421 entries. The WRHA shows have steadily grown bigger and bigger each year, but no one expected the phenomenal jump in the number of horses and exhibitors we saw in Wenatchee this time around. Much of the growth is attributable to the many exhibitors who came from Montana, Idaho and Oregon.
The facility has been a big factor to the continued growth and quality of our shows. This time we filled all the stalls available on the grounds and were forced to put up portables to accommodate the extra horses. Tony Kirschner and Christian Rammerstorfer helped Brian Huber out with this task at 10 pm &endash; Great teamwork guys! The Appleatchee facility has also been very generous in shipping in sand and preparing the ground just for us; it gently broke apart as the horses slid their way across the arena over the weekend. THANKS APPLEATCHEE!
Cindy McKinzie did her shoppin’ again and we gave out some spectacular prizes. Six Morrisons and four Pewters in conjunction with our prizes: Don Leson was kind enough to give us a great deal on some of his wonderful pads for first prize (boy, did people want to win one of those pads &endash; it made the competition even fiercer). Second place was a nicely packaged BMB gift certificate, and third was a nice pair of leather skid boots and polos for the Futurity.
Christian Rammerstorfer on Slide N Chic turned out a great performance to win our NRHA Open and Intermediate Open Futurity.
Fall Futurities
Christian Rammerstorfer won the Open Futurity on Slide N Chic, a sorrel stallion by Smart Chic Olena out of a full sister to Great Red Pine. He found the colt on a trip to the Boyle Ranch in 2001 and said, "I instantly fell in love with the little stud by Smart Chic O'Lena. I have never had a horse bred this well, so I was extremely excited when my friends Inge and Joe Reith from Arvada, Colorado agreed to partner with me on him." Inge and Joe are new to the business and Christian feels like they are family, so he wanted to make sure he picked a good horse. Christian also wanted to Thank Tom St. Hilaire for all his insightful help with "Terrell". In 2004 Slide N Chic will be shown in some Derbies on the West Coast and Denver and then the NRBC as a five-year-old.
Christian himself has an interesting story. A native of Austria and a big John Wayne fan, he came to the US in 1988 to pursue his dream of becoming a reining horse trainer. Three years later, he met Larry Kasten, who runs the horse program at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Larry convinced Christian to pursue a college degree while working for him and his son Jeff Kasten. Upon graduating, Christian attended Texas A&M University to pursue a Ph.D. degree in Equine Nutrition and Exercise Science. While in Texas, Christian met his future wife, Elizabeth Haney, who also trains reiners. In 1998, Christian received his Ph.D. and said, " I don't think I would have made it through almost 10 years of college if I could not have trained and shown reiners to some extent on the side". In the spring of 2000, Christian and his wife (Liz) left Texas to join the horse program at Oregon State University in Corvallis, OR where he currently teaches and resides.
Jeff Evenson placed second for owner Lynn Stillman on Stefies Hautecouture in both the Intermediate Open and Open Futurity. Jeff earned $789.53 for both classe and he was awarded an $85 dollar BMB gift certificate and saddle pad. Jeff Evenson works for Tom St Hillaire out of Yamhill, OR.
Entering the pen in his crisp red shirt and capturing our Non Pro Futurity with a score of 144 was Ryan Humphrey on Lean Darleen. This beautiful black mare is by Lean With Me out of a daughter of Doc O’Lena. She was bred and raised by another WRHA couple Tim and Camille Connelly. They were very proud of Ryan and the mare, which he purchased earlier this year with the help of Travis Wigen.
Ryan Humphrey and Lean Darleen won our first WRHA sponsored NRHA Non Pro Futurtiy class of nine. This mare was also bred and raised by a WRHA couple, Tim and Camille Connelly of Oregon.
Ryan currently is going to college in the Spokane area and has been riding and training the mare himself. Ryan and "Darleen" will be headed next to OKC in November to compete in the NRHA Futurity. Ryan is eligible for all the NRHA Non Pro divisions and this will be his first trip back to the Futurity as a competitor. This mare is a beautiful circler, as her nose almost drags the ground, and Ryan does an excellent job presenting his horse in the pen. We all wish him the best of luck!
Coming in second place was Allison Trimble on Cow Cuttin Colonel. She marked a 142.5 and received an $85 dollar BMB gift certificate and won $572.64.
NRHA Open and Non Pro Classes and Trainers appreciation award
Doug Stroud and Parnelli Chic Olena keep on bringing home trophies for owner Judy Goodsel. This dynamic duo won both the NRHA Open and the NRHA Novice Horse Open. Parnelli has earnings over $17,000 and Doug’s over $77,000. Together the teams captured 16 wins in NRHA competition. Aside from training horses, Doug’s an avid outdoorsman and he is also learning to fly helicopters.
Cory Hutchings wrangled up another win for owner Cathy Martin on Little Smart King in the NRHA Limited Open. He tied for second in both the NRHA Intermediate Open and Open classes. Cory is now the proud father of twin girls! His wife Ashley delivered the twins two months early and they are currently all doing very well.
Matt McAuslan and LSR Whizdom procured a win for owner Mitzie Schield in the NRHA Intermediate Open class and tied for second in the NRHA Open class. Matt heads up the local Reined Cow Horse club and trains out of Woodinville, WA.
Our only California resident, Camela Essick picked up a win in the NRHA Limited Non Pro on Wright A Big Chex. Camela started showing in the WRHA shows last year and has been a great addition to our shows. Hey Cami, Great new vest, too!
A pair to reckon with is Sonia Tonnemaker on Needa Slide. Together, they collected a win in the NRHA Intermediate Non Pro and placed second in the NRHA Non Pro. The pair recently won the $5000 added NRHA class up at The Superslide and marked a 147. Sonia runs a fruit/vegetable stand and her mare Needa Slide is expecting a foal in the spring by Chocolate Chic Olena. This baby should have no troubles stopping and should have a prosperous future in the NRHA.
Topping the NRHA Non Pro class was Kim Lansidel on DA Chics Tune. Her parents Karl and Marge Eilers own this palomino stallion. Kim and "Louie" earned a special award in addition to the Morrison. She was awarded the "Trainer’s appreciation award" for the highest marking rider for both Non Pro classes held over the weekend. The following individuals contributed to the new tradition &endash; Lori Bowkett, Matt Mcauslan, Dean McCann, Mike and Inger Helsen, Mark Deforest, Doug Stroud, Tom St Hillaire, Travis Wigen, Cory Hutchings, Christie Batson, Avila’s Pro shop for helping to acquire this very fancy Bob’s Custom saddle and of course Julie Daviscourt for conjuring up this great new way of "Thanking each other". Alternating years, we will be presenting the award to a trainer next year. Kim said she will be donating to the Trainers award next year and wished to thank everyone for their support and help throughout the years.
"More pages to our NRHA story…"
Sunday lunch was full of laughing, smiling kids. The fence was lined without breaks by people standing to watch the Future Youth riders. It is super to see the family support and how the kids have matured as riders throughout the year. Next year we will see many of these kids graduate into the NRHA world of Reining!
Spinning her way into the winner circle in our Youth 14-18 class was Kylie Nicklous on Now Ya Dun It Doc. Kylie took the long trip to Wenatchee from Oregon…it was worth their efforts. Kylie rides with Tom St. Hillaire.
Purchasing Hob Nob Kip was a great move for Sarah Konopaski. Hob Nob Kip has taken many-a-riders home with multiple blue ribbons. Now with Sarah, (a tough team all year) they surfaced on top in our NRHA Youth 13 and under class.
In the NRHA Novice Horse Non Pro class, Christie Batson and her stout gelding Rush Hour Melody, captured yet another win and a Morrison. The pair marked a 72.5 on this run. It was just a tough class, with a tie for second between Sonja Tonnemaker on Needa Slide and Roger Wigen on Mr. Smokabull. And then, a four way tie for fourth at a 71!
Dawn Johnson topped a class of 30 in the NRHA Rookie class riding the dependable and great gelding Boot N Jose.
Picking up yet another win on Boot N Jose was Dawn Johnson. This time she topped a class of 30 our NRHA Rookie class. Dawn is an ambitious young lady who currently runs and owns her own espresso stand! She rides with Doug Stroud and certainly made a great choice when she purchased Boot N Jose from Beth Hoffman this year. This is truly a grand horse to own and ride. Camille Connelly found herself in second place for her husband Timothy on Edwina Olena. Camille lives in Oregon and rides under the guidance of Travis Wigen.
It couldn’t be done without YOU!
Brian Huber and Bruce Pinkerton for co-tackling the demanding position of show manager. Jeff Lansidel who continues to single-handedly run our show office. Joelle Barker, our always friendly and personable "gate keeper", for keeping the show going! Bob Garret - the official show announcer &endash; who has a super positive attitude all through the late nights and you are sooooo good with the Future Reiners! Alayne Blickle for gathering volunteers to do those left over necessary jobs &endash; THANKS!!!!!
Cheryl James and Raindancer video again attended and recorded all those precious moments over the weekend. A "SPECIAL THANKS" to Dan and Rainy Browning for giving each child in the Future Reiners of America class a copy of their run.
Thanks to the following sponsors - PLATINUM: Continental Dirt Contractors, Fleek Quarter Horses, NOAH &endash; NorthWest Organization for Animal Help, The Shobe Family, Tina Peterson, The Pacific Reining Horses Association which presents "The Super Slide" in Chilliwack, BC October 2003 - SILVER: Chris Catalano's new store, Lucky Eagle Casino, H+H Non Pros, Stroud Non Pros, Judy Goodsell, McKinzie Construction - BRONZE: Julie and Mark Daviscourt, HANS Restaurant, Sue Muir/Precision Images, The Chap Lady &endash; Lori Goulet, Stone Canyon Ranch, Winfield Farms and Matt Dillon Dunit of Three Peaks Ranch in Oregon.
We’re off to play in the snow in January for our Banquet. Information on our club and future show dates can be found on our web site - www.wrha.net or call Jeff Lansidel (360) 458-8865. Have toothpicks, will travel…here we come Oklahoma!