Valley Scene

SYV Super Cow Horse Event

 

With a whoop and a holler the Santa Ynez Valley Equestrian Association opened its new Cow Horse arena designed for cutting, reined cow horses, roping, team penning, sorting and, ranch and trail classes. This enables the Valley to carry on all the early historic activities of the Vaqueros and more.  

Tack was cleaned, horses were bathed and cowboys jumped into their show duds as the big moment arrived.  It was the dream of President David Hunsicker to be able to serve the many western riders in the Tri-Counties. Now, with the cattle holding pens and the large arena, this is possible. In fact, as the news spread, entries had to be turned away from areas outside the Tri-Counties. Generous local people sponsored classes and it really was a smash hit.

Without further verbal acrobatics we will report to you the names of those who, after two full days of hard riding, emerged victorious! The winner of the title of SYV Super Cow Horse title was Lisa Conley of Ojai, riding her Quarter Horses Just Floyd. She won a custom made “Bobs” saddle and other valuable prizes. She was also the Amateur Division Champion and had the highest score in the Cowboy Pleasure Class.

Reserve Champion was Phil Ralls, riding Nice Chrome, owned by Monty and Pat Roberts and the interesting thing about this was that his trophy was a fine bronze statue of a rearing horse, created by Pat Roberts. He was also the Open Division Champion and had the highest score in the Ranch Horse Class. The Non-Pro Division Champion was Dennis Domingos, of Lompoc, on Cash’s Lil Badge.  Aaron Schwarzwalter of Solvang, rode in with the highest score in the Ranch Cutting Class on Son of a Lena. Sandy Collier of Buellton had the top score in the Stock Horse Class, riding Ima Chic Please, owned by Mike Brautovich.  And Buellton’s Lisa Johnston scored the highest in the Cowboy Trail class riding Bowie Dualin.

This big show also included special breed classes for both Paint and Arabian horses. The Arabian Super Cow Horse was Parade V ridden by Maddie Camacho of Nipomo. The horse is owned by Felix and Kathleen Camacho. Maddie was also the Non-Pro Arabian Champion and had the highest score in Ranch Cutting and Stock Horse.

The title of Reserve Champion Arabian Super Cow Horse was claimed by Andy Camacho, of Nipomo, on RS Eternal Flame, owned by William R. Hearst III. Andy was also Arabian Open Division Champion on Eternal Flame and scored highest in Ranch Horse Class and Cowboy Trail Class. Other Arabian horse winners included: Diane Brown, of Santa Barbara, on Om El Sharheed (a Santa Ynez bred horse) who won the Amateur Division and Cowboy Pleasure. 

The colorful Paint horses are always fun to watch. Their Super Cow Horse was Hollywood’s Golden Gun ridden by Charles Stevens of Lompoc and owned by Thera Meyers. He also won the Open Division Paint, Ranch Cutting and Cowboy Trail Amateur division.  The Reserve Super Cow Horse was Smoke N Diamond, ridden by Haley Aquino of Nipomo and owned by David and Sherrie Aquino. She also won the Amateur Division, Ranch Horse Class and Stock Horse Class. Meghann McNulty of Santa Maria, won the Cowboy Pleasure Class.

 

Valley Branding Party at Rancho La Purisima

 

A veritable roll call of prominent Valley people gathered on a warm spring morning to help Paul and Tina McEnroe brand their cattle and celebrate a special day of friendship. Monty Roberts roped on Tina’s horse, Teddy, and those round-up and branding veterans- John and Brandy Branquinho were on hand. After the calves were branded and turned out, Paul rode back into the corral on his roping horse, Reno. This beautiful black Quarter Horse is used for ranch work most every day. But suddenly he arose to the occasion and to everyone’s astonishment, with Paul on his back, he circled the ring performing figure eights with flying changes and other Grand Prix movements. This is a ranch horse, mind you, not a Lippizaner or haughty warm blood, well trained in Haute Ecole. Adding to uniqueness of the occasion the horse danced to the lively music of a nine piece Mariachi Band.

Rail-side spectators included The Honorable Gil and Barbara Brown, Assemblyman- Brooks Firestone, prominent horse importers Tom and Denise Petersen, Richard and Pamela Harris of Titanic fame, Nicole Forsythe (John was otherwise engaged that day).  Also ranchers Fred and Johanna Chamberlain and Sarah Chamberlin Bottoms, Chuck King (he had just had his own branding) and his good friend Lynn Gildred, Greg and Gail Steele, ranchers and philanthropists Eric and Sandy Gregersen, Steve and Cindy Lyons- he’s master of the SYV Hounds, Country musician Art Green, Leslie and Greg White, jumping champion Jennifer Wooten and Bob Defoe, Kim Kavish and of course, the Povahs Ginger and Pat from Montana and Ellie!  

Hungry guests gathered around an antique chuck wagon from the 1870s for a delicious outdoor country meal, created by Chef Les Wolford. It included both tri-tip and rainbow trout as well as a selection of salads and other mouth watering offerings.

The celebration of the old west continued into the afternoon with a very entertaining game of “McEnroe Jeopardy” presented by the McEnroe children Maureen, Mark and Erika, Tara and Aston, and Trevor and Katie.  Questions included some of Paul’s many accomplishments; he actually INVENTED the bar code thirty-five years ago, plus other fantastic accomplishments. This amazing man is also a member of SYV Hounds and is busy with a number of other activities.

After the Jeopardy game a musical drama took place with Paul and Tina acting out the slightly altered lyrics to the famous Marty Robbins song “El Paso.” One of the favorite lines ran, “One night this wild young Tina came in. Hot as a sundowner wind… Spunky and pretty, a little bit flirty, he knew he would never look back again!”  It brought the house down and Tina, the gracious, award-winning teacher, may be getting a call from Hollywood!