Around the Rings: 2026 SJPHC Equinety Color Challenge & Youth Scholarship Circuit

From Jennifer Barbee, SJPHC President:

The Equinety Color Challenge & Youth Scholarship Circuit happened on August 20-23, 2026, at Murieta Equestrian Center in Rancho Murieta, California.  This show is run by San Joaquin Paint Horse Club (SJPHC). APHA, AQHA, WRHA, and All Breed classes were offered this year.

Running as a four judge POR, the judges included Sally Jo Freund, Teresa Sullivan, Nancie Wright and Jim Edwards.  The event was run by Show Manager Jennifer Barbee, Stall Concierge Meredith Biasca, and Secretary Jennifer Mendes, along with amazing SJPHC Show Committee volunteer staff.

On Thursday, the day prior to kicking off the show, SJPHC held a free “Pattern Glow Up Clinic” taught by APHA-approved Clinician and World Champion trainer Jason Long. Jason donated his time for the clinic sponsored by Pivo Equestrian, who awarded a free Pivo Equestrian camera system to a random clinic participant. The clinic was broken into multiple stations, working on challenging and credit earning pattern elements of Equitation, Horsemanship, Showmanship, Trail, and Versatility. Among other things, Jason shared his tips for 3-2-1 success going over poles, making sure to complete each element of a pattern, and the differences between showmanship pivots, turn arounds in Trail and Horsemanship spins. The clinic concluded with a brief Q&A session involving the participants and the auditors. Thanks to Jason Long Performance Horses for giveaways including hat cans and t-shirts.

Friday included Showmanship, Color, Halter, Horsemanship, and Western Pleasure.

Did you know that this show offers Youth Scholarships for SJPHC Youth members? This year, $13,000 was available and the show started with a Youth Scholarship class for Showmanship WT 5-10. Congratulations to Hailey Rhodes and Lazy Krymsun Luvah for winning the class and a $500 scholarship!

(View scholarship winners chart as a PDF: 2026 SJPHC Scholarship Winners)

Up for grabs: $3,000 of the $10,000 total APHA Chrome Cash was a visible color incentive to be earned in the Tobiano and Overo color classes. Double Shot of Cuervo owned by Jeri Lou Biggs and Two Timin Gentlemen owned by Sue Merchant each won $400 Chrome Cash in their respective color classes. They were also the high earners of total Chrome Cash, each receiving a total of $650 for the whole show!

For the second year, the SJPHC Super Halter Horse winner was ELS Secret Pearls. The AQHA/APHA bay mare is owned and shown by Sandy Ballard. She won unanimous Grands under all 4 APHA and 2 AQHA judges. A custom trophy by Cowboy Bronze was sponsored by Tabor-McPherson. The trophy and awards were presented to the winner by Fred Tabor for Ingrid McPherson and himself.

Everyone’s favorite class, Lead Line 8 & Under, was a big hit. Each participant got a goodie bag sponsored by SJPHC Youth Scholarship Chairman, Fred Tabor. Congratulations to Champion, Tulsa Mehrten, who showed Lopin To The Party, for winning a $500 scholarship.

Congratulations to Reserve Champion Jack Wunderlich, led by dad Bret Wunderlich, and showing My Lazy Version, for winning a $300 scholarship. Make sure to let us know when you turn 18 and enroll in college.

On Friday evening, SJPHC Taco Bar Potluck welcomed non-pro exhibitors from the online community, “Add More Leg.” On the patio at the beautiful Murieta Equestrian Center is a good place for friends to unwind. SJPHC volunteers Meredith Biasca and Yolanda Prentice cooked beef and chicken while others brought potluck items like tortillas and salsa. Thank you to Jordano’s Food Service of Santa Barbara, CA, for donating very fancy aluminum bottles of water for the event and the whole show. To wrap up the evening, fun was had in the outdoor arena with Dog Races sponsored by Bark Box and Immunovet, and Unicorn Races sponsored by Miguel Aguilar Custom Saddles. Winners of these silly games are on the SJPHC Instagram #sjpainthorse and Facebook channels.

On Saturday, the show continued with challenging courses for both City and Ranch Trail by designer Don Lehman. In Trail Youth WT 11-18, riders from TS Paints took the top three spots and scholarships for the second year in a row. The scholarships in this class were donated by TS Paints, The Vaughn Family, The Wiemer Family, and Michelle Vondran. Sofia Wiemer showed Rhythm of Tats Heart to win the $500 scholarship. Lydia Wunderlich showed Old Gold Rhythm to reserve and a $300 scholarship. Earning bronze, Asta Oelsner and VS Easy On The Eyes took home a $200 scholarship. Way to go!

Green Trail was a Chrome Cash class. Congratulations to Double Shot Of Cuervo, exhibited by Karen Qualls for owner Jeri Lou Biggs, on winning the class and $250 of Chrome Cash. Reserve was Invite Milton, exhibited by Ashley Merchant for owner Sue Merchant, earning $150. Bronze was My Lazy Version, exhibited by Melissa Sachs for owner Rebekah Wunderlich, earning $100.

Green Ranch Trail was also a Chrome Cash class. Congratulations to Guilt Free Addiction, exhibited by Brandi Payer for owner Yolanda Prentice, for the win and $250 of Chrome Cash. Reserve was New Chief In Town, owned and exhibited by first time APHA show participant, Britta Jacobson, for $150 of Chrome Cash.

On Saturday evening, SJPHC held a Slices N Sips Exhibitor Appreciation Party. Pizza and dirty sodas were served in the main arena. Thank you to One And Only Asset and Symmetry & Stride for sponsoring the “sips” portion of the event. All exhibitors earn a chance to win the Exhibitor Appreciation grand prize. This year, Electric Motor Company donated a Rapid Groom horse vacuum. The random winner was Sophia Sousa, a first time Novice Youth exhibitor at SJPHC, who was very excited to win the Rapid Groom. Other Exhibitor Appreciation prizes included donations from US Rider, Robinhoods, Platinum Performance, and more.

The Exhibitor Appreciation Party occurred while the new Pairs Western Versatility Jackpot class was shown – and it was awesome! Winning the Pairs Western Versatility Jackpot class was the mother daughter duo of Sue Merchant and Ashley Merchant. For their win, they received a Chrome Horse Society Gift Basket, and $180 of the jackpot. Top finishers received neck sashes, Bug Beater Chairs, Dynatrap fly traps, and more!

Sunday’s All-Breed Longe Line Jackpot Futurity is a highly sought after win every year. This year’s Champion was Here For The Hardware, exhibited by Amber Duckett for owner Sarah Kalahele Smith. Amber was also Reserve Champion with Only Child, also owned by Sarah Kalahele Smith. Top finishers received neck sashes, Cowboy Bronze trophies with badges from Mel’s Craft Spot, plus items from Mad Barn and Vetline. In the High Point standings, Here For The Hardware was named Yearling Versatility Champion and Only Child was Reserve.

(View the jackpot & futurity winner info as a PDF: 2026 SJPHC Futurities and Jackpot Winners)

The 3&4 Year Old Hunter Under Saddle Futurity had five entries. Scandalous Intentions was exhibited by Karen Qualls to the Championship for owner Heather Kragerud with a payout of $125. Reserve was Macklesmore, exhibited by Amber Duckett for owner Ambree Pennington, earning $75. Bronze was MW Wen In Doubt exhibited by Ashley Merchant for owner Amy Groefsema, earning $50.

Sunday afternoon, the show included a variety of all breed and APHA Ranch Horse classes, doubling the number of Ranch entries from 2025. The World Ranch Horse Association (WRHA) sponsored a High Point Ranch Horse Award. Congratulations to Automate, exhibited by Brandi Payer and owned by Cathy Poor, on this award. Cathy also won the SJPHC Youth Raffle prize of a beautiful silver show halter from Kathy’s Show Equipment and a halter fitting lesson from World Champion Fred Tabor.

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 $30,000 of products and gift certificates from 100x Equine, Draw It Out, Elk Grove Milling/Stable Mix, Finish Line, Mrs. Pastures Cookies, State Line Tack, Tribute Horse Cookies, Ultra Cruz, and so much more. Special thanks to The Ponysitters for the tailbag giveaways!

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/gallery/3a8bd60d-11c5-452c-ac66-19f7f3991ff8/

Want to keep on winning? 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!

Here are the high points:

(View the high points as a PDF: 2026 SJPHC High Points)