2025 California Championship Show: Ranch, Rail, Wine & Fun – The Perfect Mix!

By Deb Shatley, Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Association President:

AQHA exhibitors, trainers, and horses from three states gathered at the Paso Robles Event Center for the California Championship Show August 27th – 31st, sponsored by the California Quarter Horses Association (CQHA).  The five-day event yielded stall counts and entry numbers that mirrored those of 2024, with 323 stalls sold and 1,590 entries recorded.

New from last year, a fifth day was added to the schedule to accommodate a move of all Trail classes into the Pavilion arena and to permit one round of Western Riding to be held in the large Hearst Arena.  The new 5-day schedule also allowed for the addition of 6 hours of paid warmups for reining and ranch riding.

The show’s traditional “Fiesta” Exhibitor & Vendor Party, sponsored by The Equine Chronicle, Sandy Ballard, and Jim & Kathy Rauch, was held on Thursday evening. The event featured Kathy’s famous Taco Salad along with margaritas and wine. Vendors stayed open late to welcome participants, and lucky exhibitor drawings were held at the conclusion of the evening for equine products and services.

A Ranch & Wine event was featured on Friday evening with a wine pour with Glunz Family Winery, followed by the $3000 added “Fresh Harvest” Ranch Stakes Class sponsored by The Scaroni Family of Businesses. Twenty-four Ranch Trail horses from Arizona, California, and Oregon competed for over $5500 in cash plus prizes. Laurel Walker-Denton riding “Electric N Hollywood” for Nancy Gillett won the open division, with second going to Cynthia Cantleberry aboard “My Kind of Mink”.  The top-placing non-pro was Delaney Larimore riding “A Flashy Gun,” and Rose Irish on “Mob Squad” finished reserve.

Moving onto Saturday, “All Ice No Crome” owned by Crown Ventures and ridden by Laurel Walker-Denton won the three-year-old $2500 added Ranch Riding Futurity with Gary Roberts piloting “Shootin For Sunshine” for owner Sabrina Kavitz taking the reserve.  In the $500 added 3/4-year-old NSBA Trail Futurity, Michael Hoyt took the win for owner Angela Locascio on “Red It In My Sleep” with Justin Wheeler taking reserve with “Dun Mousin Around” for Cavalry Quarter Horses. Saturday finished up with a Pizza and Wine tailgate party sponsored by Formula 707 and local representative Pam Moeck.

The All-Around winners of the show were presented with the coveted three-headed trophy sponsored by PCQHA, with the reserves receiving World Class Equine Blanket Bags.  Continuing from last year’s “tangible” awards theme, Hi-Point and Circuit Champions received a variety of horse-related items, including Quillin Leather Halters, Gear Bags, Embroidered Sheets, Buckets, Chap & Garment Bags along with other high-value items. In the Walk/Trot Divisions, buckles were presented to the “Best of Show” winners, and Buckle Bonanza awards were presented in selected classes.

A huge “Thank You” goes to AQHA Judges Jimmy Daurio, Pam Scott, Jim Searles, Rhonda Replogle, along with Show Manager Casey Devitt, Show Secretary Heidi Lane, and their staff for the superior management of this great event.  Thank Yous also go to Don Lehman for competitive Ranch and City Trail courses, Karissa Landis at Topline Image (Toplineimage.org) for the great pictures of the event, Jim Rauch for coordinating inbound trailers and RVs, Kathy Rauch for preparing the Thursday night dinner, Kelly Probst who worked on awards, and Sam Gonzales for pre-bedding of sponsor stalls.  Also, a big shout out to the staff and management of the Paso Robles Event Center (PREC), Mike Esser, Grady Gallagher, and Team for the prep and maintenance of the facility throughout the show.  Thank you, PREC!  Finally, we could not have done this without our loyal sponsors, trainers, exhibitors, and vendors who have stepped up every year to make this a top West Coast event. Thank you, everyone!!!

To view arena photos of the event, please visit toplineimage.org.  Candid photos are available at californiachampionship.com under the media tab.

For score sheets, go to heidihorseshows.com, and class placings can be found on HorseShowTracker.com.

Congratulations go to the following exhibitors and their exceptional equine partners on either winning or placing reserve in the All Around and High Point competitions of the California Championship Show!