Gaited Horse
Peruvian Horses Shine At Gold Rush Classic
By Becky Chase
Sep 14, 2007, 14:15

The glitter and glamour of Las Vegas was the perfect background to showcase the Peruvian Horse. The Gold Rush Classic held June 29, 30 and July at the South Point Casino and Equestrian Center was a smashing success. It is likely it will be considered not only one of the best shows of the 2007 season, but one of the best Peruvian Horse shows ever. It was a combined regional championship show with three nonconferring judges. This show hosted by Centennial State Peruvian Horse Club of Colorado, Rio Grande Peruvian Horse Club of New Mexico, and Mission Trails Horse Club of California offered something for everyone. Judges were: Enrique Rizo-Patron of Lima, Peru, a highly respected international judge of the Peruvian horse and a successful breeder; Kim Montee of Texas, who started in the breed as a junior rider who progressed in her riding to win National Titles and has been judging for 10 years; and Belisario de las Casas, an active breeder and promoter of the Peruvian horse, and an internationally renowned judge of the Peruvian Horse for 25 years including 2 years as judge of the National Peruvian Horse Show in Peru. Given the great advantages of 3 shows in one: great competition, one trip for you and your horses, less transportation, hotel, and meal costs, less time away from home, and the chance for host clubs to pool financial recourses, I am astounded that more horse clubs and breeds don’t do more combining of shows.

With 68 classes and special clinics held on Thursday just prior to the show, there was something for everybody. Prize money was awarded in all regular classes. Each club awarded prize money to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places. Prize money was $5 for every horse in the class. For Example if the mares gait class had 15 entries; the total prize money was $225.00. Each judge in every nonchampionship class awarded places 1-5. If your horse was 1st or 2nd by all 3 judges, you as the owner had a chance to redeem the cost of your entry fees for that class. There has been much discussion over the years regarding classes and attire in Peruvian Horse shows. There were several new classes offered at this show: Amateur Owner Breeding 4+, Amateur Owner Pisos 4+, Amateur Owner Performance 4+, Novice Amateur Performance 4+, Bozal Pisos, PremioAficion where entry consists of 1 mare, 1 gelding, and 1 stallion owned and bred by the same breeder/owner, a stallions liberty class, “Joys 21” Vegas surprise challenge, and Gold Rush Sweepstakes for riders age 50+. There were 10 junior exhibitor classes, 15 breeding division classes, 4 gait division classes, 7 open performance classes, 9 amateur performance classes, 4 halter classes, 2 zootecnico classes, 9 champion classes and 7 champion of champions classes. Amateurs had lots of opportunities to show their horses. They could enter all of the above classes except the junior classes. Some of the junior exhibitors cross-entered in the regular amateur classes. Many of the junior riders were so good they could beat many of the adults in these classes. The riders of Peruvian Horses are often referred to as “those people in bed sheets” because of the traditional ponchos worn as standard riding attire. This show allowed alternative attire. Alternative attire rules allowed suits, vests, and blazers to be worn. Split skirts, slacks, and long sleeve collared shirts in the following colors were allowed: black, shades of gray, beige, khaki, shades of muted greens, small pinstripes. While few exhibitors took advantage of these alternatives, those that did offered the audience a chance to see something different. It was clear that these riders had given considerable thought to their suits or color coordinated slacks, skirts and blazers.
There were 203 horses entered and over 800 entries. Peruvian Horse Shows are one of the few horse shows where horses are frequently entered in multiple classes. There were many horses that were entered in more than 5 classes. As some of the classes had over 20 entries and 3 separate judges judged each of them, many of the classes were lengthy. Even so these horse worked tirelessly, with great pride. So speaks the stamina of the Peruvian Horse.
Along with exhibitors, sponsors provide the financial backbone of the show. With a variety of good sponsorship packages available in prices form $450-1500, many owners took advantage of the opportunity to promote their ranches/horses. Prospector Gold Sponsors ($1500) were: Bar Sol Pisco, Don & Bobbie Taylor of Cataloochee Ranch, Conquistador Magazine, Figuerola Labs, Terry & Roberta Ellis of Green Gate Ranch, Bob & Karen Calentine of Hacienda LA Cumbre, Barbara Windom of La Estancia Alegre, Frank & Merlene Sutalo of Paseo Del Traza, Lucho and Jeanelle Dapelo of Pecan Valley Ranch, Peruvian Classified Magazine, Peruvian Digest Magazine, Larry and Joy Redman of Rancho Chahuchu, Dr Brian & Mrs. Terry Jarchow of Rancho de la Florecita, Dr & Mrs. Lacayo of Rancho Rio Alegre, Manny Martinez of Rancho San Martin, Richard Ullbius & Eddie Levin of RUS Ranch, Alan & Beth Carrington of Stones Edge Ranch and Victor and Susan Ayala of VSA Farms. Silver Sponsors ($1000) were Orgulo del Peru Magazine, Ben & Dorcas Sawatzky of Paradise Ranch, and Horacio & Mary Kay Santos of Rancho Santos. Blaster sponsors ($500) were Bill & Marcia Berman, Mel & Maidy Dreyfuss of D Ranch, Dale Dansey, Andres & Christina Salinas of Salinas Training Center and Valley National Bank. In addition, class sponsorships were available. Regular classes were $30, championship classes were $40 and Champion of Champions classes were $50. All classes had 3 sponsors each; the Breeding Stallion Champion of Champions had 6 sponsors. There were too many class sponsors to name here. In addition to sponsorships, program advertising, and vendor booths were available. The show program was very elegant, full color and consisted of 100 pages. There were several full color full-page ads. 2000 copies were printed and all were distributed at the show. As stall decorations were not allowed in the barn area, gold prospector sponsors and ranches had booth space in the vendor area. These spaces had not only beautiful displays from the ranches but contained all of their winning ribbons as well. Many of these same ranches provided videos, which were played over and over during the show on a 4-sided video display, placed high up in the center of the show arena. This video display also displayed classes while they were in progress. Many thanks to all of the sponsors, exhibitors, and vendors who supported this show.
Even though there were so many classes with so many beautiful horses, certain exhibitors and their mounts stood out. Since I knew most of the owners and many of their horses, certain performances were special because I knew some of the history of the horse or rider. The junior exhibitors were fantastic. It was so neat seeing them, one little guy looked like he wasn’t any more than 6. In the musical exercise class the magnificent buckskin stallion, RDL Incomparable, owned by Joy Gould and Jorge Valenzuela and ridden by Jorge, was a sight to behold. His dressage style movements and true rocking horse style canter made him a crowd favorite. Not to be outdone was Hilario Carrera on ARF Desafio de Figuerola owned by Figuerola Peruvians LLC. His performance to the accompaniment of Peruvian Music was a not to be forgotten moment in time. In Produce of Dam, we were thrilled to see National Laureado Champion of Champions Breeding Stallion, RSV Inovidable and RSV Finura. They were a very exquisitely matched pair. Their performance was very special as some years ago Inovidable had a severe colic episode with subsequent surgery which his owners and veterinarians were not sure he would survive. Arizona’s very own Jeannie Sullivan at age 68 realized her dream of riding her young stallion, BFII Don Brujo in a regional show. Jeannie and Don Brujo were in many classes and they both looked especially good especially since this was the horse’s first show. Thank you Robert Quijandria and La Estancia Alegre for their care and training of this horse, which allowed Jeannie to realize her dream. It was a pleasure to see California’s very own young lady, Andrea Del Solar, daughter of Andres and Gigi Del Solar. Andrea has been riding for many years now having competed extensively as a junior exhibitor. She is now competing against the professionals. Look out! She put very good rides on many horses at this show and won many a blue ribbon. The Ladies to Ride Class was a picture of elegance. Both Bobbie Taylor and Kelly Powers riding sidesaddle were a classic work of art. Kelly went on to win Champion of Champions Amateur Performance Stallion on her recently acquired horse, MCD Coronado. SA Romancero, owned and ridden by Robert Garner, wins the award for most stamina. He was entered in 18 classes and won many 1st and 2nd places. He was Res. Champion Open Performance and a 2x Champion and 1x Amateur Performance Gelding. The halter classes were scheduled with separation of classes between the colts and fillies halter classes. As Peruvian halter classes involve a lot of running by the handler this break was much appreciated. Many of us have been involved in shows where a young horse enters the ring and “freezes up” when they catch site of all the people in the stands and all of the strange things. This happened to Andres Del Solar and RDLA Luz de Luna in the fillies of 2004 class. Fortunately the filly quickly got over her fright and won a 1st place. One of the most sought after titles in this breed is Champion of Champions Breeding Stallion. In many breed stallions that have won at the National Level are frequently retired from the ring to stand at stud. The Champion of Champions Stallion Breeding Class at this show contained 2 stallions that are 3x National Champion of Champions Breeding Stallion winners, RSV Inovidable and RCh Ventarrones. Other National title winners competing were JCG Gringo and RDLF Sol Peruano. 2 of the 3 judges awarded the title to Rch Ventarrones, owned by Rancho Chahuchu, and 1 judge awarded the title to JCG Gringo, owned by Alan and Beth Carrington. Full results of the Gold Rush Classic can be seen at HYPERLINK "http://www.napha.net" www.napha.net.
This was the first time a Peruvian Horse show was held at South Point. The facility was excellent. The management had several signs advertising the show throughout the casino. There were a variety of restaurants under one roof. The stalls were great and not accessible to the public giving a lot of security. The warm up area, stalls, and show arena are all in air conditioning. There were man y spectators in the stands who had never seen a Peruvian Horse.
Thanks to all for a successful show. Special thanks go to Co-chairwomen, Barbara Windom, Kelly Powers, and Eleanor Palmisano.
Thanks to Barbara Windom for providing pictures of the show.

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