Although cowboys and cowgirls walked away a little sore after
this week’s San Benito County Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo at Bolado
Park, many left with smiles.
Although cowboys and cowgirls walked away a little sore after this week’s San Benito County Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo at Bolado Park, many left with smiles.
The belt buckles were mere trinkets. However, the camaraderie is always something that participants look forward to each year.
Even people like Ross Ketcham, who had his share of bad luck such as falling off a horse or failing on his attempt to rope a calf, still enjoyed the competition.
“It is a great event because you don’t have to go anywhere,” Ketcham said. “Everyone has a bad day, but you can’t focus on it.”
Ketcham did combine with Jerad Renz to receive first place in the Team Roping event.
The rodeo is a time where the youngest to the oldest of cowboys and cowgirls can compete together as a family. There were few people who weren’t competing without another family member.
There were the many father-son combos like John and Mike Pivetti and David and Nick Taliaferro.
There were mother-daughter pairs like Jamie and Terry Andrade and father-daughter combinations like Danny and Kaelie Cardoza.
“She ropes the same way as anyone else does,” said Cardoza, who has competed with his daughter for five years. “She is really good with her hands and has good eyes.”
The Cardozas competed in the Cowhide Race and the Cattle Sorting event. They won the Cowhide Race, and Mr. Cardoza was the fastest Circular Track racer.
Mr. Cardoza moved to Paicines from Southern California two months ago to take over as the new manager for J.R. Ranch in Paicines.
Chad Zgragen had a fast time of 10.92 in the Tie Down Roping event on Sunday to win.
“I could have roped it sharper,” Zgragen said. “I didn’t quite catch it cleanly. But the calf took it pretty well.”
For Zgragen, the rodeo was a chance to take a rest after injuring his knee in a competition at Livermore.
When people think about rodeos, they often think about one of the most difficult of sports – bull riding.
It is not for those who have any fear. One unfortunate cowboy was stepped on, ripping his overalls down the back while tangling with a bull on Sunday.
The bull riding champion, Charles Barnes, managed to record times on all three days of the competition. He attributed his success to many family members who ride and were riding before him.
There is not much difference in difficulty between a bull and a bronco, Barnes said.
“The horse is taller but is not as likely to hook you,” Barnes said. “The hardest part is getting out of the chute. Once you are out, it is just a matter of staying on. You just take it day by day and jump by jump.”
Barnes has taken his share of bumps and bruises in his 13-year career. During one rodeo, he had his foot broken and crushed and then came right back to finish his final ride.
There were several contestants like Junior Keyhole race winner Brittany Brown, 14, who enjoyed just being out on a beautiful sunny day.
“There was some great competition,” said Brown, who has been riding horses since she was five. “The best part was the way back with the wind in my hair.”
Overall Results
Senior All-Around Arena
Nick Taliaferro & Joe Spencer
Bob Randick Memorial Perpetual All-Around Senior Arena Award
Nick Taliaferro & Joe Spencer
High Point Stock Horse Rider
Justin Wright
Senior All-Around Track
Justin Wright
Junior All-Around
Alethea Prewett
Cattle Sorting
Sal Agredano & Tony Agredano
Figure 8 Roping
Justin Fields
Cowhide Race
Danny Cardoza & Kaelie Cardoza
Circular Track Race
Danny Cardoza
Senior Quadrangle Stake Race
Dina Loveless
Bronc Riding
Elliot French
Family Dally Team Roping
Judy Wiersma & John Wiersma
Dally Team Roping
Nick Taliaferro & David Taliaferro
Bull Doggin
James Dassel
Wild Horse Race
Joe Spencer, Shane Higgins & Mike Garza
Tie Down Roping
Jerad Renz
Junior Quadrangle Stake Race
Laila Stelling
Wild Cow Milking
Joe Spencer & Nick Taliaferro
Bull Riding
Charles Barnes
Sunday’S Track Events
Parade Winners
Junior Cowgirl: Sierra Jo Sans
Junior Cowboy: Mark Cabral
Senior Cowgirl: Dana Marcus
Senior Cowboy: Bob Pivetti
Ranch Group: T.O. Cattle Company
Ladies Western Horsemanship
1st: Shannon Renz
2nd: Allison Renz
3rd: Jennifer Dassel
4th: Betty Gargano
5th: Tracy Nino
Circular Track Race
1st: Danny Cardoza
2nd: Bob Murray
3rd: Jeana Nelson
4th: Becky Ford
Best Working Outfit
Girls 4-7 Years
1st: Sarah Nino
2nd: Taylor Shaffer
3rd: Blair Brown
4th: Jordyn Little Feather
5th: Brooke Shaffer
Boys 4-7 Years
1st: Brody Sans
2nd: Dawson Bell
3rd: Jack Morris
4th: Blake Fuentes
5th: Levi Mansmith
Hackamore Horse
1st: Justin Wright
2nd: Arleah Fields
3rd: Joy Law
4th: Chris Smith
5th: Joy Law (Horse)
Junior Keyhole Race
1st: Brittany Brown
2nd: Alethea Prewett
3rd: Allie Kimes
4th: Annie Nino
5th: Jenny Graves
Cattle Sorting
1st: Shannon Renz & Allison Renz
Open Stockhorse
1st: Justin Wright
2nd: Sonya Lee
3rd: Frank Lee
4th: Brian Holthouse
5th: James Dassel
Cowhide Race
1st: Danny Cardoza & Kaelie Cardoza
2nd: Ray Wood & Justin Wood
3rd: Billy Aviles & Tom Doty
Sunday’S Arena Winners
Bull Riding
1st: Jeff Rianda
2nd: Charles Barnes
Senior Quadrangle Stake Race
1st: Susie Lomanto
2nd: Kaelie Cardoza
3rd: Dina Loveless
4th: Jimene Stelling
Tie Down Roping
1st: Chad Zgragen
2nd: Jerad Renz
3rd: Nick Taliaferro
4th: Richie Coefield
Bronc Riding
1st: Elliot French
Dally Team Roping
1st: Ross Ketcham & Jerad Renz
2nd: Nick Taliaferro & David Taliaferro
3rd: Jeff Cabral & Casey Sabin
4th: Joe Spencer & Scott Spencer
Junior Ribbon Race
1st: Laila Stelling & Leanna Ceglia
Family Dally Team Roping
1st: Judy Wiersma & John Wiersma
Bulldoggin:
1st: John Red Eagle
2nd: James Dassel
3rd: Jeff Cabral
Wild Cow Milking:
1st: Andy Barrington & Shane Higgins
2nd: cott Spencer & Adam Renz
3rd: Thomas Doty & Chipper Hennagan
4th: Carson Bourdet & Logan Doglione
Best Appearing Cowhorse Without Saddle
1st: Linda Oldham
2nd: Jennifer Dassel
3rd: Sandy Rose
4th: Grace Tobias
5th: Dana Marcus
Wild Horse Race
1st: Joe Spencer (Rider), Shane Higgins & Mike Garza
2nd: Chipper Hennagan (Rider), Keith Burkett Jr. & Jerry Antonetti
Halter Horse Division
Registered Quarter Horse Mares, 3+ years
1st: Jennifer Dassel
2nd: Linda Oldham
3rd: Bob Pivetti
4th: Grace Tobias
Registered Quarter Horse Geldings, 3+ years
1st: Susie Lomanto
2nd: Dana Marcus
3rd: Becky Ford
4th: Tina Mansmith
Registered Quarter Horse Group, Get Of Sire (3 horses) 1st: Les Sans
Registered Quarter Horse Group, Produce Of Dam (2 Horses)
1st: Bob Pivetti
2nd: Betty Gargano
Registered American Paint Stallions, 2 Years & Yearlings
1st: Becky Ford
Registered American Paint Mares, 3+ years
1st: Anna Marie Dos Remedios
2nd: Becky Ford
3rd: Tina Mansmith
Registered American Paint Mares, 2 Years & Yearlings
1st: Brenda Bourdet
Registered American Paint Mares, Weanlings
1st: Anna Marie Dos Remedios
Registered American Paint Geldings, 3 Years & Older
1st: Stephanie Churchill-Gross
2nd: Cheyenne Rey
Registered All Other Breeds Mares, 3+ years
1st: Avrie Hubbell
2nd: Kristy Enos
3rd: Becky Ford
Registered All Other Breeds Mares, 2 Years & Yearlings
1st: Becky Ford
Registered All Other Breeds Geldings, 3 Years & Older
1st: Kim Dupont
2nd: Becky Ford
Grade And Unregistered American Paint Horse Mares, 3+ years
1st: Felicia Turturici
Grade And Unregistered American Paint Horse Geldings, 3+ years
1st: Julie Derr
Grade And Unregistered Quarter Horse Mares, 3+ years
1st: Avrie Hubbell
2nd: Meghan Murray
3rd: Jill Evart
Grade And Unregistered Quarter Horses Geldings, 3+ years
1st: Julie Derr
2nd: Jerica Noble
Grade And Unregistered All Other Breeds Mares, 3+ years
1st: Sharon Walters
Grade And Unregistered All Other Breeds Geldings, 3+ years
1st: Sandy Rose
2nd: Allie Kimes
Special Division:Best Appearing Saddle Mare & Foal
1st: Anna Marie Dos Remedios
2nd: Ardyss Golden
Champion: Registered Quarter Horses
Jennifer Dassel
Champion: Registered American Paint
Anna Marie Dos Remedios
Champion: Registered All Other Breeds
Avrie Hubbell
Grand Champion: All Divisions
Jennifer Dassel
