The trip home from Temecula was quite pleasant in light of the fact that we brought home not one but two Reined Cow Horse Championships! Our daughter, Sarah, won the Limited Open Bridle Spectacular and Richard was able to climb to the number one spot for the Open Hackamore Championship.
NRCHA President, Lynn Anderson, congratulated Richard Winters on his wind after he clinches the Open Hackamore Spectacular Championship.
2008 is the second year for the annual "Sherri Gilkerson Memorial Spectacular Horse Show." She passed away three years ago in a tragic horse related accident. Sherri was a great horsewoman and fierce competitor in the NRCHA. This has become a great show and both Sarah and Richard are honored to be able to wear and display these beautiful memorial buckles!
	We also had the privilege of conducting Cowboy Church again this year. A special thanks goes out to Mark Gilkerson (Sherri's widower ) and Jim Paul for the fantastic mandolin and guitar accompaniment! Sarah had an awesome fence run on Gunna Be Crazy. There was no catching up to her after that!

Things came together in just the right way, allowing Richard to win the Open Hackamore Spectacular. This was a special treat for Richard as he was able to take the lead over many of his hero's and mentors in the Reined Cow Horse World.

What a great weekend this was for the Winters!

Richard was honored to receive the 2007
"Monty Roberts Western Equitarian Award"

Given by Monty & Pat Roberts in Solvang, California, this award is dedicated to the the person who has worked with the horse's mind without using force and in Honor of the Trainers of Western Horses.

Past recipients of this award have been Greg Ward, Crawford Hall, Sheila Varian, Tom Marvel, Bobby Ingersoll, John Ward, Al Dunning, Craig Cameron, and Chris Cox.

When asked if Richard would receive the honor, for 2007, he was only pleased to be placed in the same category as the above mentioned horsemen and women!
Read Richard's Bio

Richard Claims the Champion title in the Extreme Equine Experience

March 30th - April 1st, Richard Winters Horsemanship had the privilege of participating in The Central Coast Equine Experience, (hosted in Paso Robles, CA.) for the fourth consecutive year

Along with daily Horsemanship Demonstrations and Cowboy Church, Richard Winters was invited to compete with some of the nations most popular horsemen for prizes and prestige. Agreeing to take on the challenge placed Richard in the arena along side Craig Cameron and Ken McNabb who dazzled the audience with an "Extreme Equine Experience." Each contestant drew for their own 3 year old un-started colt. They then introduced; ground work, saddling, riding, trotting, and loping to their colts. This contest culminated with negotiating an obstacle course during the end of the second day's 90 minute session. 

It was a close contest and each contestant did an outstanding job, using his own tried and true techniques. When the dust settled and the scores were tabulated, the five judge panel voted Richard Winters the 2007 Champion! A 1st place purse of $10,000. made the late night trip back to The Thacher School in Ojai, California, seem much shorter!

Here's what Richard had to say about his win, "It was an honor for me to be starting colts along side two really good hands, such as Craig and Ken. They both did a great job with their colts and I believe the judging was really close. My family and I thank God that things turned out the way they did!"

A special thanks goes to CenCal Mortgage, Inc. and Prudential Hallmark Realty for sponsoring the competition as well as John and Maureen Rudnick, the event owners and coordinators, for the opportunity to have been a part of such a great "Equine Experience!"