2006 Sponsor Appreciation Day & Affiliate Awards
Author: Wendy Deans
Date published: Oct 31 2006
Reiners enjoy good friends, good food and.....reining. So we took the afternoon of October 14th to get together at Anderson Training Stables. Our purpose was to say thanks to all the Yellowstone Reining Horse Association sponsors (members and non members) for their generous support in 2006. We also gave out fleece vests sponsored by Way Out West of Livingston and YRHA to all the YRHA affiliate circuit qualifiers. NRHA pewter's and plaques were awarded to all the affiliate circuit champions and reserve champions. After the awards and a reining demonstration we got down to the serious business of sharing a fantastic potluck dinner supplied by all the members. We followed that up with some birthday cake (in honor of Lori Waters and myself) and pumpkin ice cream.
We started the afternoon with Wendy Deans giving a rundown of what the club has accomplished in the past few years. With increased membership, classes, entries, added money and prizes our shows, along with membership benefits, just keep getting better. We could not have reached this level without the financial backing of our sponsors. Wendy acknowledged each sponsor and thanked them for their support.
We like to let our nonmember sponsors see just what it is we do. Jan Anderson took over to explain the sport of reining and narrated a demonstration of Jim Gelhaus’ stallion Hawks Whisper ridden by Jay Dee Anderson. They performed the various maneuvers while Jan explained them. She explained scoring and penalties and how judges score a pattern. Ryan Anderson rode Linda Coates Markles’ mare, Paddys Irish Starlet, and discussed how a person trains for maneuvers. Jarvis Anderson rode Elise Donohue’s mare, The Whizards Magic, and described what a two-year-old prospect could be expected to accomplish at this point in its training. Sean Alquist, one of our Youth competitors, demonstrated a pattern on his gelding Mighty Mega Jac.
After our demonstrations Sharlene Stone, our Affiliate Representative, explained how an affiliate works and how it benefits the membership. We then gave out NRHA pewter's and plaques to our Affiliate Circuit Champions and Reserve Champions. 
NRHA Affiliate Circuit Champion in the Open - Jay Dee Anderson riding Hawks Whisper owned by Jim Gelhaus. Reserve champion - A. Jo Young riding Smart Anna Lena owned by Riverslide Ranch LLC. Intermediate Open champion - A. Jo Young also riding Smart Anna Lena. Reserve champion - Ryan Anderson riding Smart Remichic owned by Polly Cooke. Limited Open champion - Ryan Anderson riding Paddys Irish Starlet owned by Linda Coates Markle. Reserve champion - Janis Anderson riding Peppy Sailor Chex owned by Jay Dee and Janis Anderson. Rookie Professional champion - Hollywoods Lena Lady owned by Bill Schutter. Reserve champion - Nicole Welker owner/rider of Pokey Lenas Whiz. Novice Horse Open champion - Jay Dee Anderson riding SJ Twist N Chex owned by Jackie Sorenson. Reserve champion - Jay Dee Anderson riding Top Whiz Bang owned by
Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro champion - RaeAnn Svedberg riding Sergeants Enterprise owned by Sergeant Performance Horses. Reserve champion in both classes - A. Jo Young riding Smart Anna Lena owned by Riverslide Ranch LLC. Limited Non Pro champion - RaeAnn Svedberg riding Sergeants Enterprise. Reserve champion - Richard Coyne owner/rider of A Freckled Dunit. Novice Horse Non Pro champion - RaeAnn Svedberg riding Sergeants Enterprise. Reserve champion - Linda Hahn owner/rider of Tucker Sail. Youth 13 & Under champion - Savannah Smith riding Sanjo Sug Tari owned by Kathy Smith. Reserve champion is Savannah Smith riding Forest Cabin Cowboy.
Youth 14 - 18 champion - Sean Alquist owner/rider of Mighty Mega Jac. Reserve champion - Meghan Stewart owner/rider of Okie Dry Doc. Rookie champion - Collie Vinger owner/rider of Daisy May Dun It. Reserve champion - Savannah Smith owner/rider of Forest Cabin Cowboy.
We greatly appreciate the support of our sponsors and thank them for all they do for YRHA. They are: Diamond Level - Anderson Training Stables - Jay Dee & Jan Anderson, Double D Ranch-Elise Donohue. Platinum Level - Advanced Laser Center - Dr. Tom and Anne Kent and Dr. Doug and Kathryn Neuhoff, Brackett Creek Quarter Horses - Jim & Sharon Gelhaus, Four Corners Saddlery, West Boulder Equine-Meredith Brokaw, Nan Newton. Silver Level - First Interstate Bank - Livingston, Jean Keffeler & David Stanley, Harvey Lewis, Howard Mann, Way Out West. Gold Level - None. Bronze Level - Rob Davis and Ariat International, Big Sky Equine Veterinary Services - Dr. Lisa Jacobson & Dr. Ben Shomper, Bruzzy & Polly Cooke, Corral West Ranchwear, Cottonwood Ranch - Gordon & Rinda Galarneau, Bill & Barb Crain, Rafter D Training - Gill & Wendy Deans, Delmar Motel, Dick Perry Horseshoeing, Dr. Rod Warren - Hardaway Veterinary, Karen Neff-Hands On Horses, Montana Reining Horse Association, Myrstol Post & Pole - Rocky & Connie Myrstol, Rocky Mountain Hat Company-John Morris, Shields Valley Veterinary - Dr. Don Smith, This N That - Wes and Nita Myers, Wagner Performance Horses - Arch & Gwen Wagner, Western Home Mortgage-Cyndy Rigler, Nicole Welker-The Rusty Spur. Club Level - C.R. & Alice Morrison, Bank of the Rockies - Clyde Park, Lee Driscoll, Elkhorn Veterinary Clinic-Erick Sorenson DVM, Cyndee Hall-Reiners World.com, IMC Pump - Chuck Henderson, Mike and Jan Lukenbill, Becky Melzer, All West Veterinary Hospital - Dr. Gary Cook, Richard O’Hair, Shields Valley Hardware -Jerry and Cindy Good, John Mabie CPA, Glenn’s Shopping Center - Brad and Tammy Berendts, Scott Schuster, George & Sharlene Stone, Ardyce Swain.