CITY OF INDUSTRY, CA – The 2016 Horses4Veterans Benefit Team Roping was held November 12th and 13th at the Industry Hills Expo Center. The event began with a sponsor appreciation dinner Friday night, complete with a color guard presentation and featuring special guest speaker Brigadier General Michael J. Peters, USAF (Ret.). Saturday and Sunday kicked off with patriotic grand opening ceremonies that included a flag ceremony, a color guard presentation, military vehicles, and live performance of the National Anthem.
Horses4Veterans is directed toward and centered around veterans of every branch, and of all statuses, providing non-medical options in support of those suffering from Post Traumatic Stress and related conditions. The organization provides free horseback riding and roping lessons for service members from every component. Horses 4 Veterans offers monthly “Family Day’s” so that service members can share their experiences with their loved ones. Once a service member is fluent with the care of horses, they are assigned a horse and all of the equipment to be able to ride and compete if they wish. Our goal is to provide an outlet for those that suffer from PTSD, to give them something to look forward to, to build an unbreakable bond with horses and the western lifestyle we so cherish.
The great success of both the Horses 4 Veterans Foundation, and the yearly Horses 4 Veterans Benefit Team Roping is only possible because of all of our amazing sponsors and volunteers. We would like to recognize and send a very heartfelt thank you to the following:
City of Industry, Metabolic Studio, Toyota of Glendora, Hyundai of Glendora, The Empty Saddle Club, JT Cattle Company, Coats Saddlery, All American Trailers, Gist Silversmiths, USTRC, A Cut Above Buckles, Wrangler, Straight Time Stirrups, Professionals Choice, Ropes Galore, Drum Roping Company, Purina, Cow Poke, Walton Construction, Donahoo & Associates, J.D. and Lynn Clark, The Gonzalez Family, Leo Rodriguez Insurance Company, Les and Ellen Thomas, Nutrishop Eastvale/Corona, John and Sharon Dewdney, The Green Family, Bullseye Sports, Valspar, American Horse Products, Sams Posse/Buck and Deborah Burt, Felix Prieto, Moss Bros Auto Group, Corriente Saddle Co, Norco Mounted Posse, Norco Ranch Outfitters, Devon Owen, San Dimas Feed, Front Sight Military Outreach, Pig Daddy BBQ, Stephanie Schulman and family, Hertz Rental Car, Jon Van Cleave and family, Inland Empire Collision, Catarino Gonzalez, the Bennett family, Mary Fitzpatrick, Robert A. Reed, Debbie Donnelly, Larry and Rae Lucas, Jack Hsu, King and Jeanine Davis, Pete and Gaye Miller, Mark Coulter, Xavier Sanchez, Rob and Diane Fischer, Ruben and David Figueroa, Brady Neyman, Stephen Hearst, Theodore Knopsis, Steven Markstein, Bernard Katzman, Jam Mat Inc., Donna Fernandez, Lynn Devan, Leo Ringer, Janice Dickson, Shadow Ridge Farm’s, Ward Ward, Barbara Tent, Larry Kelly Acacia Associate’s, Wayne Adcock, Gregory Keenan, Keenan Development Construction Inc, Hedi Furer, Bruce Herber, Stephen & Joan Lockwood, Daniel Miller, Shirley Miller, Robert Luty, Steven and Irene Stanley, Karen Padgett, Samuel Keesal Jr., Michael and Chery Mooradian, Joseph Bell, JK Kazarian Family Trust, Crista Peters, Roger and Christa Hawkins, Sandra Sivert, Ranch & Coast Equine, Kemper Shaw, John and Sharon Davies and Stitch’N Time. Special thanks to Kirt Bray and USTRC.
SATURDAY, NOV. 12
Open Roping: 5 for $200.
1st. go: 1. John Smith and Nate Preuit, 6.70, $450.
Average: Jesse McNett and Clayton Van Aken, 33.53, $1,700, plus buckles. 2. Jesse McNett and Brandon Bates, 36.86, $1,100, knives.
#12 Hdcp. Pick & Draw: 3 for $100.
1st. go: 1. Ryan Dodds and Clayton Van Aken, 5.61, $500. 2. Camish Jennings and Clayton Van Aken, 5.78, $200.
Average: 1. Camish Jennings and Josh Reed, 21.95, $2,260 plus saddles. 2. Camish Jennings and Clayton Van Aken, 22.38, $1,700, buckles. 3. Mike Rusinko and Nate Preuit, 22.52, $1,140, knives. 4. Jesse McNett and Clayton Van Aken, 22.80, $560.
SUNDAY, NOV. 13
#10 Hdcp. Pick & Draw: 3 for $100.
1st. go: 1. Dalton Curley and Adrian Mendoza, 7.33, $620. 2. Claude Straub and Tom Hayes, 7.66, $460. 3. Jason Tucker and Ernesto Chavez, 7.68, $300. 4. Todd Keeling and Eric Brown, 8.14, $160.
Average: 1. Jim Matlack and Bonnie Matlack, 26.36, $7,500, plus saddles. 2. Javier Loza and Ruben Figueroa, 26.76, $2,440, buckles. 3. Teddy Robinson and Gene Agdeppa, 28.07, $1,800, knives. 4. Erin King and Rick Rader, 28.32, $1,500, stirrups. 5. Jason Tucker and Jerry Lunde 28.61, $1,200. 6. Dale Chavez and Arturo Chaavez, 28.84, $960. 7. Veronica Chavez and Arturo Chavez, 30.01, $800. 8. Veronica Chavez and Ernesto Chavez, 30.24, $680. 9. Shelley Lunde and Jeremy Gorham, 30.66, $540. 10. Erin King and Ruben Figueroa, 30.76, $400.
All Girl: 3 for $75.
1st. go: 1. Lindy Gorham and Joyce Battaglia, 9.49, $170. 2. Markie Battaglia and Sandy Duncan, 9.94, $120.
Average: 1. Markie Battaglia and Sandy Duncan, 36.27, $820, plus saddles. 2. Tracey McCarthy and Sandy Duncan, 29.38, $500, buckles. 3. Markie Battaglia and Veronica Chavez, 20.82 on two, $330, knives. 4. Lindy Gorham and Emily Smith, 29.91 on two, stirrups.
Please save the date for next year’s event, November 11-12, 2017.
Sandy Duncan (with buckle) and Markie Battaglia (with blanket) were the winners of the All Girl Roping. Sandy also won second with Tracey McCarthy and Markie placed third with Veronica Sanchez. Other average winners are also pictured. Roping producer Mark Drum (l) makes the award presentation.