Editor’s note: This article was updated to correct the results of the various competitions.
For the first time on record, both Saturday and Sunday were sold out at the San Benito County Horse Show and Rodeo. That’s according to David Westrick, President of Board of Directors for San Benito County Saddle Horse Show & Rodeo Association who told BenitoLink,” It was a great crowd all weekend.”
Friday night June 23, was nearly full and on both Saturday and Sunday nights, the over 3,000 seats available in the grandstands were full.
With two arenas operating at the same time, there was never a dull moment. “We had some very good competition in the arena and on the track, and in the halter horse division Saturday morning,” Westrick said. Even though the bucking chutes are a good distance from the stands, a giant screen captured the action in real time. “We had our big screen back this year and it really accommodated the fan experience,” Westrick added.
This year, the Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo upgraded the vendor area at Bolado Park with numerous food and drink options. “We also had an upgraded area for vendor’s art and tack inside the venue. We had two drink sales areas that offered beer, wine, soda, and water and snacks.”
Ezcaramuza El Centenario Photo by Chris Mora. 
2023 San Benito County Saddle Horse Show Parade. Photo by Chris Mora. 
Trista Reid in Mixed ribbon roping. Photo by Chris Mora. 
Wild horse race winners Justin Raine, Dylan Pierce, Cody Perry. Photo by Chris Mora. 
John Flook Figure 8 Roping. Photo by Chris Mora. 
All around Arena Junior winner: Lillian Mendonsa. Photo by Chris Mora. 
Eric Novoa Riding “Too Hot” in Bull Riding. Photo by Chris Mora. 
The Horse Show and Rodeo was great watching for all ages. Photo by Chris Mora. 
Junior Showmanship competitions starts young! Photo by Chris Mora. 
Group photo celebrating the 1st Annual Robert Postigo Special Rodeo. Photo by Chris Mora. 
Mariachi Juvenil Corazon Jalisciense. Photo by Chris Mora. 
Kati King competing in Ladies Breakaway. Photo by Chris Mora. 
Lily Doty competing in the Junior Barrel Race 6-11. Photo by Chris Mora. 
Reese Emeterio & Elcy Emeterio competing in the Junior Ribbon Race 6-11. Photo by Chris Mora. 
Adam Renz & McKenna Waterman competing in the Mixed Ribbon Roping. Photo by Chris Mora. 
Gregory Koehler competing in the Saddle Bronc Riding. Photo by Chris Mora.
ALL ROUND:
Junior Track All Round- Kodi Fowles
Junior Arena All Round- Lillian Mendonza
Senior Track All Round- John Flook
Senior Arena All Round- Tristan Schmidt
Junior Keyhole Race 6-11
1st Samuel Nino
2nd Luke Douglas
3rd Nicholas Holiday
4th Charlee Jones
5th Kate Mendonsa
Junior Keyhole Race 12-15
1st Caylee Lau
2nd Alaina Ratliff
3rd Ava Rendon
4th Alexis Bozarth
5th Molly Eggleston
Junior Barrel Race 6-11
1st Lilly Matthews
2nd Reagan Petersen
3rd Lily Doty
4th Lily Heitzman
5th Alaina Holt
Junior Single Steer Stopping 8-15
1st Westin Aviles
2nd Lillian Mendonsa
3rd Nathan Fisher
4th Averi Mendonsa
Junior Barrel Race 12-15
1st Lillian Mendonsa
2nd Kaitlyn Porter
3rd Maile Maddox
4th Ava Rendon
5th Kaylee Lau
Figure-8 Roping
1st Jake Bourdet
2nd John Flook
2nd Mitch Bourdet
4th Scott Spencer
4th Adam Donati
Senior Barrel Race
1st Sydney Perry
2nd Mckenna Wood
3rd Brittany Moore
4th Katie Smith
5th Makiley Mezera
Dally Team Roping
1st Joe Spencer (Header), Scott Spencer (Heeler)
2nd Cheyenne Rey (Hdr), Ashley Fairhurst (Hlr)
3rd Jerad Renz (HDR), Adam Renz (Hlr)
4th Justin Wood (Hdr), John Flook (Hlr )
5th Sarah Brewen (Hdr), JW Brewen (Hlr)
Tie Down Roping
1st Billy Aviles
2nd Vince Nino
3rd David Nino
4th Tristan Schmidt
5th Joseph Nino
Steer Wrestling
1st Vince Nino
2nd Tristan Schmidt
Wild horse race
1st Cody Perry, Dylan Pierce, Justin Raine
Junior Best Girls’ Working Outfit 8-11
1st Isabella Donati
2nd Averie Skow
3rd Kolbie Skow
4th Holli Fowles
5th Brooke Duncan
Junior Best Girls’ Working Outfit 12-15
1st Kodi Fowles
2nd Kennedy Skow
3rd Molly Eggleston
4th Rylee Skow
Junior Boys’ Working Outfit 8-11
1st Brushton Grady
2nd Jackson Douglas
3rd Casyn Clark
4th Luke Douglas
Junior Western Horsemanship 6-11
1st Luke Douglas
2nd Jackson Douglas
3rd Nicholas Holiday
4th Lyla Wright
5th Audrey Rianda
6th Jenna Hain
Junior Western Horsemanship 12-15
1st Kodi Fowles
Junior Reined Stockhorse 6-11
1st Lily Dodi
2nd Kodi Fowles
Junior Reined Stockhorse 12-15
1st Kodi Fowles
Junior Cowhorse 6-15
1st Kodi Fowles
2nd Lily Dodi
Junior Ribbon Race 6-11
1st Paizley Weirsma & Westyn Weirsma
2nd Reagan Petersen & Cooper Dewitt
3rd Samuel Nino & Kate Mendonsa
4th Luke Douglas & Jackson Douglas
5th Reese Emeterio & Elcy Emeterio
Junior Ribbon Race 12- 15
1st Averi Mendonsa & Lillian Mendonsa
2nd Maile Maddox & Kaitlyn Porter
Mutton Busting 4-6
1st Christian Bozarth
2nd Joseph Leach
3rd Carter Villaverde
4th Kajin Ketchum
5th Casey Klauer
Junior Breakaway Roping 8-15
1st Lillian Mendonsa
2nd Kate mendonsa
3rd Averi Mendonsa
Ladies Western Horsemanship
1st Jamie Fowles
2nd Jane Brittell
3rd Lisa Fuentes
4th Grace Ericson
Cattle Sorting
1st Bob Pivetti, Andy Barrington, John Flook
2nd Bill Donati, Adam Donati, Juliann Donati
3rd Jeff Cabral, Joe Spencer, Reagan Tully
4th Dan Nino, Steve Taylor, Tom Nino
5th Dana Lenardon, Russell Tobias, Erik Dahlstrom
Stockhorse
1st Brett Pura
2nd Emery Pura
3rd Grace Erikson
4th Billy Martin
5th Erik Dahlstrom
Non-Pro Stockhorse
1st Emery Pura
2nd Grace Erikson
3rd Amanda Bettencourt
4th Allyson Bottini
Novice Stockhorse
1st Amanda Bettencourt
2nd Allyson Bottini
3rd River Sage Red Eagle
Two Rein Stockhorse
1st Brett Pura
2nd Ramona Koch
3rd James Brumfield
Reined Stockhorse
1st Grace Erikson
2nd Allyson Bottini
Non-Pro Reined Stockhorse
1st Allyson Bottini
2nd Jane Brittell
3rd Taylor Thibault
4th Joy Law
5th Allyson Bottini
Ladies Breakaway Roping
1st Josie Pereira
2nd Makiley Mazera
3rd Amanda Wiersma
4th Cheyenne Rey
5th Gabrielle Breneman
Family Dally Team Roping
1st McKenna Wood (Header), Ryan Wood (Healer)
2nd Danielle Porteur Johnson, David Porteur
4th Stacey Schmidt, Tristan Schmidt
5th Cheyenne Rey, Jimmy Cupit
Mixed Ribbon Roping
1st Josie Pereira, Tristan Schmidt
2nd McKenna Wood, Dallin King
3rd Seth Nino, Dina Cupit
4th Jake Bourdet, Brittany Moore
5th Cody Skow, Gracie Skow
Bull Riding Friday
1st Eric Novoa
Saddle Bronc Friday
1st Karson Mebane
2nd Noel Johnson
3rd Tucker Bourdet
4th Gregory Koehler
5th Dave Tankersley
Saddle Bronc Riding Saturday
1st Karson Mebane
1st Tucker Bourdet
3rd Jace Angus
4th Cameron Messier
5th James Mann
Saddle Bronc Riding Sunday
1st Roman Reyes
2nd Noel Johnson
3rd Jasper Frost
4th Gregory Koehler
5th Matt Cicisly
Bull Riding Sunday
1st Eric Novoa
Full results can be found here.
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