Old Spanish Days Stock Horse Show features competitors of all ages, including a three-year-old
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The 99th anniversary of the Old Spanish Days Stock Horse Show and Rodeo is getting underway.
The horse show and rodeo embodies the traditional ranching and cowboy lifestyle through friendly equestrian competition.
"This means a lot to me because this is where I grew up showing when I was a little girl and now here I am as a mom with my two little cowgirls … Savannah … she’s three … and Isabella is four," said participant Vanessa Shotwell of Old Spanish Days Stock Horse Show and Rodeo.
At just 3 years old, Savannah shares in the fiesta spirit.
"Viva la Fiesta," said Savannah.
Along with her grandmother Cindy Shotwell.
"Up here in Santa Barbara I go up coming to the fiesta radio every year and ring in the horse show classes and if they doing that again this year I’m doing the wrench trail in the rent training classes," said Cindy.
Known as the Competencia de Vaqueros, the Shotwell family has spent all year practicing with their horses to compete in this event.
"I grew up here in Santa Barbara and is a really special week for us as a family. I grew up going to the rodeo every single year. I’m actually mutton Bustin when I was seven years old so 29 years later my daughter Isabella be mutton busting as well," said participant Ryan Shotwell of Old Spanish Days Stock Horse Show and Rodeo.
Hundreds of exhibitors will be coming from across the tri-counties to show their horses.
There is a wide variety of equestrian competition such as: roping, barrel racing, team penning, team sorting, stock horse, pole bending, trail, reining and much more.
"It’s a family tradition and it’s past on generation to generation and I started showing over 50 years ago. I just fell in love with this organization and the way it brings the whole community together," said exhibitor and volunteer Lisa Novatt of Old Spanish Days Stock Horse Show and Rodeo.
There are classes for every age horse and rider.
For more information on the Old Spanish Days Stock Horse Show and Rodeo log onto: https://sbfiestarodeo.org/.
