Thatcher School - El Archivero Yearbook (Ojai, CA)

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76 EL ARCHIVERO these events at a time. Similar revisions in the rules for the Stake, Sack, and Orange races made them run more efficiently. At School, gymkhana season got under way with the Hrst match be- tween the two intramural teams. The Orange Team, captained by Freeman Ford, charged off to a strong lead early in the season, andl although there were several close contests in which Gymkhana Captain Michael Pleasant's Green Team made a good showing, the Orange Squad emerged on top at the season's end with 415 points to the Green Team's 273. Bill Boyd on Reynita and Dick Walden on Rocket were tied in a deadlock race for high point man with 65 points apiece. Close behind the two top men came Ford who compiled 63 points on his white steed, Spider. John Heard, the number four man on the gymkhana ladder, raced Colorado for the season's fastest time in the Bending Race in 10.35 seconds and won the Saddling Race with a time of 37.9. The best performance in the Orange Race was completed by Bob Gallaway in only 40:8 seconds on Star, who is being retired this year after many faithful seasons. Skip Porter atop Keela pounded out the best Tilting time this year in 19.4 seconds with a score of 9 out of 9 rings. Bill Boyd and Reynita racked up three best times in the Stake, Sack, and Figure 8 races in 13.6, 13.35, and 11.9 seconds, respectively. David Van Horne tied Bill Boyd's Stake Race time of 13.6 and placed first almost consistently in the Trail Horse Class. Redbones and Topo helped carry Reserve State Champion Leo Acquistapace to victory in the Seat and Hands Class, which he won three times during our School shows. , The climax of the season came on March 7, the date of the Eleventh Annual Thacher Gymkhana. The 125 outside entrants, several of whom were themselves State Champions, afforded Thacher boys some stiff but welcome competition. The guests dominated the morning events except for the two blues taken by Van Horne in the Trail Horse and Seat and Hands classes. In the afternoon Thacher pulled ahead by winning our specialty events. Free- man Ford' soon forged to a lead with 16 points, walking off with the Jed- licka High-Point-Man Trophy at the end of the day. In order to qualify for the 1959 State Championships, several Thacher horsemen entered the Region Nine Horse Show, the Fillmore Spring Show, and the Ojai Trails Association Spring Show. These Thacherites will com- pete for the Championships next October: Bending Race-DuBois, Mr. Huyler. Figure-8 Race-W. Boyd, Mr. Huyler. Quadrangle Stake Race-W. Boyd, Mr. Huyler, Du Bois. Keyhole Race-Mr. Huyler, Du Bois. Tilting-Porter, Mr. Huyler, Mr. Kahle. Trail Horse Class-Van Horne, Mr. Huyler. Pleasure Horse Class-Van Horne, Myers. Junior Equitation-Van Horne.

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EL ARCHIVERO 75 Back Row: Zellerbach 1Mgr.J, Bonehakker, Callaway, Van Horne, Lieurance, Rhodes, Front Raw: R. Walden, W. Boyd, Ford, Pleasants LCapit.J, Heard, DuBois, Mr. Kahle, Mr. Huyler. GYMKHANA HE 1958-1959 Gymkhana Season opened with the Santa Paula and Fillmore Horse Shows in September. Bill Boyd, Lloyd DuBois, Dick Walden, John Lewis, John Heard and Harry Andrews attended these two contests from Thacher, and each boy placed in at least one event. The main attraction of the pre-intramural season, however, was the California State H0rsemen's Association Championship Show in Paso Robles on October 2-5. Thacher's Relay and Ring Spearing Teams, both of which were composed of Freeman Ford, John Case, John Heard, John Lewis, Dick Walden, and Mr. Huyler, received first place honors, thus bringing back to School two State Championships. Leo Acquistapace, the final member of the Thacher team, won the Reserve State Championship in the Western Horsemastership division. Mr. Huyler, Heard, and Lewis also took other ribbons individually. Again in the same month Thacher horsemen participated in the Ven- tura Saddle Club Horse Show, where Bill Boyd placed first in three events and second in another. At the beginning of the Winter Term, a few changes were made in the regulations for the School's intramural gymkhanas. The Bending and Fig- ure-8 races are now scheduled simultaneously, and the traditional six-abreast race has been abandonedg now only one boy may be performing either of

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EL ARCHIVERO 77 Two-Man Relay Race-DuBois and Myers, Messrs. Huyler and johnson. The Lower School Gymkhana Team, captained by David Van Horne, suffered two defeats at the hands of the experienced Ojai Valley School en- thusiasts this year. Despite its losses, the Team competed well, and the pros- pects for future gymkhana lettermen are high. After the annual banquet at the Coniferous Bosque the George Beckwith Trophy was awarded to the winning Orange Team. The Bissell High-Point Trophy went to Bill Boyd and Dick Walden for their identical 65 points. David Van Horne was given the Bit and Spur High-Point New Boy Plaque for his 36 points, and Skip Porter received the Pack and Saddle High-Point Lower School Award. John Heard, Rob Gallaway, and Freeman Ford Won the Packing Cup for taking four blue ribbons and setting the season's best time-46 seconds flat. Tom Walden received the Improvement Cinch, and the Farquhar Saddling Belt was won by Joe Parker. After the closing ceremonies this year's high-point men, Bill Boyd and Dick Walden, both of the Orange Team, were elected Co-coptains of next year's Gymkhana Team, while the Green Team chose Lloyd DuBois as its Captain. THE TOP TEN No. Name Horse Points Team 1. Bill Boyd, ,,r.. ,, .,... ,,,,,,, R eynita Qrlliej Orange 1. Dick Walden .,,,s,. ,,,s.... R Ocket QTieJ Orange 3. Freeman Ford. ff... -..f,, Spider Orange 4. John Heard ....c so ........ Colorado 'Orange 5. Lloyd DuBois ...,.. ....... . Slleiress Green 6. Erno Bonebakker. ss.. ..l........ T o0tS Green 7. Rob Gallaway .......... .................... 5 tar Orange 8. Dave Van Horne ssss.ss. ...... S ierra Cross Green 9. Bill Lieurance .......... ............. B 01165 Orange 10. Dick Rhodes s...... ........... . .....-.-.... Little Red Green