Rushton Stables

08/17/2026

08/17/2026

We lost a great one last night. Ultra’s Private Eye came to us as a long yearling to start his training and remained here for the rest of his life. A life well lived that included making 12 victory passes at the Morgan Grand National. We were the lucky ones. He only ever had 3 owners, Ultra Morgans bred him and sold him to Eric and Kristin Yang who brought him to us and owned him through his first World Championship and his junior years. Kathy Smith bought him from the Yangs and owned him for the rest of his life. Magnum made dreams come true. Breeder’s dreams, owner’s dreams, rider’s dreams, driver’s dreams, trainer’s dreams. He won World Championships while being worked by each of the 3 trainers here at GRS. He won with every rider that ever showed him and he won World titles with 3 different riders/drivers. He was honest and trustworthy and all show horse when he got in the show ring. He was an amazing mix of kindness and power. Every person that ever showed this horse was better having done so. He gave his people confidence and joy. Every barn should get to have a Magnum but…they don’t. We are immensely aware of how lucky we were to have done so.
Magnum, I hope you’re up there doing what you love to do…trotting through a whole crowd of horses puffing yourself up and showing off how handsome you are! And, never having to back again!!
Thank you to his owners for having entrusted us with him. And thank you Kathy for making every single decision since you purchased him with his best interest first and foremost. Every horse should be so lucky. You loved him and he loved you. He did right by everyone that ever got the privilege to ride or drive him but you were his person and he was your heart horse if ever I’ve seen one. Rest easy, friend. Thank you for all of the memories and the Magnum stories…there are plenty;) You’ll be missed.

07/30/2026

Well, if a William Woods student wants to come spend the summer at your barn, say NO! Otherwise, you too will have a barn full of crying people saying goodbye to them at the end of the too few months they are with you! Of course, that's only if they're as awesome as Maddie!!! Rushton Stables continues their good fortune with having GREAT experiences with AMAZING young people from William Woods coming to work for us over the summer. Madeline Wolff jumped right in arriving the day before we left for a horse show in May and made herself more useful and more dependable every single day. Maddie, you endeared yourself to everyone here (and that's saying something!;) from the clients to the horses, each and every one of us that you worked with each day, and of course, Pau...who still can't figure out why your bedroom door is open:( Thank you for your constant effort in everything you were asked to do, just as often doing what you weren't even asked to do but noticed needed doing, and going above and beyond every day. We will all miss you and can't wait to see you in Oklahoma...it's going to be Pau's best day ever when you walk in😍😍 🐾

07/21/2026

Hard work, a fabulous team, and horses that give their all…leads to a great week❤️

07/19/2026

What a week in Vegas! We love this show because it’s fun but mostly we love it because it’s COMPETITIVE! Easy blue ribbons don’t make us better and there were none to be had here!! Congratulations to all of our fellow exhibitors that continue to make the West Coast so strong by showing up and helping us all to push each other!! We had an amazing group of trainers and exhibitors at this years show❤️❤️🐴❤️❤️
More pics to come!

06/15/2026

It’s been a busy week but Rushton Stables had a great Charity Fair, despite some difficulties!!
We started the week with Gerry being under the weather:( He got us to the show and promptly went to bed…for those that know Ger, this is NOT normal!!
Fortunately, we had lots of help…and really GOOD help…that made our busy show go smoothly!! With 24 horses there, we had brand new teams, pretty new teams, show ring debuts, and some tried and true competitors and all showed up to play:)

Charity Fair is always a fav for everyone and it was great to be among our friends competing by the beach with the famous Ferris wheel lighting the way! Many thanks to the show committee that puts this show on…we are aware how much work goes into it and you are all so very appreciated!!

Thank you to our clients, most there, some unable to make it, that were supportive and made the week go smoothly!

Gerry is home on meds and working his way back to feeling better and Stacy flew out Saturday am to go back east for some family things that needed attention and the horses enjoyed a well earned restful weekend!

More pics to come, but for now thank you to the magazine reps for capturing some of our memories!

05/12/2026

It’s always good to be home, but it’s hard to leave a beautiful place like Paso Robles! We just love the Silicon Valley Horse Show with the hospitality, beautiful facility, great weather, and fun atmosphere! And…the $100 for every blue ribbon 💵! Putting on a horse show is a TON of work and we so appreciate all that Helen Roy and Lexie Saine put into this show each year!! Thank you doesn’t seem enough…it doesn’t go unnoticed!🙏

Thank you to the magazine reps for catching some of the fun moments as we exit the ring with smiles and pats for the horses!

We had a couple of first times with Savannah Franklin making her full suit debut on Baccarats Home Town Girl and winning both of her classes…a great start for this team:) Edward Harmon drove his new horse, RRVE Daredevilry for the first time and they won the jr exb/amateur pleasure driving qualifier and championship…so happy for this duo!! Vanessa Ybarra got back in the show ring with a win in the Open Park Saddle Championship on HTLDBlack Diamond after Gerry won the qualifier with him. Great to have Vanessa riding this fun horse!

Congratulations to Sharon Bender on a winning week with her 3 horses! Seems Fine loved the ring in Paso Robles and turned in a great class win to the blue ribbon in the Junior pleasure driving, Beautiful Crazy was the Open Pleasure Driving winner and Grand Champion and Crushin It and Sharon won the Ladies Classic Pleasure Driving and then went back into the $5000 Driving Championship and came out with the win!

The Harmons had a great week between their win early in the week with KMP Beautiful Mind and Gerry Rushton in the Open Park Harness (while Ed was still at home playing in and winning a golf tournament;), Edward’s two wins with his new horse, Hannah Harmon and Flintlock’s Envy coming out of the huge $5000 Hunter Pleasure class with the Reserve Championship and Hannah again leaving the ring with a tricolor, this time the championship, in the Classic Pleasure Saddle with PlayMor With Sparkles. Ed Harmon has taken on the challenge of driving a spicy park harness horse and come SO far from his drives last year and put in a competitive drive in a strong park harness championship that made us all proud!

Helena DeWoody had her best classes yet with the fun mare Good Trouble in the good classic pleasure division. This has been a fun team to watch improve each show and they’re having fun doing it!

Diane Kleinecke has Gerry preparing her Hidden Springs Lonestar for the Classic pleasure driving division for her and they had 2 good classes to be second and then reserve champions in the Open Breed Pleasure Driving.

Nathania Lie ALWAYS shows up and she did so again at this show with 2 strong rides on her Heir to the Empire and 2 game rides on BRMF Debonair Flair, including choosing to go back in the competitive $5000 class to enjoy the numbers and excitement! each show this girl rides in is a learning experience and she comes out better for it!

Standing Invitation was second in a nice jr park harness class and the got some riding time in while we were there so we can have him ready for his saddle debut this year!:)

While we were gone we had TWO foals born! One right after we left (we thought MAYBE she’d have it before but…nope) and one the morning we were coming home! A c**t and a filly, both healthy and happy to be in this world:) pics to come:)

03/02/2026

Rushton Stables will have a trailer headed from Southern California to Ky the middle of this upcoming week and turning around and returning to Southern California. If anyone has a horse they need moved on that route, either message Stacy Hennessy or call Gerry Rushton at 951-315-9697

02/25/2026

I’m in search of a western show bit with a half breed mouthpiece. If anyone has one they’d like to sell, message me please:)

02/11/2026

Go Cy!!
Only 6 years old, this horse has won more often than he hasn’t and is only getting better!
Royally bred, those that believe in strong dam lines should take note!
Contact us for breeding info!!

**WORK FOR IT WEDNESDAY**
A huge congratulations goes to KMP A Beautiful Mind and owners Ed & Cathy Harmon for working hard to achieve the CH in the Champion Title Program!