February 21 - March 6, 2017 • Vol. 2, No. 2
Every Issue Complimentary Every Time
www.santaynezvalleystar.com
Some great ideas are born in a barn Ranch Rope Series creates more opportunities for local cowboys by Raiza Giorgi
news@santaynezvalleystar.com
S
ome of the best ideas have come from people working in garages; Apple and others have gone on to become multinational, billion-dollar corporations. But in the Santa Ynez Valley, ideas are also born in a barn. One of those is the Santa Barbara Ranch Rope Series, which began when Peter Ganibi and his buddy Will Ingram were talking about how to create more horseback-related events for local cowboys. Ganibi turned the idea into the Ranch Rope Series, which held its first gathering Jan. 28 at the Santa Ynez Valley Equestrian Center. “I am hoping this event will grow beyond the Santa Ynez Valley and we can host it in cities up and down the Central Coast. We had cowboys from Ventura to Salinas coming to this event, and it was so well attended,” he said. In his professional life, Ganibi owns and operates Vino Vaqueros, a horseback tour company that takes guests into some of the most beautiful private We have some of the estates and vinetop cowboys in the state yards in the valley, and world that live here, followed by a wine like Luke Branquinho tasting. and Tucker Robinson, “We have some and we need more local of the top cowboys opportunities for them in the state and and to let up-and-coming world that live here, cowboys have a chance to like Luke Branquin- make a name for themslves.
Photo by Lauren Maeve Photography Local horseman Randy J. Paul competes in the two-man sort and rope category.
ho and Tucker Robinson, and we need more local opportunities for them and to let the up-and-coming cowboys have a chance to make a name for themselves,” Ganibi said. Ganibi estimated that more than 150 people came to watch the event, which is a great chance for both locals and tourists to experience cowboy culture. The event was followed by a dinner and dance with live music by the Sleeping Chiefs. Cowboys were also awarded their
prizes at the dinner. (Winners are listed below.) Dannie Leslie and Frankie Martinez took home $1,500 and buckles as the top prize. Other prizes included AR Buckles, bottles of Pendleton whisky, Yeti coolers, Cactus Saddlery breast collars and saddle bags, Cactus ropes and rope bags, as well as cash. “This event was such a team effort. I couldn’t have pulled this off without Tony
Branquinho, Jeff Mang and Anselmo Ramirez. These guys are some of the most hard-working cowboys around, and they made it a success,” Ganibi said. The group of them are already planning another event in a few months and hope to have it at least quarterly in different locations. For more information about the event, log
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