The story of Suzanne and Henning Koch is woven throughout the history of Cal-Western's birth and growth over the past 38 years. This original foundation is not what just made a horse club, but part of what made a horse club great. Once you've read their story, you come to realize their history is pure Cal-Western history, both are quite literally intertwined in one another.

Life Before C-WA

During 1962 & 1963, Suzanne (Mell) Koch, was an active member of the Superior Cal Appaloosa Horse Club based in northern California. Although Suzanne lived in Salinas, CA, she still faithfully made the two and a half-hour, one-way trek to all the monthly meetings held in the Sacramento area, notably in or around Carmichael, CA.

During that time, there were very few Appaloosa clubs in California, and the southern club; Calizona, was much too far away to attend meetings. Suzanne gives plenty of credit to the Superior Cal club members who were a very enthusiastic group of Appaloosa admirers. This group was made up of many members with a wide variety of interests. One of the especially hot topics of the club at this time was racing. There were members who wanted to bring Appaloosa racing to California and especially wanted Superior Cal to be the driving force behind this endeavor.

After much discussion over a period of three to four months, the matter was finally brought to a vote and the racing enthusiasts lost. The majority of the Superior Cal members weren't interested in, nor did they want anything to do with racing; however, they would be willing to contribute a portion of their club funds to a California Appaloosa Racing Association, 'IF' one were ever formed. Another survey was taken of the members regarding who might have horses that could make up the racing card. It was at this fateful juncture that Suzanne raised her hand and mentioned she had a filly that loved to run and would put her in. Then Van Walker said he had a couple and so did Ron Kavanaugh. As it turned out, this was to become a very historic evening.

From these humble beginnings, this trio joined forces and then went out and found others who shared their enthusiasm for racing, and formed the Cal-Western Racing Association. This new association was a necessity because in order to run horses on pari-mutuel tracks in the state of California there must be a Cal-Bred Association to see that California Bred horses are properly registered. And so that became the basis behind the need for a formation of Cal-Western at that time.

As the number of people interested in racing increased, small race meets were beginning to be held. These race enthusiasts realized that they had to show the California State Racing Board that they were serious about racing Appaloosas, so they started holding meets on the Sunday's after the regular weekly races were run on the fair circuit. At that time, the Quarter and Thoroughbred horses were not running on Sundays. What this meant was that they had to pay rent for the use of all of the track equipment, including the use of the track itself and the regular track employees for this added day of racing. All in all it turned out to be one very expensive proposition.

Not only did they have to worry about the track expenses they also had to raise their own purse money. In 1964 they held some eight card meets on pari-mutuel tracks; sounded good but it had a real drawback, there could be no betting on the Appaloosas, as they were not as yet, an approved breed. So this presented the club with a new hurdle, prove that they could support race cards at the fair meets.

The race club meetings were held, at times up to twice a month but always at least once. At these meetings, the focus was mainly on passing the hat in the hopes of collecting enough cash to pay the expenses they were incurring. Fortunately for Appaloosa racing, this was a group of 'never say die' supporters, and most of them donated till it hurt. According to Suzanne, some of them had donated up to a $1,000 per month each and every month without fail. Just to get cash perspective on this amazing fact, this was happening in an era when you could buy a four-bedroom, two-bath home for $16,000. Thanks to their amazing generosity, this small start up racing club somehow always managed to keep the bills paid.

In 1965 Suzanne testified before the California Horse Racing Board in Sacramento, to the feasibility of adding appaloosas to the "emerging breed" status on the race cards at the pari-mutuel tracks that ran during the fairs. Not lost on these tenacious racing fans was the fact that another amazing opportunity was about to be presented to them, in the form of the National Appaloosa Show which was going to be held in Sacramento.

It was decided that in honor of this momentous occasion the Cal-Western Racing Association would hold an eight card meet on the last day of the national show that would include a two-year- old Futurity and a three-year-old Derby.
Times were very exciting for Suzanne back then. In addition to Suzanne's work on the racing schedule and readying her horses for these first races she had also decided to enter a young Appaloosa gelding she owned in the National Horse Show. This gelding was the first foal of Suzanne's prized Appaloosa mare, Chan's Royal Cricket.

She had decided to enter her gelding, Chan's Sparkette, in the matched pairs, Working Stockhorse, Nez Perce Stake Race, Camas Prairie Stump Race, Trail, pleasure and anything else that Suzanne felt a working horse could be entered in. It was only her horse's second show ever and they shocked more than a few folks by the end of the day as Suzanne held aloft the championship trophy for the Nez Perce Stake Race. The pair also placed well in all of their other classes earning seconds, thirds and fourths. In fact she placed so well, that by shows end Suzanne was in possession of the beautiful mink stole that was given for the overall high point owner/rider.

In the race meet, her horse, Chan's Clabberette, a brother to the just-named National Champion, Chan's Sparkette, finished second in the Futurity. Suzanne's mare, (remember the one that loved to run), finished third in the Derby and ended up the day by winning the 220-yard open race which was the eighth race of the day.

For Suzanne though, the most exciting thing to have happened during this National was that the Governor of California, Pat Brown Sr., signed the racing bill that said, "Appaloosa horses may run on the pari-mutuel tracks during the fair meets in California."

In order to get this through the California Board, Suzanne and her fellow race members had to promise not to run the quarter horse distance and not to overlap into the thoroughbred distance; hence, 880 yards to 5 furlongs was designated the Appaloosa distance. With this distance approved for the Appaloosas, they were able to get the needed votes from the Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred people to add Appaloosas to the regular racing card at the fair meets.

In a meeting shortly after the historic signing of the Appaloosa Racing Bill, it was discussed that Cal-Western Racing would need to interest more people in the Association. Suzanne suggested to the race members that she and Henning would go to the regional Appaloosa clubs in California, and present a show program to them. Suzanne was also given the task of drawing up the classes and a format for these shows. At the next meeting it was put to a vote and decided that the plan to interest the Appaloosa owners in California, in Cal-Western programs was of vital concern. According to Suzanne, "It really wasn't long before we had clubs putting on regional shows."

Suzanne Koch aboard Lil Sugar Bit during an NBHA event in 1997

No Mountain For A Climber Cal-Western Racing eventually reached a stumbling block when they attempted to put on more races. The original bill signed by the Governor was written that the fairs "may" put on Appaloosa races, not "shall." After some lengthy lobbying on the part of a special lobbyist who had been hired by Cal Western, a revised bill was finally signed and the fairs in Northern California all began offering a few appaloosa races at every meet.

In 1967 Suzanne, took another proposition to the Cal-Western Racing Association. It was at this time that she pointed out to membership that there were no youth classes being held at the Appaloosa shows and the regional clubs did not seem the least bit interested in adding them either.
The Koch children were all competing at AQHA shows simply because they offered the youth classes. Again Cal Western gave Suzanne & Henning the task of presenting a class list and format for this proposed youth division. It was then that the Cal-Western board authorized them to visit the regional clubs proposing the addition of these classes.

Suzanne and Henning spent many hours attending meetings and traveling up and down the highways of California in order to attend various regional meetings. They had hopes of enlisting the regional clubs in embracing this new youth program. Initially, they met with a fair share of resistance as the clubs cited costs that would make it prohibitive. Their concerns also focused on the fact that, as far as they could see, no youths rode Appaloosas, and if youth classes were added, the show would take far too long. The list covering a multitude of minor concerns went on from there. For each of these points of resistance, Suzanne & Henning seemingly had the answers that were needed to assuage their fears, and soon the regional clubs began signing up for the newly devised youth program that was now being offered by Cal-Western.

Between Henning and Suzanne, they have acquired experience in the Horse show world totaling 118 years! Throughout their years, beginning with that first Appaloosa regional meeting back in 1963, Suzanne & Henning have been a very active part of the Appaloosa world in California.

In addition to exhibiting at our breed shows and representing California at the World & National shows, they have consistently competed on their Appaloosas in rodeos, endurance & competitive trail rides. Events that took on the world's top open competitors such as the Grand National at the Cow Palace, the CRCHA (now National Reined Cow Horse Association) and the National Cutting Horse Association. Other well-known events sanctioned by the Women's Professional Rodeo Association; rodeos where Suzanne rode their C-WA Hall of Fame stallion, Double or Nothin, to numerous wins in barrel racing.

The Kochs were also noted for their achievements earning major wins at the race track with the great Sisterie who won the Star of Stars Futurity and her son, Royal Vikingson who set a track record at Bay Meadows. The Koch's count three medallions in racing among their many ApHC World & National Show wins. They also have three bronze and one silver production plaques to their credit.

Transforming their winning racehorses, they have made exceptional performance horses that have gone on to win acclaim in the show horse arena. Double or Nothin, after racing as a 2 year old and winning a stakes race then went on to become a tough competitor in the cattle and timed events. Classique South who recorded a 98 Speed Index, seven months later won the Jr. Saddle Seat Championship at the National Show in Springfield, IL. The versitility of the HK, Ranch bred horses became widely known. Sons & daughters of Double or Nothin are still making their mark today in the arena with the Koch family and many others who have recognized the talent and versatility of the Koch breeding program.

All tolled, Suzanne has claimed Open All Breed, C-WA State Championships and ApHC High Point, National & World Show titles for the past 58 years. And Henning? Count him in for the past 60 years!

Story by Patti Ansuini