New Chapter in a Long Tradition: Samantha Parsons Leads the Casey Tibbs Riders

For many years, riders in SDCE participated in events through previous gymkhana groups that helped keep the sport alive in Ramona. When the Association approached the team in July 2025, members saw an opportunity to build something new while preserving the legacy they had worked so hard to maintain. By August 2025, the Casey Tibbs Riders officially took shape, named in honor of the legendary rodeo cowboy whose spirit and horsemanship skills mirror their own.

The board includes President Samantha Parsons, Vice President Tammi Johnson, Treasurer Christina Payne, and Sergeant-at-Arms Carla Padilla. “We call her our Switzerland vote,” says Parsons. “Padilla is our peacekeeper and makes sure things are running smoothly.” Carri Wilson is the events judge and verifies that the patterns are run correctly.

Under Parsons’ leadership, the group continues to promote family fun, friendly competition, and strong community ties. Riders of all ages meet at the San Diego Country Estates Casey Tibbs arena, where competitors race around barrels, poles, and other patterns and challenge themselves in a timed event. Parsons adds that the team has two to three people recording times in case of a malfunction. They use an electronic timer, as well as a stopwatch and phone timer, and the times are entered into a computer and written down by hand to ensure accuracy.

The board has many years of collective experience in rodeo, jr. rodeo, FFA, 4-H, open shows, and more. “I have been running for 23 years,” says Parsons, who has been competing in gymkhana events since she was six years old. She used to ride in the Ramona Santana Riders, and that is where the majority of the current Casey Tibbs board members met. A lot of them were kids when they met. Now, most of them are parents, bringing these shows back to the horse community and giving the new generation a chance to experience the games on horseback that they did growing up.

Parsons has two children: a boy and a girl. She and her husband, Andrew, both work in construction, and he’s one of the guys who sets up each event. “Mike is the other guy who helps us.” She says a lot of people were willing to put in the work to put on these shows, but no one was willing to be the face of it. That is when she stepped up and volunteered to lead the team and be the president of the Casey Tibbs Riders. “We really want shows and we miss it,” Parsons adds. She says they are built on people who want to ride, they miss their equestrian friends, and they want everybody back.

The November 8 gymkhana event will be the last of the series this year. After the equestrian meeting on Tuesday, November 11, Parsons will know the dates of the gymkhana events next year. They plan to have 10 shows from March through December, with three rain dates in case the arena is too wet or even if the weather gets too hot during the summer months.

“Everybody has been asking for more events,” says Parsons. “And we presented it.” She says it took them about three weeks to lock down the insurance for the shows, and they had to confirm the event dates with the Association.

The Casey Tibbs Riders’ goal was to bring back equine events in Ramona and bring the community together. This year, they had 18 members in the buckle series, with 31 riders and 80 people in attendance at the October gymkhana. They are hoping to grow even more in 2026.

The formation of the Casey Tibbs Riders marks both a continuation and a renewal of the SDCE gymkhana spirit, one built on decades of riding, volunteering, and family memories. With Parsons as the face of the club, the team looks forward to increasing its membership, hosting more events, and keeping Ramona’s western heritage alive for generations to come.

Visit Casey Tibbs Riders on Facebook and Instagram for more information. 

Photos courtesy of Samantha Parsons.