THERMAL — Melissa Doddridge delivered a one-two punch in the all-new $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Derby when she captured both the blue and red ribbons in the two-round classic that highlighted the competition during Desert Circuit II at the HITS Desert Horse Park, in Thermal.

The Tustin teen-ager and her horse, Bentley, got the best of 41 starters on course designer John Manning’s first-round course, then she beat the 12 that came back to compete in the handy phase.
She catapulted to the top of the class after receiving five bonus points for brilliance and handiness, and posted a total score of 91 in the second round.

“The handy course was so much fun,” said Doddridge. “The most challenging part was finishing with eight strides away from the in-gate. My horses thought they were done, but the hardest part was yet to come!”

SHADOW HILLS – With the same spirit that has launched nations, a group of horsepeople in northeast Los Angeles has organized to get its due representation. And it’s working.
The agenda is an ambitious one:

• License all Los Angeles horses
• Educate city sanitation on horse manure as a resource
• Fix anomalies in city codes that deal with animal keeping
• Establish an equestrian “Bill Of Rights”

The nine-member board is just as ambitious, led by President Royan Herman, owner of Peacock Hill ranch and a self-described hot tempered Irishwoman who mixes hard work and passion into her heartfelt cause.

The Southern California Reined Cow Horse Association has grown to more than 400 member in 2010, but before the club launched into a new show season. it “buckled up” 2009 with an awards banquet at Stuart Cellars Vinceyard in Temecula on Feb. 20. Outgoing president Cindy Mendoza received special recognition, as new president Edwards takes the reins. The first event is March 12-13 at Casner Ranch, where the Green Oaks Pot O’ Gold Show, sponsored by Green Oaks Ranch, kicks of the season.

Next in a series
We continue our look at the fundamental riding skill of using your legs. In the last installment, we looked at forms of leg contact and also leg position.

If you’re going to be effective in controlling the horse’s body parts individually, you’re going to need to refine your cues as much as possible. One way that we do that is by having specific zones on the horse’s belly for your leg cues.

Grand Otero Equestrian in Fillmore and the Extreme Cowboy Association (EXCA) are hosting their “Spring Fling” featuring Craig Cameron’s Extreme Cowboy Race in April. To help you prepare, they are hosting their first clinic prior to the event! Being held by EXCA National Champion, Cam Schryver, the clinic will focus on jumping, reining, roping, scary obstacles and course strategies. The clinic is being held March 20-21, so plan on registering early. The weekend will be packed with excitement, as well as a 50 percent payout, pot luck dinner and camp fire Saturday night for those interested. Bring your favorite dish, stories and instruments! See ad on page 85.

Primo Morales photo

Randy Paul and Smokeelan win the 2010 NRCHA World’s Greatest Horseman championship in dramatic fashion.

Randy Paul and Smokeelan, going last down the fence in pursuit of front-runner Doug Williamson and Hes Wright On, pulled off a clutch 223 score in the cow work to claim the 2010 World’s Greatest Horseman title Feb. 7 at the First Community Credit Unior Spur Arena. The National Reined Cow Horse Association’s four-event competition tested the world’s best trainers and stock horses in herd work, rein work, cow work and steer stopping.

After the first finals segment in herd work, Paul faced an uphill climb. He and Smokeelan (Elans Playboy x Smart Little Smokee), owned by Jill Smiekel George, sat in seventh place, but the subsequent rein work sparked optimism for the trainer who has won more than $1 million in National Reining Horse Association earnings.

The Fairplex in Pomona hosted the 10th Annual Equine Affaire from Feb. 4-7, and neither rain nor recession could keep the spirits (and numbers) down – a very good sign as we head toward spring of 2010. As the Official Publication of Equine Affaire, the California Horsetrader shares some of the event with you in these pictures taken by Daniel Lew and Carolyn Read. If you attended Equine Affaire, let us know what you think — many folks say that trade fairs like this are good indicators of the economy. To take our quick poll, click here!