RENO, Nev. — One could say Zane Davis and Reymanator terminated the competition at the National Reined Cow Horse Association’s Snaffle Bit Futurity with their 5.5-point margin of victory–652.5 composite score–to win the NRCHA’s premiere event in the Open division.

In true reined cow horse fashion, the 2009 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Championship came down to the cow work. As a matter of fact, it came down to the very last run in the cow work. The in-arena action at the Reno Livestock Events Center brought the crowd to the edge of its seat Oct. 4 to conclude two weeks of competition from Sept. 20-Oct. 4.

BURBANK — The successful year for Ashlee Bond and her Cadett 7, a 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Little Valley Farms of Calabasas, Calif., continued when she won the $50,000 Los Angeles International Grand Prix Sept. 20 at Los Angeles Equestrian Center.

The L.A. International win—a World Cup Qualifier as well—followed up Bond and Cadett 7 taking consecutive victories at the $40,000 Summer Classic Grand Prix on Aug. 22 and $50,000 Grand Prix of Showpark on Aug. 29.

TEMECULA — Rancho California Arabian Horse Association made efforts to both serve its members and outreach to non-equestrians at its “Night of the Arabian Horse” Sept. 19 and annual Fall Show Sept. 20 at Casner Ranch.

“Night of the Arabian Horse” was an exhibition and included freestyle reining, costumes, dressage freestyle and a liberty class, in addition to having raffles and food available.

As an outreach program, the Rancho California AHA hoped to have both equestrians and non-horsemen enjoy the event and make more people aware of the beauty of the Arabian horse.

PASO ROBLES — Minutes after their roar in the night air of the Chumash Arena, spectators filed from the grandstand, right past him. Bob Avila sat on Chics Magic Potion near the gate, thanking by-passers for their congratulations after a textbook, 225 fence work had left the rider atop the talented field of the 2009 National Stock Horse Association’s Golden Hills Auto World’s Richest Stock Horse Competition.

There, Avila and the horse stood, awaiting their queue to return to the arena for a line-up trophy photograph. Then quietly, casually he said this would be the “Magic’s” final competition.

“He’s been a great winner, and I want him to go out a great winner,” said Avila, whose last win on the 9-year-old stallion came six years almost to the day of his first one — the 2003 NRCHA Cow Horse Classic. “He’s done so much for me. I’ve had him since he was a 2-year old. I want him to retire when he’s on top.”

DEL MAR — The Showpark Summer Classic hunter/jumper show from Aug. 19-23 at Del Mar Horsepark featured the $5,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic. Among the riders in that class were some of the West Coast’s best junior-and-amateur riders who have the potential to become future Grand Prix stars.

Some of those riders recently returned from representing California and competing admirably at the 2009 FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships in Lexington, Ky.

Samantha Harrison and Santika, owned by Harrison Farms LLC, were part of the Zone 10 riders to take the Team Gold Medal home to California from the North American Junior Team Show Jumping competition. Back at the $5,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, Harrison and Santika finished in second place.

WOODSIDE — Andrea Fappani successfully pulled a hat trick by winning first, second and third places at the Reining By The Bay Derby Open. The event at the Horsepark at Woodside was one of the biggest reining events annually on the West Coast.

The competition from July 21-26 featured more than $150,000 in total added money and prizes, and it was also an FEI qualifying event. The proceeds from this year’s event benefited the Peninsula Humane Society and Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

FORT WORTH, Texas — American Paint Horse Association debuted a new format for its World Championship Show by splitting it into two events: a Summer World Show and a Fall World Show. The Summer World Championship Paint Horse Show from June 24-July 4 at Will Rogers Memorial Center featured a full schedule of Youth events, followed by a smaller selection of Amateur and Open classes.

Next, the APHA Fall World Show from Nov. 5-14 will focus on Open and Amateur divisions.