Readers share how horses make a difference…

The horses are the ONLY thing in my life that has seen relatively no change since the virus. I get up, shovel poop, brush the horses,  tend to my human family and then I saddle up and ride. From the second that I get on, the rhythm of riding relaxes my whole self. The trail is in front of me, the horses quietly flick their ears and plod along — and for a while, there is no virus. Just us.
I’ll ride ’til they close trails, and then I’ll just take walks on the street with them. I hope everybody out there is just breathing in their horses and staying well.

– Juliet Johnson, Los Angeles

See more inspiring “Corona Coping” comments!

Appreciation for horses only grows when humans have to stay six feet apart

Angel, my Arabian mare, seems to ponder the long road back to normal. She completed her first 100-mile race a couple years ago in endurance and has always finished in the Top Ten. She is now retired, living and riding these trails on the Ortega. The horse of a lifetime.

–Jill McGovern, Capistrano Beach

The young lady in the mask is from Germany, where she rides English. She’s the niece of a friend, and she’s riding my retired bridle horse, “Reese,” and getting the feel of a Californio-style cow horse. I’m on my two-rein youngster. Even with the light rain that was falling during our ride, it was a good day. (BTW…her aunt, the photographer, was “masked up” also!)

–Peter Taylor, Ione

SCRCHA opens 2020 at Tucalota Creek Ranch

Special to the Horsetrader

TEMECULA—The Southern California Reined Cow Horse Association “kicked off” its 2020 show season Jan. 10-12 at Tucalota Creek Ranch, showcasing the new venue as well as its talented member riders and horses.

BURBANK—The California Reining Horse Association saw its largest Challenge Horse Show in recent memory. Approximately 330 stalls were sold with many of those spaces filled with horses from out of state. The prestigious futurity and last derby of the year brought the competition out.

The show has garnered the reputation of hosting one of the premier futurities on the West Coast. Through the years, many of the top horses made famous at the NRHA Futurity were seen showing in the Burbank class first. This year was no exception. Martin Muehlstaetter won the L4 division on Seven On Seven owned by Anne Solbraekke. The pair laid down a scorching 148.5 to win. A few weeks later, they finished fourth in the NRHA Futurity.

Saluting a year’s worth of highlights and heroes

Winter

CELEBRATING THE CHALLENGE—Each year, the California Reining Horse Association puts on “the show of shows” on the West Coast, and last January’s issue was the one to celebrate “The Challenge”. It also was time to to honor the club’s list of 2018 Year-end Champions and Reserve Champions.

CRHA annual Huntington Beach show marks summer’s end

Special to the Horsetrader

HUNTINGTON BEACH—Reiners from the Californai Reining Horse Association head as far west as they can each August—to the Huntington Beach Central Park Equestrian Center, to be exact—for a Slide on the Beach. The popular one-day show Aug. 4 offered a jackpot reining as well as CRHA and NRCHA classes in a (cooler) change of scenery.

In the Open Division, Bridgette Neese took Allison Williams’s Hesa Smokin Edition to the title, with Daphne Foran winning the Novice Horse Open Championship on Zins Rowdy Whiz.

In the Limited Open, co-champions were Karleigh Farmer on Stephen Silver’s Roocat and Luis Torres aboard Mobster Gold Gun, owned by Suzanne Farris.

Abby Steller, Avery Glynn and Juliette Joseph prove consistency leads to wins at 2019 CPHA Foundation Equitation Championships

Special to the Horsetrader

DEL MAR—Medal final season signals summer’s end and fall’s beginning, and on Aug. 24-25, 113 equestrians in three age sections were tested in the equitation arena in the California Professional Horsemen’s Association Foundation Equitation Championships.

The equitation tests are uniquely built into the two rounds. Those who had put in extra hours with the counter-canter had an edge throughout the Championships, held Aug. 24-25, at the Showpark Summer Classic at the Del Mar Horse Park.

Mounted shooters claim titles at CSMA State Finals at Tejon Ranch

Special to the Horsetrader

Talented equestrian marksmen—and women—brought the Tejon Equestrian Center to life May 3-5 for the California State Mounting Shooting Finals competition.

Hosted by the California Peacekeepers, the South Pacific Region the event lasted three days and featured top shooters from California, Arizona and Nevada.

Stephanie Abronson, Monte Nido
When I had the opportunity to ride in the Mammoth Lakes area with a close friend, I jumped at the chance. Debbie DiMascio and her Quarter Horse, Jake, joined me and Polina, my Welsh Cob mare, to find the Red Cones trail. A super experienced parklands Mounted Volunteer Patrol member, Debbie and Jake were the ideal riding partners. Two different rides were planned, both in the Ansel Adams Wilderness in the Inyo National Forest. First was to find the Red Cones. Debbie hadn’t yet been there.

Ever one to chat up any person I met along the trail, I always would ask directions or tips, expecting that generally they were more experienced than I. As Debbie and I began a descent to find the mid-slope trail to the Cones we had a spectacular view that opened up stretching a long way across the San Joaquin River to Yosemite. The view was due to a previous forest fire that the previous winters had strewn the burnt pines and firs about like giant pick-up sticks. As we turned onto the correct mid-slope, the Red Cones soon came into view.

Our next excursion was a lovely loop ride for lunch at McCloud Lake. I think that the photo tells the whole story.

Nicole Haunert dominates early Markel series grand prix

Special to the Horsetrader

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO—An enthusiastic crowd enjoyed a beautiful Southern California afternoon, cheering on 19 entries at the April 13 $25,000 Markel Insurance Grand Prix. After five went clear and advanced to the jump-off, Nicole Haunert and Concolue, owned by Cherokee Show Horses Inc., topped the field. Making the day extra special, she also placed second aboard Jamaico Drum van de Breepoel, owned by NJK Show Jumpers.