At a quandary as to where to find the perfect items for all the horse-happy people on your holiday gift-giving list? Be sure to check out the Ho-Ho-Horsetrader Holiday Gift Guide on pages 22-23. You’ll find everything from bling aprons, shirts, hats, and window decals; to home décor and furnishings; to tack, apparel, grooming and stable equipment; to blankets and coats for your horse and pets; and so much more.

Several of our stores are having sales in November! Broken Horn Saddlery in Baldwin Park (see ad on page 7) and Thrifty Horse in Norco (page 45) are both having big “Black Friday” sales on Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 23-25. Deer Springs Feed & Supply in San Marcos (page 3) is hosting their annual Customer Appreciation Day on Saturday, Nov. 24 including photos with Santa for you and your pets. Inland Vet Supply both in Norco and Temecula (page 2) have all your essentials and Kruse Feed in La Habra (page 9) along with four other Standlee dealers, have a special coupon offer on their premium forage.

Be sure to shop early for the best selection, and by all means, say you saw it in the California Horsetrader. Give us a call at (760) 546-1184 if you have a gifty item you’d like to advertiser in our December Holiday Gift Guide.

California Western Dressage Association will present a Western Dressage and Ranch Riding Clinic with Lynn Palm Oct. 20-21 at the George Ingall’s Equestrian Event Center in Norco. Palm is a world-renowned trainer, clinician, author and judge with a long list of accomplishments including 34 AQHA World and Reserve World Championships, seven Western Dressage Association of America™ World Championships and four “Superhorse” Championships. The four-time AQHA World CHampionship Show judge has performed over 50 bridleless exhibitions with the legendary Rugged Lark, and she also performed western dressage freestyle exhibitions at the 2017 FEI World Cup Finals Dressage Showcase. Don’t’ miss this opportunity to learn from a world class professional. Sharpen your ranch riding skills and learn how you can use western dressage to improve what you do with your equine partner in the “dressage court”, as well as in other disciplines—or out on the trail. Award-winning equestrian journalist Jennifer Forsberg Meyers quotes Lynn Palm as on western dressage, “You’ll love the control you gain…adding that it’s all without a bigger bit, without sharper spurs.”

The “Sale of Sales” is coming to Your Equestrian Superstore on Sept. 15-16! You will be able to save 10-60 percent off nearly everything. Check out this month’s Broken Horn Saddlery ad on pages 44-45 for a sampling of what you can expect. In addition to great savings, there’s so much fun to be had. There are giveaways and raffles for gift cards and saddles. Mark your calendar and be one of the first 100 families in the door to receive a free bucket! Broken Horn is located at 1026 Leorita St. in Baldwin Park. 

Hawthorne Country Store will host a Purina® Check-R-Board® Day & BIG, FAT, HUGE SALE on Saturday, August 25 from 9 am to 5 pm. EVERYTHING WILL BE ON SALE from small discounts to serious yard-sale-pricing blow-out discounts! There will be back-to-school specials on kid’s clothing including boots and jeans. Come check out the sale in our extensive department for harvest prep, canning and food dehydration! Now is the time to get ready for your next FFA and 4-H project with great deals on equipment and supplies. PREPAY FOR FEED & COMMODITY PRODUCTS on sale this day and collect your discounted product for months to come! You’ll find manufacturer reps to talk about your favorite products, giveaways, samples and multiple fantastic raffle prizes! The sale is happening at both Hawthorne Country Store locations in Escondido and Fallbrook. Hawthorne Country Store is a Purina® Expert Dealer.

A number of factors can increase your horse’s risk for colic commonly occurring with travel. These factors include sudden changes in activity level, lack of turnout or increased stall time, changes in hay and/or grain, and dehydration. Fortunately, there are ways you can help your horse cope with these common stresses. Along with management strategies, daily support from a digestive supplement, like SmartDigest® Ultra, may help support a healthy and balanced hindgut.

When you’re traveling with your horse, there’s more to do than simply hitch up the trailer and hit the road. Whether heading to a show or moving your horse to another barn, traveling with your horse comes with a variety of challenges so it’s important to be prepared. SmartPak is here with the helpful tips you need for a successful road trip with your horse to make it to your destination safe and sound.

The Los Angeles Equestrian Center is honored to host the EQUUS Film Festival LA, June 15-17, 2018. The EQUUS Film Festival was created to highlight and award the diverse and creative efforts of those who artistically pay homage to the horse. The festival empowers storytellers to show the rich history and diverse tapestry of horses in human culture through equestrian content.  We have feature films, documentaries, shorts, music videos, commercials, training educational materials, art and literature. As home to the storytellers of the horse world, the EQUUS Film Festival, is the first event of its kind dedicated to equestrian-themed film, fine art and authors. The annual EQUUS Film Festival Awards Event showcases the EQUUS Panels, EQUUS Pop-Up artist, filmmaker and literary gallery, FREE Saturday family films and fun fest, tours of local horse stables, a VIP Party, and the WININE Award Ceremony, are all part of the festival event program. Founded in 2013, the EQUUS Film Festival 2017 presented over 80 films and over 60 WINNIE Awards including Equestrian Art Film, Director, Documentary, Commercial, International, Music Video, People’s Choice and Best of Festival.

The 17th Annual Valley Center Stampede Rodeo is hosting the first professional rodeo in Valley Center during Memorial Day weekend! This year’s rodeo, now sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association, will offer a full line-up of professional rodeo performances on May 25-26. Also, the Valley Center Stampede Rodeo is moving this year to Valley Center’s newest park, Star Valley Park, located at 29902 Valley Center Road in Valley Center. What will not be changing is the fun, family-friendly, quality rodeo entertainment that commemorates Memorial Day by honoring our nation’s Veterans throughout each performance. Tickets can be purchased at the gate, Joe’s Country Feed & Pet or Armstrong Feed & Supply. General Admission is $15, with children age five and under free. VIP admission tickets, including a catered dinner and preferred seating, are $50. A free live band and dancing will be offered after each rodeo performance.

The Wild Card Reining Challenge, produced by Brumley Management Group, LLC, takes place May 19-26 at South Point Arena and Equestrian Center in Las Vegas. The innovative reining’s design will feature a 4-year Old Futurity (with eligibility requirements), 4-year Old Stakes (no eligibility requirements), two slates of NRHA Ancillary divisions and NRHA Southwest Affiliate Qualifiers, two slates of National Arabian Reining Horse Association (NARHA) Divisions, a 4/5 Year Old NARHA Pre-Futurity, and Educational Seminars.

The Wild Card Reining Challenge 4-year Old Futurity is designed to allow horses to develop more slowly as well as to provide a venue in which they can garner significant earnings without going head-to-head with more experienced equines. The 4-year Old Futurity benefits not only the horses, but breeders, owners and trainers. It also encourages longevity of the reining performance horse. The event dates provide approximately nine additional months of training for these horses. There’s ONLY ONE REQUIREMENT to be eligible to compete: Horses must be four years of age as of the start of the calendar year and cannot have been shown in any NRHA approved 3-year old futurity.

The Norco Horsemen’s Association 21st Annual Wild West Casino Night is dealing out winners on Saturday, March 10. Benefitting the Norco High School FFA Scholarship Fund, this event is reminiscent of the wild west saloon of days gone by with gun-slingers, dance hall girls, cowboys, great laughs, good company, food and entertainment. Enjoy the taco bar, music and place your bids in the silent auction with great items. There are hourly $100 “Pot of Gold” drawings and a $500 Grand Prize Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall giveaway. Casino Night is held at Nellie Weaver Hall at George Ingalls Park, 3737 Crestview Dr. in Norco. The event goes from 6 p.m. until midnight, and you must be 21 years or older to attend. Advance tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased at Keller Williams Realty, 3646 Hamner Ave., in Norco. At the door, tickets are $25 per person. Visit www.NHA-Norco.org for more information or call Bonnie Slager at (714) 585-9528.

The 2018 Western States Horse Expo looks to be more super than ever, as the Horse Expo team brings this first-class event to the L.A. County Fairplex in Pomona March 9-11. There are lots of exciting innovations ramping up for the event, and you’ll get to plan early this year as the March 1 California Horsetrader magazine will have the official Horse Expo Program inside! Founder Miki Nelsen is thrilled to have the program delivered early — in print and online, as it will put the program into the hands of horse people everywhere more than a week before the event. Folks will be able to see the great lineup and plan early. It’s a win-win! Deadline is Feb. 20 for this special edition, so call 760-546-1184 to place your ad today, or email lori.wilson@horsetrader.com!

Popular clinician Craig Cameron will host his crowd-pleasing “Extreme Cowboy Race” at this year’s Western States Horse Expo Pomona, lighting up the Expo on Friday and Saturday evenings at 6 p.m. The Freedom Arena will explode each night with 15 contestants as they challenge 13 tough obstacles. The top 10 from Friday and Saturday will once again confront obstacles with grit and determination at the finals on Sunday at 1:15 p.m. “This race is a great test of horse and rider and it takes a great team to compete in a winning way,” says Cameron. “Both the audience and competitors love this race. As a matter of fact, I’d venture to say that it’s the fastest growing sport in the horse industry.