New dates. New season

One of the fastest growing expos in the United States, California’s Western States Horse Expo in Pomona, is a must-attend event for any horse owner. In three short days, you can catch up on the latest training and education, shop the nation’s premier equine vendors and connect with your horse friends. Attending the expo is a low-cost, high quality way to stay engaged in the horse industry, making sure you have the tools, knowledge and products to help make the most of your investment in the horse owning lifestyle year round.

That combination is what makes these the top realtors for equestrian real estate

Devon Camilleri
Pacific Sotheby’s International
(760) 522-8559 • RanchAndEstateHomes.com
DRE# 01047285

Devon is a third generation equestrian and competes in reined cow horse events—with great success! She utilizes her years of experience both as a real estate agent and horsewoman to serve equestrians throughout Southern California. She has extensive experience and expertise in the Bonsall, Fallbrook, Temecula, and Valley Center real estate markets. Whether you are looking to buy or sell a home in the region, she is dedicated to help make that experience as smooth and successful as possible. Devon has developed a finely-tuned marketing program that will make sure the right people see your property. See ad on page 44.

Horse people rely on their ranch equipment, from hotwalkers to tractors. Here are top dealers and products to get it done…right.

Arena Werks
by Snodgress Equipment
(800) 644-3724 • ArenaWerks.com

Arena Werks by Snodgress Equipment has many options in arena drag equipment, including arena drags, harrows, rotary harrows, arena groomers, arena rakes, rotary drags and water trailers. All products meet the highest standards for reliability and durability and are guaranteed to withstand the trials of time and patience. Whether you need an effective method for hauling a single or multiple bales of hay, or you need a solution to treat your arena or a full arena conditioner, Arena Werks™ and Hey Werks™ has your solution. There are many options in arena drag equipment, and you can take your time browsing the products and contact Snodgress Equipment’s knowledgeable staff for an equipment quote, or simply send a suggestion and one of the company’s friendly staff will be more than happy to help you! Snodgress Equipment is also a proud partner with the Ranch Sorting National Championships and are now the official drag of the RSNC. See ad on page 27.

Whether traveling to a trail adventure or to a circuit championship, horses will hit the highways in big numbers in the months ahead. How they get there can make all the difference, and these professionals are California’s leaders, ready to help.

California Custom Trailers & Powersports
Elk Grove (916) 714-2310
Merced (209) 580-4062
Paso Robles (805) 227-4665
CalCustomTrailers.com

California Custom is a true one-stop shop with dealerships in Elk Grove, Merced, and Paso Robles. It’s a shop built for riders by riders, and its staff knows what’s hot (and what’s not!) to keep you on the road with the newest and coolest products. The company takes pride in being different from other dealerships, and also in its “can-do” attitude—there’s no job it’s crew can’t handle. From custom trailers to ATVs and everywhere in between, California Custom will have you covered. It’s return-customer rate reflects its motto, “We sell to sell again!,” and customers can expect to receive the crew’s best service and attitude every time. California Custom is proud to be a 4-Star Trailer dealer, and in addition to horse trailers it offers utility, cargo, stock, and custom trailers. This company has the staff and products on hand to make your experience the best it can be. See ad on page 21.

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.

The ‘what’ and ‘where’

Canoga Farriers Supply
Canoga Park
(747) 202-0268
CanogaFarrierSupply.com

Canoga Farrier Supply, located in Chatsworth in the San Fernando Valley, caters to farriers, trimmers, blacksmiths, as well as horse owners. The store prides itself on excellent customer service, and it carries a large selection of products from al lmajor suppliers including Kerckhaert, Mustad, St. Croix, EDSS, Grand Circuit, Nordic Forge, and Vettec, to name a few. If by chance Canoga Farrier Supply does not stock something that a customer needs, the team will do its best to get it. The retail store is conveniently located minutes off the 118 freeway, and if you can’t make it to the store, they’ll make a prompt delivery. Call the shop of place your order through its website, canogafarriersupply.com, and they’ll make every effort to ship in-stock items the same day. Store hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Contact them by phone or email: canogafs@yahoo.com. See ad on page 21

San Diego Trail Alliance clinic brings horses and bikes together

From Horsetrader staff reports

LAKESIDE—What could possibly be more desensitizing for a group 14 trail horses than to line them up, facing across the arena from a similar amount of spooky mountain bikers?

How about sending everyone—riders and bikers—circling the arena at once? At different speeds!

Back country riders make it from Norco to Bishop—retrace their journey!

From Horsetrader staff reports

After months of planning—and training—Mike Williams and Rebekah Wan completed a 320-plus mile trek from Norco to Bishop.

Day 20: Made it!…we arrived in Bishop!
Wednesday, May 22 • 20.2 miles
We made it! 320-plus miles in 19 days through mountain ranges, desert, flood plains, aqueducts, streams, train tracks, trestles, wind, rain, heat … and patience. All the horses are showing the wear-and-tear, as are the riders, but they all made it! No more midnight waterings, 4 a.m. feedings, 7-8 a.m. starts in the saddle, and riding from dawn to dusk.

Day 19: It’s the homestretch
Tuesday, May 21 • 14.5 miles
We trailered out to Taboose to pick up the trail Mike and Rebekah left yesterday.

California farrier Travis Koons finds success relying on a minimalist approach in therapeutic cases

By Jeff Cota, American Farrier Journal

“You don’t want to shoe lames horses, trust me.”

Bob Marshall tried to warn the confident young farrier, but the then 18-year-old Travis Koons had made up his mind. The Hemet, Calif., youngster had printed business cards, announcing that his farrier practice specializes in pathological, remedial and corrective horseshoeing.

“Why would you ever put that on your business card?” the legendary shoer asked him forcefully. “You don’t want to shoe lame horses!”

“Yeah, I do, Bob,” Koons told him. “I can charge more money.”

Western States Horse Expo has been a fixture at Cal Expo for the last 20 years—two decades of bringing the horse industry together for a June weekend of education, entertainment and shopping. This year, the West Coast’s largest equestrian expo will move east about 15 miles to a new home, the beautiful Murieta Equestrian Center, and founder Miki Nelsen has more “newness” in store for 2019.

Miki, you’ve been an innovator since you began the Horse Expo, but this year you’ve really retooled.

I am excited. Very excited, actually. Moving to Rancho Murieta is a big change, but I feel very much at home at the facility. I think everyone will because it’s very horsey. Just the feeling of being around there—it has a festival vibe. It’s outside, beautiful, clean, landscaped with trees. It’s a world class horse facility that is beautifully built and well maintained.

I’m also very excited about Equus Masters—a brand new format.

How is it different?

There are four “Masters”, who will each select and train a halter-broke Mustang. The three judges, Pat Parelli, Chris Cox and Eitan Halachmy, will point out what they are seeing—or not seeing—along the way, in real time.

Another difference is the motivation—it isn’t money! The motivation is doing the right thing on the horse, and also to educate people to do the right thing. We want our audience to get some good education out of this.

The Mustangs are from the R3C Wild Horse Program, and the person who runs the program will also be “miked up” to give history and insight into the horses.

What’s the goal of the training?

That’s just it—there’s no end goal. Each trainer will have to determine what that goal is after they get acquainted with the horse. The prize will be the same for all four trainers—that there is going to be a lot of people watching them and seeing them in action and seeing what their priorities are. These horses are going to dish up challenges—different things and no one knows what they will be, including the trainer. It will be up to the trainer how they handle it. It’s going to be good. It’s going to be real. The judges will be giving their commentary while this is unfolding.