This was the 16th consecutive year CRHA has put on this show. CRHA hosted the NRHA Western region affiliate finals in conjunction with the Challenge as they have done for the previous 12 years. As has become customary, the event offered something for every reining exhibitor, including open and non-pro futurities and derbies, a full slate of open and non-pro jackpot classes, NRHA Western region affiliate finals, and AQHA classes. Many used the show to prepare for the NRHA Futurity and North American Affiliate Championship Show slated for Nov. 26-Dec. 5 in Oklahoma City.

Horsetrader photo

Kelsey Nichols (left) and her Bayside Sailor, pictured with Carolyn Trammell, win the $1,000 Limited Non Pro Derby, NRHA Youth 14-18, and NRHA Youth Rookie.

Daryl Weisser photo

Tom Foran and Dun It With A Boom, owned by Rebecca Murray, win the $2,000 Open Derby. Foran on Hickorys Award also wins the CRHA Open and NRHA Open.

Gold-level sponsors of CRHA and the Challenge show included Green Oaks Ranch, Cowdog Saddles, Pards, Donnie Bricker, Pat Wickenheiser, Terry Brown and Town & Country Hotel, Bill Coburn, and Baker Performance Horses.

Daryl Weisser photo

Lindy Longfellow aboard Peppy Chic Finale wins several championships at the 2009 CRHA Challenge: $2,000 Non Pro Derby, $250 Prime Time Non Pro Derby, and $1,000 Intermediate Non Pro Derby.

Show officials and several riders echoed similar sentiments that the CRHA Challenge was well-run and a success again, in big part to the expertise and efforts of show manager Larry Gimple and show secretary Poncie Gimple, both of Track One Events.

For complete show results, visit the Web site: www.trackoneevents.com

For information about California Reining Horse Association, visit the Web site: www.calreining.com

Jennifer Wood / PMG photo

Zazou Hoffman aboard Ivy wins the 2009 ASPCA Maclay National Championships Oct. 31 during the 126th National Horse Show in Syracuse, N.Y.

In the first round of competition, 150 riders from across the United States, including some Californians who qualified to compete there, were tested on a course designed by the judges Bill Moroney of Middleburg, Va., and Jack Towell of Camden, S.C., in cooperation with course designer Richard Jeffery of Dorset, England.

The course for the second round was a unique design, with 12 jumps available for riders to make their own nine-fence course. The trot jump was required, as was a hand gallop to a fence of their choice. Judge Jack Towell said: “Years ago Ronnie Mutch had done that, so I give him credit for that. We didn’t have a course made up ourselves. I thought everybody did a fantastic job.”

Moroney added, “That was the beauty of the second round. Every rider could create a course that best showed off their strengths and their horses and hid their weaknesses, hopefully. They’re learning to be horsemen.”

Hoffman chose to take turns off the left lead, which is Ivy’s strength, and to keep everything moving forward and fluid. “I tried to do as much as I could off the left. It’s my better lead on Ivy,” Hoffman said. “I kept it open and flowing and did things that would make sense. I didn’t take too many ridiculous risks. I hand galloped the brush jump because I was less likely to have a rail there. The rest just worked out.”

The judges made the decision to call back four riders for a test after the second round. The test included a broken line, two rollbacks to oxers, and a bending line down the long side of the ring to finish. While the test looked relatively simple, the catch was that the riders had to do this without stirrups.

The first rider called back was Samantha Harrison of La Cañada, Calif., on Triple Lutz. Harrison had a smooth round, but had several rubs at the jumps.

Jennifer Wood / PMG photo

Zazou Hoffman aboard Ivy wins the 2009 ASPCA Maclay National Championships Oct. 31 during the 126th National Horse Show in Syracuse, N.Y.

She and Ivy, the horse she rode last year, performed a smooth test and made the work without stirrups look very easy. The crowd erupted after she jumped the final fence, but she would have to wait for the awards presentation, and the countdown of the Top 10 riders, before she knew the outcome.

On riding without stirrups, Hoffman said: “I wasn’t too concerned. We do enough of that at home, but Ivy does have a big enough jump that it could have been bad!”

Hoffman and Ivy showed sparingly together this year while Hoffman qualified for the most part on other horses like Catwoman, who Laura Pfeiffer showed tonight to fifth place. Hoffman feels that she and Ivy have a special relationship. “Ivy is just amazing. He’s the coolest horse I’ve ever ridden. Missy owns him and he’s a little older, but he still feels amazing and perfect. He has such a great canter and the best rhythm. I get along with him great. He’s a little bit more sensitive, and he doesn’t need much leg. He’s really soft and has a great jump,” she described.

The judges rewarded Hoffman’s style and consistency with the honor of winning the longest-running and most historical of the equitation finals. She said through tears: “It’s unreal; it’s nice to see that I’ve improved that much over last year. I was just so excited that it finally happened and that I finally did it.”

Hoffman trains with Missy Clark, John Brennan, and Kristy McCormack at North Run and spends much of her time on the East Coast as a working student. The North Run team was in tears when Hoffman was announced as the winner. Clark said, “I’m so thrilled for Zazou. She’s worked so hard. She’s such a great worker and really devoted to the whole part of horsemanship. It isn’t just about riding for her. It’s the whole picture, which is really refreshing and unusual. She’s in the barn working all day. She really deserves it, and I’m very proud of her.”

Judge Bill Moroney pointed out that Hoffman made smart decisions that eventually put her to the top of their list. He said: “She was consistent. In the second round, she created a course that suited her horse. They had a shot to show off, and it did change the order a bit. That’s what we liked about her. She continued to ride forward. She didn’t get overly conservative and try to play it safe.”

For her win today, Hoffman was presented with the ASPCA Horsemanship Trophy, donated by the late Alfred B. Maclay, Esq. Although Hoffman’s family could not be at the show, they were presented with the Gordon Wright Perpetual Trophy, donated by the late Mrs. Kenneth Wheeler to the family of the winning rider. Hoffman’s trainers won the ASPCA Maclay National Championship Trainers Award, as well as the Maclay Trainer Award, a perpetual trophy donated by the family of John Y.G. Walker Jr. in memory of Victor Hugo-Vidal.

Other California riders who finished in the Top 10 were: Samantha Harrison of La Cañada on Triple Lutz (trainer: Karen Healey) in 4th place, and Lucy Davis of Los Angeles on Patrick (trainer: Archie Cox) in 6th place.

For information about the National Horse Show, visit the Web site: www.nhs.org

Top 10 Results: 2009 ASPCA Maclay National Championship

Rider, Horse, Hometown, Trainers

1st – Zazou Hoffman, Ivy, Santa Monica, CA, Missy Clark, John Brennan, Kristy McCormack
2nd – Chase Boggio, Golou II, Canton, GA, Christina Schlusemeyer, Bob Braswell
3rd – Morgan Hale, Urco, Odessa, FL, Don Stewart, Jr.
4th – Samantha Harrison, Triple Lutz, La Cañada, CA, Karen Healey
5th – Laura Pfeiffer, Catwoman, Temperance, MI, Polly Howard
6th – Lucy Davis, Patrick, Los Angeles, CA, Archie Cox
7th – Lillie Keenan, New York, NY, Logan, Andre Dignelli, Kirsten Coe, Patricia Griffith
8th – Amber Henter, St. Petersburg, FL, Triumph, Christina Schlusemeyer, Bob Braswell
9th – Hasbrouck Donovan, Gainesville, FL, Almost Famous, Don Stewart Jr., Bibby Farmer Hill
10th – Molly Braswell, Ocala, FL, The General, Bob Braswell, Christina Schlusemeyer

Chris Rubino photos / Hoofpix.net

Chris Martinez on Skeets Nicker wins the SCRCHA’s 4th annual Shoot Out in the Open division, held Oct. 17-18 at Casner Ranch in Temecula.

In its fourth year, the SCRCHA Shoot Out was a two-day show held Oct. 17-18 at Casner Ranch in Temecula and included a variety of horse-show classes. Throughout the past year, SCRCHA members competed and rode to qualify for the event. Cheers from a crowd of enthusiastic spectators also added to the event’s atmosphere.

Organizers of the show said they were able to meet their goal of giving away saddles to Shoot Out champions and other additional awards, said Cindy Mendoza, president of SCRCHA. The overall highest-scoring reserve champion also received custom reins, donated by Jimmy Flores Cowboy Gear.

Chris Rubino photos / Hoofpix.net

John Farris aboard Boomba Chic wins the SCRCHA’s 4th annual Shoot Out in the Non Pro division.

• John Farris rode his horse, Boomba Chic, to win the Non Pro championship.
• The Youth division champion was Lauren Lynch aboard Dual Awhittle Doceye, owned by James Putnam.
• Tiffany Neal rode Docs Master Remedy, owned by Robert and Janet Neal, to win the Limited Championship.

Support also came from sponsors and SCRCHA members. “The sponsors have been wonderful; we’re very thankful for all the help and support they’ve given us,” Mendoza said. Sponsors included Green Oaks Ranch, Choice Transportation, Pepinic, Mushroom Matrix, Big Horse Feed, California Horsetrader, Smart Fuel, Cuddeback Trailers, Polymer Logistics, Yotta Mark, main saddle-sponsor Tony Zimmerman, and many others.

For complete show results, visit the Web site: www.scrcha.com

Beverly Jovais’s student Grace McLaughlin took the NorCal 3’ Equitation Medal, winning both rounds with scores of 86 and 87. “Grace and her horse Santo were amazing from start to finish,” Jovais said. “I was very proud of Grace’s performance and her ability to perform under pressure. Thank you to the whole Chestnut Hill Team for all their hard work at the NorCal Finals Show.”

Jovais’ riders have enjoyed great success this year during the fall medal finals season, including top finishes in the CPHA Junior, PCHA Horsemanship, the CPHA Regionals, and the Woodside equitation championships.

In the NorCal Pony Medal Final, Valerie Van Der Linden came from behind after the first round to win the second round. A strong work off ride ensured the victory for the young rider aboard her pony, Count the Stars.

The NorCal Junior Medal Final was competitive and Mackenzie Drazan (Jenny Davis, trainer) came ready to win. After winning the Woodside Junior Equitation Championship two weeks earlier, Drazan proved she was a strong competitor. After the first round she was in second, and then she moved up to first in the second round. Not only did she win the prestigious Final, but she also won the PCHA Horsemanship Medal 14 & Under, Equitation Over Fences 13 & Under Championship, and the Equitation Flat for Riders 12 to 13.

Drazan’s sister Shelby also had a very successful show, winning the NorCal Pony Medal, Childs Pony Hunters Under Saddle and Children’s Pony Hunters, as well as first and second in the $1000 Pony Hunter Classic and $50 Medium Pony Hunters Under Saddle.

Jan Humphrey led the victory gallop in the NorCal Senior Final (Rudy Leone, trainer) aboard her sister Jill’s horse. Adrienne Dixon (Buddy and Vanessa Brown, trainers) did double duty at the show in both the equitation and the jumpers. She finished sixth in the NorCal Senior Final only a few weeks after her stellar victory in the Foxfield Finals. Blue was her color of choice in the jumper ring. Dixon and PomPom were champions in the Junior/Amateur Owner Jumpers and won the Junior/Amateur Owner Classic.

This past summer Dixon was part of the silver medal Zone 10 NAJYR team. Of her student’s success Brown said, “She hasn’t had much chance to ride her jumpers recently due to the difficulty of balancing school and riding in various equitation finals so her consistency in the jumper ring this week was particularly nice to see.”

Brown had several other students in the various NorCal Finals, including 14-year-old Ali Cornish, who finished fourth aboard Van Gogh, who is a 17.1-hand, 7-year-old Dutch Warmblood she has been riding for two years. “She is one of the most talented young riders we have ever worked with,” Brown said. “Her mother, Tina, has put an exemplary foundation on her. Ali is not only blessed with incredible feel, but shows a work ethic rare for her age. She takes care of her own horse and does all the work on and off of him herself.”

Cornish said she really enjoyed the NorCal Medal Finals. “I loved the courses and how they were really challenging, yet set with many options. My trainer, Vanessa, and I decided to go with the bolder and positive ride, since my horse has a giant stride it worked out well,” Cornish said. “Everything on course connected together, so our thought for the show was that it was very important that no matter what happened, I kept riding the horse underneath me and the course ahead of me. With that in mind the courses were really fun, and the show turned out great. I couldn’t be happier with my horse or ride.”

In addition to the medal finals, the show featured a full complement of classes, sections, and divisions, with numerous championships awarded throughout the week. Nicole Bloom’s Round Meadow Farm brought 11 horses to the show. One of them was Jessica Tali and her horse Gameboy, who were champions in both the Modified Junior Amateur Hunters and Junior Hunters, and third in the Junior/Amateur Owner Hunter Classic.

Tali, 14, said of the show: “I thought it was a great experience and very enjoyable. I always look forward to going to NorCal because it’s such a great show. It is a good learning experience when you get to watch some of the great riders compete in the big classes. I especially enjoy the fun events they have at night such as the barbeque, where you get the chance to socialize and meet other riders and trainers. I always enjoy the NorCal horseshow and can’t wait for it to come again next year.”

This was her first outing in the Junior Hunter ring for Tali. “So, we were elated with her results; she is a hard working student and has ridden with me for nine years,” Bloom said. “She was the winner of the NorCal Pony Medal Finals in 2005 and was second in the NorCal Three foot Finals in 2008. Jessica hopes to be a professional when she is older and has her eye on the Grand Prix ring, but for now is hoping to continue her winning streak in the hunter rings.”

In keeping with her goal to be a professional, Tali just completed the West Coast regional of the USHJA EAP Level 2 Clinic with Bernie Traurig.

Bloom also coached two riders to Top 10 finishes in the NorCal Senior Final. Laura Hansen and Catherine Harvey placed fifth and seventh respectively.

Kelly Van Vleck, who is based nearby took many horses and students to the show as well. She too had riders in the NorCal Junior Final. Michelle Catchot of Rancho Murieta rode her horse Terranova to sixth place overall and Morgan Finegan of Sacramento and her horse Mossimo were ninth place overall.

“This is Michelle’s first year jumping 3′6″ and Morgan has only owned her horse for about four months,” said Van Vleck of her students’ strong showing.

Catchot said she found the Tanya Johnson clinic which Kelly Van Vleck recently set up for her riders was extremely helpful. “Before I entered the ring, I took deep breaths, let everything go and once I entered the ring I just rode,” Catchot said.

Kendall Skreden and her horse Esperanto won several Junior Jumper classes. “They’re gearing up to try for the 2010 Young Riders Championships next year,” Van Vleck said. Katie Harris and her horse Urvine were also successful in the 1.20 and 1.30 jumpers. “Urvine is a relatively new purchase for Katie,” explained Van Vleck. “He is a fabulous young horse that did not learn to jump until a little over a year ago, and he is a total natural with the best attitude I have ever had in a horse.”

Jayme Omand and her horse Apollo did their second show at 3′ and were second the NorCal 3′ Medal in their first try at that level. “Jayme is preparing to go to the Onondarka Medal Final,” Van Vleck said. The Onondarka Final, hosted at the Los Angeles National is the pinnacle of a 12-and-under rider’s equitation goals. Jayme’s mother, Diane, was a very successful Amateur Owner rider and she enjoys watching her daughter grow and develop in the sport she loves so much.

Course Designers Peter Grant and Peter Holmes were a hit with many of the competitors and trainers. “The courses in all the rings were fantastic!” Vanessa Brown said. “The Grand Prix ring was absolutely beautiful every day. Rudy has a spectacular array of fences and Peter Holmes used the materials in extremely creative ways.”

Van Vleck agreed. “The courses at the show were fabulous in all four rings, a welcome change from many recent shows that I have attended. The NorCal Finals were technical and challenging without being too difficult. The main jumper ring had difficult, but rideable courses over beautiful jumps. I truly felt the week was great preparation for the big Southern California venues like the Oaks and Showpark. We used to go south and be overwhelmed with how much larger and more technical everything seemed to be but with the quality of this show we should go south far better prepared.”

For the equitation ring, Jovais was equally complimentary. “The courses were flowing, combining lines, single jumps and bending lines where riders could show off their skills,” Jovais said. “The work-off included a trot fence, a hand gallop and a jump near the in-gate that all tested the riders’ abilities to lengthen and shorten their horses’ strides.”

This was the first year that the NorCal Medal Finals took place at Leone Equestrians, and the rave reviews are pouring in. “The venue was beautiful,” said Brown. “There was obvious attention to detail evident from the meticulous care of the footing and arenas to the cleanliness of the restrooms. Fresh sod and other aesthetic improvements were abundant and really dressed the place up” Together Adrian Ward and Rudy Leone have invested into upgrades for the venue. “I think it would be safe to say that Rudy and I have put about $400,000 into the facility to make it one of the best places to show,” said Ward. Trainers and riders agreed that this year’s NorCal Medal Finals Horse Shows was one of the best in its more than thirty year history.

Trainers seemed to agree with Ward’s decision. Nicole Bloom summed it up, “The NorCal Committee continues to strive to put on one of the best horse shows in Northern California, and this year was one of our best. The new facility, combined with a great management team and excellent hospitality really make it shine.”

Trainer Vanessa Brown appreciated the great prizes and incentives. “I love that champions all received neck sashes this year, and trainers’ gifts included 8×10 photos from show photographer Jim Naismith.”

For complete show results, visit the Web site: www.norcalhunterjumpers.com/ncmedals.html

Midge Ames photo / Courtesy of PCCHA

Tim Smith and Flo Like A Cat win the Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association Open Futurity.

Smith, of Temecula, Calif., aboard Flo Like A Cat delivered the winning 222 run as the first horse out in the 17-horse finals. Flo Like A Cat (Cats Merada x Flo N Ethyl x Mr Peponita Flo) is owned by Bill Banner of Galt, Calif., who earned the $28,879 champion’s prize.

“Last night, when Bill drew the first place slot, I told Diane as we were sitting there at dinner that I think we’re going to win,” Smith said. “I’ve had a lot of luck going first in this arena. First is a good draw here. A lot of people have won in a first place draw in this arena.”

He said Flo Like A Cat is very mature for a young horse. “You can show her very aggressively. The run started good and stayed good and the last cow was phenomenal. She was dead on,” Smith said. “Russ (Elrod) and Double Smart Cat had a really good run in the second set and Michael (Cooper) and Make My Day TR had a good run at the end; but, she just has an extra gear and I just think she was the best tonight with that draw. I was fortunate to get to ride her.”

Smith and the mare had scores of 219, 215, and 214 respectively in the preliminaries. “Last night in the semi-finals, I cut like a $2K Limit rider and darn near took her out of the cutting,” Smith said. “But she was right there the whole way, I think she is head and shoulders the best colt at the show.”

Midge Ames photo / Courtesy of PCCHA

Phil Rapp and Dont Look Twice win the PCCHA Open Cutting Stakes.

In a poetic finish to the Open Cutting Stakes Finals, Dont Look Twice and former Californian Phil Rapp laid down a picture-perfect 227 run to earn this year’s Open Cutting Stakes Championship.

Owned by Louis and Corliss Baldwin of the Waco Bend Ranch in Graham, Texas, Dont Look Twice (Highbrow Cat x Tapt Twice x Dual Pep) has been a special mare to Rapp. “That horse’s great-grandmother, Tapeppyoka Peppy, was 2nd in the inaugural Open Cutting Stakes in 1984,” Rapp said. “It’s pretty special that her great-granddaughter came back and won it.”

He added: “That mare was just turning in two like a noodle. When she’s on, she can do that. She’s such a fantastic horse. I’ve said that the best horse I have ever ridden is Tap O Lena and, while they are different horses, this mare is every bit as great as her grandmother.”

The Baldwins are four years new to the cutting industry; and Mr. Baldwin, who is a financial executive for XTO Energy, a natural gas producer, credits the Rapps with their success thus far. “We own some horses in partnership with Phil and Maryann and they train all of our horses,” he said. “And, they work with my son, Ray, to manage the breeding program. Ben Emison introduced us to Phil and Maryann and it has worked out very well.”

Rapp, a Texas trainer who is originally from Napa, Calif., said this win was particularly meaningful out here in his home state. “It’s old home week whenever we come back here (to Paso Robles),” he said. “Last night at the (PCCHA) Hall of Fame inductions, it was special. My dad (Jerry Rapp) had been a Hall of Fame inductee and had also been given the Ed Smith Memorial Award. There are so many great friends here and my dad was such a part of the Pacific Coast and he really helped get the Stallion Stakes going.”

Rapp, who is the highest earning NCHA money-earning rider in history with over $6.5 million in winnings to his credit, collected the Open Cutting Stakes winner’s check of $25,090.

The Open Cutting Stakes Reserve Championship went to Justa Smart Cat and Gary Gonsalves for owner Iron Rose Ranch of Carbondale, Colo. The duo marked a 219.5 for the win and earned a payout of $21,390.

That Catomine and Matt Gaines finished in a tie for 3rd place with Smooth Autumn Mate and Morgan Cromer. Both teams earned a check for $15,840.

Midge Ames photo / Courtesy of PCCHA

Dustin Adams and WSR Clays Freckles win the PCCHA Non Pro Futurity.

The Non-Pro Futurity was adeptly won by Dustin Adams of Western States Ranches in Dublin, Texas, and his gelding WSR Clays Freckles (San Tule Freckles x Clays Little Peppy x Peppy San Badger) when the pair marked a 217 in the final round to earn the payout of $11,286.

Adams also rode to the Reserve Championship on Palefaced Hickory (Pale Face Jose x Janas Little Hickory x Docs Hickory) with a solid 216 run that earned him another $10,105. Adams came to this year’s event with six horses in tow and advanced all six to the final rounds in various divisions, including his three Non-Pro Futurity entries.

The champion of the bunch, WSR Clays Freckles, holds a special place with Adams. “He was his dam’s last baby,” he explained. “She was one of the better Little Peppy mares there is and she died this year; so it was pretty bitter-sweet.”

Gavin Jordan and Sting Cat Sting win the PCCHA Open Futurity Gelding Stakes Co-Championship.

Prior to the win last night, Adams had accrued NCHA lifetime earnings of $2,649,190.

For complete show results, visit the Web site: www.pccha.com/showresults.asp

Start by walking along the fence. Pick a point to stop the horse and then make very light contact with your inside (away from the fence) rein while you reach back with your fence-side leg and push or bump your horse’s hip around. You’re creating energy with your leg to push the hip, and your brace rein contact will lightly block him for pushing through with his shoulder.

With the fence in front of him you don’t have to give your horse any other options than to move his hip. Do this exercise repeatedly (it’s called a turn on the forehand) in both directions. Start by just asking for a step at a time and then increase the number of steps as your horse’s responses get more consistent. Remember to keep life in your reins and leg as you ask for this exercise.

Since you don’t want to do the exercise if it’s not perfect, don’t ask for the hip if you don’t have the nose. You need to insist that the horse maintain a soft poll, with no resistance, as you attempt the exercise.

If you find that he’s continuously trying to move his shoulder over before his hip, go off and work on the previously discussed Exercise No. 2: Shoulder Control, to get him more responsive to your brace rein.

For this exercise, you need to make sure you’re cuing your horse with your leg as far back as you can comfortably reach. When done consistently, this will let him know that you want him to move his hips only.

To check yourself, find a place on the rail right next to a fence post. Now move the horse’s hips back and forth, both ways, with his nose right on that post. When you can do it you’ll know you’ve made real progress.

Point to remember: Also remember on this and most other things you teach your horse. We’ll never be strong enough to make a horse do anything, but we can be smart enough to make him want to do it, and that’s what riding is all about.

Since the shoulder element of Exercises No. 3 & 4 is so critical, I suggest you stay on the fence with your attempts at least until you can do both quite smoothly; we will come back to them in a few lessons and get them perfect off the rail. Staying on the fence just minimizes the horse’s alternatives and lets you pay more attention to where the shoulders are at every step.

Once you are getting three or four good steps in each direction, you are ready to move on, but make sure to include these exercises in your ride every day so that you really have them down by the time we come back to them.

Next time, we’ll continue discussing this same topic, Exercise No. 4: Hip Control.

Editor’s Note: More with Les is a regular California Horsetrader column. Les Vogt has won more than 15 World Championships, including two wins at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity. Although Les still rides and occasionally shows, his focus is giving clinics around the world and developing products for the performance horseman. To learn more about Les and to see his clinic schedule, visit the Web site: www.lesvogt.com

HEY VIVIAN: What happened to you has happened to everybody at least once. We all share that secret. (Don’t tell anyone!) For starters, I’ve got to tell you that you have a great colt, because he gave you the benefit of the doubt when you first asked him to trust you. Let this be the last time you ask anything unwise of your horse, and we may be able to dilute this experience.

BEFORE you tried to wash your horse, you actually had three separate challenges:

1. Leading
2. Tying
3. Bathing

AFTER what happened, you now have a fourth: trust.

Each challenge must be addressed individually, starting with leading. Lead your horse to an arena or pen away from the wash rack. Because he is young he might not move forward. If he stops, keep pressure on the line and pull him sideways off balance so he takes a step. At that precise moment, release the hold and allow him to walk in the direction you are going.

Once you are in the arena, you’re going to work on getting him to move his hindquarters around his front end. It doesn’t have to be perfect as long as you get him to move. This is going to be one of your rewardable exercises. This might be easier to teach than backing up, initially. This is the exercise you will use to reward your horse if he refuses to move towards the wash rack.

The next challenge is tying. The longer the rope, the better. You will teach the horse that he can move or even pull back. Like in any good relationship, it doesn’t matter where either of you go as long as you stick together. The way you will help your horse understand this is by creating a scenario where, if the horse feels the need to flee, he can do so without severing your relationship — very much like his experience in the wash rack. You can hold the line in one hand and unsettle him with the other by holding anything that will cause him to feel fear and move.

Your task is to continue with him without letting up until he stops on his own and shows signs of acceptance (stand, lick, chew, soft eye, drops head and or sighs). Unless the horse shows signs of aggression through this process (where you feel any threat at all), continue what you are doing until the horse is okay with it. At this point, you can actually simulate tying. By that, I mean that the horse will think he is tied solid, but you will make sure he is NOT. For example, loop the rope over a rail, check by pulling the rope so that it feels tight, but if you add extra pressure it will slip. Be careful not to let the rope bind and get stuck. This should give the effect of dragging around a ball and chain. (another common phrase used in relationships!)

Remember, we are not trying to get the horse “not to pull.” We are just trying to get him to understand that (1) he can and (2) if he does, it’s not a good idea. As long as he has freedom of choice, he will eventually appreciate our suggestion.

If the horse becomes aggressive and you feel threatened, then the game takes a different twist. Unless you’ve dealt with horses with this type of behavior, I suggest that you stop and find professional help. This work will go to the wall or fence, and even then can be very dangerous — so beware.

I prefer tying over a post and rail fence because when you put the rope over the rail and loop it around the post a couple of times, not only do you get the right amount of drag, you eliminate the possibility of the rope binding. You can also buy a smart tie at your local tack store.

Once you feel the horse is accepting to whatever stimuli you’ve chosen to unsettle him while tied, you can move on to the next step.

My favorite way to give a horse his first bath is by getting my biggest spray bottle and filling it up with water and spraying him down from ear to rear. This will include ears, eyes, muzzle and everything else. I start with a stream from far away and move to the mist later when he settles. I will literally get him soaking wet. By the time I get ready to hose him down, he will have experienced the end result before we ever get started. I suggest you start with hosing him down in the arena with a long hose so he still has the option of moving while being hosed down.

Once he seems accepting to that, you can put all three stages together on your way to the wash rack.

First: Lead him into the wash rack, not forgetting the rewardable exercise attached to it if he refuses.

Secondly: Simulate tying. If he pulls back, back him a few steps or turn on the forehand as his reward able exercise. Then offer him another chance to walk back in.

Thirdly: Turn on the hose and spray him down like you did in the arena starting with the legs and finishing with the neck and head. Remember to turn down the volume. Bathing him with the sprayer in the wash rack for the first time might be a nice transitional experience before the hose. There are also mist sprayers for your hose that you can use so your horse can see and breathe comfortably, if you happen to have a real scared-e-cat that overreacts.

You can break this process up into a few sessions, or it can be done in one day. We’ll call it a judgment call.

Last but not least, by the time you wash all your troubles away the most important element, “his trust in you,” should be replenished.

This process may seem an overkill for some. I understand that a swift spray in the face until they’re totally soaked may sometimes be all it takes. After that being said, we all know that horses have literally killed themselves over less. Remember, we’re not trying to get the horse clean, we are trying to reestablish the relationship. Furthermore, it’s a foundation that you’ll be laying down for future challenges to come.

Vivian, I hope this all makes sense to you because your horse will appreciate the extra time you take on his behalf.

Ray

Horsetrader columnist Ray Ariss, husband to Pippa Ariss and father of six, shares his insight into the relationship of horseand human twice each month, in print and on www.horsetrader.com. He lives and trains in “Horsetown USA”, Norco, Calif., at his bustling Starbrite Riding Academy, where he currently has 50 horses in various stages of training, including Andalusians, Friesians, Quarter Horses, Paints, Thoroughbreds, Arabs, Mustangs and more. Ray attributes his training success to the support of his wife and partner, Pippa, and a system he calls S.W.A.P., to which he credits his multiple championships in several disciplines. His passionate understanding of the “human-horse” relationship was evident when he took on the challenge of training a wild Mustang and — in just 100 days — produced the highest-priced adopted Mustang ever — $50,000. Does your “horse-human relationship” leave you with a question for Ray? Click here to submit one!