THURSDAY, 8 a.m.
Remington, an 18-month old Papillon, is perked up about the start of the week’s reining competition this morning. His owner, Lisa Pomerance of San Juan Bautista, Calif., says he thinks he’s a horse.

“He likes working cattle. He thinks he can do it, even from the bleachers.”

THURSDAY 8:45 a.m.
Billy Cochrane (left), along with fellow judges Bobby Lewis and Dave Vietor, follows the go of Anne Reynolds and Shiny And Verysmart in the morning’s second set of reining competition.

“The quality of horses this year is as good or superior to any group of 3 year-olds I’ve seen. The trainers are getting better, the horses are getting better. It’s early in the season — we’ve got another month before the big (NRCHA) Snaffle Bit Futurity, and these horses are performing well. Here in the rein work,the horses are really going in the rundown, taking chances, and they’re making it work. Form and correctness is the ultimate performance, and when you add speed to it, you’re increasing the level of difficulty. These young horses are using a lot of speed — the trainers are not afraid to expose them. That shows that these horses are pretty well-trained. It’s good for this time of the season. Acutally, it’s good for any time of the season.”

THURSDAY, 9:05 a.m.
Sarah Winters leaves the arena on JA Westcoast Whizard after scoring a 215.5 in Open and Intermediate Open reining. At the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity last September at age 18, Sarah was Reserve Champion Limited Open in her first year of Open competition. This year, she’s determined to keep her place near the top.

“I’m putting a little pressure on myself this year, but everyone puts pressure on themselves. For me, there’s more pressure because I did so well last year — I want to keep it rolling and show that last year was no fluke. It’s fun. I was happy with everything today except for my right turn-arounds. We’ll see what happens next (in herd work). He’s a little big, so he’s not as quick a mover. Hopefully I’ll have him broke enough and ready to do it.”

THURSDAY, 1 p.m.
LaDona Emmons puts the finishing touch on Oakinic, owned by Betsy Kienle, before Ron Emmons marked a 212.5 on the gelding in Open rein work.

“Before they go in, they get some extra attention. I like supporting Ron and the clients at the show — I’m out here with the horses, the great people. The camaraderie among everyone here is really amazing. I like to feel like I’m contributing, too, and be sure that the horses look good. Before we get here to the show, they’re all clipped. Once here, they get a bath every day. And then there’s the special attention.”

THURSDAY, 1:30 p.m.
Sandy Collier and Ted Robinson confer during a trip around the warm-up arena before their respective Open rein work. Sandy says the camaraderie in the cow horse world is something special.

“The cow horse people are the friendliest, the most supportive. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that you’ve got to be pretty down home to do this. I don’t think there is one guy or one gal who, if you as a total neophyte or even as a trainer went up to them and said you wanted help trying to do something better with your horse, would do anything but share with you how you could do it better. This group is so approachable and helpful. All the time I am asking these guys `what about this’ and getting their ideas. A lot of guys team up because they live near each other. Lyn Anderson and I have been friends and have helped each other out for years. I think she’s the master of the fence, which wasn’t my strongsuit for a long time. Everybody is so willing to share information, and that makes it better.”

John O’Hara photo

Andrea Fappani and Shiner Olena win the Reining By The Bay Derby Open.

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.

Elite rider/trainer Andrea Fappani of San Marcos, Calif., was the leading rider at the 2009 competition, sweeping all three of the top positions in the $70,000 Added Derby event. He scored 226.5 to win the one-run Derby Open aboard Shiner Olena, placed second with Chromed Out Mercedes, and earned the third-place award with Custom Harley.

“I took three really good horses this year; they are the best of all the horses I have in the barn,” Fappani said. “I think that the competition was a little bit tougher this year than it has been before. We had a few new people showing up from the Midwest, and that really made things interesting because there were quite a few good riders with high scores.”

Fappani said Shiner Olena (Smart Chic Olena x Miss Shiner Dear x Shining Spark), owned by Katarzyna Roleski, is a very unique horse and he has to be careful not to over-prepare the stallion. “He’s an amazingly talented horse, but he can be a little bit of an over-thinker,” Fappani said. “Before the show, I back-off and let him relax. I didn’t prepare him for the pattern the way I normally do with the other horses, but it worked out really well. I never really have to ride him that hard.”

He also said he was a little bit concerned because Shiner Olena “is a pretty small horse, and it’s such a big arena. I didn’t know if the judges would like the look of him in the circles,” Fappani continued. “It probably didn’t look like he was going as fast as some of the other horses, but he has really good stops, so I wanted to highlight those–and it worked out.”

Riding Chromed Out Mercedes (Custom Crome x Princess In Diamonds x Shining Spark) to also earn Reining By The Bay’s Derby Open Reserve Championship, Fappani scored 226 on the 4-year-old stallion, who he owns with his wife Tish. Fappani and Cromed Out Mercedes keep continuing their success; they won the National Reining Breeders Classic Open Champion earlier in April.

He has been attending Reining By The Bay for the last six years and has always enjoyed the unique competition. “It’s a little bit more relaxed than other shows,” Fappani said. “It’s a good place to take young horses to get their feet wet. The facility is beautiful, and there is always good weather. I always enjoy going to that show.”

Fappani also clinched the co-third-place spot on Custom Harley, owned by Rancho El Fortin of Del Rio, Texas.

John O’Hara photo

Randy Paul and Starbucks Finest win the FEI Qualifying event at Reining By The Bay.

In the FEI Qualifying event, Randy Paul was victorious with his mount, Starbucks Finest, also owned by Rancho Oso Rio.

“I was really happy with his run; Starbucks Finest is a neat little horse,” Paul said. “He’s one of those that doesn’t take a lot of training; he’s pretty broke and pretty finished.”

“He’s one of those horses that you can’t get after too much or he gets a little scared,” Paul added. “He’s already trained; it’s just a matter of getting him in good condition. I was really happy with him at Reining By The Bay; he was really good and just went out there and did it.”

Paul said he enjoyed showing in the large outdoor arena at Reining By The Bay. “It’s a great place to show,” he said. “It has a nice big arena, and if you have a hard run you can really get running fast without getting nervous. You’re also up on the hill overlooking the bay, which is beautiful.”

Fappani also was a champion in Reining By The Bay’s Futurity Open. He scored 148 riding Dual Rey Roo (Dual Rey x Roosters Chicaroo x Gallo Del Cielo), owned by Rancho El Fortin. Fappani said he was very pleased with the horse’s performance, since the mare was bred as a cutter.

Sean McBurney took the Futurity Open Reserve with a 144.5 score on CD Shiner, owned by Rhodes River Ranch of Arlington, Wash. Fappani further claimed the third-place Futurity Open honors with a 144 score aboard Nic Tuck, owned by Koby Kempel of Boston, Mass.

John O’Hara photo

JoAnne Carrollo and Smooth And Quick Cat win the Futurity Non Pro.

Kim Dooley and her Nu Cash For Romeo earned the Futurity Non Pro Reserve. Brandon Boyle and Grand Slammin Whiz, owned by Mike Boyle of Ione, Calif., placed third.

Representatives from sponsors Peninsula Humane Society and Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals were in attendance and also brought animals that were available for adoption to event.

“It was a very successful event for the PHS/SPCA’s homeless animals,” said Ken White, PHS/SPCA president. “Animals found homes, funds were raised to help us help more homeless animals, we met new friends, and I believe we came away with a bunch of folks now wanting to help us in the future. All our staff and volunteers celebrated this amazing success, and we are deeply appreciative that Reining By The Bay made this possible.”

For complete show results, visit: www.reiningbythebay.com

Daniel K. Lew / Horsetrader photo

Ali Nilforushan and Green Sleepes Vioco win the $25,000 Showpark August Festival Grand Prix on Aug. 1.

With the 2009-2010 FEI World Cup Qualifier season commencing soon, 12 show-jumping Grand Prix events between August 2009 to April 2010 will have added elements of excitement and importance. Spectators get to cheer for their favorite show-jumping riders and horses, while West Coast Grand Prix riders compete to earn points toward qualifying for the 2010 FEI World Cup Jumping Finals, to be held April 14-18, 2010 in Geneva, Switzerland.

As a warm-up to the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers, Ali Nilforushan of Cardiff, Calif., topped a field of 40 entries to claim victory in the $25,000 Showpark August Festival Grand Prix. Adding excitement to the class was the fact that an unusually high number of rider/horse pairs–16–jumped clean in the first round to come back for a suspenseful jump-off.

“Now, everyone’s starting to get serious about the coming fall and winter shows–it’s time to crank it up again,” Nilforushan said. “Summertime is ending and it’s getting closer to the World Cup season, so all the riders are starting to bring out their best horses. In August, there will be an even more of an increase and it’s slowly growing; getting ready for the major shows again.”

In the jump-off, Michelle Parker of San Marcos, Calif., had another clean ride aboard Socrates, owned by Cross Creek Farms Inc. of Tucson, Ariz. Their time of 40.34 seconds–within the time allowed of 50 seconds–looked like it would be good enough for the win, as many other riders knocked down rails or accumulated time faults. They placed second in the end.

Gabriella Salick of Westlake Village, Calif., continued to have a good summer show season, as she and her Gredo La Daviere also went clean in the jump-off. Their time of 41.16 seconds would eventually place them in third place.

Nilforushan riding Green Sleepes Vioco aggressively breezed through the jump-off course with a clear round at 39.06 seconds to clinch the blue ribbon in the $25,000 Showpark August Festival Grand Prix. The victory followed up a win earlier in the week for the pair in the 1.40M Jumpers class.

The jump-off was a lot tougher than the first round, Nilforushan said. “My strategy was to go as fast as I could because there were so many in the jump-off, and there were a lot of good horses and riders,” he said. “My strategy was to put it down right from the beginning.”

It worked, as Nilforushan and his new horse, Green Sleepes Vioco, were the fastest and cleanest of the day. “He’s been wonderful, jumping fantastically,” Nilforushan said of the 11-year-old Belgium Warmblood gelding. “I think he’s going to be quite special.”

Nilforushan bought Green Sleepes Vioco about 4 months ago in Florida. “Nobody seemed to want him; he was a bit of a difficult horse, but now he’s tremendous, coming around faster than I thought, and doing quite well.”

He also had a second ride in the jump-off aboard his Warco Van De Halhoeve, a 10-year-old Belgium Warmblood gelding, but they hit two rails.

Things in general are going well for Nilforushan right now. “I’m working really hard to get ready for the Masters; that’s my next goals at Spruce Meadows,” he said of the prestigious Spruce Meadows Masters Tournament from Sept. 9-13 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. “We’re hard at work with a conditioning program to get the horses fit.”

For complete Blenheim EquiSports show results, visit: www.showpark.com/results.asp

KC Montgomery photo

Ashley Corona and Too Shiny Forya were the Youth 14-18 High-Point Champions at the Summer Sizzle show. Also pictured, Shelley and Jerry Lunde.

For the last two years, there has not been any PORs south of Bakersfield, since the local clubs have not been able to host a show due to financial considerations. “We have heard from so many people that they miss having a show at that facility. CPHA is the founding club in California which means we are the only club in the state who can host two Paint O Ramas in one year … Both clubs are committed to making this a great show,” said show manager Janet Radford, who is also CPHA vice president.

TMVPHC normally puts on three 2-judge shows a year, but “there were other needs for our membership in Southern California. There are no large shows for them to attend unless they drive up North,” said Tony Lucas, TMVPHC vice president. “So, we listened to our membership and put this show together–they would usually have to drive up to Northern California to attend a more-than 2-judge show.”

The Summer Sizzle show gave Southern California Paint Horse riders a chance to show to more than two judges at a time, and be able to show to seven judges all in one place, without having to travel too far.

KC Montgomery photo

Kristi Wiggins and Zips N Assets took third place in the Youth 13 & Under High Point at the Summer Sizzle show.

Many of the young riders, including Walk/Trot kids, were very excited about visiting Disneyland after the horse show ended. “They come up to me after their last class to say: ‘Guess where we’re going? We’re going to Disneyland!’ So, we tried to let them finish and get out of here as soon as could,” Lucas said. “It was nice for them to enjoy some time together and do something with their friends outside of the horse show.”

From a management standpoint, Lucas said the L.A. Equestrian Center facilities and staff were very nice. “They’re very cooperative and helpful, which makes the show run more smoothly,” he said. “The exhibitors loved the show schedule, show grounds, and proximity to many of the Southern California exhibitors–so they’re not driving eight or nine hours to a show.”

The next TMVPHC show will be held Oct. 2-4 at CRC/Casner Ranch in Temecula. For information about TMVPHC, visit: www.temeculavalleypainthorseclub.com. For information about CPHA, visit: www.californiapainthorseassoc.com

SUMMER SIZZLE HIGH-POINT WINNERS:

Master Amateur:

• Ch – Linda Rice and Fax My Delight
• Res – Paula Gilmore and Luv My Assets
• 3rd – Ann Curtis and Harmonys Solitaire

•Novice Youth:
Ch – Desarae Gilley and A Sudden Legacy
Res – Kate Peterson and Lonesom at the Top
3rd – Elise Jaramillo and Zipped on Cuervo

• Classic Amateur:
Ch – Amanda Ryan and Leos Decked Out Tux
Re – Jamie Spring and The Will To Do
3rd – Sue Merchant and Two Timin Date

• Walk/Trot 5-9:
Ch – Andrea Mairs and The Legalist
Re – Maggie Waguespack and CL IL Ring Your Bell
3rd – Celina Velasco and Caddys Dream Machine

• Youth 13 & Under:
Ch – Kaitlin Nicholson and Flirtin With Reality
Res – Drew Rogers and Shez Eye Candy
3rd – Kristi Wiggins and Zips N Assets

• Novice Amateur:
Ch – Saundra Higgins and My Fancy Valentine
Res – Tammy Velez and Vannas Little Lincoln
3rd – Kay Otis and A Real Natural

• Youth 14-18
Ch – Ashley Corona and Too Shiny Forya
Res – Sarayh Voorhees and Fancy Dot Com
3rd – Cassandra Stambuk and Im Big Time Dirty

• Western Horse
Ch – My Sensational Cookie, owned by Meredith Landy
Res – Reddyslitlleaguer, owned by Katherine Halverson
3rd – Send Roses Please, owned by Robin Roberts

• English Horse
Ch – The Gift of Midas, owned by Sherry Marx
Res – Hez Sirtainly Fancy, owned by Daranne Folino
3rd – I Got It Too, owned by Samantha Pavletich