August 6th Issue

Next, the APHA Fall World Show from Nov. 5-14 will focus on Open and Amateur divisions.

The Summer World Show’s combination of Youth, Open and Amateur classes brought in 690 horses and 1,880 entries. A total of 94 World Championship trophy buckles were awarded to individuals claiming the coveted World title. Sixty-six classes were held and included 1,256 Youth entries, with Californians doing well in several classes. Here is only some of California’s Youth competitors who attended the show:

All-Around Youth 14-18

The 2009 All-Around Youth 14-18 Champion was Alexie Estrada of Bakersfield riding Predictably Perfect. She accumulated the most points in her division riding one horse in a minimum of three categories.

Estrada, who is 19, rode her 8-year-old gelding to a total of 124 points, with the highlight being a World Championship in Hunter Hack. The duo also accumulated Reserve World Championship titles in Hunt Seat Equitation, Horsemanship and Western Riding classes. Estrada has been riding for past 12 years and traveling to compete regularly for the past five years.

High-Point Walk-Trot Youth

The 2009 High-Point Walk-Trot Youth was 9-year-old Maggie Waguespack of Bakersfield. This promising young competitor earned over 100 points in Walk-Trot events riding CL IL Ring Your Belle. Their accomplishments included four World Championship titles in Walk-Trot events: Showmanship, Hunter Under Saddle, Hunt Seat Equitation, and Trail; and a Top 5 in Horsemanship. Her horse is a 6-year-old mare owned by Rob and Jenny Waguespack.

A good show for California’s Youth

KC Montgomery photo

Ashley Wildes and Heza Texas Hobo win reserve in Hunt Seat Equitation Over Fences 18 & Under.

Ashley Wildes and Heza Texas Hobo, an 8-year-old gelding who she has owned for a year, took Reserve Championship in the Hunt Seat Equitation Over Fences 18 & Under Overall Finals. “It was really rewarding to earn the Reserve World Champion because we’ve been through so much,” Ashley Wildes said. “It started the year badly; he’s a different horse now. ‘Hobie’ has so much personality–he’s not just a horse; he’s my best friend.

The All-Around Novice Youth was Danielle Kemper, who won both the Novice Youth Showmanship Overall Finals and Novice Youth Hunt Seat Equitation Overall Finals riding Mr Jack Cool. The pair also took reserve in Novice Youth Horsemanship. Kemper only started riding Mr Jack Cool since April, “so it’s pretty extraordinary for them to put it all together in such a short amount of time–and do so well so far,” Tim Wildes said.

In the Youth Trail 13 & Under Overall Finals, Alexis Hyzdu and Sensationalatmidnight won the reserve championship. Hyzdu has performed exceptionally well earlier in the year by winning Novice Youth All-Around High Point at the Pinto World Championship in June, but she got sick during the APHA Summer Show and had to miss a few days of competition there. Still, she persevered and won a reserve championship at her first Paint World Show.

More California Standouts

KC Montgomery photo

Tiffany Neal and Docs Master Remedy earn titles for Youth Reining 13 & Under and Limited Youth Working Cow Horse.

JD Yates and Skid Outa The Way, an 8-year-old mare owned by Cassandra Stambuk of Yorba Linda, Calif., was reserve champion in the Senior Steer Stopping Overall Finals. “Skid Outa The Way was initially bought for $8,500 just for youth reining, but he’s turned out to also be an outstanding roping horse, with about 270 youth reining points so far, and has won multiple saddles and high-points at different shows,” Jerry Lunde said.

Cassandra Stambuk also rode her own horse Hesa Rock Dancer, a 6-year-old gelding, to a reserve championship in the Youth Reining 14-18 Overall Finals. Hesa Rock Dancer’s title was also a sweet spot when the horse was first bought, some thought “Remy” might not be enough horse to compete at a World show, but Jerry and Shelley Lunde said they kept believing and training the horse; thinking there might be a World title in that horse–and it proved to be true.

In the Limited Youth Working Cow Horse Overall Finals, Californians took the Top 3 spots: Tiffany Neal of Ramona, Calif., and Docs Master Remedy, owned by Robert and Janet Neal, won the World Championship. Tiffany Neal, who trains under Mike and Kristi Berg Performance Horses in Temecula, also won the Youth Reining 13 & Under Championship. “Tiffany’s a good rider and great exhibitor,” Mike Berg said. “She’s got a super horse; one of the nicest horses I’ve seen.”

The reserve championship in Limited Youth Working Cow Horse was earned by Ashley Corona and her 10-year-old gelding, Jose Black Smoke. In third place was Cassandra Stambuk and Hesa Rock Dancer. Jose Black Smoke winning a reserve championship was a highlight because the horse had been through two colic surgeries, so the success of Stambuk with the horse is extra special, Jerry Lunde said.

Overall, many Youth riders and their trainers said the focus on Youth classes in the Summer Paint World Show made it less hectic and enabled Youth competitors and their trainers to focus more on those classes. On a positive note, it meant there were fewer late-night competitions, but it also made for a slight drop in the overall atmosphere, when compared to previous all-in-one World Shows, some exhibitors said.

Others said splitting the APHA World Show into two events also makes it financially difficult for them to justify the added expense of trying to compete and travel to two APHA World Shows, only a few months apart. This forced some riders and trainers to only pick one show–those focusing on Youth classes attended the summer show, while many Open and Amateur riders would wait to only attend the Fall Paint World Show.

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

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KC Montgomery photo

Alexie Estrada and Predictably Perfect win All-Around Youth 14-18 at the APHA Summer World Show.

Estrada said winning her first World Championship was so rewarding and oh so sweet. “It’s the most amazing feeling ever. All the hard work to become the best you can be; all the blood from the boot blisters; all the sweat from the hours and hours of riding; all the tears from the frustration and exhaustion; all of that has finally paid off,” she said.

She added that winning the Youth Hunter Hack 14-18 Championship was an exceptionally rewarding experience. “My practice before my Hunter Hack class had not gone so well. My horse was tired and I was feeling very nervous. I was very last to go, so as my horse and I walked around the tiny holding pen waiting for our turn, my nerves kept building and building. I tried to just keep taking deep breaths and shake off my nerves, but I was not feeling very confident and was so nervous I could barely swallow.

“As I was standing at the gate gathering my reins, smoothing my hunt coat, and adjusting my helmet, someone shouted: ‘Good luck Lexie!’ I tensely replied with, ‘Thank you so much. I just really need a miracle right now,’ then took a deep breath and entered the show pen. I was apparently granted that miracle because as I rounded the corner to approach my first fence, I knew I had to do something; I made a slight adjustment and managed to get a decent gap to my first fence. When I landed, I had to quickly judge the distance to my second fence. I was perfect. I didn’t have to do anything but keep the same step down the line. After I completed the second fence, a huge sense of relief came over me. I was so pleased with my go. When it came time for awards, I didn’t watch anyone else’s go so I had no clue who was going to win. I had won the first card. I was thrilled. I won the second card. I was even more thrilled. Third card. No way! Could my dream of becoming a world champion come true?! Fourth card. YES! Fifth card, we placed third.

Alexia Estrada

Estrada was got Predictably Perfect or “Jackson” almost two years ago. “When I tried Jackson, however, we did not get along with each other,” Estrada said. “Jackson was just very stubborn and he really tested me. But at our first show together, we really bonded and our road to success would begin,”

Jackson always works hard to do his job and gives an honest effort every single ride, Estrada said. “He is a horse with so much heart, athleticism, versatility, and talent. I believe Jackson is one of the few extraordinary horses in this industry that can go into literally every single event, with the exception of the speed and roping classes,” she said.

Estrada said she was especially thankful for the support from her trainer James Saubolle, parents Carlos and Korie Estrada, and grandparents Don and Judy Glenn. “They have given me this incredible and very extraordinary opportunity to show horses nationally,” she said.

The future also looks promising for Estrada, 19, who will be an incoming freshman at Texas Christian University this fall by earning both an academic and athletic scholarships to ride on TCU’s equestrian team. She will be busy as a pre-vet student majoring in biology, along with being a member of the equestrian team. “But hopefully I can squeeze in some fall shows,” Estrada said. “Without horses, I don’t feel like I would be complete.”

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Flashpoint Photography
/ Courtesy of USEF

Californians Brian Hafner, Amanda Harlan, Christine Stephenson and Brianna Dutton from Zone 7 win the Team Gold medal in dressage at the 2009 FEI North American Junior & Young Riders Championships.

The NAJYRC, the premiere equestrian competition in North America for junior and young riders age 14-21, was held July 22-26 at Kentucky Horse Park. Young equestrians come from the United States, Canada and Mexico to vie for championship titles in the three Olympic equestrian disciplines of show jumping, dressage and eventing, plus the Western-style discipline of reining. The competition is run under rules of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), the international governing body for equestrian sport.

Show organizers said the 2009 championships were one of the biggest in the history of the event with an increase in the number of entries, as well as the number of demonstration events having grown substantially. In addition to the higher number of competitors seeking a victory, there were two non-Olympic equestrian disciplines participating with riders taking to the endurance trail and the vaulting arena in non-championship events.

Many of North America’s best equestrians got their start at the NAJYRC including Olympic medalists Greg Best, Karen O’Connor, Chris Kappler and McLain Ward.

California’s Zone 7 Young Riders win Team Dressage

USEF photo

Hafner, part of the Zone 7 Young Rider Team Gold winners in dressage.

California’s Region 7 took home the first Gold medal of the competition. The team consists of Brian Hafner of and Lombardo LHF, Amanda Harlan and Liberté, Christine Stephenson and Markant, and Brianna Dutton and Tibet, finished with a team total of 198.631. All four riders put in solid tests. More importantly, they all appreciate their team members and how well they have gotten along on the journey to the NAJYRC.

“I got really lucky today,” Hafner said. “My horse was really solid. We had a few minor faults. It is a huge deal for me to be part of this group and do so well as a team.”

Harlan agreed with Hafner, and got the added privilege of experiencing the rain firsthand. “I was very happy with my ride today. I rode in the pouring rain for the first time!” she said. “I’m so happy to be here. It’s been an amazing journey.”

Dutton and Stephenson finished with solid scores, but both were thrilled with their team’s efforts and with receiving the Gold medal. “There were a few more mistakes than usual,” Dutton said. “But, it was nice to ride and get out there. My team is really awesome.”

“I didn’t have the greatest ride today,” Stephenson admitted, but added, “I have the best teammates anyone could ever have. It was just awesome being there and being able to compete.”

The Silver-medal team from Region 2 was made up of Ashlee Todosijevic and Sjoerd, Brittany McCarthy and Gabelle, Kristen N. Becker and Ramses and Kassandra Barteau and GP Raymeister. Region 2 had two riders finish in the top three individually, and had a combined score of 197.315.

The Bronze medal went to Region 3 with a combined score of 194.579. The Region 3 team included Mary-Cameron Rollins on Rose Nior 2, Caroline Roffman on Accent Aigu FRH, Amanda Sterns on Revanche and McKenzie Jenkins on Tsarina Bint RII.

Topping the leader board individually after the first round of dressage was Californian Brian Hafner aboard the Hanoverian Lombardo LHF. Hafner, hailing from Region 7, received an average of 68.842 percent from the five judges. Lombardo has been with Hafner since he was a 4-year-old.

“My horse was really solid today,” Hafner said. “We had a few minor faults. But I am very fortunate to have a great horse. He’s so amazing. He has a great personality, and I am very blessed to have him.”

Hafner and Lombardo LHF led the Region 7 team to the Gold medal, as well as winning Bronze in the Young Rider Individual Test and Silver in the freestyle. Hafner goes go college in San Diego County and trains with Laurie Falvo Doyle.

Kristen N. Becker and Ramses, a flashy KWPN from Region 2, turned in a 67.789 percent to put themselves in second place. Ramses impressed the judges with his flashy gaits and smooth, solid movements to earn a Team Silver medal, as well as put himself and Becker in a solid position for the rest of the competition.

Rounding out the top three is Kassandra Barteau and her GP Raymeister, also from Region 2, with their score of 67.579%. This isn’t the first trip to this competition for Barteau, but it is the first trip to the championships for her partner. Thus far, Barteau is pleased with Raymeister’s performance.

“He was such a good boy!” she said. “I just took it nice and slow, and I didn’t push him. I thought he was really steady. He can get a little flighty, and he didn’t see the (judges’) tents yesterday. But, I was really proud of how he handled that.”

Raymeister, a 9-year-old Holsteiner stallion by Rantares, has been with Barteau since he was just starting out under saddle.

“We’ve been together for four years now,” she said proudly. “I’ve had him since he was doing training and first, and he’s just working his way up to the FEI levels, figuring it all out.”

Many dignitaries were present to show their support, including USEF President David O’Connor, Kentucky Horse Park Director John Nicholson and the President of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein.

After the presentation of the FEI, Mexican and Canadian flags and anthems, it was time for the American flag and anthem to be presented. This was followed by the Lafayette Color Guard and students who performed the Linda Eder song “Gold.”

The dignitaries returned to share their thoughts and encourage the athletes who traveled so far and worked so hard to earn a spot at these amazing championships.

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Kit Houghton / FEI photo

California's Zone 10 Junior Rider, Team Gold-medal winners: Alec Lawler and Live Fire, Taylor Siebel and Thunder-Ball, Richard Neal and Luke Skywalker S, Samantha Harrison and Santika.

Just one rail decided the winner of the jump-off between Zone 2 and California’s Zone 10. Finishing with 12 faults was Zone 2, but sliding through with just eight faults was Zone 10. The Zone 10 Californian team was made up of Alec Lawler and Live Fire, Taylor Siebel and Thunder-Ball, Richard Neal and Luke Skywalker S, and Samantha Harrison and Santika. All four horses jumped well under the guidance of their Junior riders as they earned the well-deserved Team Gold medal.

“It was a solid track,” Neal said. “The jumps were big, but my teammates had success with it, so I wasn’t really worried about it going in.”

“We’ve all done the qualifiers, so this is the caliber course we’re used to jumping,” Lawler added.

Although the Gold-medal team jumped three rounds including the jump-off, their horses came out of the competition in good condition. Thanks to a rigorous preparatory schedule, all four horses were plenty fit to deal with the heat and the courses.

“He was sweaty going into the jump-off,” Lawler said. “But he’s as fit as he can be. He still felt good.”

Jennifer Muncy photo

Junior Rider Samantha Harrison and Santika win the Individual Silver medal in show jumping.

The Junior Rider Silver medal went to the second place finisher in the jump-off. The Zone 2 team, consisting of Kaitlin Campbell and Connery 9, Katherine Dinan and Mobile 4, Jazz Mace and Valentino, and Jacqueline Lubrano and El Regresso Conga, rode hard and jumped well throughout the competition.

“It was a really big ring, so we had to be sure we didn’t have time faults,” Lubrano said. “After the first round, we definitely had to turn it up a little.”

As an added challenge, this was the first major experience with an open water jump for most of the girls from Zone 2. “They don’t use the open water enough in Junior jumpers,” Campbell said. “We really didn’t have much practice over it.”

Kit Houghton / FEI photo

Individual Young Riders medalists in show jumping: Joelle Froese, Bronze; Kaitlyn Campbell, Gold; Californian Lucy Davis, Silver.

The final team to qualify for the medal was from Zone 8. Zone 8 was one of the two teams made up of only three riders, meaning they could not drop a score to make up their team total. Kelsey Thatcher and Carlotta, Navona Gallegos and Drossana and Haley Griffis and Adjutano all had solid rounds to land them in fourth as a team.

For the Young Rider Individual show jumping competition, Zone 10 Californian Lucy Davis riding True Love took the Silver medal. Paris Sellon aboard Troyes finished admirably in fifth place.

California’s Area 6 eventing riders take Team Gold

In the three-day eventing competition of the 2009 FEI North American Junior & Young Riders Championships, the Team Gold medal went to the California team from Area 6: Maxance McManamy and Beacon Hill, Rachel Dwyer and Catch A Star, Elsie Patterson and Normandy Soldier and Suzy Hettich and Given Half A Chance. After dressage, the team found themselves sitting in second, but moved up to the lead after cross-country and never relinquished their lead. Their final team total was 209.9.

The show jumping course saw both Hettich and Patterson take two rails down for a total of 8 faults each. Dwyer and Catch A Star took down four rails for a total of 16 faults. McManamy had one of three double-clear rounds of the day.

The Individual Gold medal in the CCI** division went to Californian Maxance McManamy and Beacon Hill. The pair took the lead after the dressage, but added time faults to their score on cross-country and was bumped down to second. But “Taylor” jumped the test of his life for McManamy and went double-clear to regain the lead and take home the Gold medal. They finished on a score of 59.2.

“There was a little bit of pressure,” McManamy laughed. “It was kind of nice not being first going in. I probably would have lost it if I went in first! I just tried to put in a clean round, not expecting to win. He knew that it was the time to behave and put in a good, double-clean show jumping round.”

This is the third trip to Young Riders for McManamy and Taylor, but this will likely remain the most memorable. “I’ve been here a few times for Rolex, and I always dreamed of riding on the cross-country course or riding down the centerline of the big arena. Now I’ve done it; I’m speechless.”

McManamy said her long-time partner, Beacon Hill, rode great in the cross-country course. “Being from California, we’re not used to such big, gallopy open areas. It’s a really big change, but he was just phenomenal on cross-country–he knew exactly what to do out there.”

Finishing with the Individual Silver medal was Katlyn McMorris and Clifton Peekachu. The pair was in third after dressage, but moved up to first after the cross-country. They were the last to jump in show jumping, but pulled two rails to bring her final score to 64.4.

“He felt so amazing in warm-up that I wasn’t really particularly worried,” McMorris said. “Going to the first jump, I didn’t quite see it. That was definitely my fault. After that I held it together and he jumped well.”

“I wasn’t expecting it to ride easy at all. I rode it thinking that you were going to have to make decisions on course. I thought it was a good course for the Young Rider Championships.”

Taking home the Individual Bronze medal was Katherine Samuels and Nyls du Terrior with a score of 66.4. The pair was in 13th place after dressage, but made a huge jump to seventh after turning in a double-clear cross-country score. They also jumped double-clear in show jumping to leap to third place.

“He’s a genius at what he does,” Samuels said of her horse. “He tries very, very hard and takes his job very seriously.”

This was Samuel’s first trip to the Kentucky Horse Park and her first time riding in this large of a venue. “It’s an amazing park,” she said. “My horse didn’t really know what he thought of the grandstands, but I loved riding in the arena!”

For complete show results, visit: www.youngriders.org

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Waltenberry photo

Craig Schmersal and Mr Dual Rey win the USEF National Reining Open Championships and its Gold medal for the second consecutive year.

Using portable fans and high-powered misters to cut the heat for competing horses, the event was able to care for the horses and athletes alike in the unseasonably warm temperatures. This, combined with air-conditioned show rings, ensured that competing horses were safe and helped top riders keep their cool under intense competition, event organizers said.

Internationally renowned reining star Craig Schmersal, a former Californian who relocated to Overbrook, Okla., a few years ago, claimed the USEF Mahajan Trophy for the USEF Open Reining Championship with a scorching score of 224 on the finals night. Riding Mr Dual Rey (Mister Dual Pep X Robin Red Rae), owned by Holly Casey of Mansfield, Ga., Schmersal and his same mount repeated last year’s win to once again take the Gold medal and $8,500 prize.

Horsetrader File photo

Craig Schmersal

Schmersal elaborated: “The (USEF National Championship) had an extremely nice set of horses, and I feel very fortunate to be on top in a class of very tough competitors.”

Longtime contender and household name, Shawn Flarida of Springfield, Ohio, scored 221.5 to earn the Silver medal aboard the 6-year-old gelding KR Lil Conquistador (Conquistador Whiz x Smart Little Prize), owned by Cheree Kirkbride of Ocala, Fla., along with $6,750.

Casey Deary scored a 219.5 aboard Custom Margarita, owned by Steven Simon of Marietta, Okla., for third place to take the Bronze medal and $5,000.

In fourth place was Pete Kyle aboard Gimme Major Bucks, owned by John Mc Elreath, who earned $2,500.

Waltenberry photo

Shawn Flarida and KR Lil Conquistador earn the Silver medal in the USEF National Reining Open Championships.

The Adequan/USEF National Reining Championship also hosted a CRI* National Championship. The one-star competition ran concurrently with the Open Championship and was a developing program for riders who are not yet on the Reining Long List. Lakshami Mahajan of Grafton, Ohio, was named the 2009 Adequan/USEF CRI* National Champion and earned her way onto the Reining Long List, an important step in an athlete’s quest to qualify for the 2010 World Equestrian Games to be held in Lexington, Ky.

Event organizers said they gave extra thanks to Jerry Kimmel and his stallion, Dun Gotta Gun, for his continued support of reining competitions at the USEF and of the U.S. Reining Team. Kimmel supplied the prize money for the 2009 Adequan/USEF National Open Reining Championship.

California Horsetrader photo

Susie Hutchison and Cantano win the $25,000 Red, White and Blue Grand Prix on June 28 to add to the pair’s string of Grand Prix victories.

Cantano, owned by Jim and Pat Iverson of El Dorado 29, has won three Grand Prix events during the 2009 spring-summer, hunter/jumper shows managed by Blenheim EquiSports.

The 9-year-old bay Holsteiner stallion only started competing in the Grand Prix level in spring 2008—and amazingly won four out of five Grand Prix events it entered last year with Hutchison aboard. In 2009, Hutchison and Cantano also won the $35,000 Blenheim Spring Classic II Grand Prix on April 5, and $30,000 Copa de Amistad Grand Prix on June 21.

Top honors also went to Hutchison riding Muscadet de la Saveniere, owned by Veronica Tracy, in the $30,000 Blenheim Classic Grand Prix held during the first week of the June 2009 series. Of the four Grand Prix events hosted at Blenheim in June, Hutchison walked away with three for three—she entered three and won each one.

At the $25,000 Red, White and Blue Grand Prix, San Diego-area resident Erin Duffy successfully placed second and third. For the jump-off, Duffy riding Lionel, owned by Elizabeth Oliver, gave the crowd what they were looking for—a clean round, but a few seconds slower than Hutchison and Cantano’s time. Duffy directed her second mount, Kir Royal, to another clean trip in the jump-off with a time of 52.44 seconds for third place.

Young riders earn their ribbons at Zone 10 Pony Hunter Finals

The Zone 10 Pony Hunter Finals wrapped up June 21 during the Blenheim June Classic III show. Young riders piloted their small, medium, and large mounts around the hunter course and added another score to the mix, having already shown in the model and under saddle during the previous day’s competition.

First in the ring was small pony, Helicon Take Notice, owned by Newmarket Inc. and ridden by Pearl Theodosakis. The pair started off right by laying down a solid trip, earning them a score of 84. It wasn’t until the second-to-last rider, Tara Spencer, trotted onto the field aboard Rainbow Canyon, owned by Wild Sky Farm, that spectators saw another score in the 80s, this time an 88, bringing the team’s total to an impressive 261. Rainbow Canyon’s nearly flawless round secured a blue ribbon in the class and champion honors in the Zone 10 Small Pony Hunter division. Pearl Theodosakis scored a 78 on her second mount, Made For Me, owned by Marigot Bay Farm LLC, taking home reserve champion in the division with an overall total of 251.

The medium ponies were next and proved to be quite competitive when out of the 12 entrants, four earned scores of 80 or better. The class winner, Truly Noble, ridden by Mitchell Endicott, scored an 89. Skylar Nelson and her classy mount Macy Grey, owned by Wild Sky Farm, were second with a score of 83.5 and when added to their already solid total, clenched the championship for the division. Destry Spielberg was in the irons on As You Wish, owned by Pegasus Show Stable LLC, and rode to a score of 82 and a third place finish. When points were tallied for the mediums, the duo received reserve champion.

Tara Spencer and Romeo, owned by Marissa Platt, were the first to show in the large division and quickly became the pair to beat with a score of 80. Third to go, McKenna Skelton riding Balthazar had a rebuttal to Romeo’s round, taking over the top spot and earning a blue ribbon in the class with a score of 81. With their second place over fences added to their previous day’s scores, Spencer and Romeo were champions in the large division. Also, Spielberg finished third aboard Love And Laughter, owned by Olivia Jack, to secure another reserve championship.

The Zone 10 Pony Final Grand Champion was small pony Rainbow Canyon, ridden by Tara Spencer. Grand Reserve Champion was medium pony Macy Grey with Skylar Nelson in the tack.

Show organizers wished congratulations to Wild Sky Farm, the Nelson family and trainers Archie Cox and Richard Slocum for taking home the top honors.

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

The Zones of Our Horse: You’ll hear me speak about our horse’s zones and the zones correspond to the part of the body that the exercise controls. Exercise No. 1 controls zone 1; exercise No. 2 controls zone 2, and so forth.

1. Lateral Flexion
Piece, or exercise No. 1, is getting the horse to yield his nose to the side as a response to you just lightly moving the rein. As you’ll hear and read again and again in this program, the KEY to achieving success in a performance training program is having a horse that will do everything you ask with a soft and resistance-free neck. By staying with this exercise until your horse will respond to a rein that still has some slack in it, I know, and you will too, that he is giving his head and neck willingly, and not being forced. Again, you’ll need to do this exercise both to the right and the left.

2. Moving The Shoulder
Piece No. 2 consists of moving the shoulder to the right or left, independent of the head. That is, if you are asking the shoulders to go to the right, the horse’s head will stay to the left. To do this you’ll start with exercise No. 1 left, as discussed above, and then by moving your rein toward the horse’s withers and engaging your left leg if you need to, you’ll get the horse to actually step across his right foot with his left one, moving his shoulders to the right. You’ll work on this exercise both to the right and the left.

3. Moving The Ribcage
Exercise No. 3 involves moving the rib cage to the right and the left, while keeping the horse’s body as straight as possible. Your goal is to move his body as one piece. While this sounds easy, it can be a real challenge because he’s probably going to want to move his shoulders first and you can’t let him.

This horse is doing exercise No. 5: Putting The Pieces Together, of the Five Easy Pieces.

5. Putting The Pieces Together
Exercise No. 5 is the test. It’s where you put all the pieces together to see if you have a rough spot that needs extra work. It consists of backing your horse in a circle with his body aligned to the track of the circle that he’s on, that is, hip and nose to the inside of the circle, and shoulders to the outside. To do this you will need hip control, shoulder control and a horse that is soft in the poll.

In the next installment, we’ll go into more details about the Five Easy Pieces with exercise No. 1: Lateral Flexion.

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: www.lesvogt.com