Richard Spooner and Robinson greet some of their young fans.

DEL MAR — Richard Spooner of Agua Dulce, Calif., has already achieved show jumping success as only the second U.S. rider to win 100-plus Grand Prix events. But winning the $100,000 Grand Prix of Del Mar has eluded him for years, until the 2009 Del Mar National Horse Show, in which he finally won the May 2 highlight event of the show’s Hunter/Jumper Week from April 30-May 3 at Del Mar Fairgrounds.

Spooner not only took the $100,000 Grand Prix of Del Mar aboard his Ace, an 11-year-old Holsteiner stallion, but also placed second riding Cristallo, an 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Show Jumping Syndications International.

Horsetrader photo / Daniel K. Lew

In only her third Grand Prix competition, Saer Coulter and Cats Are Grey place third.

Young rider Saer Coulter of San Francisco, an up-and-coming Grand Prix rider who has risen from success in the Junior/Amateur levels, was only competing in her third Grand Prix. Coulter riding her Cats Are Grey placed third in the $100,000 Grand Prix of Del Mar, as she and Spooner were the only riders to jump clear in the first round to return for the jump-off.

Simply qualifying for the $100,000 Grand Prix of Del Mar was an achievement. Sixty rider-horse entries first had to compete in the April 30 $25,000 Surfside Grand Prix, which was won by Ali Nilforushan of Cardiff, Calif., riding Voice, owned by Zeidler Farm Canada Ltd. The top 31 pairs from the Surfside Grand Prix returned to compete in the $100,000 Grand Prix of Del Mar.

Robinson Retires: The evening of May 2 at Del Mar National also included several special presentations, including the retirement ceremony for Robinson, an 21-year-old Hanoverian gray gelding, who has won 40 Grand Prix events–more than any other U.S. horse–with Spooner aboard. Robinson showed in his last Grand Prix in 2007, but has occasionally filled in for one of his stable mates to carry Spooner in victory laps.

Horsetrader photo / Daniel K. Lew

Ali Nilforushan and Voice top a field of 60 entries to win the $25,000 Surfside Grand Prix on April 30.

“It’s hard to win 40 Grand Prixs, period. But on one horse, too, it’s not so easy,” Spooner said. “I feel graced to have been part of his career and life. I consider myself lucky.”

Spooner said he chose to retire Robinson at the Del Mar National Horse Show because “Del Mar is a place that Robinson always liked to compete,” in addition to being one of the best shows to compete in the Western United States. “So, it seemed fitting that Robinson would get to retire here,” he said.

At the conclusion of the evening’s competitions, Robinson was stabled at the end of the meet-and-greet line, in which spectators had the chance to get autographs and talk to many of the Grand Prix riders. Fans of “Robby” had the close-up chance to personally say good-bye to the horse, who is also famous for hanging his tongue out of his mouth during competition, usually to the right, a quirk which many find endearing.

Robinson will continue to live his retirement years with his long-time companion. “He’s going to hang out with me. I’ve got a turnout set up for him at my place,” Spooner said. “Wherever I go, that’s where he’s going to be.”

Horsetrader photo / Daniel K. Lew

Cunningham won the Regular Conformation and Regular Working Hunter title.

The meet-and-greet line with the Grand Prix riders continued to be a popular Del Mar tradition, and the line lasted for almost a couple hours. Jim Coulter was proud to observe his daughter, Saer Coulter, behind the autograph tables, alongside show jumping veterans. “One of the great things about this sport is the ability to keep doing bigger and more interesting things along the way. It’s fun as a parent watching the kids grow, year to year,” Jim Coulter said. “All of the experienced riders were so kind to Saer, very encouraging and congratulating her. It says a lot for the sport.”

New Events: Hunter/Jumper Week at Del Mar National also included some new events. Prior to the $100,000 Grand Prix of Del Mar, 12 riders competed in the $5,000 Ride & Drive, in which riders first jumped a shortened course, then hopped into a convertible Mustang to drive around a course in the Del Mar Arena.

Ride & Drive was popular with the evening’s sold-out crowd of more than 4,500 spectators, who cheered on the competitors. Guy Thomas riding Marbridge Clover Diamond, owned by Emily Livermore, won the $5,000 Ride & Drive. “That was an exciting event and the crowd loved it–it was well received,’ said Dale Harvey, show manager of Del Mar National’s Hunter/Jumper Week.

Another new event was the $5,000 Five Bar, won by Lane Clarke riding McLord’s First John, owned by Mickey Hayden.

In the $2,500 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper WCAR Selection Trial, Victoria D’Agostino won the big class with 57 entries with a clear round in the fastest time. D’Agostino said she and her 12-year-old gelding, Rodos, rode carefully and she credits her horse for powering through a triple combination, which caused problems for many other riders.

“The horse show has been great with a lot of entries,” D’Agostino said. “I come to this horse show every year from Venezuela, but I had never won this class before, so it was really exciting. This is a really nice show and I love California. They do a really good job with everything here; it’s well organized and they make everyone feel welcome.”

Christina Harney of Long Beach won the Adult Amateur Working Hunter 18-35 Under Saddle class riding her Fendi, a 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. “I’ve had him for three years, worked him since he was green, and he’s really coming along–I’m quite proud of him,” Harney said. “I had a great time and my family came out. It was a nice ring for him and suited him well.”

Harney has been riding horses for the past 21 years. “I’ve been wanting to ride even before I could walk. When I was 7, I was allowed to start riding and went from there. I’ve been with trainer Mary Gatti for 18 of those years.”

The Del Mar Arena with its new, covered arena and $15 million in upgrades debuted April 16 during Western Week of the three-week Del Mar National. The renovated facility continued to draw praise.

“I think it’s spectacular; it’s nice to have total protection from the rain, and it makes for tremendous ambiance for the competition,” Spooner said. “You can tell the state is committed to supporting the horse shows and horse sport.”

Dale Harvey, Hunter/Jumper Week show manager since 1997, said he was pleased with both the new Del Mar Arena and the May 2 sell-out crowd.

“When I was riding myself, this was my favorite place to show. I was really nervous when they were putting the roof on; it might take away from the special atmosphere that it had,” Harvey said. “But it has really contributed to it, brought more warmth, and the riders really like it.”

Harvey said he and other officials plan to make bids for Del Mar to host another FEI World Cup Jumping Finals, which it once hosted in 1992–and Harvey also competed in it. “The arena has tremendous potential. Someday, we want to have the Finals here again,” Harvey said.

After selling several hundred, standing-room only tickets when bleacher seats had filled, show officials had to close the gates May 2 and stop ticket sales. “If that was any indication of the way it’s going to go from now on, it’s pretty exciting to be sold out,” Harvey said. “We were full; it’s interesting that in lousy economic times, people really came out.”

International course designer Leopoldo Palacios, one of the lead designers of Del Mar’s Hunter/Jumper Week courses, described the new Del Mar Arena as “fantastic; it’s one of the best. This complex is a super place for horse sports. Here, you will see very important competitions in the future. California is getting better and better in show jumping.”

Palacios added he was glad to be present for Robinson’s retirement. “I love that horse; I’ve built a lot of courses for that horse–and winning a lot of times–it was a very nice ceremony.”

Harvey said it was a great honor to have Robinson retire at Del Mar National. “He’s one of the greatest horses in the United States, certainly on the West Coast,” Harvey said. “To have the privilege of being able to do that is really special.”

Spooner said his overall experience at the 2009 Del Mar National “was one of the best shows I’ve ever had. I think this show is as international as a show can get–and I’ve shown all over the world. The education that a rider can get at this show is irreplaceable. We’re all lucky to have a show like this in the Western United States.”

Horsetrader photo / Daniel K. Lew

Karl Cook and Notories Utopia win the $25,000 Junior / Amateur-Owner Grand Prix 1.45m on May 3.

Other highlights from Del Mar National’s Hunter/Jumper Week include:

• $25,000 Junior/Amateur Owner Grand Prix 1.45m: Karl Cook on Notories Utopia
• $25,000 Del Mar National Horse Show Open Equitation Championship Finals: Kasey Ament on Octavia.
• $2,500 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper WCAR Selection Trial: Victoria D’Agostino on Rodos.
• $2,000 Junior Hunter Classic: Saer Coulter on Positano.
• $2,000 Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic: Laura Wasserman on Overseas.
• $1,000 Pony Hunter Classic: Pearl Theodosakis on Helicon Take Notice.
• $1,000 Children’s Jumper Classic WCAR Selection Trial: Sophie Simpson on NZ Sneaky Feeling.
• $1,000 Adult Amateur Jumper Classic WCAR Selection Trial: Katie King on Ocean Passge.
• Santa Anita Cup, Leading Open Jumper Rider: Richard Spooner.
• Emmett Kelly Challenge Perpetual Trophy, Regular Conformation and Regular Working Hunter Show Champion: Cunningham, owned by Mary Slouka and ridden by John Bragg.
• Harry Forbes Sportsmanship Award: Lane Clarke.
• Pepper Tree Farms Jr/Am Style of Riding Award: Lucy Davis.
• Best Child Rider Award: Saer Coulter.
• Best Amateur Rider: Hannah Selleck.
• Grand Champion Pony Hunter and Best Pony Rider Award: Skylar Nelson on Macy Grey.

For complete show results, visit: www.sdfair.com/horseshow/hunter.html

An inspiring Doug Williamson and Smart Miss Merada win NRCHA Hackamore Classic Open.

PASO ROBLES — Doug Williamson defines perseverance. After fighting his way back from a setback with cancer, the National Reined Cow Horse Association Hall of Fame inductee won his second NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Championship in 2002.

Then, after experiencing a grisly fall just seven months ago during the 2008 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity cow work, he has once again come back to win — this time taking the 2009 NRCHA Hackamore Classic Open Championship on Smart Miss Merada.

For Williamson, the comeback is all about getting to do what he loves–train and show reined cow horses.

“I’m just a lucky man to still be doing what I love to do,” he said. “I have to thank my wife, Carol, and all my help. They’re my inspiration, because they believe in me so much. I am so grateful to them.”

At the NRCHA Hackamore Classic from April 24-26 at Paso Robles Event Center, Williamson piloted the mare to a 148 in the herd work, and followed that with a 145.5 in the reining.

“She was really cute and good in the cutting, and she was very strong and nice in the reining,” he said. “In the cow work, we had tough cattle, but she handled it anyways. We wound up marking a 149.”

Because he owns Smart Miss Merada (Leo Merada x Uno Smart Lady), Williamson was awarded a check for $17,180, a Bob’s Custom Saddle, a monogrammed tooled breast collar, a full handcrafted hackamore from Krause Mecates and San Benito Braiding, and a CR Morrison NRCHA trophy.

Primo Morales photo

Ed Robertson and That CD Rocks take NRCHA Hackamore Classic Open Reserve and Intermediate Open.

Earning the Open Reserve and the Intermediate Open Championship was Ed Robertson, who rode the 4-year-old stallion, That CD Rocks, to a 442 total. The Open Reserve title netted $13,744, and the Intermediate Open Championship came with a check for $3,960.

With Robertson at the reins, That CD Rocks (CD Lights x Shiney Tari) marked a 149.5 in the herd work, and followed that with another 149.5 in the rein work.

“We were last in the set, and I got to cut the cows I had picked out. This horse was awesome and was just dead on. In the reining, he was smooth as glass, and he just floated through,” he said.

And although the score of 143 in the cow work was a point shy of what was needed to take the lead in the Open from Williamson, Robertson was quick to say the horse did his job.

Primo Morales photo

Eric Freitas and Travelin Cielo win NRCHA Hackamore Classic Non Pro.

“Today we had a lot of cow,” he said. “We had good fence turns but he was scrambling in the circle. But this horse was really good, and honestly, he’s really good all the time. I really want to thank Robbie Humphreys for letting me show this horse.”

At the 2008 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity, Robertson and the stallion earned the Intermediate Open Championship, and barely a month ago earned the Open and Intermediate Open Championships at the NRCHA Stakes in Nampa, Idaho. The stallion’s future looks bright. “We’re just going to save him and take him to the big ones,” he explained.

Brandon Staebler earned Intermediate Open Reserve honors on Chic Ostarlight, owned by Kim Routh. Chic Ostarlight, by Smart Chic Olena and out of Cassandra Starlight, had a 431.5 composite, worth $3,168.

Will Pennebaker won the Limited Open Championship on his horse, Snorty Little Pep, by Snorty Lena and out of Badger Sis. Their 417 composite came with a paycheck for $2,010.

Primo Morales photo

Will Pennebaker and Snorty Little Pep win NRCHA Hackamore Classic Limited Open.

Primo Morales photo

Jake Telford and Shady Lil Starlight win Hackamore Classic Open Bridle Sweepstakes

“I had a hot quit in the herd work – my second cow wouldn’t quit, and when it did I was just a little too slow getting off of it,” he said. “But then we went in the reining — that was the best she’s ever done. We had a tough cow down the fence, but we got her shown. This is actually her first show this year.”

Although Pennebaker hopes to show the mare at the NRCHA Derby in June, he noted that the mare was for sale.

For complete results, visit: www.nrcha.com/pdf/news/prod/showresults.asp

Bill and Kelli Norwood

TEMECULA – It’s been said that in times of crisis, you find out who your friends are. For the Bill and Kelli Norwood family of Temecula, California, NRHA members from around the world have been the friends that the Norwood’s can count on.

On April 5, the Norwoods noticed that their five-week-old daughter, Ella, seemed uncomfortable. She was vomiting and had diarrhea, which they thought might be symptoms of the flu. When they took her to the doctor, however, he found a mass in her abdomen and immediately sent Ella to Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego.

Once at the hospital, it was discovered that the mass was pressing on her bladder and reproductive organs and appeared to have tentacles that had extended around her lower spine and tailbone. A pediatric neurosurgeon was consulted, and 10 days later, Ella underwent surgery to remove the tumor.

During this time, Ella was kept comfortable and Bill and Kelli moved into the nearby Ronald McDonald house for a five-week stay. Knowing their families and friends were all worried about Ella, the Norwood’s decided to start a web site through www.caringbridge.org so that everyone could keep up with Ella’s progress. Through the website, Bill and Kelli were able to feel the love and support from their friends and family from as far away as Australia, Canada and, of course, the NRBC.

After a 7.5-hour surgery on April 15, Ella lived in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) for a week, eventually moving to the pediatric oncology ward of the hospital where visitors could see her. Although the tumor was indeed malignant, the doctors felt that they had been able to remove all of it. This meant no chemotherapy or radiation, though Ella will still need to be monitored on a regular basis for the rest of her life. She was released from the hospital on May 4, and was sent home to recover.

Despite her progress, family members say Ella is not “out of the woods.”

Through the ordeal, the reining community has reached out in a big way. On May 3, Foran Performance Horses hosted a clinic to benefit the Rebecca Goss “Boo-Yaah” Foundation. After the clinic, Martha Goss announced that all $2,140 raised would go straight to the Norwoods.

“It was a no-brainer for us all to agree that the proceeds go to Ella’s medical and household expenses,” Goss said. “We hope that it will help and give the family comfort as well.”

Goss has also announced that any further donations for the Norwoods can be made to the Goss Foundation, and 100 percent of the earmarked donations will go to the Norwood family. Because the Foundation is an approved 501c-3, all donations are tax-deductible.

“It’s the very least we can do to help,” Goss said. “The reining community has reached out to support this foundation in a big way, and it is only natural that now we can use our resources to help another one of our own.”

Lisa Hernandez is also organizing a benefit horse show. It is scheduled for Aug. 29 at Casner Ranch in Temecula, and will feature both reining and cow horse classes. After the show, there will be a live auction of donated items, including three one-hour P3 treatments for your horse, artwork, a week’s stay in a condo in Hawaii, a weekend at a bed and breakfast, clothes, arena work, tack, and much more.

If you would like to make a monetary donation to the Norwood family, please send it through the Rebecca Goss “Boo-Yah” Foundation, with a note in the memo line to be earmarked for Ella. Donations can be sent to: John or Martha Goss, 8787 Flower Rd., Rancho Cucamonga, CA  91730. Donations can be made via PayPal by visiting the web site at www.beccaboo-yaah.org.

Donations for the auction at the benefit horse show can be mailed directly to Lisa Hernandez, 4208 Conquistador, Oceanside, CA 92056. Hernandez can also be contacted at 760-732-3002 (home); 760-212-8552 (cell); or email reinergirl@cox.net.
To keep up with Ella’s progress, visit www.caringbridge.org

Just in time for a “summer in the saddle”… the RidezCool Saddle Pads. This patent-pending technology revolutionizes saddle pads, using airflow channels and vent holes keep your horse cooler to improve performance. It’s flexible, lightweight and dries completely in 30-40 minutes…just hose and hang! Several styles to choose from depending on your discipline and comes with 2-year warranty. See the ad on page 71.

Looking to learn more about dressage? Want to improve you and your horse’s performance? Join Susann Regalmuto for a dressage clinic May 30-31 at Rockin W Ranch in Shadow Hills. Offering free auditing and lecture, along with free stall (bring your own feed/shavings), this clinic is open to all levels of riders, from training through FEI. Come enjoy Rockin W’s brand new full-size dressage arena! To reserve your spot, see the ad on page 71 and call Susann at (951) 515-7133.

The National Versatility Ranch Horse Association will be sponsoring the first Versatility Ranch Horse event in California to be held June 13-14 in Paso Robles at the Loftus Arena. Geared toward both novice and accomplished horsemen, the clinic will feature World’s Greatest Horseman finalist Mark Luis, along with expert clinician Jay Henson. Riders will learn roping, cutting, cow work, trail and conformation during the Saturday clinic. On Sunday, riders will have the chance to show off their skills in the versatility event. Cost for the clinic or the event is $170 per event, or $300 for both events. Entry deadline is June 1, so call now to reserve your spot! Call Cece Chambless at (505) 470-8989.

Still haven’t made all of your summer vacation plans for the family or kids? Be sure to check out our Horse Vacations/ Camps section on pages 52-53 for various guest ranches and kids camps throughout the summer. Some new ones you’ll find in this issue are Palomar Christian Conference Center which offers Horse Camp 2009 for girls ages 10-17; Project Safari Camp for Kids with day camps in Chino Hills and sleep-away camps in Temecula; Bright Valley Farms in San Diego’s Spring Valley, offering weekly camps for boys and girls ages 7 and over, and the Monte Vista Horsemanship Camps. The fun is set to begin this summer!

Shed some light on your arena or barn! Titan Equine Lighting will show you how with a free design layout and price quote to install an affordable, energy-efficient Orion Lights system. Enjoy full spectrum, daylight-quality light without glare or shadows while adding safety and reducing greenhouse gases. To discocer Orion Lights and the service and expertise offered by Titan Equine Lighting, see the ad on page 38!

Tea Tree Medicated Shampoo is an effective medicated shampoo containing the finest natural ingredients, including tea tree oil and aloe. Tea Tree Medicated Shampoo aids in the relief of multiple skin ailments including bacteria, fungus, dry skin, bug bites and rain rot. Available in 32 oz. size, it may also be used as an all-purpose shampoo to maintain a healthy coat and promote hair growth. See the ad on page 18, or call (800) 328-1317.