City of L.A. committee OKs venue; IOC meets in April

From staff reports

A Los Angeles City Council Ad Hoc Committee on the Olympic and Paralympic Games, meeting for the first time since June 2024, approved by a 5-0 vote March 26 to proceed with requested venue changes from the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games organizing committee. Relocation of all equestrian events are headed to Galway Downs in Temecula, pending one final approval step in April.

By Daniel H. Grove, DVM

Foals are about to start hitting the ground left and right. It is a rare day for me in the peak of foaling season to not be doing a new foal exam (or two or three!). A new foal exam and care in the first few days is vital to keeping a healthy herd, but the first year of life for foals requires some special care that is a bit different than for the adults.

Temecula Valley Rural Lifestyles group fundraiser April 10

TEMECULA — One of Southern California’s most important — and fun! — equestrian fundraisers is April 10 at Europa Village Winery, and one of the region’s most important trail proponents will be honored that night.

Gil Pankonin, a pioneer of Temecula Valley’s riding trails and a founding member and longtime President of Temecula Valley Rural Lifestyles will be awarded the 2025 TVRL Trailblazer Award. His contributions on horseback, or working onsite to help construct the trails, or advocating in offices with county officials, surveyors, and attorneys, have all helped ensure that trails are a vital, permanent asset to the community.

From fire to trophy saddle, Rookie Champ met challenges

By Horsetrader staff

BURBANK — Katrina Larsen and Dazzle N Chrome have never competed in a trail trials class, but they faced intense obstacles and challenges on their course to a reining title.

Perhaps the biggest one came when they were apart, not connected, when a policeman stood in front of the car she was in with her grandparents, telling the teen-ager, “no…you cannot go in there.”

Postponed twice, Pink Classic Horse Show refreshes after fires

By Horsetrader staff

BURBANK — Good things are worth the wait, and the Pink Classic Horse Show brought the Los Angeles Equestrian Center to life Feb. 6-9 after a pair of postponements. After the venerable fall event was postponed because of weather to January 9-12, the tragic fires of Los Angeles forced another date change to the first weekend in February.

The Pink Classic hosted the Pacific Coast Horse Show Association Trail Classic and the Jack and Linda Baker Reining Finals. Both classes were open to all PCHA youth and amateur members.

Support, dissent both aired at meeting to reveal center’s plans, needs

From Horsetrader staff reports

TEMECULA — Galway Downs owner Ken Smith hosted a well-attended presentation Feb. 19 to announce plans and hear public comments in the wake of January requests his team made to Riverside County planners. Along with Galway Downs Manager Robert Kellerhouse and land use consultant Alan Long, all three took turns at the mic to field questions. The almost two-hour forum was at times heated — especially when traffic caused by soccer events at Galway was broached — and at times supportive: the mention of Galway Downs’s proposed hosting of the 2028 Olympic Games equestrian events drew a loud ovation.

Jeanne Rosenberg and ‘Chewy’ relax, take JLB reining title

By Horsetrader staff

BURBANK — Horses have always been part of Jeanne Rosenberg’s forty-some years at her Topanga Canyon ranch. Wildfires have been, too.

So, when Jeanne saw smoke about 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 7 with strong winds, it was time to evacuate the horses.

“We’ve been through several fires up here,” says Jeanne, who can recall 10 or so blazes of varying intensity over the years. “We got the horses out, but then we stayed. It’s much easier for us to protect the property if the horses are not here. If the smoke is bad or if people can’t get in with hay and shavings, it can be really horrible.

Proper examination is the safest (and legal) path to prescriptions

By Daniel H. Grove, DVM

Here is a question that can be a point of contention between many veterinarians and their clients:

“Why does my veterinarian need to see that before I get medication? This is a simple problem, and I just need the medication.”

Let us take a look at why it is necessary for a patient to first be seen before dispensing or prescribing medication.

I will start with the client’s point of view. The client may be a very experienced horse person who has been doing this for 30-plus years. They have a minor cut on the horse that they are comfortable cleaning and wrapping to allow it to heal. They have had the veterinarian out for 10 of these in the past and the treatment is always the same: put them on some antibiotics, give them some bute and give a tetanus shot. Why can’t they just pick up some antibiotics and treat the horse without the expense of the veterinarian seeing the horse?

WCRH 3-day Ranch Horse Kick-off with Bud Lyon starts ’25 season

Special to the Horsetrader

TEMECULA — West Coast Ranch Horse launched its 2025 season with a Ranch Horse Kick-off event Feb. 14-16, featuring four sold-out clinic sessions led by multiple world champion and ranch horse expert Bud Lyon of Whitesboro, Texas. Forty riders and 75 auditors benefited from Bud’s well-structured session and practical coaching, gaining insights to elevate their ranch riding, ranch rail, and ranch trail performance.

Beyond the clinics, held at California Ranch Company, attendees enjoyed a rope handling and drag clinic as well as a Saturday night happy hour, fostering camaraderie among fellow ranch horse enthusiasts.

Ready to hit the trail?

From the Horsetrader sales staff

How about a three-day horse camping trip at Black Rock in Yucca Valley (March 13-16)? Or a weekend adventure in the Bakersfield Scenic Preserve (March 21-23)? Then, of course, there are one-day trail rides and horse shows, including an upcoming spring Trail Trials at Ranger Park in Lakeview Terrace — all part of the ETI calendar. To learn more about Equestrian Trails, Inc., check out their pages on page 30-31 this issue, and be sure to check out the Horsetrader’s show and events calendar on pages 32-33, where you can locate events from International 3-Day Eventing to a Rattlesnake Awareness Training (in “Special Events). And, if you or your club have shows, clinics, special events — even meetings — go on Horsetrader.com and enter them today. Here is our online events page. They are FREE!

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Congratulations are in order!

King Performance Horses, one of the prestigious barns in our Trainer’s Directory, had a terrific weekend at the Southern California Ranch Riding Show in Lakeside on Feb. 9. Here are the barn’s highlights:

• Emma Ikerd and CBK Hollyblossom were Reserve Champions in 18-Under Ranch Division and shined in Green W/T/L Ranch Confirmation
• Katie Fellion and Tinsel Berri ruled in Amateur Ranch Confirmation and won the Team Ranchmanship Challenge with barnmate Kailey King-Hale
• Gail Mills and Stop Buckin, int their first time EVER showing in Ranch riding got a ribbon in Select Ranch Riding Rail
• Kailey King-Hale and Gotta Have Style were on fire in Open Ranch Rail and Green Horse W/T/L Confirmation
  Well done, team! For more info on King Performance Horses, located in Chino Hills, see the ad on page 17 or go to their new website at https://kingperformancehorses.com.

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Thinking about building a barn?

Thinking about a new barn or putting up a shelter? Be sure to see the North Coast Barns ad (on page 15) for their special sale on the North Coast 4-stall Shedrow Barn, which comes standard with six feet free standing overhang. All North Coast Barns come with standard features that include a Lifetime Guarantee on Steel Frame, a 10-year Warranty on Kick & Chew, 2X6 T&G siding, and painted steel roofing. The NCB price includes installation, concrete pier foundation, engineering plans, feed package and tax! Compare and save — North Coast Barns will NOT be undersold! There also are special discounts to anyone suffering a loss due to wildfires. For more info, call (800) 525-BARN, and visit the website at northcoastbarns.com.