Upgrade your stallion ad into full-color glossy for $99…even a full page?! Sponsor Facebook updates as part of your ad price?! This is the time to call Lori at (760) 546-1184 and learn about these incentives and more that will help make your 2012 stallion campaign the best in years…using your BEST marketplace, California Horsetrader and Horsetrader.com.

Up close and personal — it’s EquestFest. Meet many of the equestrians you will see New Year’s Day in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade. You don’t want to miss what may be the best family equestrian event of the year! Watch in awe as these beautiful horses and talented riders perform drills and dances, demonstrate trick riding, jousting and roping. It’s festive fun for the whole family! Stroll through the stables and talk to the riders. Learn about the various tack and the many different breeds. Take advantage of wonderful one-of-a-kind photo opportunities. Enjoy ongoing performances, demonstrations and exhibits! There will also be great music, as well as food and beverage concessions on site. EquestFest will be held at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank. For tickets, call (626) 795-4171, and see the ad on page 71.

Compton Junior Posse, whose mission is “Keeping Kids on Horses…And Off the Streets!” has had a spectacular 2011 and also has a long list of people to thank. Each year, many professional and generous people donate their time, talents, gifts and facilities to help foster these young adults to become the best they can be –- both on and off their horses. Many life skills and lessons are learned from these mentors. For this, Compton Junior Posse says “Thank you!” Be sure to mark your calendars for CJP’s annual fund-raiser being held next spring on Saturday, May 12. It’s a memorable evening and is the major supporting event that CJP conducts for the year. CJP is now accepting tax-deductible donations for this event and thanks you in advance. For more info, see the ad on page 15.

Sierra Empire Arabian Horse Association’s 37th Annual Show is coming soon! To be held Jan. 27-29 at the Pomona Fairplex, this fun and exciting event offers classes for Arabians, Half-Arabians and Anglo-Arabians, along with carriage pleasure driving classes, UPHA Challenge Cup classes & more! It will be an AHA approved qualifying show for Reg. 1, Pacific Slope, Youth, Canadian and U.S. National Championships. The show is also an “A-rated” USEF event for Arabian, Half-Arabian, Anglo-Arabian and Junior Exhibitor Arabian. Call for a complete prize list and premium at (760) 868-4405. See the ad on page 68.

Looking for your next hunter, jumper or dressage superstar? Swede Equine Show Stable, Hanna Mauritzson and Liz McConnell, invite you to their Sport Horse Sales Event! Held at their beautiful facility in San Marcos, on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., this will be a great opportunity to see a large selection of quality sales and lease horses — all in one place! There will be an exhibition of horses presented in dressage, jumping and free jumping – along with a wine and cheese party! For more information or a list of sales horses, please call (760) 744-0509 or (858) 335-8832. See ad on page 69.

The perfect, most thoughtful and appreciated gift for Christmas is one that is warm, loving, intelligent, well-mannered and four-legged. You’ll find lots of horses for sale in our classified and Fototrader® sections in this issue!

And, the next best thing to finding a ribboned horse under the tree or in the barn is the chance to learn from a top trainer. This year, ask your trainer for a gift certificate for lessons! They’d be happy to oblige. You’ll find some even have specials for the season start with our Trainer’s Directory on page 62.