Whether you compete on your horse or not, you’ll find excellent events to attend in fall, and this month is proof!

In Norco, a new event for the equine industry presented by Thrifty Horse Consignment Shoppe will enliven the George Ingalls Equestrian Center Oct. 6-8, as the inaugural Norco Horse Affair comes to Horsetown USA. The entire venue will be teeming with demonstrations, clinics, entertainment, shopping, and an educational equine symposium. (See event program in this issue of the Horsetrader, pages 37-51!) Admission is only $15 per carload, or $5 per walk-in. Much of these proceeds with go to benefit several local area non-profit organizations. Purina Animal Nutrition will also be inviting Norco Horse Affair attendees to enter its drawing for a chance to win an all-expense paid trip for two to the Purina Nutrition Center as a 2018 Professional Horse VIP. This high-tech research facility located in Gray Summit, Mo., is a 1,200-acre working farm with separate units devoted to equine, dairy, swine, cattle and companion animal research. Caring for over 1,000 animals in every stage of development, Purina researchers seek vital new data in areas like digestive physiology, animal metabolism, and growth and development. Stop by the Purina Animal Nutrition booth in the California Horsetrader Breed Pavilion to register. Don’t forget — you can find the Norco Horse Affair Program on page 37 with the map, vendor list, daily schedules, clinician bios, and more! You won’t want to miss the All American Horse Challenge with Mary Rose Anderson (see schedule). You can also visit NorcoHorseAffair.com for more details.

The following weekend on Oct. 15 will be the Ride and Stride Heritage Horse Festival at Walnut Grove Park in San Marcos. This popular annual event put on by the Twin Oaks Valley Equestrian Association is a model for how local eqeustrians can — and should — engage with the non-horsey neighbors in their communities and share the wonderful world of horses. Participants can saddle up their horse, lace up their sneakers, leash their pup and enter the 3-mile Ride and Stride to benefit Walnut Grove Equestrian Park. Check-in is 8:30 at the event, and registrants at the $100 level have a chance to win two tickets and preferred parking for the Luke Bryan “Huntin’ Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day Tour” with special guest Granger Smith on

Oct. 27 at the Mattress Firm Ampitheatre. For more info, go to helpthehorsepark.org.
SoCal Equine Hospital at 875 6th St. in Norco is a state-of-the-art veterinary facility in Horsetown USA — a new 16,000 square-foot hospital with two surgery suites, two recovery rooms, standing surgery room, state-of-the-art imaging room, comprehensive lab, treatment areas, 14 intensive care stalls, specialized lameness area and a full array of surgical, medical, diagnostic and treatment capabilities.
The talented, experienced team at SoCal Equine Hospital provides specialized care 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Services include advanced imaging and diagnostics such as digital x-ray, video endoscopic capabilities, and coming soon Robotic CT. Emergency services such as colic support, fluid therapy, wound treatment and emergency surgery for colics, fractures and any medical condition that requires surgical intervention. SCEH also offer sports medicine expertise and advanced lameness diagnosis and treatment. Rehabilitation and recovery services such as acupuncture, cold spot laser therapy, functional movement taping (as seen during the Olympics), and physical therapy to aid in faster recovery and harder training of the patient. See the ad in the Norco Horse Affair program in this issue,  or call (951) 737-1615. The website is SoCalEquineHospital.com.

Bump N’ Drive™ – The gate revolution. Turn your existing gate into a drive-through gate without replacing it. Bump N’ Drive is a revolutionary new design that opens and closes gates automatically, so you don’t have to leave your vehicle. Kits are engineered to fit any farm or ranch pipe rail gate, as well as many other types. You can install everything in five do-it-yourself steps, including those with disabilities. No electricity of any kind is necessary. Just gently push open the gate with your car, truck, ATV, tractor, or any vehicle, and it will lock securely behind you. Don’t be bothered by snow, rain, ice, or mud ever again!
Bump N’ Drive supplies innovative upgrade kits to convert farm, ranch, or cattle gates into an automatic gate opener. Designed and engineered in the United States, the mechanism holds the gate open as you drive through it, which is a patented feature. The inventor, Michael Merget, was inspired by his time working on a cattle station in the northern territory of Australia. The 2-million-acre ranch didn’t have too many fences, but when the driver came across one, he would simply push the gate open with the bumper of his jeep or truck. An old tire was usually strapped to each side to prevent damaging the gate or vehicle. Michael was intrigued by the idea that a gate could actually open and close by pure mechanical and gravitational means. In 2010, he decided to design a functional and economical bump gate for ranchers, farmers, and small property owners. The finished product was named Bump N’ Drive. Call (800) 479-4941 to order. More info also in on the website is at BumpNDrive.com.

Sylvia Zerbini “Beyond the Stick” Liberte Clinic at Horse Spirit Ranch, Sat. and Sun., Oct. 21-22, is SOLD OUT. However, you can still sign up to audit or be placed on the wait list. Sylvia Zerbini, is the former star of the acclaimed Cavalia and a world-famous horse trainer known for her captivating and mesmerizing theatrical performances where she orchestrates each movement of 8 to 10 gorgeous white Arabians at liberty through body language and voice commands. In “Beyond the Stick” Liberte Clinic, you will learn to identify your horse’s communication style and be able to speak a language that your horse understands through their energy, your body postures and use of eye contact with voice cues. As a master teacher, Sylvia works with you and your horse, to achieve the direct response that will transform your relationship and connect the two of you in a way that you never imagined was possible. You will also witness the lessons of the other participants which will increase your knowledge beyond what you learn with your horse.
The clinic is two full days of instruction and is limited to 7 participants (each person participating with one horse). Each participant receives 4 single lesson sessions with Sylvia: a ½ hour lesson in the morning and a ½ hour private lesson in the afternoon, each day. Each lesson builds on the prior lesson. Audits are $65 one day, $125 two days. Clinic includes 2 meals (light breakfast, catered lunch), snacks, beverages and seating. Audit Registration & payment are due by October 13, 2017. Contact Lynne Hayes at 760 822-3579/email lynne@horsespiritranch.net. Horse Spirit Ranch is located at 3712 Valle Del Sol, Bonsall, CA 92003.