TEMECULA — For Danielle Paskowitz, this year’s Sherri Gilkerson Memorial Bridle Spectacular will be remembered as the Year of Changing Horses.

For the last eight years, the San Juan Capistrano non-pro had been partnered with Smart Tom Tucker, her first cow horse that she acquired from Bob Avila and then rode to a staircase of success. Her new horse, Shiners Rojo (Shining Spark x Little Lena Lady x Smart Little Lena) made his California debut under Avila May 13-15 in the $5,000-added Open Bridle Spectacular at the Gilkerson event, and they won — just three days after Paskowitz had sold her 14-year-old “Tucker horse” to a new home.

DEL MAR — Chris Pratt rode Indigo Farms, LLC’s Cruise to victory over a strong field of 31 contenders during the $100,000 Villas at Rancho Valencia Grand Prix of Del Mar, held on Saturday, May 7 at in a packed Del Mar Arena.

The performance climaxed Hunter-Jumper Week for the 2011 Del Mar National Horse Show, and it provided a little deja vu for the horse and rider duo that last fall won the $30,000 California Horsetrader Grand Prix on the same footing during the Del Mar International event.

KATY, Texas – It’s been four years since Martin Muehlstatter established his own training barn in Scottsdale, Ariz., and the highly-regarded 31-year-old Austrian native continues his steady climb to recognition.

His latest step came at the 2011 National Reining Breeders Classic, where he rode Wimpys Little Buddy to a convincing win in the first NBRC Open Classic Challenge competition for horses 7-years-old and up. In a field of heavy-hitters, Muehlstatter deftly rode what he calls “the best-minded horse on the planet” to a score of 228.5 and the $6,147 champion’s paycheck.

BURBANK — In sunny California, the competition for a coveted spot on the U.S. and Canadian Pan American Games teams heated up during the Festival of the Horse CDI-W/Y/J, held March 31-April 3 at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. Despite a large, talented group of international competitors, there was no stopping Steffen Peters with what the judges deemed his new “super horse”, Weltino’s Magic.

Peters and Jen Hlavacek’s 9-year-old Westfalen gelding (Weltino x Diva by Diamond Boy) swept the small tour with impressive scores of 75.395 percent in the Prix St. Georges and 77.237 for the Intermediaire I, and debuted their new freestyle to a score of 79.417.

 

 

Jennifer Rose
Templeton, CA
MY FAVE: Montana de Oro in Los Osos! It is 8,000 acres of beauty with MILES of trails — both in the mountains and on the beach. Doesn’t get more varied than this wonderful place!
BEST BECAUSE: Always something to explore. The trails are beautifully varied, with lots of eucalyptus trees and ocean/beach access. The highest peak you can ride to is 1,347 feet, and to ride to the top of that and overlook the ocean is very peaceful and breathtaking. You can walk, trot, canter and gallop over a lot of the trails and work on endurance and great conditioning for your horses, too.
I START FROM: There are several different places along the road you can park, from a dirt lot to a sandy parking lot covered with trees. Very nice all around!

TULARE — He went without his lucky red shirt this year, but it mattered little to Corey Cushing at the 2011 National Stock Horse Association Classic, held Feb 24-27 at the International Ag Center.

Riding Peppys Royal Outlaw, owned by Day Creek Ranch of Simi Valley, the Scottsdale, Ariz. based trainer took the Open title for the second straight year, outdueling Jon Roeser on Respond Like A Fox by a half-point in the final composite standings 440-439.5. The victory earned $11,500 for the winners, with the reserves taking $8,625.

DEAR DANA: I have a 5-year-old Paint mare that lopes wonderfully on the left lead, but when I ask her to lope to the right she can’t hold it together as well — she doesn’t feel as smooth or as cadenced to the right. What can I do to fix her lope?
— Anna Olsen, Ojai, CA

DEAR ANNA: That is a very good question! Almost all horses lope or canter on one lead better than the other, and there are many reasons for this.

THERMAL — Rich Fellers of Wilsonville, Ore., and Flexible, owned by Harry and Mollie Chapman, continued to prove why they are the hottest horse-and-rider combination at the 2011 HITS Desert Circuit when they topped the field in the $31,000 Strongid C 2X Welcome Classic, presented by Pfizer Animal Health at HITS Desert Horse Park Feb 24.

The triumph was the third of the circuit for the decorated duo, as they were the best out of the 39 starters to challenge International Course Designer Marina Azevedo’s (Sao Paulo, Brazil) first round course, and the 13 teams that advanced to the jump-off.

POMONA — With such nationally known trainers as Sheila Varian, Jim Lowe, David Garrett, Cynthia Burkman and Lou Roper, as well as many fine local Southern California trainers and others, the Sierra Empire Arabian Horse Association started the 2011 show season Jan. 28-30 at the Fairplex.

Show officials were pleased: Entries were up to 190 horses from 130 horses last year at the same show, and the weather was perfect for Friday and Saturday’s events with clear skies and 70 to 80 degree weather. Sunday afternoon, however, brought some rain that threatened snow in mountain passes, forcing several exhibitors to pull out early to beat the snow before major highways closed to traffic.

The trail of the American Competitive Trail Horse Association traces back only two years, when Texan founders Tom and Carrie Scrima created more than a club – it’s now a movement. Since 2008, when 87 ACTHA members held 13 rides, the organization has grown like grass under a leaky spigot. This year, more than 14,000 members will ride in 1,000 ACTHA events.

“Hard to believe,” says Tom. “The whole idea was a one-day venue requiring skill and reasonable conditioning that would be casual in nature – and offer rewards for excellence. But, always, the ’cause’ has been in the forefront.”