Waltenberry photo

Tish Fappani pilots her gelding Litn Up Conquistador to a 221 to claim the Level 4 Non Pro Futurity championship by 6.5-point margin.

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Friday’s competition at the NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship (NAAC) Show featured the $105,000 added 2010 Cinch®/ NRHA Non Pro Futurity Finals. This championship event welcomed back 59 non pros to compete in a clean-slate format for more than $430,000 in cash and prizes, a variety of prizes from NRHA Corporate Partners and the coveted NRHA Futurity titles.

Tish Fappani of San Marcos, California piloted her gelding Litn Up Conquistador to a 221 to claim the Level 4 Non Pro Futurity championship by a decisive, 6.5-point margin. Fappani earned over $43,000 for the win aboard her gelding by NRHA Million Dollar Sire Conquistador Whiz and out of Aleena Starlight. In addition to over $43,000 in prize money, Fappani won the use of a Cimarron trophy trailer, Bob’s Custom Saddle, Montana Silversmiths trophy buckle, and a variety of gift certificates from NRHA Corporate Partners.

Flying Horse photo

Ashlee Bond and Cadett 7 ended their year in championship fashion at the $50,000 Grand Prix of Los Angeles at the LAEC.

BURBANK — The much-anticipated L.A. National Horse Show Nov. 17-21 gave riders the opportunity to end the season on an exciting note, with the $50,000 Grand Prix of Los Angeles, the WCE and Onondarka Medal Finals, the $5,000 Pre-Green Hunter Championship, and more. It also gave riders who do not normally ride inside the chance to ride in the Equidome when the rain caused some fast thinking and schedule juggling on the part of show management.

“While the rain caused us to be creative, our staff acted quickly to move the highest priority classes into the Equidome,” explained Michael Roy Curtis. “We tarped the warm-up arena so the grand prix riders would have a place to warm up, and the other classes warmed up at one end of the Equidome. The riders adapted well, and we were able to put on a great show on Saturday night.”

TOPEKA, Kansas – It was a cold day last fall in Idaho when Sheryl Lynde was picking up Gypsy Chic, a 2-year old she knew she wanted after riding a full brother in an obstacle course event she was putting on.

“I didn’t bring one of my own horses to the event, and the manager let me ride this little horse he had had for a just a couple weeks out of Idaho,” said Lynde, who trains along with Rick Hoffman in Anza. “I really liked his mind, and when I learned of Gypsy, I went and got her.”

Lynde found the filly in a pasture, “greener than a March hare” and barely halter broke. She took her to the Colorado facility she and Hoffman were working out of last winter, and the process of making a Futurity Champion was under way. Lynde does the starting, Hoffman the finishing.

Kathy Higgins photo

Lyn Anderson rides Dick Hershman’s Meet Rippin Diamonds to the Fairlea Ranch Fall Series Open Shoot-out crown.

EXETER, CA – Just in time for the holidays, several stock horse competitors went home winners from the third and final 2010 Fairlea Ranch Fall Series Show Nov. 13-14.

There was saddle-winning owner Dick Hershman, whose Meet Rippin Diamonds won the Shoot-Out with Lyn Anderson riding, and $5000 Non Pro Limited rider Susan Stokman, another big winner who took home the custom headstall that she and her Im Pleased won in the Shoot-Out. Then there were the 12 class champions – each taking home a breast collar trophy for their cumulative point totals over the six days of shows, held in September, October and November in two-day weekend gatherings.

DEAR DANA: What riding tips do you have to help older riders keep their balance?
— Dea Helm, Placerville, CA

DEAR DEA: That is such a good question! For your safety and enjoyment, it is best to be aware of what you can do to maintain and improve your balance while riding.

TEMECULA – Something new visited Galway Downs Nov. 4-7 — the first CCI3* event ever held in the western U.S.

Someone familiar went home with the title.

Jennie Brannigan, who as a Temecula teenager learned under Susie Hutchison just a stone’s throw from Galway, returned to win the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event CCI3* on Cambalda. It was the first trip to the venue in years for the rising eventing star who works under Olympian Phillip Dutton in Avondale, Pa.

“It meant a little more to come back here and win,” admitted Brannigan, 23. “I was saying to everyone that I was more nervous to do this event than I was to compete in Europe. It was cool.”

RKR Photo

"Shootout" contestants line-up for the Southern California Reined Cow Horse Association's Oct. 17 event.

TEMECULA – Ever since he worked for Doug Williamson, Roy Rich had wanted to train a Hickorys Indian Pep bred horse. He found Fresnos Indian Chief for client Sandi Heitritter almost two years ago at CSU Fresno, and he proved himself right Oct. 17 when he won the Southern California Reined Cow Horse Association Saddle Shootout open division championship.

The class was the pinnacle of the year-end SCRCHA show, held at Casner Ranch Oct. 16-17 after a popular and successful 2010 campaign for the association.

“It’s just unreal,” said Rich. “I’ve never won anything this big before. That was awesome — and I almost didn’t show up for it.”

DEL MAR – Chris Pratt saw the potential of Cruise in the 10-year old bay’s first grand prix last August at the Del Mar Showpark. He went double-clear that day, and had it not been for Pratt and another Indigo Farms LLC entry, G5, winning the class, Cruise would have won his first time out.

At the Del Mar International Oct. 23, Pratt returned to Del Mar with Cruise – this time across I-5 to the Del Mar Arena – and the duo showed their speed in a blazing 12-horse jump-off to claim the $30,000 California Horsetrader Grand Prix. The Canadian-turned-Southern Californian clocked a fast 39.895, topping runner-up Susie Hutchison on Cantano by 1.25 seconds. Cantano is owned by El Dorado 29 of Pauma Valley.

RENO, Nev. — Tucker Robinson, 32, Oak View, Calif., skillfully piloted Stylish Little Oak (Playin Stylish x Shiners Little Oak x  Shining Spark), owned by San Juan Ranch, Shandon, Calif., to a 224 score in the fence work, rewarding him with his first National Reined Cow Horse Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Championship and a $100,000 paycheck.

Robinson and his father, 7-time NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion and NRCHA Hall of Fame rider Ted Robinson, became only the second father-son duo to claim the prestigious title.
“It means so much. I had seen my dad, Jon Roeser, Bob Avila, Greg Ward and John Ward all win it when I was a little kid – and now my name is going on that list with them,” he said. “It is really, really special to me.”

Robinson has ridden Stylish Little Oak since she was a 2-year-old. “John and Brenda Stephenson send my dad and me a handful of 2-year-olds every year, and she and I just fit each other. I really appreciate them giving me the opportunity to ride such great horses,” noted Robinson, who said he knew the mare was special, and that belief in the mare never wavered.

The Friesian Horse Club of Southern California conducted its Friesian Inspection Spectacular 2010 Oct. 1-2 at the Southern California Equestrian Center in Temecula (formerly Galway Downs). Judges Sjouke DeGroot and Wil Thijssen of the Netherlands, each with more than a decade of experience as Inspector on the jury, evaluated 65 horses over the two days, which included a Friday night awards dinner and fund-raiser plus a line-up of 18 vendors. Show Director Sonja Zinke said the inspection represents the diligent measures outlined by the FPS (Friesch Paarden Stamboek) and upheld by the Friesian Horse Association of North America to maintain integrity of the Friesian breed.