Fort Worth, TEXAS — After a brief hiatus, the American Paint Horse Association (APHA) has announced the return of a horse sale during its World Championship Paint Horse Show series this fall.

The Breeders’ Trust Select Sale will consist of 50 head of top American Paint Horses that are all nominated to APHA’s popular incentive program, the Breeders’ Trust.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Volunteers from Kentucky and surrounding states flocked to Lexington June 1 for the very first volunteer training session in preparation for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. This marks the beginning of general volunteer training which will span the month of June.

“It went fabulously,” said Erin Faherty, director of volunteer services, about the first session. “The volunteers are very excited and they are beginning to realize that they not only represent themselves, the local area, and Kentucky, but also the United States.”

VISTA — A San Diego County Supervisor who was confronted by some some horse owners at a campaign event in May declared that the major use permitting process for horse operations is “too onerous” and then promised to do something about the process.

DAVIS — The William and Inez Mabie Family Foundation has pledged $3 million to support the Center for Equine Health (CEH) to continue its operational, educational and research efforts to benefit horses. The CEH is part of the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, Davis.

The Mabie Endowment will ensure the permanence of the CEH and allow it to continue its research and educational programs in equine medical science, officials say.

The endowment was offered in the form of a challenge grant whereby an additional $1.8 million must be raised within six years to create a matching endowed directorship position. The requested “Directors Endowment” is a call to the equine industry from the Mabie Foundation to provide the necessary funding to recruit exemplary future leaders of the Center.

“The Mabie Endowment is an invaluable gift to the School of Veterinary Medicine,” said Dr. Gregory Ferraro, DVM, Director of the CEH. “It will allow the Center and our equine faculty to improve the health, performance and welfare of horses in perpetuity. Their gift, combined with the fulfillment of the proposed Directorship Endowment, will position UC Davis permanently as an international leader in equine medical research and education. The vision and leadership provided by the Mabie Foundation on behalf of the horse are to be commended. I can’t thank them enough.”

Persons or organizations interested in meeting the Mabie Foundation’s challenge by contributing to the CEH “Directorship Endowment” campaign should contact Dr. Gregory L. Ferraro at (530) 752-6433, or email: glferraro@ucdavis.edu.

AGUA DULCE – Rona Doc, one of California’s most consistent performers during reining’s rise in the region’s show scene, passed away April 30 on the ranch of her longtime owners, Steve and Georgiana Rodrigues.

For a generation, Rona Doc, who was originally bred, owned and trained by Jim and Roberta McCarty, made a habit of finishing at the top or near it of reining competitions from Del Mar to Santa Rosa. No where else was the mare’s consistency more noticed than the Pacific Coast Horse Shows Association Jack Baker Classic, where Georgiana showed her for 11 years, winning it once and placing in the top 10 in all but one year.

“She was willing, talented, pretty – all the things you’d want in a very nice horse,” said Roberta McCarty, who sold Rona Doc to Georgiana as an 8-year old. “She made a great horse for Georgiana.”

Back Country Horsemen of America, one of the nation’s leading organizations in saving public lands trails for equestrian use, are ready to assist interested horsepeople with local programs.

Formed in the 1970s, the BCHA urges horse people with concerns of losing trails and trail access to act promptly and organize.

“There’s nothing wrong with riding clubs focused on enjoying our beautiful landscape from the back of a horse, but BCHA is dedicated also to preserving our opportunity to have that experience,” said BCHA publicist Sarah Wynne Jackson. “BCHA membership is not for everyone — but if you’re ready to pick up the reins to join the hard hitters and the big players in the effort to preserve our right to ride, you may be ready to accept the responsibility of BCHA membership.”

SANTA YNEZ — More than 2,000 friends and family descended on the Santa Lucia Farm Sunday, April 18, to pay respects and honor Dr. Van Snow, a veterinarian and pilot who died in a plane crash near Borrego Springs 10 days earlier.

Dr. Snow, 58, was a prominent equine veterinarian and an early pioneer in shock-wave therapy to treat soft-tissue injuries and stress fractures in horses. He was an expert on lameness and was known for his work with stem cells and other groundbreaking therapies.

Dr. Snow was reportedly planning to compete in an air show and was practicing in his experimental Harmon Rocket when it crashed just short of the runway at Borrego Valley Airport in north east San Diego County.

KATY, Texas — Sandwiched between Friday night competitions at the National Reining Breeders Classic April 12-18 at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center, Robert Chown was acknowledged as the NRBC’s latest media award winner. The Bonsall, Calif., native waved and returned to work as host of the No. 1-rated show on RFD-TV, the Wide World Of Horses.

The budding star of equestrian broadcasting, who is also a 19-time World Champion in stock horse and reining arenas, got his on-camera break not because of his talent, first-hand knowledge and work ethic, but because of timing.

MOSCOW, Idaho – For the third straight year, the Calizona Appaloosa Horse Club has been named the Exemplary Appaloosa Regional Club, an honor developed to recognize regional clubs that go above and beyond when promoting the Appaloosa breed.

Founded in 1953, the 70-member Calizona group documented its annual activities in a scrapbook. The effort had to meet 28 criteria set up by the ApHC, with points awarded in categories like shows, trail rides, parades, membership increases, youth programs and other activities. Regional Clubs had a Jan. 30 deadline to submit entries for the previous year.

“The award recognizes a very active club which promotes the Appaloosa breed both within and outside,” said Leslie Foxvog, a 12-year Calizona member who has been club president since 2000. “To win this award takes planning and a team effort.”

In both 2008 and 2009, Calizona won the national honor by virtue of meeting 26 of 28 scoring criteria.

“We don’t know our point totals yet this year, but we are proud to have met that many categories,” said Foxvog.

Calizona’s enthusiastic, eager membership is refreshing in the face of tough economic times. The group makes it a point to work together.

What is “Norco Horseweek”? If you are familiar with “Horsetown USA,” you realize that there are 52 horse weeks a year in Norco. However, for 40 years now, “Norco Horse Week” is something more — a celebration of a lifestyle that is appreciated by this town’s residents and visitors alike. Fund-raisers, the rodeo, the chili cook-off, the parade, the dance — and don’t forget the rides! There’s much to see and do doing Norco Horse Week.

Click here for a full Norco Horseweek schedule and read residents’ favorite memories of events past.