The biggest shopping day of the year is here! Be sure to shop our store advertisers for Black Friday Sales! Some will be “one-day only” and others all weekend long — incredible savings on all of your favorite horsey things. Check out the store ads below…and also check for fabulous gift-giving ideas in our Holiday Gift Guide on pages 13 and 14!

If you still have horsey shopping to do for the holidays, look no further than Page 27 for the Horsetrader ‘Gift Guide’. Each issue, you’ll find more GREAT items from your local stores and other Horsetrader advertisers. And if you have a craft, product or service that might make a great gift (including trainers and breeders!) give Lori a call at (760) 546-1184 or email lori.wilson@horsetrader.com to get your item listed!

Only three more “shopping issues” left!

Five days of top hunter/jumper competition return to the Del Mar Arena Oct. 20-24 when Jump Del Mar presents the 2010 Del Mar International Horse Show. Special classes will include a $5,000 Prix de Nations, a $5,000 Hunter Derby and the $30,000 California Horsetrader Grand Prix on Saturday, Oct. 23. For more info on this well-run, exciting event that is great both for spectators and exhibitors alike, go to http://www.jumpdelmar.com.

Oh – those beautiful Friesians! They are coming the the Del Mar Arena next month for the 2010 International Friesian Horse Association World and Grand National Championship Show – so mark your calendars, get your horses ready, and be part of the spectacle. The California Horsetrader is the Official Publication of this event, and it’s a great issue to advertise in as we head into the fall. The show will be held Oct. 13-17 in the beautiful, covered Del Mar Fairgrounds facility, and it will offer 200 National and World classes, exhibitions, clinics, stallion parades and service auction, vendors, a sale barn – and a special Saturday night performance to benefit Rick Roberts Warrior Foundation. The show is USEF regular A-rated for Friesian and Part-bred Friesians, and it is USDF recognized. For a schedule, class lists and more info, call Nancy Nathanson at (805) 448-3027 and see the ad on Page 18 for more info.

California’s largest tack store, Broken Horn Saddlery in Baldwin Park, is getting ready for its “don’t miss” event – the Third Annual Broken Horn Western Sale. If you’ve attended this spectacle, you understand that it’s not just a sale. In addition to up to 50 percent off “everything western”, there will be drawings every hour for boots, hats, jeans, shirts, reins, bridles, stable supplies, supplements – it’s amazing. To enter, you have dress western – “either a pair of Wrangler jeans, western boots, a western shirt, or a cowboy hat.” And this is the time to act if you’ve been thinking about buying a western saddle because Broken Horn will pay the sales tax! Plus, if the saddle is over $600, Broken Horn will provide a free saddle pad. Check out the centerfold ad for Broken Horn on pages 48-49 for all the details!

The Norco Fair 2010 is just around the corner – Sept. 2-6 in Horsetown USA! Hosted by the Norco Fair Committee and held at the George Ingalls Equestrian Event Center, this year’s theme is “Old Town Country Fair.” With more vendors, more rides and more fun, this year’s fair is going to be great! Come celebrate the Labor Day weekend with bull-riding, lawn mower races, ranch rodeo, mutton busting, extreme cowboy games, Miss Horsetown USA pageant, family fun day, magicians — and so much more! Visit www.norcofair.org for ticket info and schedule and see the ad on page 89.

Clinician Stacy Westfall is coming to Chino Hills Aug. 27-28 for a two-day clinic presented by the Chino Hills Horsemen’s Association. In addition to a being a great chance to learn from one of the nation’s most popular clinicians, the event has another special purpose –- it’s a fund-raiser for CHHA as it prepares for a campaign to keep the rich equine heritage in the Chino Hills says the year-old club faces legal challenges to fend off efforts by developers who want to fragment equestrian areas. Says Suzi, “We hope other clubs will help support our efforts by publicizing Stacy’s clinic — we are facing now what many other horse communities could be dealing with in the near future.” Ticket sales are limited, so buy reserve your seat early. See the ad on page 83 for more information.

The City Of Norco’s official mascot, the Mustang “Hail Yeah”, celebrated his sixth birthday July 10 at Starbrite Riding Academy with 500 of his closest two-legged friends (above), ranging from well-wishing Norco councilmen and dignitaries to children with hand-made “Hail Yeah” dolls – as well as plenty of gift carrots (including carrot cake). To enliven the party, O.H. Kruse Feed and Alltech sponsored a Kentucky bluegrass barbeque with Tom Cunningham and his talented band. Scott Helms of Ramona won the raffle for tickets to the Alltech World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Ky., this fall. All proceeds benefitted the Compton Junior Posse, which received $1,729. O.H. Kruse sponsored the Compton Posse to attend a clinic with Hail Yeah’s trainer, Ray Ariss, in the morning before the celebration, which capped off a festive day at Starbrite Riding Academy. At right, Hail Yeah and his trainer, host Ray Ariss, receive a birthday present from Carson Badger, age 9, of Norco.

More photos: http://news.horsetrader.com/media/hailyeah/

Between events at the June 27 “V-Spurs” gymkhana show at Walnut Grove Park in San Marcos, Andy Krogh asked his girlfriend of several years, Melissa Northrup, to give him a hand “setting up the course.” Turned out he was setting up a surprise for his longtime sweetheart. Andy put down the tape measure, knelt on one knee, pulled out a ring and asked her to marry him. Surprised, Melissa broke into tears, and after the announcer said “look in arena two – something special is going on,” her young son, James, ran into the arena and asked his mom what was going on. “Is Andy asking you to marry him?,” her son asked. Yes, she told him. (The boy advised her to say “yes!”) She put on the ring and sll three walked off together. It didn’t hit Andy how nervous he was until he realized he had failed to inform his parents at the show of his big surprise. “They were just as surprised at the announcement by our announcer as all the other riders and families, “ he said. “It was a great moment that will last with us forever — and it was shared with our family and good friends from CGA and District 33.” The date is set for Sept. 26.

The one and only Chris Cox comes to Woodside next month for a two-day clinic on Aug. 6-7 that will benefit the Mounted Patrol of San Mateo County. A two-hour Friday night session followed by a five-hour clinic Saturday from 12:30-5:30 p.m. costs just $35. Admission is $25 per day if attended individually. Colt starting, creating a natural headset, trailer loading and more. See Chris’s ad on page 25 for more information, and call 888-81-HORSE.