LA CAÑADA-FLINTRIDGE — The serene setting of the historic Flintridge Riding Club belied the buzz of excitement surrounding huge scores and promising talent on display during Dressage at Flintridge CDI*/Y/J, held May 23 – 26. This competition once again hosted the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Western Selection Trial, one of only two Selection Trials in the country used to select horses and riders to proudly represent the U.S. at the FEI/WBFSH World Breeding Championships in Verden, Germany this August.

ELK GROVE — Take 2013’s second NRHA Affiliate show, mix in some well-filled aged-events, and top it off with a tradition of fun, and the West Coast Reining Horse Association had another winning mix at the Rein for the Roses, held Kentucky Derby weekend May 2-5 at Brookside Horse Park.

SOMIS — A program of free reined cow horse clinics for youth riders came to California May 31-June 2, as Ferrante Ranch in Somis hosted 42 students for a weekend of learning from clinicians Ted Robinson, Sandy Collier, Randy Paul, Doug Williamson, Holly Marsh and Kathie Ferrante.

TEMECULA — Casey Deary, the Weatherford, Texas-based reiner who won the 2012 National Reining Horse Association Futurity Open title on Americasnextgunmodel, hung his hat at Tucalota Ranch in Temecula May 11-12 for a two-day clinic sponsored by the California Reining Horse Association. Deary, who taught CRHA non pros Saturday before addressing local trainers on Sunday, loved the event and the area.

BAKERSFIELD — With a total purse of more than $47,000, the California Horse Trials cow horse event put on by the Valley Cow Horse Association May 3-5 at the Sundance Arena brought out the region’s best.

Derby classes were particularly well received — and well-rewarded. In the $10,000-added Open Derby, Lance Johnston took Mary Stroud’s Silky Smooth Hickory to a win that paid $6,210. With their second- and first-place finishes, respectivey, in the Open and Intermediate Open Derbies, John Ward and Got To Go Get It earned a combined $6,060.

DEL MAR — On two gorgeous southern California afternoons, two fabulous rides earned the lead in the high performance victory gallops for the $60,000 Grand Prix of California, sponsored by Equ Lifestyle and presented by Ferrari & Maserati of San Diego, and the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, both on the grass Grand Prix Field. The competition was fierce with almost forty entries in both classes.

TEMECULA — Reiners kept up their competitive pace May 5, as the California Reining Horse Association held a one-day jackpot event at the Tucalota Creek Ranch.

Pat Wickenheiser judged the event, which counted toward CRHA year-end points as well as the CRHA “Reiner of the Year” to be held in October at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center.

SAN MARCOS — Horse 4Heroes, a non-profit effort launched in 2006 nationwide, has launched a new event.

Horse 4Heroes provides affordable recreational, instructional and health and wellness equestrian programs and activities for active duty military personnel, veterans and Wounded Warriors, first responders, critical care and hospice nurses, special education teaches, and their families. The organization was spawned after the tragic events of 9/11, and the heroic acts that followed at home and abroad.

Every mom came up roses at the Cowboy Classic Horse Show May 12 – Mother’s Day – in Chino Hills.

Ravel, America’s most decorated Grand Prix dressage horse ever, was officialy retired Saturday evening, April 27, before an adoring crowd at the Del Mar National Horse Show. Surrounded by the team behind his ascent, the two-time Olympic horse was feted by owner Akiko Yamazaki and rider Steffen Peters, who took the 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding one last time through their Avatar freestyle before a tear-filled ceremony that honored Ravel’s entire team.