BURBANK – Trainer Tom Foran was pleased to win the Open division on Lil Joe Tag at the California Reining Horse Association Challenge. But his satisfaction from this year’s event, held Oct. 24-28 at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, also stems from the show itself.

Foran, the CRHA President, worked alongside CRHA board members all year to prop up the 2012 Challenge, and the efforts paid off. With an innovative line-up and with sponsors stepping up to provide the show its biggest purse in years – more than $50,000 in cash payouts — the “challenge” was more than just met this year. It thrived.

LAS VEGAS — A trio of talented young California riders led by Karl Cook proved they have arrived at the Las Vegas National Horse Show, held Nov. 13-18 at the South Point Equestrian Center.

Cook earned the top two spots in the $50,000 Fisker Automotive Grand Prix CSI-W on Nov. 17 in the featured class of the Las Vegas National, winning on Jonkheer Z and taking second on ASB Conquistador. He also won the $30,000 Las Vegas Speed Classic on Notories Utopia.

TEMECULA — The Valley Cow Horse Association held its 2012 Super Show competiton at Sundance Arena on Oct. 27-28 with two shows in two days. The winners went home knowing they had made the most of their last VCHA events of the year.

Also, a couple of riders also went home with a new saddle and buckle, respectively, after the annual Saddle Shoot-Out and Box-Off for a Buckle competitions.

TEMECULA — James Alliston should now be called “Mr. Galway Downs”.

The Galway Downs International Three-Day Event has offered a CCI3* for the last three years, and Alliston, of Castro Valley, Calif., has placed in the top three at all three events. He earned third place in 2010, first and seventh places in 2011, and this time he placed first, second and sixth.

TEMECULA – Three riders rising in their respective Open, Non Pro and Limited Non Pro divisions claimed trophy saddles last month, as the Southern California Reined Cow Horse Association wrapped up 2012 with its Saddle Shoot Out at Casner’s Ranch.

More than $15,000 in awards and prizes were given out at the three-day event Oct. 19-21, including certificates for the trio of customized Cowdog Saddles. On Friday, the SCRCHA held its Cut for A Cause charity event, which club President Laura Edwards said raised $8,700 for The All Glory Project, a non-profit program led by Elizabeth Shatner that uses animal-assisted therapies to aid military veterans and their families upon their return home.

DEL MAR — Lane Clarke captured the $55,000 Villas at Rancho Valencia World Cup Qualifying Grand Prix, presented by the California Horsetrader, to highlight the Del Mar Fall Festival.

It marked the the third time this year for Clarke to win a big grand prix, and it puts him solidly in the top 10 ranking of the North American West Coast World Cup League.

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — October is a time of year Elaine Olsen can expect to reminisce on her Vermont roots, but not for the autumn leaves — it’s the Morgan Horses. The American Morgan Horse Association assembles its finest each year for the eight-day AMHA World Championship and Grand National Horse Show, and for Olsen, a New England transplant who along with husband Ted settled in Coto De Caza in 1985, it’s a bit of a homecoming.

DEL MAR — The International Friesian Show Horse Association returned to California for its 2012 World and Grand National Championship Show, and homestate Friesians made their winning marks at the event, held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds Oct. 10-14.

Seven-year-old stallion Sjoerd, named USET Horse of the Year last Jan. 13, was profoundly successful, winning nine classes and getting reserves in 13 others en route to being the overall Reserve High Point Purebred Friesian behind Debie Stuart’s Jilke fan de Koarndyk. His get also finished on top of a variety of classes.

WOODSIDE — James Alliston galloped to victory in the CIC3* at the Woodside International Horse Trials, presented by Equine Insurance of California and Professional’s Choice, for the second straight year, and this year he also galloped to victory in the CIC2*. On Tivoli (52.6) he claimed the CIC3*, and on Mojo (51.4) he claimed the CIC2*.

Jolie Wentworth finished second in both the CIC3*, aboard GoodKnight (58.9), and in the CIC2*, aboard Man On A Mission II (55.7). McKenna Shea rode Landioso to third place (69.6) in the CIC3*.

DEL MAR — Ashlee Bond was on fire during the opening week at the Del Mar Fall Equestrian Festival, winning every class and continuing to show the promise of her new, young grand prix horse, Wistful.