SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Brumley Managment Group kicked off its popular three-show reining series for 2012, the Cactus Reining Classic, on March 7-11 at Westworld, and the operative word was “deep” — deep in talented horses, riders and dedicated owners.

Event manager Amanda Brumley said entries were up 15 percent for the second straight year, with a roster of competitors that included horse-and-rider teams from Europe as well as from the 2010 World Equestrian Games.

TEMECULA — James Alliston started Sunday in control of both the CIC3* and the advanced divisions at the Galway Downs International Horse Trials, and after riding five bold cross-country rounds, he finished the day in complete command of the top spots.

Alliston, of Castro Valley, finished first and second in the CIC3*, winning with his veteran, India McEvoy’s Jumbo’s Jake (51.2), and moving up to second with his less experienced Tivoli (61.3). Barb Crabo rode Eveready II aggressively around the cross-country course to move up to third (67.8).

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO — West Coast dressage riders and horses enjoyed thrilling competition in a spectacular venue at the Festival of the Horse CDI 3*/Y/J, presented by HorseShow.com at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park March 29 – April 1.

As the site of the 2004 and 2008 U.S. Dressage Selection Trials for the Olympic Games, it was only natural for this spectacular facility to once again open its doors to North America’s top dressage competitors who hope to become members of Team USA at this year’s Olympic Games in London. Adding to the excitement, this show was held in conjunction with the Blenheim Spring Classic Hunter/Jumper show featuring a $40,000 Grand Prix jumping event.

THERMAL— For professional jumpers, the $200,000 Lambourghini Grand Prix sits like an awaiting jewel on the final day of the six-week HITS circuit — big crowds, big jumps and big rewards. Juniors and amateurs have their own version of the “last-day gem,” the $25,000 California Horsetrader Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper High Classic, which some riders regard as a “next big step”.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Jonathan Ramsay could very well be the youngest ever to experience riding to an Arabian U.S. National Championship, were it not for a technicality — his mother, trainer Cynthia Marlow Ramsay, was six months pregnant with him when she won.

Twenty-eight years later, the Canadian native is making headlines of his own in California, where he is training and managing at Stachowski West, a San Marcos-based extension of the venerable Stachowski Farm in Ohio, headed by Jim and Peter Stachowski. Ramsay, a third-generation Arabian horseman with a sterling resume, opened Stachowski West last May in the facility vacated by reiner Andrea Fappani, now in Scottsdale, Ariz.

BURBANK — Riders who dream of a chance to stand on the Olympic medal podium began their quests at the Mid-Winter Dressage Fair CDI-W/Y/J at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center Feb. 23-26.

As the first official West Coast qualifying competition for the 2012 Olympic Games Dressage Team Selection Trials, horses and riders vied for valuable qualifying scores in front of FEI judges Linda Zang (5* USA), Jean-Michele Roudier (5* FRA), Cara Whitham (5* CAN), Eddy de Wolff (4* NED), Jayne Ayers (4* USA), and Brenda Minor (4* CAN). In addition, this competition served as an early-season qualifier for the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions (Pony Rider, Junior, Young Rider, Brentina Cup, and Intermediaire I divisions); NAJYRC; Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program; and the USEF Developing Horse division (sponsored by Dutta & PSI).

RED BLUFF — The National Stock Horse Association moved its second-largest show to its futurity in August, the NSHA Classic and Bridle Sweepstakes, to Red Bluff this year, and the northern California town teamed up with great competition to pull off a winning event.

Phillip Ralls of Paso Robles was the biggest winner of all, taking the Bridle Sweepstakes on Very Smart Smoke, owned by Billie Jo Baxley, and also the Classic Derby Open on Don Dualuise, owned by Christian Larson.

THERMAL — Top riders from 10 countries provided an international flair to the $30,000 SmartPak Grand Prix on March 4, when Brazil’s Marina Azevedo designed a course for 59 starters including Americans and visitors from Mexico, Canada, Great Britain, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Ireland, and Brazil.

It was also a potentially pivotal moment for one of the Desert Circuit’s most beloved riders, competing on one of the Desert Circuit’s most beloved horses – Hap Hansen aboard Archie Bunker, owned by Linda Smith. Just a couple of weeks ago, Hansen scored his 99th career Grand Prix victory and ever since, everyone that has stepped foot on the show grounds in Thermal is hoping that he’ll pick up his 100th before the circuit comes to an end.

PASADENA — Buck Brannaman conducted a four-day event clinic with the Rose Bowl Riders Feb. 17-20, and more than 500 spectators joined the 50 riders who learned from the man whose reach continues to grow since the 2011 release of the film, “Buck.”

The riders were split into separate classes each day — “Foundational Horsemanship” and “Horsemanship 1,” and the they represented many disciplines and riding levels. Western pleasure, trail rider, hunter jumpers — including Olympian Will Simpson — participated. While some students took lessons with RBR-borrowed lesson horses, other riders trailered in local barns as well as from Orange County and the Inland Empire.

TEMECULA — Jolie Wentworth showed that her veteran campaigner Killian O’Connor has returned to full form, winning the open intermediate division at the Galway Downs Winter Horse Trials in Temecula on Feb. 3-5.

The 30-year-old rider from Martinez, who also claimed fifth place on GoodKnight in the highly competitive open intermediate division, outdueled Canadian Olympic veteran and Temecula resident Hawley Bennett-Awad, who took second on Five O’Clock Somewhere, her mount at last year’s Pan Am Games. In third was Katie Groesbeck on Oz The Tin Man, and Kristi Nunnink finished fourth on R-Star.