RIVERSIDE — For almost two decades, the California Reining Horse Association has been the premier organization promoting reining in the Southern California region. Traditionally, they have closed out one season and ushered in the new one with the annual General Membership meeting and Awards Banquet. This year was no different. The Riverside Rancheros hosted the event Jan. 8 that not only presented the beautiful, coveted year end buckles, but heard plans for an amazing new season filled with dynamic programs and fun-filled events.

Tom Foran, the current president, guided the meeting which had close to 80 members in attendance. The goals he laid out for this year included expanding programs that promote new membership recruitment and reining at the grass roots with events like the March 17 Green As Grass clinic in Temecula at Green Oaks Ranch.

NOVATO – Four years ago, Joey Pacini traveled to the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds with a friend to observe the NRHA Futurity. He was impressed.

“It was the real deal – it was huge,” said Pacini. “It left an impression.”

He made his first return visit to the Futurity last month, this time with Cash Me If You Can as a qualifier in the Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship (NAAC) Show, and the Fresno State senior left his own impression.

When Hanna Mauritzon wanted to put her beautifully revamped Swede Equine facility to public use, she and dressage trainer Liz McConnell conducted a festive Sport Horse Sales event Dec. 10 with some innovation and Swedish influence. Nineteen horses from a variety of owners and trainers were brought in and presented to prospective buyers, who returned to Swede Equine during the following week to see them.

TEMECULA – When the Non Pro Triple Crown Stock Horse event fell off the schedule after 2009, Southern California Reined Cow Horse Association leaders Laura Edwards and Jimmy Flores, Jr., decided in September to pick it up. Remarkably, two months later on Nov. 18-19, the region’s top Non Pros brought Casner’s Ranch to life in a competition so successful that folks are looking ahead to next year.

With $10,000-added and more than $17,000 in payout, 22 prize buckles and other custom awards, the 2011 Triple Crown has returned, thanks largely to the Southern California’s swelling ranks of Non Pro competitors.

BURBANK — Sunday morning at the LA National (Nov 16-20) started out as a typical chilly and drizzly November day. However, after the second round of the historic and prestigious Onondarka Medal Final got under way, the drizzle turned into a downright downpour. The storm that was predicted to arrive later that afternoon hit several hours earlier than expected, and the sky darkened and brought icy wind and rain.

Sophie Simpson (Nick Haness, trainer) led after the first round, which ran on Saturday, with a score of 89 to Tylor Nowell’s (Nina Alario, trainer) 88.5, but in the second round Sophie soared ahead with a two-round average of 90.75 to Tylor’s 83.5. While the riders handled the rain and cold well, conditions continued to deteriorate.

TULSA, Okla. — Of the more than 600 Arabian Horse Association National Champions crowned Oct. 21-29 in the Expo Square arena, perhaps none deserved a cheer as much as the 2011 Arabian Country English Pleasure AAOTR 55 & Over National Champion.

Those in attendance certainly noticed Helen Lacey Reed and her striking mare, SV Justajoy, in the arena, and the judges’ choice was clearly deserved. But the story behind her tumultuous journey went unnoticed. That is fitting, because the obstacle that threatened Reed’s accomplishment is largely unnoticed, too: depression.

BURBANK — Temecula trainer Tanya Jenkins recalls when a young Rebecca Goss rode her first reining patterns in her barn. Goss, who died at age 16 four years ago in an auto accident, has been memorialized with the Rebecca Goss “Boo-Yaah” Foundation, created by parents John and Martha Goss to provide financial support to assist families with burial and medical expenses, grief counseling and other recurring costs of losing their children. Within weeks of Rebecca’s March 2007 death, three of Rebecca’s classmates were also killed in another car accident, prompting the Gosses’ movement.

BURBANK — With The Beatles setting the beat, Rich Fellers and Flexible beat the competition at the $50,000 Grand Prix of Los Angeles on Nov. 19. The Saturday night crowd-pleaser at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center was a highlight of the five-day 2011 L.A. National.

The crowd loudly welcomed Rich and Flexible back into the ring for the last of the jump off trips, then fell silent as Flexible neatly cleared each fence in 42.78 — nearly three seconds faster than runner-up Rusty Stewart and Bristol.

TEMECULA — Although the rains fell at the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event Nov. 6, they couldn’t stop the juggernaut that was British rider James Alliston. He started the day by winning the CCI1* aboard Mojo, then he placed second in the CCI2* with Tivoli. And then he finished his day with a victory in the CCI3*, the last event on the PRO Tour Series, aboard India McEvoy’s Jumbo’s Jake, and also placed seventh with his own Parker II.

“I got the day rolling the right way with the one-star win, because the round I had was pretty horrible and I got really lucky,” said Alliston, who lives in Castro Valley. “And [all] the horses jumped great after that.”

QUEEN CREEK, Ariz. — Queen Creek might be Ron Emmons’ new favorite place. On Saturday night, Oct. 29, he piloted Olena Oak to the Championship of the National Reined Cow Horse Association Derby’s Holy Cow Performance Horses Open Bridle Spectacular. He returned to the Horseshoe Park and Equestrian Center on Sunday to win the headline event in the Open and Intermediate Open division on Reygans Smart Lena.

“It’s been an amazing weekend—that’s for sure!” For Sunday’s performance, Emmons won $36,011, a Bob’s Custom Saddle sponsored by Centennial Cattle Company, two pairs of Rios of Mercedes boots, two bits from Tom Balding Bits & Spurs, and two CR Morrison trophies.