WCRH 3-day Ranch Horse Kick-off with Bud Lyon starts ’25 season

Special to the Horsetrader

TEMECULA — West Coast Ranch Horse launched its 2025 season with a Ranch Horse Kick-off event Feb. 14-16, featuring four sold-out clinic sessions led by multiple world champion and ranch horse expert Bud Lyon of Whitesboro, Texas. Forty riders and 75 auditors benefited from Bud’s well-structured session and practical coaching, gaining insights to elevate their ranch riding, ranch rail, and ranch trail performance.

Beyond the clinics, held at California Ranch Company, attendees enjoyed a rope handling and drag clinic as well as a Saturday night happy hour, fostering camaraderie among fellow ranch horse enthusiasts.

Ready to hit the trail?

From the Horsetrader sales staff

How about a three-day horse camping trip at Black Rock in Yucca Valley (March 13-16)? Or a weekend adventure in the Bakersfield Scenic Preserve (March 21-23)? Then, of course, there are one-day trail rides and horse shows, including an upcoming spring Trail Trials at Ranger Park in Lakeview Terrace — all part of the ETI calendar. To learn more about Equestrian Trails, Inc., check out their pages on page 30-31 this issue, and be sure to check out the Horsetrader’s show and events calendar on pages 32-33, where you can locate events from International 3-Day Eventing to a Rattlesnake Awareness Training (in “Special Events). And, if you or your club have shows, clinics, special events — even meetings — go on Horsetrader.com and enter them today. Here is our online events page. They are FREE!

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Congratulations are in order!

King Performance Horses, one of the prestigious barns in our Trainer’s Directory, had a terrific weekend at the Southern California Ranch Riding Show in Lakeside on Feb. 9. Here are the barn’s highlights:

• Emma Ikerd and CBK Hollyblossom were Reserve Champions in 18-Under Ranch Division and shined in Green W/T/L Ranch Confirmation
• Katie Fellion and Tinsel Berri ruled in Amateur Ranch Confirmation and won the Team Ranchmanship Challenge with barnmate Kailey King-Hale
• Gail Mills and Stop Buckin, int their first time EVER showing in Ranch riding got a ribbon in Select Ranch Riding Rail
• Kailey King-Hale and Gotta Have Style were on fire in Open Ranch Rail and Green Horse W/T/L Confirmation
  Well done, team! For more info on King Performance Horses, located in Chino Hills, see the ad on page 17 or go to their new website at https://kingperformancehorses.com.

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Thinking about building a barn?

Thinking about a new barn or putting up a shelter? Be sure to see the North Coast Barns ad (on page 15) for their special sale on the North Coast 4-stall Shedrow Barn, which comes standard with six feet free standing overhang. All North Coast Barns come with standard features that include a Lifetime Guarantee on Steel Frame, a 10-year Warranty on Kick & Chew, 2X6 T&G siding, and painted steel roofing. The NCB price includes installation, concrete pier foundation, engineering plans, feed package and tax! Compare and save — North Coast Barns will NOT be undersold! There also are special discounts to anyone suffering a loss due to wildfires. For more info, call (800) 525-BARN, and visit the website at northcoastbarns.com.

When the January fires hit, volunteers stepped in

From Horsetrader staff reports

BURBANK — It will be a while before the Los Angeles community recovers from the wildfires that devastated the area. The tragic week of Jan. 7-10 charred more than 36,000 acres just with the Eaton and Palisades fires, where close to 16,000 structures were destroyed and another 2,000 damaged. Twenty-nine lives were lost.

Temecula horsepeople balk at altering General Plan, use permit

By Horsetrader staff

TEMECULA — A pair of requests to Riverside County to alter policies defining how Galway Downs and adjacent property can be used were submitted in January, and area equestrians are voicing their disapproval.

Galway Downs, a 242-acre centerpiece to the equestrian region of southwest Riverside County, originally opened in 1968 as a racehorse training facility and now hosts equestrian competitions, trainers and services. It lies within the area’s Wine Country Community Plan, a formal guideline adopted in 2014 and then incorporated into the County’s General Plan to recognize and preserve the area’s equestrian and vineyard elements.

SCRCHA ‘Kickoff’ Show launches 2025 cow horse season

By SUE CARTER / for the Horsetrader

TEMECULA — The Southern California Reined Cow Horse Association held its “Cowhorse Kickoff” Show on Jan. 3-5 at Tucalota Creek Ranch to open the 2025 show schedule, sponsored by title sponsor Equine Health Management of Murrieta.

January has traditionally been a cold and wet time to show members’ furry horses. This year yielded beautiful weather and some stellar sunsets on the park-like setting of Tucalota Creek Ranch, and there was a great number of entries to start the show year.

Bt Daniel H. Grove, DVM

One benefit I have seen after the COVID 19 period a few years back has been an increase in outdoor activities. I thought a little insight into the costs of ownership and some items you should have on hand as a new horse owner.

The expensive part of owning a horse starts after the purchase. While there is often time a significant upfront investment into owning a horse, it really is, usually, just a drop in the bucket. Let us look at a list of things you should budget for in your monthly expenses with horse ownership.

Bud Lyon Clinic, Schooling Show kick off WCRH 2025 offerings

From the Horsetrader sales staff

Mark your calendars for a full weekend of learning Feb. 15-16 about showing ranch horse and honing your skills in preparation for the 2025 season.

On Saturday, Bud Lyon will be teaching the West Coast Ranch Horse 2025 Season Kick Off Clinic at California Ranch Company in Temecula. Bud needs no introduction, as he is a multiple World Champion and a National Snaffle Bit Association Quarter Million Dollar Rider — among countless other achievements and accolades.

One great way for equestrians to serve communities is participation in mounted patrol units. There is a variety of groups eager to recruit and train volunteers. Not only does mounted patrol provide a service, it also promotes horses as endearing community assets to residents that may not otherwise experience them.

By Daniel H. Grove, DVM

“When do I call my veterinarian?”

That is a question many clients tend to struggle with. In my opinion, it is better to make that phone call and discuss your concerns rather than waiting too long and having a more challenging time resolving a case. I would much rather have someone call during normal business hours with questions about a mild colic rather than 10 o’clock at night with a colic that is now dire. It is hard to give a recommendation on times not to call without having an examination of the patient to make a determination. So, here are some key times when I think it is prudent to get on the phone and at least discuss the situation with your veterinarian.

By Mark Flint / courtesy of ELCR.org

Many hands make light work, and if you have a project that could benefit from many hands, a well-run volunteer program can provide a low-cost solution that has the added benefit of building community among groups of people who might not otherwise interact.

GETTING ORGANIZED

Are you considering starting an advocacy or action group? What will your first steps be?