TEMECULA – Ever since he worked for Doug Williamson, Roy Rich had wanted to train a Hickorys Indian Pep bred horse. He found Fresnos Indian Chief for client Sandi Heitritter almost two years ago at CSU Fresno, and he proved himself right Oct. 17 when he won the Southern California Reined Cow Horse Association Saddle Shootout open division championship.

The class was the pinnacle of the year-end SCRCHA show, held at Casner Ranch Oct. 16-17 after a popular and successful 2010 campaign for the association.

“It’s just unreal,” said Rich. “I’ve never won anything this big before. That was awesome — and I almost didn’t show up for it.”

Every competitor has the same challenge! You’ve got to keep focused, keep motivated, and do not let the nerves take over. Once nerves are allowed to take over, they can distort a competitor’s thoughts…which can affect performance.

Here is a very important concept for us to remember: Our thoughts control our actions. I realize that when our nerves are roaring like a lion, it can be difficult to control our thoughts. But it is possible to keep control, and I have a few tips that can help you!

DEL MAR – Chris Pratt saw the potential of Cruise in the 10-year old bay’s first grand prix last August at the Del Mar Showpark. He went double-clear that day, and had it not been for Pratt and another Indigo Farms LLC entry, G5, winning the class, Cruise would have won his first time out.

At the Del Mar International Oct. 23, Pratt returned to Del Mar with Cruise – this time across I-5 to the Del Mar Arena – and the duo showed their speed in a blazing 12-horse jump-off to claim the $30,000 California Horsetrader Grand Prix. The Canadian-turned-Southern Californian clocked a fast 39.895, topping runner-up Susie Hutchison on Cantano by 1.25 seconds. Cantano is owned by El Dorado 29 of Pauma Valley.

DEL MAR – For the first time since 2004, the International Friesian Show Horse Association held its World Championship and Grand National Championship Show in California, as the Del Mar Arena came to life for the five-day spectacle Oct. 13-17.

The IFSHA event attracted 112 of the nation’s top Friesians, filling classes with 577 entries in a variety of demanding and crowd-pleasing performances.

A special Saturday night benefit performance blending championship classes with demonstrations to an historic theme of the wartime roles of horses. Rick Roberts’ Warrior Foundation, formed by San Diego radio personality and horseman Rick Roberts to raise awareness and funds for injured soldiers returning home with wartime injuries, received more than $20,000 in charity from the evening, said show organizers.

Next in a series
Last issue, we looked at the dynamics and communication of “steering.” This issue, we’ll review fundamentals of lateral flexion.

What are we looking for
Forward flexion in a 10′ or 12′ circle. Horse’s spine should match the track of the circle.

How to do it
Nose turned into circle with inside rein, coming back toward your front pants pocket. Outside rein should be out and straight at a 45 degree angle, not touching the neck. Inside leg helps to keep the circle round and ribcage out.

HEY RAY! How do you get a horse to tolerate water on the face when bathing in the wash-rack?
—SANDIE TAYLOR, Winchester

HEY SANDIE: The hardest part of this challenge is to recognize how truly simple the solution really is. What we need to do first is to separate getting his face wet with having to be tied and holding his ground. I suggest that you work on the latter first by tying him up away from the wash rack to a tie ring or some sort of a connection that will give in a pen or arena. Keeping him on a line attached to your hand will also work providing you feel safe while doing it.

Try to unsettle him any way you can. It doesn’t matter what you do as long as he recognizes that when he does evade the fear by pulling away he is still going to be attached.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — On a blustery fall day the USEF National CCI1* Championships concluded with some of the United States’ best up-and-coming combinations contesting the show jumping phase Oct. 24. Champions were crowned across four separate divisions at the competition that was held in combination with the Hagyard Midsouth Three-Day Event and Team Challenge at the Kentucky Horse Park.

Kristen Rozycki (Barrington, Ill.) claimed the National CC1* Championship with her own Full Circle, finishing on a score of 47.2. Rozycki and the Thoroughbred mare jumped clear over the challenging Derek Di Grazia designed cross-country course and were again flawless in the final phase.The pair moved into first place after overnight leader Missy Ransehousen and Fantastik collected four faults over Cathy Weischhoff’s technical show jumping track.

Rozycki could not have been more pleased with the horse she has done all the training with herself. “I’m really happy with my horse this weekend. She was great.”

In the National CCI1* Junior Championship, Kelsey Hoiness and T.M. Ballingary jumped a stylish round on Sunday to also finish on their dressage score on their way to being crowned champions. Hoiness (Hickory, NC) who trains with three time Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI4* Champion Kim Severson was contesting her first CCI1* with Kristen Villers’ fourteen year-old Irish Sport Horse Gelding.

“It was everything I hoped it would be. To end on my dressage score is more than I could ask for,” said Hoiness. “But I owe all the credit to my horse and my coach.”

Devon Gaines of Simpsonville, KY was the winner of the National CCI1* Amateur Championship riding her own eight year-old mare, Ginger Spice. Gaines who was competing at the level for the first time as well gained valuable knowledge over the weekend but was not expecting to win a National Championship.

More results: See website http://www.kyevents.net/scores

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Hagyard Equine Medical Institute has been named the official veterinarians for the 2011 HITS Desert Circuit in Thermal for the fifth year.

The show will feature six weeks of “AA” rated hunter/jumper competition from the end of January through mid-March. Hagyard veterinarian Dr. Duncan Peters will lead the team and is the FEI-accredited veterinarian.

Based in Lexington, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute’s Sport Horse program specializes in the care and maintenance of show horse athletes, aspiring to bring the same quality of treatment to sport horses that the institute has provided for the race horse and breeding industries.

FORT WORTH, Texas — The American Paint Horse Association has named Tonya Ratliff-Garrison editor of the Paint Horse Journal, the Association’s award-winning monthly magazine.

Garrison comes to APHA with close to 30 years of experience as an editor, writer, photographer and graphic designer in the newspaper, television, Internet and magazine industries. During the past six years, Garrison has worked as a writer, photographer and field editor for the American Quarter Horse Journal. She has written for a host of equine associations and organizations, including American Quarter Horse Association, National Reining Horse Association and the National Reined Cow Horse Association.

If you still have horsey shopping to do for the holidays, look no further than Page 27 for the Horsetrader ‘Gift Guide’. Each issue, you’ll find more GREAT items from your local stores and other Horsetrader advertisers. And if you have a craft, product or service that might make a great gift (including trainers and breeders!) give Lori a call at (760) 546-1184 or email lori.wilson@horsetrader.com to get your item listed!

Only three more “shopping issues” left!