TEMECULA – Something new visited Galway Downs Nov. 4-7 — the first CCI3* event ever held in the western U.S.

Someone familiar went home with the title.

Jennie Brannigan, who as a Temecula teenager learned under Susie Hutchison just a stone’s throw from Galway, returned to win the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event CCI3* on Cambalda. It was the first trip to the venue in years for the rising eventing star who works under Olympian Phillip Dutton in Avondale, Pa.

“It meant a little more to come back here and win,” admitted Brannigan, 23. “I was saying to everyone that I was more nervous to do this event than I was to compete in Europe. It was cool.”

Larry Williams photo

First N Always won her fifth Bronze Medallion as ApHC World Champion Aged Mare.

FORT WORTH, Texas — The Appaloosa breed in California is a small, yet robust group of breeders, trainers and owners, and this year Californians again held the spotlight at the 2010 Appaloosa Horse Club World Championship Appaloosa Show Oct. 22-30 at the Will Rogers Equestrian Center.

Golden State residents brought home 25 trophies and 105 Top Tens in their respective classes.

Flying Horse photo

Richard Spooner and Lady Like went last and won the $30,000 Las Vegas Speed Classic.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The 2010 Las Vegas National marked the end of a superb season of grand prix show jumping competition for Blenheim EquiSports. Vegas highlights included three evening events as well as a Competitors Party, VIP treatment at some of Sin City’s best clubs and a rockin’ Grand Prix after party.

Blenheim does have two new events on its calendar in San Juan Capistrano on the weekends of Dec. 3-5 and 10-12.

Lucy Davis

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Four U.S. Show Jumping riders travelled to CSIO Buenos Aires in Argentina, and their trip proved worth the miles when they scored a big win Nov. 12 in Nations Cup competition.

Led by the four fault efforts of Young Rider Lucy Davis of Los Angeles and John McConnell of Lemitar, N.M., the U.S. Team put in an impressive effort to jump to the win on 24 faults over the Canadians who finished on 37. The home nation was third on a score of 43.

Doug Williamson rode Wright On Time to NSHA Futurity Reserve title

NAMPA, Idaho — Wright On Time, a flashy 3-year-old stallion in the top tier of the 2010 reined cow horse season, was humanely euthanized Oct. 24 after a show pen injury in the finals fence work at the Idaho Reined Cow Horse Association Futurity.

Wright On Time (Lenas Wright On x Shiney Tari x Shining Spark) suffered a broken front leg during the finals fence work. Shown by Bakersfield trainer Doug Williamson for owner Barbara Hastings, Wright On Time was on pace to win the Futurity Open — after two events, he held a solid lead with a 144 in the herd work and a round-winning 149.5 in the reined work.

BURBANK– While the temperatures in Colorado and California are dropping, five trainers will have the opportunity to warm up on the beaches of Maui, courtesy of Langer Equestrian Group’s Maui Trainer Incentive awards. Maui trips are awarded to the professionals whose students earn the most points at the Woodside, Colorado, Verdugo Hills and Woodside Dressage series, as well as a fifth prize for the professional member of the winning team in the Memorial Day Equitation Challenge.

Larry Langer started the Trainer Incentive to reward professionals for the hard work they put into the sport. Most trainers rarely get the chance to take a vacation, and when they do they are rarely extravagant.

HEY RAY! How can I calm my horse down again after he blows up? Unless we’re doing normal patterns, he panics and his mind slips into another world – and he won’t listen to me anymore. Lead changes trigger his blow-ups, too.
–Kathleen, San Jose

HEY KATHLEEN: The answer to your challenge lies within your question. If the only time your horse doesn’t panic is when he’s doing normal patterns, then start creating patterns with everything he does in order to settle his mind. You do this with repetition and an understanding that there is value waiting for him at the end of each choice.

Next in a series
After looking at lateral flexion the last two issues, let’s move into vertical flexion.

Objective
To begin to get your horse to give at the poll as a result of soft pressure on his mouth with both reins.

Skills You Will Develop
Timing – Timing is critical in this stage of the program. You want to make sure that you reward your horse instantly when you get the result you want so he learns to give and not pull.

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