SACRAMENTO — The California Department of Food and Agriculture confirmed Sunday the list of California Equine Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) cases caused by the EHV-1 virus has grown to 17, including the first reported cases in Southern California.

All but one of the 17 confirmed cases participated in the National Cutting Horse Association’s Western National Championships April 29-May 8 in Ogden, Utah, according to the CDFA. The only EHM case not involving a horse that participated at the Utah cutting show was a horse that had participated in the subsequent May 13 cutting in Bakersfield at the Kern County Fairgrounds, the report said.

A mare that did not particpate in either of the cuttings yet exhibited signs of EHM was subject of an investigation by Anmal Health Branch veterinarians who determined she did not have the same strain of virus as the horses in the confirmed cases. The mare, a participant in the Rancheros Vistadores ride in Santa Ynez May 5 – 12, reportedly exhibited neurological signs compatible with a number of equine diseases or conditions, but three sets of nasal swabs and blood testing on this mare indicated she was negative for the mutant strain of EHV-1 that causes EHM. Instead, she tested positive for a more common strain of EHV-1 that most frequently causes respiratory signs and on rare occasion causes neurological signs.

PASO ROBLES — He’s only six years old, but Smooth N Cash has won over $100,000 in reined cow horse competition. On Saturday night, April 30, at the National Reined Cow Horse Association Hackamore Classic, the young cow horse owned by the Roloff Ranch in Temecula added another entry to his resume – an NRCHA Open Bridle Spectacular Championship. The win came with a check for $5,040.

The event was one of the signature competitions of the NRCHA event held at the Mid State Fairgounds in Paso Robles.

DEL MAR — As the spring climate warms up along the California coast, so is Susie Hutchison and Cantano.

 

The Temecula-based pair returned to the grand prix spotlight May 14 with a decisive victory in the $50,000 Grand Prix of California, held May 14 at Showpark.

DEL MAR — Chris Pratt rode Indigo Farms, LLC’s Cruise to victory over a strong field of 31 contenders during the $100,000 Villas at Rancho Valencia Grand Prix of Del Mar, held on Saturday, May 7 at in a packed Del Mar Arena.

The performance climaxed Hunter-Jumper Week for the 2011 Del Mar National Horse Show, and it provided a little deja vu for the horse and rider duo that last fall won the $30,000 California Horsetrader Grand Prix on the same footing during the Del Mar International event.

SAN JUAN BAUTISTA — Services were held April 20 for Walter Wright, a lifelong horseman from the San Benito County who left his stamp on the state’s horse industry during his generation. Mr. Wright died peacefully April 12 on his ranch of 45 years.

Proud to have been a lifelong resident of San Benito County, Mr. Wright trained and raised horses his whole life. In his 20s, he boxed and was an avid hunter, and as a youth he rode broncs and went on to show horses. He sold, trained and taught hundreds of people how to ride over the years.

Time flies and summer is fast-approaching, which means the Western States Horse Expo in Sacramento is right around the corner! The 13th annual event comes to Cal Expo June 10-12, and the Horsetrader will be there again as an Official Sponsor. We have a very popular issue planned, so come with us! Call Lori for advertising specials at (760) 546-1184, or see the promo on page 8!

Next in a series

In the last two issues, we looked at on-the-fence body control with focus on the shoulder and hip, respectively. Here’s a last look at the importance of these practices before we move on.

Having control of the horse’s hips will prove to be quite critical for almost all of your reining maneuvers. You’ll need it for departures, lead changes and turnarounds particularly. Since many of the body control exercises that we’ll be working on in the next level will require you to have some hip control, you need to get started on it early in the program.

SACRAMENTO — A recent disease outbreak of Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHV-1) has been traced to horses who attended the National Cutting Horse Associations’ Western National Championships in Odgen, Utah on April 30 – May 8. California horses who participated in this event may have been exposed to this EHV-1 virus, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture.