PASO ROBLES – If anyone expected to see Dulces Belle Starr on top of the National Stock Horse Association Open Futurity once the dust had settled at the Midstate Fairgrounds Aug. 20, it wasn’t Jake Gorrell.

The defending Open champion rider didn’t think he had a chance at this event, which each year provides a rich look at contestants for the NRCHA World Championship Snaffle Bit Futurity one month later in Reno.

TEMECULA — When Bill Dickinson and his son, Travis, went to last winter’s National Reining Horse Association Futurity, they picked up a catalog for the annual NRHA Sale, and destiny took hold.

“We were looking at all the bloodlines, and we came across this mare, Dulces Belle Starr, who had sort of slipped through the cracks,” said Dickinson, a Southern California contractor with a ranch in Temecula. “We asked ourselves, ‘what is SHE doing here?!’ She should have been in Reno.”

DEL MAR — After a stellar amateur career, Josephina Nor-Lantzman stepped into the professional arena this year, and on Aug. 27 she and her Chello Z notched her first major win in the $40,000 Showpark Summer Classic Grand Prix, presented by California Horsetrader.

On a warm day at Showpark, the International Grand Prix Field was on fire as 10 of 23 horse-and-rider pairs reached the jump-off round on a course that required a careful, accurate ride. The top six finishers were double-clean. First to return in the second round was pace-setter Nor-Lantzman and Chello Z at 36.27 seconds.

DEL MAR – Australian Harley Brown and his 18.2-hand mate, Cassiato, earned the blue sash, top prize money and valuable World Cup points for a job well done in the Sept. 3 $50,000 Grand Prix of Showpark, presented by The Grand Del Mar.

Of the 23 entries in the World Cup qualifying class, this pair was the only match to master Anthony D’Ambrosio’s course without fault. Several others were close, including two with just a single time fault and six with a single rail down, but not close enough to cause a jump-off.

PASO ROBLES — It’s not over until it’s over.

That sports cliche applies as much to cow horse as any other competition, and the National Stock Horse Association 2011 World’s Richest Stock Horse bridle event Aug. 20 at the Midstate Fairgounds stands as proof.

EXETER — Kathy Torres and LeeAnn Fleetwood took home respective open and limited titles from the Third Annual Fairlea Ranch Versatility Ranch Horse Show held Sept. 3 at the scenic Fairlea Ranch.

The show, the last one on the ranch’s 2011 schedule, attracted twice the entries as last year and featured Open and AQHA-approved Ranch Horse Versatility along with the limited division. Limited division competition did not include fence work or roping. Thirty-three entries competed for the total payout of $2,575, including $500-added to the open division.

BURBANK — Yeguada Trujillo was named Best Exhibitor and Rancho Armendariz received Best Breeder awards, respectively, as about 100 P.R.E. horses converged on the Industry Hills Expo Center for the Feria del Caballo Espanol Aug. 19-21.

Overall, there were over 300 horses in attendance participating in several events. The Morphology ANCCE show had 114 horses. The official count, excluding sections 1, 2 & 14, was 99 horses.

“Our sincere appreciation and gratitude goes out to everyone who made this such a successful show,” said Ramiro Vega. “We especially would like to congratulate and recognize our Special Awards Winners.”

BURBANK – California’s dressage riders enjoyed a weekend of hot championship competition and cool entertainment during Cool August Nights held Aug. 25-28 at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center.

Markel Insurance sponsored the Cornerstone Open and Amateur Championships at the event, which also featured the Los Angeles Breeders Classic.

Competitors who had pursued qualifying scores and a chance to vie for titles from training to FEI levels since December included Jaye Cherry and Santana, winner of the Open Training Level series title; Cindy Ramirez-Smith and Decoroso HGF at Open First Level; Heather Neely and Enchante in the Adult Amateur First Level division; Sherry Van’t Riet with Sir Deauville for Open Third Level; Ritchie Silva and Amadeus at Third Level for Adult Amateurs; Emily Tears with Lopaca for Adult Amateur Intermediaire I; and Whitney Harrington riding Laredo 183 to the win in the Adult Amateur Grand Prix division.

Sixth in a series
Les wraps up his equipment checklist with the set-up of the cavesson.

I prefer a stiff rope cavesson, and I like it under the bridle so that it sits about an inch above the snaffle. Make sure that it’s high enough that the bit won’t pinch the horse’s lip against it when you pick up on the rein. Start with a pretty loose cavesson. I like about ¾-inch clearance under the jaw. You want the horse to be able to open his mouth slightly if he wants to. If it’s too tight some horses might shake their heads, or even panic and fall, so don’t introduce it too snug.

Calling all Non-pros! The Southern California Reined Cow Horse Association wants you to save the date of Nov. 18-19 for the Triple Crown 2011! The competition will be held at Casner Ranch in Temecula, and will feature Snaffle Bit, Derby, Bridle, Youth and Limited divisions. With $10,000 in added money and buckles to champion and reserve champions in all divisions, you won’t want to miss this exciting event! Call Laura at (951) 551-9505 and see the ad on page 25 for further details.