RENO, Nev. — Todd Bergen, lifted by a 224.5 reining score, took Shiners Dun Juan (Smart Shiner x Cremes Chic Olena), owned by Janiejill Tointin, to the National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Division World Championship Oct. 2, staking claim to the $100,000 winners purse with a composite score of 657.5. Moonstruck Pepto (One Time Pepto x Moonstruck Cat) and Boyd Rice took reserve and $78,000 with 654 points, while Stylishnfancy (Stylish Rey x Playgirl Fancy) and Zane Davis earned third and $58,000 with 653.5 points.

This marks the second NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity title for Bergen, who won his first one on Boonlight Dancer in 2001. The Eagle Point, Ore., trainer also has had two Snaffle Bit Futurity Reserve Championships in his career, which is marked by him being the first rider to claim Million Dollar status in both the NRCHA and the National Reining Horse Association.

GRASS VALLEY, Calif. — The Nevada County Fairgrounds had something to celebrate Sept. 22-25, as it hosted the 25th Annual Draft Horse Classic along with their Harvest Fair and first Annual Classic Rib Cook-Off. In six performances throughout the four-day event, draft horse exhibitors from California, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, and Iowa competed for more than $35,000 in premium awards.

Ciera Barry, 17, of Millvale was awarded “Youth of the Show,” the high point for youth competitors, after placing first in Gambler’s Choice and Junior Showmanship, and second in Junior Team Driving and Junior Cart. For the fifth consecutive year, Danielle Simpson, of Simpson Percherons from Rio Vista, was recognized as the outstanding lady driver, accumulating high points to win the Susan Parnell High Point Perpetual Award.

DEL MAR — Helen McNaught and Karl Cook were the big winners Sept. 28-Oct. 2, as top horses and riders converged on the Del Mar Fairgrounds for the popular 2011 Del Mar International Horse Show.

McNaught, aboard Alison Heafey’s Lariccello, won the $50,000 Del Mar International Grand Prix and took third in the $31,000 ShowBiz Magazine Welcome Stake. The grand prix, held under the lights in the Del Mar Arena, was a World Cup qualifier CSI-W and was presented by Villas at Rancho Valencia.

SANTA BARBARA, CA — At this years Quarter Horse Fall Classic, held at the Earl Warren Show Grounds in Santa Barbara, the competitors had plenty of fun as well as an opportunity to gain some extra points. The Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Association presented the show with six judges (Dawn Clason, Brett Clark, Jan Hoskin, Stephen Stevens, Nancy Swarm, and Lance Treptow), giving Classic participants the chance to earn six sets of points over four days.

Eight in a series
After reviewing reins last issue, we’ll look at how we use our hands in this column and next.

A key component of this program is that you learn to ride with “life” in your hands. What we mean by this is that you never want to just hang on the bit with steady pressure. Any time you pick up (that is, start to take the slack out of the reins) and feel resistance, you’ll want to immediately start working your hands back and forth on the snaffle, or go to soft bumps if you’re using a direct rein, until the horse stops resisting and yields to your hand. If you try to just pull on the horse, you’re really only training the horse to pull back, and in the long run he’s a lot stronger than you are!

HEY RAY: While riding in an arena, another rider came in with a horse that had past difficulties standing still for mounting. She was being assisted by a groom, and despite precautions the horse put her on the ground and went free. Her horse began to panic and run around the arena. My horse held his ground despite being charged by the loose horse. I flexed his neck strongly when he started to react to the excitement. The other horse was caught and no one was hurt. This made me wonder two things: How best to handle that situation if my new stallion got loose? Is there a safe way to prepare my horse for facing a charging, loose horse?
—Theo Tang

Horseworship, an independently-owned apparel company based in Malibu, joined the growing chorus of individuals and businesses working to stop the eradication of America’s rapidly diminishing wild horse population with the announcement of its ‘Freedom Collection’ line. A portion of the profits from sales of the line will support the California-based Return To Freedom, American Wild Horse Sanctuary. With the unveiling of her ‘Freedom Collection’ line, Horseworship founder and designer Pamela Robins has created a series of stunning short and long sleeve tee shirts, delicious thermals and warm hoodies for both young girls and women. The collection merges graphic design, verse and the fine art photography of renowned equine photographer Kimerlee Curyl to create unique fashion that raises money while raising awareness for the cause. While drawing her inspiration from the surrounding beauty of the Malibu canyons and “all things horse,” Robins describes Horseworship t-shirts as “fun, versatile fashion that transitions seamlessly from a day in the saddle to a night out.” For more info, see ad on page 11.

SAN MARCOS — What do you get when you mix community spirit, hard work and good fun? How about a $10,000 fund-raiser for equestrian facilities during tough economic times?

That’s what the Fifth Annual Poker Ride In Stride event in San Marcos proved Oct. 9 at Walnut Grove Park.

More than $10,000 was raised at the event for the Walnut Grove Park arena during the Horse Heritage Festival and San Marcos Trail Day featuring pony rides, petting corrals and much more — including the poker ride/walk for equestrians and hikers. The event was spearheaded by the Twin Oaks Valley Equestrian Association and overseen by Patti Morton of Pathfinder Farm.

VANCOUVER, Wash. — The Annual Convention and Membership Meeting of the American Paint Horse Association has concluded, and leaders selected the group’s executive committee, decided on rule change proposals and work within committees to continue to advance the popular breed registry and membership association. Attending the three-day event were members of the Association’s Executive Committee, 98 National Directors and other involved members from 35 U.S. states, two Canadian provinces and the United Kingdom.