TEMECULA — Although the rains fell at the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event Nov. 6, they couldn’t stop the juggernaut that was British rider James Alliston. He started the day by winning the CCI1* aboard Mojo, then he placed second in the CCI2* with Tivoli. And then he finished his day with a victory in the CCI3*, the last event on the PRO Tour Series, aboard India McEvoy’s Jumbo’s Jake, and also placed seventh with his own Parker II.

“I got the day rolling the right way with the one-star win, because the round I had was pretty horrible and I got really lucky,” said Alliston, who lives in Castro Valley. “And [all] the horses jumped great after that.”

QUEEN CREEK, Ariz. — Queen Creek might be Ron Emmons’ new favorite place. On Saturday night, Oct. 29, he piloted Olena Oak to the Championship of the National Reined Cow Horse Association Derby’s Holy Cow Performance Horses Open Bridle Spectacular. He returned to the Horseshoe Park and Equestrian Center on Sunday to win the headline event in the Open and Intermediate Open division on Reygans Smart Lena.

“It’s been an amazing weekend—that’s for sure!” For Sunday’s performance, Emmons won $36,011, a Bob’s Custom Saddle sponsored by Centennial Cattle Company, two pairs of Rios of Mercedes boots, two bits from Tom Balding Bits & Spurs, and two CR Morrison trophies.

PASO ROBLES — Mackenzie Cayford, Miss Rodeo Lakeside, was crowned Miss Rodeo California Oct. 6 at the Paso Robles Inn in Paso Robles. The Valley Center resident is the daughter of Bob and Cindy Cayford.

In addition to the crown, Mackenzie received a Circle Y trophy saddle, a Skyline Silversmiths trophy buckle, a horse trailer from Golden West Trailer Sales, Best Ever Saddle Pad, Dan Post Boots, Vogt silver watch and earrings, Platinum Performance products, a $4000 scholarship, and many more prizes. Judging the event were Kiki Shumway from Paso, Wash., Kelly Baxley from Carrollton, Texas, Rob Smets from Merkel, Texas, and Kendra Santos from Creston.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Open Jumper action at the Alltech National Horse Show, 128th Edition, wrapped up tonight with a fast-paced jump-off during the Alltech National Horse Show $250,000 Grand Prix CSI-W. Richard Spooner and Cristallo set the pace with tidy inside turns and a clear effort, beating Great Britain’s Nick Skelton aboard Carlo 273 by just .3 seconds. Jessica Springsteen and Cincinatti Le Silla rounded out the three as the fastest four fault combination during the short course.

HEY RAY: How do I know if I am accepting a less-than-desired response from my horse while lunging or riding? Sometimes, I think that I cannot expect a timely or complete response from my horse if he is not warmed up. On the other hand, I realize that I may be training a slow or incomplete response to my aids. Am I on the right track if I get a focused response, but not a strenuous response, during the first minutes of training?

— Thurston Fransers, San Diego

Tenth in a series
Now that Les has covered the importance of our hands in the last two issues, let’s learn another communication device.

Clucking is a conditioned response. I read somewhere that clucking goes back to Xenophon* – who lived in something like 400 B.C. Anyway, horsemen have been doing it a long time. And it is interesting how clucking makes a difference, as far as bringing up the adrenaline in a horse.

`Tis the season to be…shopping! Be sure to check out the Horsetrader Holiday Gift Guide on page 10. There are some unique, horsey ideas at some very attractive prices.

The Clement Dressage Simulator offers riders a revolutionary new way to focus on their skills. It is used worldwide by professionals and amateur riders as an essential aid in training. The simulator is programmed to react to your aids the way a real horse would. By viewing immediate and visual feedback on balance, seat position and riding maneuvers, riders can improve greatly in a short amount of time. The simulator visually resembles a real 15.2 hd. black sport horse with a solid base instead of legs. The perfect horse can walk, trot, and canter; collect and extend the gaits; respond to leg, seat, and rein aids; as well as fl ex. The simulator comes equipped with seat, leg and bit sensors. Leg aids are detected by sensors on and behind the girth. Your aids and weight signals are displayed on a wide-screen TV where you will view a detailed description on how well you are sitting and how precisely you execute an aid. The Clement Dressage Simulator is located at The Paddock Riding Club in Los Angeles. Call (213) 200-8314 or see the ad on page 12.