KATY, Texas – If there is a theme to Tanya Jenkins’s success story with her No Wimpy Cowboys this year at the 2012 National Reiner Breeder’s Classic, is would be “right place, right time.”

The huge show pen here at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center is the perfect place for the big gelding, Jenkins says, and after a show career that started a bit late because of a non-riding injury, this year was the 6-year old’s party — and he celebrated with his owner by winning the Intermediate Open title as well as taking third in the Open Level 4, just a half-point behind reserve champion Andrea Fappani and Tinker With Guns.

Born with manure in my hair…
Jenny O’Curran
Escondido, CA
My mom gave me the love of horses at an early age. She was an avid horsewoman who told me I was born with manure in my hair. She had my sister and I on horses before we could walk — one in front and one in back…out on the trail we would go! My mother fox-hunted and did the open jumpers in her day. She literally rode up until the day she went into a coma and passed away. My favorite memory with my mom was to watch the grand prixes…every one we could get to!

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO – A spring thunderstorm on Friday set the tone for a dramatic wrap-up weekend of the Blenheim Spring Classic series, as John Perez and Arezzo stormed to victory April 14 in the $50,000 Orange County Register Grand Prix.

After thunderstorms had rolled in at the start of the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, show management rescheduled Friday’s High Performance Hunter Challenge for under the lights Saturday evening.

Since 1993, an eye-catching, California-bred Palomino stallion named Nu Chex To Cash has accumulated fame and recognition in the sport of Reining.

Four years after becoming the sport’s 15th National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Million Dollar Sire and just two years after being inducted into the NRHA Hall of Fame, he has once more elevated his status becoming the 10th NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire.

His offspring’s official NRHA earnings now total $2,002,150. Hilldale Farm, of Brashear, TX, has owned Nu Chex To Cash since 1995 and has bred his top three earning offspring.

20th in a series
After reviewing lateral flexion in detail last issue at a standstill, Les refines the exercise ever further.

Once your horse is giving his head readily to the side from fairly light pressure, it might be a good time to experiment a little with how the position of your direct rein hand affects your horse. Although different horses will respond a little differently depending on conformation, you will find some general consistencies.

DEAR DANA: I have not been riding long and don’t feel like my horse and I are one. I feel like I BOUNCE too much. I see people who are just one with their horse. How can I sit the trot and lope better?
—Catherine Auna, Norco

Dear Catherine: What a fabulous question! There are many people who need this information, and it is important because how you “sit your horse” is a foundation to becoming a great rider — and to being “one” with your horse!

The legendary Mule Days Celebration in Bishop is coming soon — Memorial Day weekend, May 22-27. More than 700 mules will compete in 181 events at the Tri-County Fairgrounds in this fun, family-oriented event that is part mule show, part Wild West show, and part a test of skills. Highlights of the international world-class event include the return of the historic 20-Mule Team, the longest running non-motorized parade, a Uncle Kracker live concert, the Packer’s Scramble, an arts and crafts show, barbeques, dances, and much more! For a schedule of events, to learn more or for tickets, please contact the Mule Days staff at (760) 872-4263, and se the ad on page 21.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Pete Kyle relived the 1960s, as he grooved his way to the top of the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup World Championship Freestyle on April 28.

Riding A Ruf Gal, Kyle got the crowd of almost 5,000 in the Alltech Arena to clap along to Three Dog Night’s Joy to the World. Kyle topped the evening’s leader board with a score of 227.5.

“I always look for songs people will recognize and that crowd will get into.” said Kyle. “It’s good for the horses, and it enables me to have fun with the crowd. Hopefully it’s fun for the crowd too.”

DEL MAR – Fresh off his historic Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final win April 22 in the Netherlands, Flexible arrived at the Del Mar Fairgrounds Monday, poised for two Olympic observation grand prixes this weekend at the Del Mar National Horse Show.

Rider Rich Fellers, the first American to win the World Cup final in 25 years, is focused on tasks ahead — qualifying and preparing for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

“We’re dialed in -– both of us,” said the Oregon-based Fellers, who has been riding Flexible for owners Harry and Molly Chapman since he helped them acquire the Irish-bred chestnut stallion in 2002. “Hopefully, we’ll still be dialed in for Friday and Saturday nights!”

After last week’s dramatic, three-round jump-off win over Swiss rider Steve Guerdat and his 11-year-old gelding, Nino des Buissonnets, on show jumping’s largest international stage, Fellers and Flexible bring the spotlight to the Del Mar National Horse Show, one of just four contests nationwide that will serve as U.S. Show Jumping Team Observation events for the 2012 Olympic Team selection. Others will be the Kentucky Spring Horse Show in Lexington, Ky., May 8–13; the Devon Horse Show in Devon, Pa., May 29–June 2; and the Spruce Meadows Horse Show in Canada, June 13–17.