PASO ROBLES — There is a zip in the step of John Ward this fall, but not just because he remedied an old football injury last November with hip replacement surgery. The two-time National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity World Champion is excited to have his health this year — and to have Gotta Go Get It.

The Ward Ranch’s 3-year-old stallion (Smart Little Pepinic x Got Mister x Mister Dual Pep) was brilliant under Ward in his first competition, the National Stock Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity at the Mid-state Fairgrounds Aug. 13-19, winning both the Open and Intermediate Open championships. Zane Davis took John Semanik’s Brother Jackson to the Reserve NSHA Open Futurity title.

PASO ROBLES — After a year’s effort to train Smart Boons into the bridle, Corey Cushing has every reason to be pleased.

Cushing and Smart Boons (Peptoboonsmal x Smart Little Easter x Smart Little Lena), have entered three top 2012 bridle competitions, and they have won two of them — the most recent being the Aug. 18 World’s Richest Stock Horse competiton at the National Stock Horse Association Futurity. They captured the Magnificent 7 competition in Sacramento in June.

DEL MAR — The first World Cup Qualifying Grand Prix of the 2012-13 California season drew top West Coast show jumping horse-and rider teams to SHowpark Sept. 1 for the Blenheim EquiSport $50,000 Showpark World Cup Grand Prix.

Ferraris and Maseratis scattered in and around the field, adding an extra touch of speed to the already picturesque course. It was an FEI level competition with 24 entries taking on Canadian course designer Michel Vaillancourt’s World Cup-qualifying track.

BURBANK — Junior riders generally rule the day in the Los Angeles Hunter Jumper Association Horsemanship Final, but amateur riders Courtney Harrell and Mary Cimolino showed that they had what it took to prevail over the younger set.

The competition, held Aug. 20-Sept. 2 at the Gold Coast 6 show at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, came down to a second-day duel between the pair, and Harrell, who trains under Sheri Moser, finished on top with Anything Goes.

Earning Top Ten at the Arabian Horse Association Youth Nationals is a sterling achievement, but when Tabitha Bell rode QR Irish Kouream in Hunter Pleasure Junior to Ride this summer, it meant more than usual.

Twelve-year-old Bell, a passionate young horsewoman, was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, a disorder of muscle weakness that can make a challenge of routine activities, let alone horseback competition.

LEZIRIAS, Portugal – Leslie Berndl of Newcastle and her two American teammates completed the cones phase of the FEI World Driving Championships for Singles, securing a sixth place team finish Sept. 15 – a strong finish that demonstrated a marked improvement for the U.S. Driving Team after having placed 11th at the 2010 World Championships.

Leading the U.S. individually was Sterling Graburn, who completed his second World Championship in 22nd place.

BURBANK — Kicking off the fall horse show season at the Gold Coast 6 Aug. 30-Sept. 2, participants got the chance to earn grants for their school libraries in the $5,000 Riding for Reading Pleasure Class. Claire Sears, a junior at Claremont High who is trained by Rainbow Canyon Ranch, was glad to win this year’s class aboard Kingdom Come, owned by Mary Gatti.

“I have been participating in the class for several years, and each year my school is thrilled to receive the library money,” Sears said. “It feels really good to be able to contribute to my school while doing something I love to do.”

PASO ROBLES — Catawhit, a 6-year-old gelding by Catalano out of Call Me Cali Olena, sold for $11,200 to become the high-seller at the 2012 National Stock Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity Sale, conducted Aug. 18 at the Mid-State Fairgrounds by Duarte Sales.

DEAR DANA: I’ve been told working on backing up our horses can make a difference in overall training. Why?
Rose, Florence, Ariz.

DEAR ROSE: The back-up is more important than many people realize. It reflects how balanced your horse is between your reins and legs, and it shows his lightness, willingness, and flexibility. It is important enough that AQHA requires it in most performance classes as well as in Western Pleasure. AQHA is defining it to the point that they are rating is from “poor” to “good”.

Entries are up and the crop of 3-year-olds is immensely talented for the 2012 National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity in Reno this month, but the biggest buzz among spectators may be the innovations in this year’s World Championship Show. NRCHA Board Member and Marketing Chair Jim Vangelos is particularly excited about the Finals moving from the traditional Sunday to Saturday night, Sept. 29, which is expected to raise the roof ever further on an event that already ranked as perhaps the most exciting in horse sports. After the final go and judges have determined the winner of the $100,000 first-place Open Futurity prize, the Reno Livestock Events Center arena will transform into a celebration of another great Futurity year. Also, for the first time Clinton Anderson will conduct a clinic at the NRCHA event on Friday, Sept. 28, in the outdoor rodeo arena, and there will be a Jumbotron for spectators’ enjoyment, showing interviews with top trainers and non-pros throughout the competition. Of course, traditional favorite components of the 10-day show will stay intact, including a “Best of the West” trade show, the Hall of Fame Dinner and Auction on Thursday, Sept. Sept. 27th, and a wine-tasting hosted by the NRCHA during the Finals on Sept. 28 and 29 — with special NRCHA wine from Alan Needles of Tucalota Creek Winery in Temecula. Vangelos says the NRCHA Board is honored to bring along these exciting changes, and he welcomes feedback. For more info, see the ad on page 21.