From beginning to end this year, California horses and riders performed well.

JANUARY: It didn’t take long into 2012 for Steffen Peters to make headlines. At the United States Equestrian Federation Pegasus Awards Jan. 14, the venerable dressage rider from San Diego became the first to receive the USEF Equestrian of the Year title three times. Momentum and anticipation of the Summer Olympic Games in London began to build, and Peters and Ravel a highly interesting proposition after finishing fourth in the individual competition at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

JANUARY: Nancy Nathanson of Santa Ynez received the coveted USEF Medal of Honor for her outstanding service to horses and equestrian sports on Jan. 14. For more than a quarter-century, Nancy has been a trainer and breeder of Andalusians and Lusitanos, and she has served as a highly respected multibreed show secretary at driving competitions, as well as Paso Fino, Andalusian, and Friesian shows.

DEAR DANA: I have a Paint Horse that I really get along with. He is very responsive to most of the things that I ask him to do. He jogs and lopes slowly and with his head down. For the most part , he does what I ask. Recently I have noticed that when I ask him to stop, he does not respond right away. He puts his head up and pulls on my hands. When I do get him to stop, he tries to take a few steps forward. Also, when he has stopped, he doesn’t like to stand still. Please help!
– Andrea, Pasadena

DEAR ANDREA: What you are describing is a very common problem. I am going to teach you to redefine your ‘whoa’ cue!

33rd in a series
Last issue, Les reviewed the “reverse arc” and the nature of right- and left-footed horses. We move now deeper into lateral movement with some new exercises.

Objective
– To start teaching your horse to let you move his whole body laterally
– To start teaching your horse to let you move his hip
– To learn to do both of these things without letting the shoulder lead the movement
– To improve your back-up or overcome resistance if you’re having problems
– To learn to feel whether your horse is straight from head to tail and learn how to correct him if he is not
– To learn how to back your horse easily and softly

With a new show season just around the corner, it’s a great time for clubs and show organizations to take advantage of special services the California Horsetrader and Horsetrader.com are launching just for those hard-working, volunteer-run groups. We have a line-up of free services to help promote events and interest, so if you are on the board of a breed or show group, be sure you email publisher Warren Wilson at wilson@horsetrader.com and get the packet for your club.

LAS VEGAS — The reined cow horse world lost one of its greatest champions Dec. 14 when Chics Magic Potion, the world’s highest-earning stock horse and an inseparable favorite of trainer Bob Avila, was euthanized after breaking a leg during a demonstration at the National Finals Rodeo.

The sudden loss of the 12-year old stallion, owned by Kenneth Banks of Schulenburg, Texas, sent the stock horse community grieving worldwide.