OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Reiners from across California wrapped up their 2012 season with Top 10 finishes at the National Reining Horse Association, as NRHA closed the curtain Dec. 1 on another record-setting year.

Riders from both the West Coast Reining Horse Association (WCRHA) Northwest Affiliate and the California Reining Horse Association (CRHA) Southwest Affiliate shined during the 10-day competiton, which featured a new Three Million Dollar Rider when Texan Tim McQuay pierced the earnings mark after earning $145,000 on David Silva’s Gunners TInseltown.

Now that winter is here — don’t get caught in the cold! Take advantage of great discounts and savings from our $tore$aver Coupon advertisers and make sure your horses and pets stay healthy, well fed and warm and dry. Broken Horn in Baldwin Park (ad on page 42-43) and Norco Ranch Outfitters in Norco (ad on page 31) are both offering savings on your winter and stable blanket needs; Armstrong Feed in Valley Center (ad on page 58) has specials on dog and horse feed; and don’t miss Big Horse Feed and Mercantile in Temecula (ad on page 60) for their huge January Clearance Sale on Saturday, Jan. 12th! You can clip out the $tore$aver Coupons on page 56, or get them online at www.horsetrader.com.

Paul Stone, 1962-2012

Stone was a steeplechase champion and rode in the Grand National three times before training in Spain, then eventually moved to the U.S. in 1988. He lived in Westchester County, N.Y., and competed successfully on the hunter-jumper A-circuit as well as in a variety of hunter paces, three-day eventing trials, and carriage driving competitions.

34th in a series
Last issue, Les provided new exercises to develop lateral movement. Here are some more!

Total body control is the foundation of all maneuvers both in your reined work and on cattle. Hip control is critical in departures and lead changes, because you need to make sure your horse steps off with the correct hind leg in order to get the correct lead. Also in turnarounds and speed transitions, keeping the hip in place stabilizes the whole maneuver. Learning to maintain the correct alignment for each maneuver is critical for stopping, turnarounds and circles in particular, but plays a part in everything you will do.