TEMECULA – When the three-day Galway Winter Horse Trials wrapped up Feb. 3, it really marked a beginning — of the Area VI winter-spring season, that is.

Successive Southern California competitions at Twin Rivers, Copper Meadows, then back to Galway for this weekend’s International Horse Trials, then on to Twin Rivers for its mid-April event illustrate how the region has become a hotbed for the this exciting discipline that combines cross-country, dressage and stadium jumping.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – The Cactus Reining Classic enlivened reining with another high-powered winter event, and a number of Californians brought home rewarding victories to start off their year after the five-day competition at Westworld.

This event, part of a three-show series that includes Reining By The Bay and High Roller Reining Classic, posted a double-digit increase in entries over the previous year for the third straight year. The March 6-10 reining in the Tony Nelssen Equestrian Center lured top American and international horse-and-rider combinations, some traveling from Italy, Brazil and Canada as well as all over the U.S.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – More than 2,000 horses descended onto Westworld Feb. 14-24 for the 58th Annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show, and as they have since the first decade of this illustrious event, California horses and exhibitors shined.

Jon Ramsey, head trainer at Stachowski West in San Marcos, continued his barn’s ascension into 2013 with nine horses winning Scottsdale Champion honors and 10 earning Scottsdale Top Tens.

THERMAL – In a stunning repeat performance, Germany’s Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and the 9-year-old mare, Malou, owned by Octavia Farms, scored victory March 10 the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis. The win comes on the heels of a $50,000 HITS Grand Prix on the previous Sunday.

“Malou has emerged as my most successful horse of the Desert Circuit,” Michaels-Beerbaum said.

Entering the final weekend March 16-17, Malou had been in the money in every Thermal grand prix in which she’s shown – a total of nine beginning with Desert Circuit II. She also landed in the ribbons in the $5,000 PCHA Jimmy Williams Classic that was her starter class during week one.

HEY RAY: I have a beautiful 20-year-old Lusitano stallion that has always done everything I’ve asked of him. Lately though, when I go to pick his feet he seems to be bothered when I reach for his feet. It almost seems like he doesn’t want me to touch them, especially the back ones. Initially, I thought he was being helpful because he would pick up his feet before I asked, but when I went to hold them he would move around or snatch his foot out of my hand. Now he has gotten so bad that I am afraid I might get kicked.
–Kristin Johnson, Corona

Join Pat and Linda Parelli, and the Savvy Team, for a Horse And Soul tour stop at the Murieta Equine Complex. This world-wide tour will be in Rancho Murieta on May 4-5, featuring topics such as the Seven Games, colt starting, horse psychology 101, fool proof lead changes, rider makeovers, mastering your body position and more! You’ll go home with more knowledge, more love, and more savvy than you showed up with! Tickets are just $25 per person, for two full days. Military, police, firefighters, EMT’s and kids 16 and under get in free! Come for the horses and stay for the education! For more info, see the ad on page 3.

39th in a series
After getting tips last issue on handling our horse’s attentiveness, Les now gives us some “straightforward” hints.

Start at a walk in a straight line. Make sure your hands are evenly spaced out in front of you and that your legs are relaxed. As you move along, I want you to concentrate on feeling what the horse is doing rather than watching for problems.

If you feel the horse start to bow or lean in either direction, use your hands and legs to get him straight again. If it helps, fix your eyes on something in the distance and make sure he stays moving straight toward it.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Three popular California USEF eventing competitions are among 19 nationwide that have been approved by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) as Targeted CNs.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY) on March 6 introduced the Equine Tax Parity Act (H.R. 998), which would make horses eligible for capital gains treatment after 12 months, rather than 24, similar to other business assets.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Patrick Meehan (R-PA) introduced the Safeguard American Food Exports Act of 2013 (H.R.1094). The bill, introduced March 12, would prohibit the sale, transport, export or import of horses or horse meat for human consumption. A Senate version of this bill is expected to be introduced by Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA).