LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Wrapping up the indoor season, the Las Vegas National offered the final FEI classes on the West Coast until February 2014. Fifty-six horse and rider pairs representing 11 different countries gave it a go Nov. 15 in the $33,000 EquiFit, inc. Jumper Classic. The course was technical and the competition fierce.

In order to accommodate a tight-turn option that ultimately determined the top placings in the class, fence 11, the skinny Las Vegas jump, was set as the last element of a line towards the gate, with an option to turn inside and gallop to the final oxer. Preceding the skinny was a triple combination out of the corner at the top of the ring. This line caused rails to fall over 30 times during the class. However, it wasn’t the only trouble spot; the tall vertical at fence 3 came down a number of times and the forward bending line into the combination at 6a-b caused rails, refusals and one dismount. The 78-second time allowed was also a factor, as 15 riders accrued faults.

TEMECULA — Reined cow horse competitors know more than most that good things come in three’s, so it’s no surprise that the Third Annual Triple Crown, featuring separate awards in herd, rein and fence work as well as a composite, would be a hit.

The two-day event for non professional riders was exactly that Nov. 16-17, as the host Southern California Reined Cow Horse Association built on its strong foundation of the last two years, attracting 65 entries on 50 horses to Casner’s Ranch to get a piece of more than $10,000 in added money and awards.

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — California Morgans claimed 40 titles at the 2013 Grand National and World Championship Morgan Horse Show, held Oct. 12-19. More than 1,000 of the world’s finest Morgan horses from across the U.S., Canada, and Europe met at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds to compete in over 300 classes for $400,000-plus in prize money.

The Deer Springs area of San Marcos was especially well represented. SYP High Definition GCH, who is stabled at Deer Springs Equestrian and owned by Ted and Elaine Olsen of Coto De Caza, took the World Champion Park Harness Amateur Masters title, while another Olsen-owned Morgan, Arboria Arion, was Reserve World Champion Park Harness Amateur.

SHELBURNE, Vt. — There was a long list of Californians who won competition in the show ring at the 2013 American Morgan Horse Association Grand Nationals and World Championship Show (related article, page 18). Outside the arena, another Californian took home some prestigious recognition.

The 2013 AMHA Youth of the Year is Mackenzie Meier of Lenexa, Kan., and Sydney Cheong of Los Angeles is the reserve champion.

The contestants participated in a rigorous, four-part test throughout the course of two days. Included are a written exam, an oral presentation and interview, a ridden or driven horsemanship pattern, and a judging division with a reasons portion. The winner of this prestigious contest earns a custom-designed awards package valued at $2,500 and is generously sponsored by the Cynthia Elaine Epperson Trust. Meier placed first in the oral presentation, written exam, and the judging division, and received second place in the horsemanship pattern. Cheong, a senior at Harvard-Westlake School, also was in the show ribbons, winning the Horsemanship Pattern division. She also has earned a custom-designed awards package for her accomplishment.

A new category of rules referred to as “Prohibited Practices” has been introduced to the USEF Rule Book and took effect Dec. 1, 2013, the USEF announced last week.

The Mustang Heritage Foundation invites you to “Do the Extreme in 2014”! The 100-day wild horse training challenge is headed back to Horsetown USA, Norco, on May 16-17 at the George Ingalls Equestrian Event Center. Trainer applications will be due Jan. 3, so make sure your application is ready to turn in! For adults, there is a $10,000 estimated purse, while the youth division (offered for the first time at this event), offers a $5,000 estimated purse. The Mustang Heritage Foundation created the Extreme Mustang Makeover event in order to recognize and highlight the value of Mustangs through a national training competition. These events give the public a unique opportunity to see the beauty, versatility and trainability of these rugged horses. See the ad on page 21, and call for more info at (512) 869-3225.

56th in a series
Last issue, Les prepared us well as we head into collected stops. Here are a few more pointers.

When you are ready for the stop and you take away your legs, don’t say “whoa.” We don’t want a crisp hard stop yet. We want a beautiful energy transfer from the front of the horse to the back, one that just melts. What you are going to feel when it’s right is that there is actually an energy current that goes from his poll, down his spine and to his hind legs. You can stop a little harder but don’t say “whoa” at this point; you’re letting him melt, and saying “whoa” means “get it into the ground.”

Dear Dana: I ride my horse four days a week after work. I have only 45 minutes to ride her every day. She is doing pretty well but not progressing. I feel like I am having a good enough ride, but we aren’t really getting any better. My little issues stay the same. Every day I work on the walk, jog and the lope each way and the back up as well as the side pass. Any suggestions of how I can accelerate my horse’s learning or improving?
–Nicole