MOORPARK — Robin Hutton has a horse story to tell, and it’s a very good one.

Hutton, a writer who has weaved horses into her work throughout her career, encountered Sergeant Reckless and was astonished the mare had slipped through a generation barely noticed.

NORCO — The 39th edition of the Sierra Empire Arabian Horse Association’s show took a change of venue this year, but the direction was the same: The region’s top Arabians and Half-Arabians schooled and tuned up before heading east this month for the Scottsdale Arabian Show.

THERMAL — In their first grand prix of the 2014 season, Saer Coulter and Springtime kicked off 2014 on the highest of notes, topping 31 jumpers in the $50,000 Strongid C 2X™ CSI-W2*, presented by Zoetis.

The class, a highlight of World Cup week at HITS Thermal, was a qualifier for the 2014 FEI World Cup Finals in Lyon, France this April. The jumps were big, the time was tight and the field was competitive with six of the original 31 advancing to the jump-off.

Course designer Olaf Petersen, Jr. of Muenchen, Germany, kept the promise he made after Thursday’s grand prix and built big.

Reiners gathered at the the Pomona Valley Mining Co. in Pomona Jan. 11 to honor the California Reining Horse Association standouts from 2013 and to set membership’s sights on another successful year. The night also featured a Silent Auction fund-raiser, with all items donated by members or sponsors. A beginner’s reining clinic with Brenda Brown at Green Oaks Ranch is set March 1st.

MORE INFO: www.calreining.com

60th in a series
Last issue, Les concluded his in-depth series on collected stops. Before we move on to exercises next issue, let’s recap the collected stop material.

SUN VALLEY — Stevi Fielding, a longtime fixture in the Los Angeles horse world who also served the area as a top equestrian real estate professional, passed away Dec. 23 at her home in Sun Valley.

Jumper rider Saer Coulter will be adding a new grand prix mount to her stable: Mr. Whoopy. Coulter’s family farm, Copernicus Stables, purchased the Hanoverian stallion (Contendro—Whoopy, Watzmann) from Simone Otus Coxe, according to reports.

On Valentine’s Day, like every day, I will show my 18-year-old Quarter Horse love by giving him exercise, supplements disguised as a treat, a clean stall, and a good scratch in just the right place. The greeting he whinnies before I can even get through the gate beats roses or chocolates any day.
— Beverly Walters

Dear Dana: Every time that I bridle my horse’s head, as I release him he lifts his head back up — and comes right back out of the bridle. I must admit I am getting really frustrated with him, and sometimes I really jerk him. Then, he over-bridles but still pops his neck back up! Please give me some advice.
– Steve

In response to the growing popularity of the AQHA Ranch Pleasure Classes, the Cactus Reining Classic has added AQHA Amateur Ranch Pleasure and AQHA Youth Ranch Pleasure classes to the schedule of the upcoming event at WestWorld in Scottsdale March 5-9. A favorite of exhibitors and spectators alike, the class is judged on how well horses and riders perform in a simulated ranch environment. Show producer Amanda Brumley calls the addition of these classes “icing on the cake” of an already super line-up. Established in 2005, the Cactus Reining Classic is the first event in the three show “Triple Crown of Reining Series” that includes Reining By The Bay and High Roller Reining Classic, all of which are recognized by the NRHA among their top-ranked approved events worldwide. See ad on page 25.