RENO, Nev. — Corey Cushing, a National Reined Cow Horse Association Million Dollar Rider from Scottsdale, Ariz., captured the 2014 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Championship riding Good Time (One Time Pepto x Dual Nurse x Dual Pep), owned by Lynne Wurzer, Tacoma, Wash. The Snaffle Bit Futurity Open finals were held Saturday, Oct. 4, at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center.

Cushing guided the sorrel gelding to a composite 660 score (219 herd/219.5 rein/221.5 cow) to win the $100,000 Snaffle Bit Futurity Championship, the second of his career. Cushing won his first title in 2012 with CD Diamond (CD Olena x Shiners Diamond Girl x ShiningSpark), bred and owned by San Juan Ranch.

It was an emotional win for Cushing, who wiped tears as he rode Good Time into the spotlight at the Reno Livestock Events Center to accept the award.

OJAI — When director Frank Capra chose Ojai as the location for Shangri-La in the 1937 film “Lost Horizons,” it was no accident. Capra and many others before and since have recognized Ojai is one of the most divine places in California.

As with many places of great beauty, Ojai is home to horses. The equine community in Ojai is alive and well, despite a dogged economic comeback, and boasts trainers of many disciplines and horses of many breeds.

WOODSIDE — Aboard her own Basco, Bonner Carpenter, of Dallas, Texas, galloped to first place in the CIC3* at the Woodside International Horse Trials, finishing with 48.7 penalties.

The Area VI champions were: Preliminary Rider, Tristen Hooks/Learning To Fly; Training Horse, Ruth Bley/En Vogue; Training Rider, Jain Coert/Fail Safe; Novice Rider, Angela Cricelli/Sunsprite’s Cali; Beginner Novice Rider, Grace Illsley/Dancing Diva.

James Alliston, of Castro Valley, claimed second on Tivoli (52.1), and Kaitlin Veltkamp of Los Gatos, grabbed third place on Flashpoint D (57.0).

Carpenter, 26, earned $3,000 for her winning effort, along with the Adequan USEA Gold Cup and the CTETA Founders’ Cup, established to honor Robert E. Smith, whose vision established the Horse Park at Woodside in 1981.

Jigging out on trails stems from a few different causes Ð buddy sour, barn sour, competitive (always wanting to be in front) or bored because they have not been worked sufficiently to expend their energy. Whatever the cause, the least effective way to correct this behavior is to tighten up the reins, hang on the mouth and try to restrict their movement. You cannot force a horse to walk when all they want to do is jig.

You have to change their mind by turning what they want to do into work, and turning what you want to do into rest. In order accomplish this, you have to make their feet move with energy and change direction frequently, thus keeping their attention on you.

RANCHO SANTA FE — Microsoft founder Bill Gates has purchased the 229-acre thoroughbred training center in Rancho Santa Fe formerly owned by weight-loss icon Jenny Craig, and reports in the U-T San Diego newspaper indicate he plans to turn it into a facility for hunters and jumpers.

The father of a teenager who jumps competitively, Gates paid $18 million for the facility in a deal that closed Sept. 12. The sale is one of San Diego County’s highest-priced deals for a home this year. Gates also owns a home in the Del Mar Country Club.

SAN DIEGO –A year after a controversial death of a horse at a San Diego training facility, reining horse trainer Mark Arballo pleaded not guilty Oct. 2 to a felony charge of animal cruelty.

TEMECULA — Next Level Eventing and Tamra Smith have aquired Twizted Syster, also known as “Chloe,” a 7-year-old, Irish Sport Horse mare.

Twizted Syster, previously owned by the Team Express Group, was purchased for Smith via a group of syndicate members who will now comprise the Twizted Systers, LLC.

Twizted Syster was originally imported in 2012 to be ridden by Heather Morris of Lewisville, Texas, but was later sent to Smith to be sold by Morris, a close friend of Smith, following the mare’s allergic reactions to elements in the Texas area.

6th in a series
In the last issues, Patricia gave her insight into how a driver gets started. Now, she moves into the next step.

Most horses enjoy being driven, and some even excel at it more than riding. The breed of the horse is not important, nor is the size — other than finding the perfect horse for the job intended. My first requirement is that the horse does not go into full training until itÕs mature enough — mentally and physically. Personally, I usually like to start a horse at three years old or older. Next, I look for a good mind and calm attitude. I want a willing and obedient equine who will take to training. It should be sound with fair conformation. Older, well-trained saddle horses often take to driving training quite well.

Looking for a frightfully fun time? Don’t miss the Del Mar International Horse Show and Halloween Celebration, scheduled Oct. 15-26, at the Del Mar Fairgrounds! This amazing event features world-class show jumping, hunter and jumper championships, year-end finals and special Halloween festivities. Show highlights include the Villas at Rancho Valencia World Cup Grand Prix of Del Mar, the GGT Footing Grand Prix Series Finale, the Grand Prix Hunter Derby Final and much more. Sat., Oct. 25th will feature the Del Mar Halloween Costume Competition – watch as zombies, ghosts, witches, goblins and more vie to frighten and spook the judges. Plus, all of the videos from Horsetrader.com “Funniest Horse Video Contest” will be presented and

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO — The 2014 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals West came to a thrilling close with the show jumping phase and the challenging Final Four test on Sept. 22.

The competition provides an ultimate canvas for developing young riders to test their skills at a level of competition resembling the top of the sport. Just a few weeks prior, four of the best show jumpers in the world contested similarly in the Final Four at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. And as noted above for these top four, rails and time faults played a role in the final results at the Games as well.

After three solid phases and performing well in the final four test, the 2014 championship went to Sydney Hutchins, whose horse Sorcerer was also named Best Horse of the finals. Savannah Dukes was second, with third place awarded to Mitchell Endicott and fourth to Michael Williamson.