DEL MAR — Packed with world class competition, appreciative crowds and the likes of zombies and engaging contests, the Del Mar International each year adds to its late-October “must attend” faithful. This year’s line-up did not disappoint, from Dutch grand prix rider Harrie Smolders and Regina Z outdueling Rich Fellers and Flexible by .04 seconds in Saturday night’s $125,000 Rancho Valencia World Cup Grand Prix of Del Mar, to Hannah Von Heidegger and Geledimar taking the GGT Footing Grand Prix Series Final the next day.

There were many special classes, each with a compelling story, perhaps none more compelling than that of Buddy Brown and Finally Ours in the Grand Prix Hunter Derby Final. Brown’s win on “Joey” – nicknamed for the boy character in the 1960s television series “Fury” that inspired Brown to ride as a kid – capped the duo’s 18-month journey together.

TEMECULA — Another year of hard work and accomplishment in the Southern California Reined Cow Horse Association came to a head Oct. 17-19 as the SCRCHA held its Cut For A Cause and Saddle Shoot Out event at Casner Ranch.

Four Shoot Out Champions were crowned on Sunday after the Cut For A Cause competition on Friday and the NRCHA and SCRCHA reined cow horses classes over the weekend. This year’s fund-raising cutting event garnered $5,000 for the El Rodeo Riding Club in Orange County.

The El Rodeo Riding Club is a Southern California group that promotes the equestrian lifestyle with a vast range of activities across many age groups, including providing a safe environment for children to become introduced to horses. Summer camps, riding lessons, horse show, trail and nature preservation activities are part of the line-up that helps promote core values while preserving tradition.

LOS ANGELES – More than 100 equestians from 17 of this city’s diverse associations converged on City Hall Oct. 22 to commemorate the Official L.A. Day of the Horse.

Tom LaBonge, Councilman Fourth District, was front-center of the ceremonies, which also featured words from Los Angeles Equine Advisory Council President Dale Gibson and Vice President Lynn Brown. La Bonge patiently took time to thank and be photographed with each group, including the likes of the Equestrian Trails, Inc. Junior Ambassadors and ETI Corral 20, the Enterprise Farms U.S. Pony Club Riding Center, the Interscholastic Equestrian League, the L.A. Equestrian Vaulting Club and others.

Brown, a longtime equestrian advocate in her hometown who has urged equestrian groups to reach out to local city councils for a rapport with bureaucrats and horse people, was thrilled to see the turn-out of young riders.

Kahoots Feed & Pet is celebrating its Norco Grand Opening on Saturday, Nov. 22, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be free food, live music, prizes, kid’s activities and samples of Kahoots premium exclusive brand foods. Norco store manager Matt Clark says, “Thank you for welcoming us into your community. Nothing makes us more proud than to bring our company to the wonderful city of Norco. When we started our company in 1987, our hopes were not only to offer premium quality products to pets and livestock of all types, but to be the leader in service for our customers. We strongly feel we will be able to bring this experience to Norco and are very excited to be a part of this growing community.” Kahoots offers a variety of quality products at affordable prices, including Kahoots exclusive brand feeds, pet foods and supplements. They also offer a variety of services, such as low-cost vaccination clinics, anesthesia-free pet teeth cleaning and pet adoptions. The friendly and knowledgeable staff looks forward to seeing you and serving Horsetown USA! You can reach the store at (951) 371-4000, and see the Kahoots ad on page 15.

Second in a series
Here are the ‘Five Easy Pieces’, and Les urges you to commit these five to memory as his column in each Horsetrader will refer to them.