Region won
California's first 2015 Regional Championships reveal Arabian versatility -- and fun
DEL MAR — From reining to park horse, young exhibitors to the not-so-young, the Arabian Horse Association’s Region 1 Championship Show brought the Del Mar Fairgrounds to life May 27-31 in an energetic showcase of versatility.
Entries were up in the regional finals — always a good gauge of the state of the industry — and so were the moods of exhibitors and trainers.
“It was a good show,” Region 1 Director Mary Ann Hughes said of the five-day weekend that featured a “Pre-show” Wednesday and Thursday, followed by the Nationals-qualifying Regional Championships Thursday night through Sunday. “Two things. Regionals are where a lot of them qualify for nationals. “Regionals are where a lot of competitors qualify for Nationals, but there are a lot of people who don’t intend to go to Nationals, and the Regionals is the big show for them for the year.”
Diligence and consistency can work through ‘buddy sour’ behavior
“The hardest part of teaching is to get people to push past their comfort zone, but that is where growth takes place.”
Some horses are independent. They exhibit a low level of separation anxiety that can be handled easily by the rider. Other horses display a strong herd-bound mentality that, when separated from their companions, creates an almost dangerous behavior.
This is partly their personality, and just like people, horses have different traits. However, whenever you interact with your horse, you are either (A) supporting or (B) correcting the behavior.
Josey and Chello Z double up big wins
2015 Zone 10 NAYR and NAJR Teams named; "I could hear my dad saying 'whoa' as I came to the last fence -- but I saw it, so I just went for it." -Josephina Nor Lantzman
With a talented field of riders, including Thursday’s Markel Insurance Grand Prix winner Nayel Nassar with two horses, veteran Susan Hutchison also with two mounts, Josephina Nor Lantzman, Michael Endicott, Harley Brown and more, the Grand Prix had eighteen quality horse and rider combinations performing for a sizable group of spectators enjoying the beautiful Southern California afternoon. Course designer Olaf Petersen, Jr. of Germany ensured a display of scope and skill from riders with a twisting track of 16 elements in a time allowed of 90 seconds.
Safety in driving means being prepared if there’s an accident
Sometimes, no matter how experienced we are or how well-trained our horses are, accidents happen! Without a doubt, working with horses can be hazardous. How you plan, react and control the situation is the key.
Planning ahead requires education: reading articles, taking lessons, making observations. Why do horses get us in trouble?
Horses are fight or flight animals whose brains have been hard-wired for survival. A horse may react by standing, freezing and assessing the situation while deciding if staying is a good idea (fight), or to put some distance between itself and whatever it perceives as a threat (flight). When a horse chooses flight, things can go downhill very quickly – even more so when a cart or carriage is attached. If the “bolting” involves multiple horses, they can quickly bond into a herd mentality. If one runs, the others will too, as there is safety in numbers as far as an equine brain is concerned!
Innovative Big Mare care products now available
Look for a new product hitting shelves this month! With its innovative new Controlled Delivery System (CDS), Big Mare™ skin, wound and hoof care products offer more than “singular dimensional” benefits of micro-encapsulation by delivering a smaller molecule deeper into the skin. These combined actives work together to offer time-released benefits for round-the-clock healing. Available for both equine and canine, these antibacterial and antifungal formulas are available in a Body Wash, All Purpose Skin Solution, Wound Lotion, Thrush Spray and White Line Gel. Ask your store today for Big Mare™. It heals, prevents and maintains healthy skin and hoofs. For more information and dealer inquiries, call 909-908-6649.