When pressed to provide a moment that spawned Cowboy Dressage, Debbie Beth-Halachmy had one memory for Jessica Black, author of the exquisite book, Cowboy Dressage (2015, Trafalgar Square Books). It was her husband Eitan’s victory pass aboard Holiday Compadre at the 1993 American Morgan Horse Association World Championships.

“They wouldn’t let him leave the ring,” she said, recalling the standing ovation as the new Morgan Western Pleasure World Champion “jogged, trotted, cantered in zigzags with flying lead changes, galloped and stopped on a dime.”

That day in Oklahoma sparked a passion to share her husband’s approach, an approach as unique as Eitan’s five decades of experience before that victory pass.

Many horses have good “ground manners” for leading or tying, but frustrate a farrier at shoeing time because this aspect of their education has been neglected.

Just picking up a foot briefly to clean it or check for rocks is not enough to get a horse accustomed to being worked on by the farrier. Even a gentle horse may not like to have its feet held up for any length of time. The horse may fuss, fidget or try to take its feet away.

Many hoof problems are caused by the environment the horses’ feet are subjected to, or inadequate nutrition or genetics. Some horses inherit thin soles, small feet, or crooked legs. In most instances, horse owners can prevent serious problems with good care — and with the help of a farrier to correct small problems before they become large ones.

Checking a horse’s feet should be a regular part of owner chores. As a horse owner, you are the person most responsible for the health and welfare of your horse and its daily care. Even though your farrier may come every five to eight weeks, the horse depends on you to monitor and care for its feet between visits.

If you are riding, training or handling the horse daily, you get a good opportunity to look at its feet. Regular grooming is good for your horse’s coat and regular hoof care is good for its feet.

Robyn Schiller and CD Star Commander once again ruled the Non Pro field, taking Circuit titles in Non Pro, Intermediate Non Pro, and Novice Horse Non Pro divisions.

Mark Blakely photo

BURBANK — At the halfway point in the California Reining Horse Association’s 2016 season, Southern California’s best reiners appeared to be hitting their summer strides at the Reiner Shine show held June 10-12 at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center.

The full slate of National Reining Horse Association Affiliate Shows 3 and 4 classes, as well as classes offering PCHA, AQHA and APHA points, assured a good turnout. Plus, there was more than $11,500 in added money and some great awards. Circuit Champions received beautiful custom wood stirrups, and CRHA Reserve Circuit Champions went home with custom leather halters.

Non Pro rider Robyn Schiller won  Circuit titles on different horses, claiming the Novice Horse Non Pro crown, the Intermediate Non Pro and the Non Pro all on CD Star Commander, while taking the Novice Horse Reserve Championship on Plenty Of Guns.

Another winner of multiple Circuit titles in the Non Pro division was Martha Goss and Faceofaconquistador in the Limited Non Pro and Non Pro Prime Time.
In the Open, Tom Foran captured both the Championship and Reserve, riding Sleipner LLC’s Blue Collar Tag to first and Heather Smith Porter’s Lil Joe Tag to second.

In the Limited Open, Daphne Thompson shined by winning the Championship on Robert Hutcherson’s Custom Crown, and finishing in second, too, on Sleipner LLC’s Dun It Chexinic.

Youth stars included Kristi Wiggins and Red Hot Tinseltown, who topped reserve champ Taylor Stephens and Custom Big Chex in the Youth 14-18, and Peyton

McGowan and GS Red Corvette, winners over Reserve Champion Gavin Berg and Going Down In Style in the Youth 13-under.

Next up on the CRHA season will be the Summertime Slide Aug. 5-7 at Galway Downs Equestrian Center in Temecula.

MORE ONLINE: Http://bit.ly/607B_crha

Buckaroo Leather Products
(800) 873 0781
www.buckarooleather.com
Buckaroo Leather Products is proud to say it has been making quality leather tack right here in the U.S. for over 34 years. Using nothing but the highest quality materials available, Buckaroo Leather Products has pride in the craftsmanship that goes into each piece of tack made. Most any equine enthusiast can find what they need for their riding pleasure, — whether it is in the show ring or on the trail –from the company’s regular lineup at www.buckarooleather.com. For the person needing special attention, skilled craftsman at Buckaroo Leather Products can make that custom piece to fit your horse or situation.

In the Old West a man’s handshake was his bond, and by extension his reputation. At Buckaroo Leather Products, the dedicated staff holds dear the Cowboy Code of Ethics and it holds its business to those ethics. The greatest asset a business can have is its reputation for products of great quality, fair dealings and outstanding customer service, assuring long-term relationships with its customers. Buckaroo Leather Products believes it offers all of these qualities to its customers. Buckaroo Leather is the Brand to Demand, and they look forward to hearing from you.

Cowboy Dressage
(530) 346-2715
www.cowboydressage.com
Could Cowboy Dressage be a new tradition in the making? All traditions begin as an idea, often an unconventional one. The idea is practiced by a few, then is practiced by a few more until it becomes popular and widely used. It stands the test of time, and this original, unconventional idea is now a tradition, held in high esteem and preserved as close to the original idea as possible. Without free thinkers and innovators, there would be fewer future traditions. When you approach a new idea that is not traditional ask yourself, “could this be a new tradition in the making?” We believe that Cowboy Dressage is a future “tradition.” Become a part of it and change your world.

Cowboy Dressage World
www.cowboydressageworld.com
“A World of Innovation, Vision Without Borders”
It takes courage to live your dreams, and the goal of Cowboy Dressage World is to help make dreams a reality. Horsemanship is an arduous journey, and a good relationship with a horse is an endless endeavor. There are highs and lows, frustration and joy, disappointment and achievement. Horses can stir all our deepest emotions. They heighten our senses and test our patience and knowledge. They can bring us peace and safe haven. Horses call to us, and for many, the call penetrates to the depth of our very being. Cowboy Dressage World wants you to experience it all. Open your heart and mind and saddle up and ride! Cowboy Dressage is inclusive, not exclusive, offering many different divisions — all of which focus on harmony and partnership, as well as “Soft Feel”. The most important rule: Be kind.
The Finals Show and Gathering will be held Sept. 7-11. The event will include a full day of educational free clinics on Wednesday, Sept. 7. Popular Top Hand and Musical Freestyle preliminaries will be held on Thursday, Sept. 8, and three full days of Cowboy Dressage classes will take place Sept. 9-11. All are welcome.

LRM Equestrian
Lyn Ringrose-Moe grew up in the Central California foothills of Mariposa County. As a child, she was always impressed with the California stock horses at the County Fair where she rode her Shetland/Welsh pony, Pancho, in gymkhana events. Lyn has always been a cowgirl at heart and has always loved horses of all kinds. While attending Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, Lyn was introduced to dressage and combined training (eventing).  She competed in eventing, but finally settled on the sport of dressage where she successfully competed, trained, and coached to the FEI levels of the sport.  Lyn also completed the USDF “L” judges program.  Lyn has trained and competed on many breeds of horses for competitive dressage, and she has coached many riders successfully up through the levels.

When Lyn first learned about Cowboy Dressage, she felt she had finally come home.  Her two favorite words combined into one discipline.  Lyn has competed in dressage, working cow horse, combined training, show jumping, and western pleasure.  She has also participated in cutting, reining, and team roping.  She has worked with or trained most breeds of horses (and mules) and finds beauty in all of them.  Lyn has a deep respect and love for horses and always strives to give the horse the benefit of the doubt while helping many riders/horses achieve harmonious, successful relationships.
Lyn currently enjoys a busy clinic schedule teaching Cowboy Dressage and training judges for Cowboy Dressage, traveling throughout the U.S. and Canada.  She rides training horses, teaches lessons, judges and competes in Cowboy Dressage.  She helped co-write/edit the Cowboy Dressage tests, is a partner in Cowboy Dressage World, is the instructor/ judge mentor for the Cowboy Dressage Judge’s Training Program, and is a recommended judge for Cowboy Dressage. Lyn resides at the Sliding J Ranch in Acampo with her husband, John Moe, their two dogs, a horse, and a mule.

Sierra HorseWear
800-456-7408
www.chaskit.com
Sierra HorseWear makes a full line of blankets, shells, sheets and hoods for horses of all breeds and all sizes. Since Sierra offers a choice of exterior fabrics and linings, each customer can order the blanket or sheet best suited to their climate and conditions. Name embroidery is available and special requests such as tail flaps and extra leg straps are welcomed. Since Sierra makes its products to order, all items can be made for other animals, including goats, pigs, sheep and llamas. Sierra DogWear, a division of Sierra HorseWear, makes indoor and outdoor coats for dogs of all breeds and sizes as well as orange safety vests, harnesses, collars and leashes. In 2014, Sierra HorseWear became a sponsor of the Cowboy Dressage World Finals show as a way of showing its support and respect for this fine discipline. This year, the company will award a custom-made, fully-embroidered trophy day sheet to the fifth place overall high-point in show horse and rider.

Wy-Not Cowboy Dressage
Wyatt Paxton (530) 784-8000
Nonny Largent (530) 949-8096
www.wy-notcowboydressage.com
Wyatt has ridden in clinics with Garn Walker, Eitan Beth-Halachmy, Buck Brannaman, Les Vogt, Lester Buckley, Nonny Largent, and Craig Cameron — some, several times. He became a huge Morgan horse fan when his wife introduced him to them, stating that “Morgan horses pick you, you don’t pick the horse.” Wyatt first started in Cowboy Dressage when Eitan asked if he would help set up courts for him. He was hooked by the “soft feel”, and the “everything right for the horse” mentality that resonated with his morals. One of the most rewarding feelings for him was coaching the Welcome Ring for Cowboy Dressage. Words cannot express the faces, tears of happiness and smiles of people when they feel the change in their horses.

Nonny Largent began her professional equine career training and showing Quarter Horses in Northern California, and continues to do so. She has a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science (emphasis in Equine Science) and was the coach at California Stete University – Chico, from 1990-1992, coaching team and individuals to High Point Western Team and High Point Western Rider for Horsemanship, Hunt Seat Equitation, Hunter Under Saddle and Western Pleasure. Lonny judges for several different organizations, and is now a Cowboy Dressage Recommended Judge. She is fair and knowledgeable, and always willing to help the exhibitors in a friendly manner.

Canoga Farrier Supply
(747) 202-0268
www.CanogaFarrierSupply.com
Canoga Farrier Supply, located in Chatsworth in the San Fernando Valley, caters to farriers, trimmers, blacksmiths, as well as horse owners. The store prides itself on excellent customer service, and it carries a large selection of products from all major suppliers including Kerckhaert, Mustad, St. Croix, EDSS, Grand Circuit, Nordic Forge, and Vettec, to name a few. If by chance Canoga Farrier Supply does not stock something that a customer needs, the team will do its best to get it.  The retail store is conveniently located minutes off the 118 freeway, and if you can’t make it to the store, they’ll make a prompt delivery. Call the shop or place your order through its website, canogafarriersupply.com, and they’ll make every effort to ship in-stock items the same day. Store hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Contact them with any questions by phone or email: canogafs@yahoo.com.

Make plans to attend the National Stock Horse Association Select Horse Sale on Saturday, Aug. 20, during the NSHA Futurity week.

Auctioneer Rick Machado will once again be at the podium for this first-rate event, part of a world-class six-day line-up at the Mid-state Fairgrounds from Aug. 16-21, including the NSHA Futurity, the World’s Richest Stock Horse Bridle competition and the pre-futurity horse show.

The competitors and attendees at this event is a “Who’s Who” in the reined cow horse world, and the competition is fierce among the world’s top riders and horses.

Head tossing, like any behavior, ranges in degrees of severity. One level may merely cause frustration while the next can prove to be dangerous to the owner with risk of injury.

A common habit many riders share is leaning too far forward. Instead of riding with their shoulders behind their hips, they ride with their shoulders hovering over the saddle horn. Then, if their horse tosses his head abruptly, the rider can get a rude awakening with a pretty good crack on the skull.

In my last article, I discussed driven dressage, which is typically phase one (or day one) of combined driving events (CDEs). This is an overview of phase two (or day two) of competition: the marathon.

The origins of CDEs started in the 1970s in Europe, and Prince Phillip of England was an early supporter and competitor who helped establish the rules of the sport. It is based upon the ridden three-day eventing sport that includes dressage, cross country roads and tracks with jumps, and stadium jumping. Since jumping in carriages is greatly discouraged, instead of going over the jumps, carriages drive around the jumps, or “obstacles,” which were called “hazards” in the old days.