PASO ROBLES — Kelby Phillips liked what he first saw in Duallys Lucky Charm as a two-year old last winter at his friend’s ranch in Texas, and now others are liking the colt, too.

Phillips, who’s been Dean Tuftin’s trainer at DT Ranch in Bend, Ore., about 18 months now, rode him to the National Stock Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Championship Aug. 21 with a solid showing that earned $16,438 for owner Mike Stewart of Munday, Texas.

“After the AQHA World, I went by my friend Jake Murray’s place in Texas, tried him out, and we bought him,” Phillips said. “He was just good-minded. Everything I done with him, he took it real good. Loped real pretty. The thing for our deal is they got to be pretty movers, and he was a pretty mover. He also had a lot of stop.”

Nine months later, all those traits put Phillips and “Will” on top the NSHA Futurity Open leaderboard as they headed into the fence work with a 4.5-point lead. Their 220 in the reining was one-point off the high score, and they had the best herd work with a 224 — a feat he credits to herd crew Mark Luis, Phillip Ralls, Zane Davis and Clayton Edsell.

During the week, they’re hard-working accountants, managers, students, and medical professionals, juggling careers, family, and a love of horses.
But on the weekends, legions of adult amateurs can be found at the barn or in the arena, pursuing their goals both in the saddle and in the show ring. And, thanks to the Equine Insurance/CDS Regional Adult Amateur Competition program (RAAC), California Dressage Society members have the unique chance to earn special accolades among their peers.

The Equine Insurance/CDS RAAC series was created to provide adult amateur riders from all walks of life with an opportunity to qualify and compete against others of similar skills and experience. The regional nature of these shows provides CDS members with a developmental path for gaining competitive experience, promote excellence and increase awareness of and support for CDS’ Chapter organizations. Riders can qualify to participate in one of three RAAC shows held in easily-accessible venues in the Northern (Santa Rosa), Central (Paso Robles), and Southern (Del mar) regions of California, each offering a chance to compete for fabulous prizes at all dressage levels from Basic to Intermediaire I in Elite as well as Novice divisions that provide an inviting introduction for exhibitors to become familiar with the experience and atmosphere of a licensed dressage competition.

It’s the event of the year that everyone awaits! The Broken Horn Saddlery 60th Annual Store Wide Sale is happening Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 17-18. Doors open at 10 a.m. The first 150 families in the door each day will receive a free bucket. On Sunday, there will be two western saddles raffled to lucky winners. Everything in the store will be 10 to 50 percent. You’ll find everything from headstalls to bale bags, boots to buckets, supplements to Wranglers, and saddle pads to bell boots. If you’re in the market for a new saddle, be sure to ask about their “No Sales Tax” promotion on new saddles! Broken Horn Saddlery is located at 1026 Leorita St., Baldwin Park. If you’ve never been to Broken Horn, be prepared for the shopping experience of a lifetime. (Better have your GPS turned on while shopping, as you just might get lost!) For details, call the store at (626) 337-4266 or visit www.BrokenHorseSaddlery.com. See ad on page 2.

SAUGERTIES, N.Y. — Horse sport royalty descended on the Hudson Valley Sept. 12 for the nation’s highest-ranked class of the year, the Saugerties $1 Million Grand Prix FEI-CSI 5*. Jessica Springsteen, riding Stone Hill Farm’s Cynar Va, captured first in the Florida-based equestrian’s first CSI-5* victory.

“It feels amazing to win this class — I’m really happy,” said the daughter of musician Bruce Springsteen. “My horse was feeling fresh this morning and was jumping around the course nicely, so I’m very pleased.”

The answer is yes. I have had several people come to me for help to overcome their fear of loping. Growing up, they were daring and would ride whatever horse was in front of them at whatever speed they chose and in any environment. But as they aged, that sense of reckless abandonment slowly dissipated and a new emotion emerged on the scene – FEAR.

Well, let’s face it — when we were younger and we hit the ground, we bounced. Now we land with a thud, and it takes a bit longer to get up. We also have more responsibilities as we age and can’t afford the time injuries take away from the workplace.

CALGARY, Alberta, Can. — The United States’ McLain Ward and HH Azur went head-to-head against Great Britain’s Scott Brash and Ursula XII in a nail-biting jump-off Sept. 11 at the CP International Grand Prix, presented by Rolex. Because the defending champions went triple-clear, Ward and HH Azur needed to complete the jump-off under 41.19 seconds. Unfortunately, they had a rail at fence two, a Rolex vertical, to end on four faults for second place. Italy’s Lorenzo De Luca and Ensor De Litrange LXII finished third with one time fault. Kent Farrington and Voyeur, also part of the U.S. contingent, finished just outside the top three with four faults.

In my previous articles, I’ve explained about the first two phases of combined driving events (CDE), which are driven dressage and marathon.  Now, we’ll learn about the final phase of the event: cones.

The objectives are to test the fitness, obedience, soundness and suppleness of the horses — after competing on the marathon —  and to test the skill and competence of the driver. This is a timed-fault competition based on penalties for cones/balls knocked down and for exceeding the time allowed on course.  Tennis balls or special weighted balls are placed upon the tops of cones. If a cone or ball is knocked over or dislodged, a five-second time penalty is added to the time on course.  There are also penalties or disqualification for various other infractions.

After reviewing the keys to maneuvers last issue, Les points out details of collection.

Without a soft neck and poll, collection is impossible, so if you still have any resistance in the neck during any of the exercises that we’ve done so far, go back and work on them. I ride a horse in a clinic that is stiff to start with, and after I work one side and then the other, he starts to lighten up. There are a lot of great concepts, but I want to point out that because it is a clinic situation, I’m throwing more at this horse than I would at home. If the horse had been developed with all the tools and guidelines that I’m giving you, he would never have been that dull to begin with.

WAYNE, Ill. – Champions were named Aug. 27 at the 2016 Markel/USEF Young & Developing Horse Dressage National Championships, and two of the three were from the Golden State.

Christian Hartung of Vacaville and Desario, who received record marks, claimed the Markel/USEF Five-Year-Old National Championship, while Craig Stanley of Madera and Habanero CWS overtook Justine Wilson and Hero BHS for the Markel/USEF Four-Year-Old Championship title.