Supporting young riders and young horses and giving them the stepping stones to excel in the sport of show jumping is essential in developing the next big stars. The stage has been set for that in 2016 by Blenheim EquiSports, with the support of sponsors such as Fairbanks Valley Farm, Interactive Mortgage and Markel Insurance.

To give up-and-coming grand prix horses a chance to gain solid miles, Gregg and Evette Delong have worked with Blenheim Equisports to develop the Interactive Mortgage 10-and-Under Futurity Series that just wrapped up its fourth year. Comprised of qualifiers throughout the season, it culminated in the final at the Showpark All Seasons Summer Tournament.

The 2016 $20,000 Interactive Mortgage Horses 10-and-under Futurity Final winner was Supernatural, a powerful bay, with Bjorn Ikast in the irons. Hailing from Denmark and based in Mexico City, Ikast’s home is in the saddle. A three-time winner of the Danish national championship, Ikast met his wife Clara vacationed in Mexico and never returned to Denmark. They ran a private stable in an idyllic setting in the mountains outside of Mexico City, and are now based in the mountains further north in Parker, Colo. But they spend at least six months a year traveling with their young daughter, Isabel, on the show circuits in the U.S.

As a new SSgt. Reckless monument is lowered into a permanent place at Camp Pendleton, the mare seems alert to her surroundings.

Horsetrader photo

CAMP PENDLETON — October 26 was a significant date for a big-hearted mare off a racetrack in South Korea. It was on that day in 1952 that Reckless joined the United States Marine Corps. Her eventual battlefield heroics — real, not from Hollywood — would be unforgettable to those who witnessed them.

It’s no coincidence that, after years of inspired effort, a magnificent monument to SSgt Reckless will be dedicated on Oct. 26 this year at Camp Pendleton, the mare’s final resting place.

The hour-long ceremony that will begin at 10 a.m. is open to the public, and speakers will include Brigadier General Kevin Killea, Commanding Officer at Camp Pendleton, monument founder and Best Selling-author Robin Hutton and Jocelyn Russell, the renowned sculptor of the statue. Also present will be about a half-dozen of the men who served with her in Korea and Camp Pendleton, or grew up with her and have memories of Reckless.

Question: For mares and their 2016 foals who’ve been weaned or will soon start, nutrition and stress management is very important — especially for the newly weaned foals. We want the mares to be able to get back into condition for the upcoming breeding season next year, and we want the foals to adapt to their new living and nutrition situation. Do you have a recommended nutrition program for both the mares and the newly weaned foals?

Jewels Farmer, Riverside County
Keller Williams
(951) 634-9814

Norco
If you are a horse enthusiast, you will love Norco.  The whole town revolves around our love of horses.   We have over 130 miles of horse trails that wind through all the city streets, leading to trails in the hills, to and through the riverbed, and to the several community riding arenas located throughout the town.  Our town’s sign, coming into the area, proudly states “Horse Town USA”.  We even have over a week dedicated to our love of horses — the last week of April called Horseweek — where we have a parade, many community fun events every night and a three-day rodeo. All this happens with a red, white, and-blue-stripped “Main Street” in very a patriotic little town that is located right in the center of Southern California!

Peyton Warren and Casmir Z fly to the 2016 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals – West Championship.

Amy McCool photo

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO — Always a test of mindfulness and skill, the four phases of the 2016 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals – ,held Sept. 22-24 at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park, illustrated the demands on a show jumper.
Nineteen qualified riders began the finals on Friday, which after three phases were narrowed down to a final four who then demonstrated their abilities to ride a course on four different horses.

Sitting on top going into the final phase, Peyton Warren, of Rancho Murieta, emerged as the 2016 champion. Riding Casmir Z, Warren’s style and experience gave her the edge to secure the win.

“It means the world to me to win a Final like this because I’m passionate about the jumpers, and that’s what I ultimately want to do for a career,” Warren stated. “I have a lot of respect for this Final because I knew the goal was to have my horse prepared to jump the final round to the best of his ability. And I could feel it accomplishing that.”

Riding a collected horse is always a thrill. Instead of the lope feeling fl at and strung out, it will become almost a circular rhythm as you feel the energy go from the hindquarters all the way through the horse’s soft ly rounded spine and then roll back to the haunches again. It is a stride that is fl uid and powerful at the same time, no matt er what the speed is. Collection is also the physical state where your horse is most balanced and prepared to respond to whatever cue you give. This is because he is carrying most of his weight on his hindquarters, so that his front end is lighter and easier to maneuver.

HEY RAY! I own a big 3-year-old Friesian colt that will not trot next to me when asked. He either drags behind me at the walk or when pushed will erupt into a dead-run—kicking, rearing and playing while dragging me. I’d like to show him in halter, but I’m afraid he’ll get away and hurt himself or someone.
–Jacquelyn Anderson, Fresno

HEY JACQUELYN: The challenge that you are up against is very common. Once your horse is clear about what is expected and sees the value in it, it won’t matter whether he’s a big colt or an old pony. The first thing we need to do is break your question down into the six individual issues in hand:

Long before it was fashionable, Modesto Milling began taking organic feed production seriously. The company gained its first organic certification from Oregon Tilth of Corvallis, Ore., in 1998, becoming the first organic grain processor in Central California. Ninety-nine percent of the ingredients the company uses are organic or naturally-mined products, and its horse feeds contain only the best organic oats, barley and alfalfa, as well as organic coconut meal that are high in digestible fiber and healthy fats to promote healthy coats. What are other difference-making ingredients? Well, they include organic peas for high-quality protein; flax seeds and sunflower seeds for the omega 3 and omega 6 fats; organic stabilized rice bran for its fat and low-starch content; supplements like natural vitamin E and biotin for healthy coats and hooves; plus additional quality ingredients like diatomaceous earth, zeolite, yeast, sea kelp and other essential nutrients. The essential oils and herbs give the products a unique flavor that horses enjoy.