EDITOR’S NOTE: Los Angeles horsewoman Lynn Brown has been a leading activist for equestrians for decades, helping horse groups navigate unfamiliar terrain of municipal government when important issues arise. Most recently, she worked with friends to successfully oppose a land use proposal in the Burbank-Glendale area that, if passed, would have replaced a legacy stable with condominiums.

The adage, “you can’t fight City Hall,” is not true—you can! Some may try and find that the cards seem stacked against them, or that the opposition was better organized. I’d like to provide some suggestions that have worked—and now is the time. These days, preserving equestrian life in many communities requires that its horsepeople to take up the fight.

The first challenge is to be positive, to know you can make a difference. It’s not always easy. In our recent battle to preserve the Silver Spur Stables from being demolished and rebuilt as small-lot housing, the task at first seemed impossible. We tackled it anyway, and to our surprise, we won—the individual who had applied to Glendale City Council for a zoning change, suddenly after months of relentless opposition, withdrew his request. If he had been successful in obtaining the zoning change, it would spell the end of all the historic boarding barns and feed stores along Riverside Drive.

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HUNTINGTON BEACH—The California Reining Horse Association Slide on the Beach, the club’s third in a four-event season, brought to life the Huntington Beach Central Park Equestrian Center Aug.4 for a one-day show.

Although not a National Reining Horse Association Affliate qualifier, this show is a popular one that brings out top competition to a different venue.

Non Pro competitor Heather Smith-Porter and Lil Joe Tag (Whiz N Tag Chex X Katie Jo Fritz) were among them, as Smith-Porter took her gelding to titles in four classes—Non Pro, Intermediate Non Pro, Prime Time Non Pro and LImited Non Pro. Cindi Smart-Zeigler, riding her Doctor Pepper to the Novice Horse Non Pro victory.

In the Rookie Division, Dee Allen was a hit with her Twogunsarebetter, winning championships in the L1, L2 and Prime Time rookie divisions. Mary “Riley” Cachat rode her Dun Its Legacy to the Youth 13-under Championship, and Alondra Sosa rode Luis Torres’s Smokin Montana Baby to the Youth 14-18 Championship.

In the Open Division, Tom Foran captured the Novice Horse title on Robert Hutcherson’s Check Your Gun Lad, while Daphne Foran won the Open Championship on Gail Hutcherson’s Wimpys Whiz Steps. The Limited Open Championship belonged to Roslyn Proffer riding A Diamond Shy, owned by Robert Holloway.

Next up on the CRHA schedule will be The Challenge on Oct. 24–28 at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center.

DEL MAR—As summer fades to a close, 119 equestrians in three age sections hit the books—the USEF Rule Book, that is—to practice the equitation tests that are uniquely built into the two rounds of the California Professional Horsemen’s Association Foundation Equitation Championships. Those who had put in extra hours with the counter-canter had an edge throughout the Championships, held Aug. 25-26, at the Showpark Summer Classic at the Del Mar Horse Park.

With more than 50 starters, the 21-under division was the biggest of three. Designed to be more of a jumper-oriented test than the 14-under and 22-over divisions, the 21-under was held on the expansive grass Grand Prix field and included a liverpool. However, the courses used by the other two age groups in the smaller sand arena were no less demanding.

For the 22-over and 14-under sections in the sand arena, tests included a halt-and-counter canter on the first day and on Day 2 a set number of strides from fences 2 to 3, as well as a counter canter on a left bend from a Swedish oxer to a grass-draped vertical option towards the end of the 3’3” course.

WOODSIDE—From the venue to the competition to the prize money, the Reining By The Bay is spectacular. This year’s 20th anniversary version, held July 23-29 at the Horse Park at Woodside, was no exception—so it was the perfect place for Luca Fappani to explode on the scene.

The 14-year-old son of Andrea and Tish Fappani, riding Spooks N Jewels, dominated the $55,000-added Non Pro Derby, sweeping levels , 3, 2 and 1. He also took the 13-under Youth Champiopnship. All told, the teen-ager topped 45 other non-pro entries and boosted his career earnings—after just two years of competing—to almost $28,000. All but about $5,500 of that came from his Non-Pro titles in California.

“It feels good to do good on my mom’s horse,” the young reiner said. “He’s really fun to ride, and I like having him at home and my Mom giving me the opportunity to show him.”

Luca’s dad, Andrea Fappani, fared well, too, winning both the $130,000-added Open Derby L4 title on Chic Dreamin, owned by Silver Spurs Equine, and the $65,000-added 3-year-old Open Futurity L4 crown on Designed To Spark, owned by Rancho Oso Rio, LLC. He also took the Open Futurity L Reserve on Diamonds In My Genes, owned by Rhodes River Ranch.

The “Sale of Sales” is coming to Your Equestrian Superstore on Sept. 15-16! You will be able to save 10-60 percent off nearly everything. Check out this month’s Broken Horn Saddlery ad on pages 44-45 for a sampling of what you can expect. In addition to great savings, there’s so much fun to be had. There are giveaways and raffles for gift cards and saddles. Mark your calendar and be one of the first 100 families in the door to receive a free bucket! Broken Horn is located at 1026 Leorita St. in Baldwin Park. 

Even in the best of circumstances, there is a tremendous amount of training both on the ground and in the saddle to reeducate a race horse to a trail horse, or any new discipline.

Each year thousands of race horses reach the end of their racing careers, either by injury, not living up to expected potential, or retirement. Many move on to be successfully retrained to excel in new careers, ranging from dressage to hunter-jumpers. However, I need to strongly emphasize that good training takes time, patience and commitment. Thoroughbreds are known for having huge hearts, and once a strong foundation is built and a trust is developed, you will find a partnership like no other.

Lucky is a 6-year-old Thoroughbred gelding that raced and won at Santa Anita and Del Mar race tracks until an injury sidelined him. Rather than choosing euthanasia, the owner was convinced by his trainer to relinquish him to an environment where he could be rehabilitated and retrained. He was delivered to a rescue where he began his long recovery process, and once his injury mended as best it could, a new home was identified and selected. Lucky was brought to me by his new owner to help him make the transition safely from track to trail.