DEL MAR—The 10th Annual Pink Classic Championships came to Showpark Oct. 18-21, bringing the seaside venue to life with an all-breed show that kept multiple arenas humming.

Held every October, this cancer-awareness horse event featured signs throughout the venue that displayed cancer facts and statistics, emphasizing early detection. Pink Bandanas and wrist bands were free to exhibitors and spectators—pink wristbands symbolizing support and white wristbands for cancer survivors.

Ranch horse versatility classes have created a wave of interest, says show manager Poncie Hermann-Gimple, because they offer an opportunity to compete with your horse without the expense of an expensive show tack and outfits, and also becasue of a better sense of camaraderie that stems from a more level playing field due to the difficulty of patterns. Show management is allowed to draw and present original patterns that have not been seen prior to the show.

New this year was the High Point Ranch Horse, with the champion receiving the Emily Jungers Perpetual Mel Lawson Trophy. Emily, who succumbed to cancer nine years ago, was on the Track One Events staff many years.

The horses competed in ranch riding, ranch trail, ranch on the rail, and conformation at halter.

LANCASTER—Many folks told Madison Fay Wagner this would not be a good year for her to run for the Miss California Rodeo title. At 19, they said, she was too young—most candidates are in their 20s—and they also told her there were too many other strong candidates.

But the Valley Center native stuck to her plan and not only ran, she won the coveted title.

“I was told that I didn’t have a chance,” says Wagner, who became eligible for the pagent last spring when she was named queen of the Valley Center PRCA Rodeo. “I took this as incentive to ride even more, study even harder, and practice, practice, practice. While advice is well-intentioned, it can also be misplaced. Have confidence in your ability and don’t underestimate yourself.”

DEL MAR—The Del Mar International swept through the Del Mar Fairgrounds three consecutive weekends in October, showcasing a spectrum of talent vying for series awards and medal finals.

One of the highlights was the Oct. 21 $25,000 GGT Footing Grand Prix Series Final, presented by California Horsetrader and horsetrader.com. Eduardo Mendes took the final, but Kristiin Hardin ended the year as the GGT Series CHampions.

Menezes couldn’t say enough good things about the 15-year-old chestnut Warmblood gelding owned by Carlos Hank.

Coming in second was Mandy Porter on Pasilla, an 11-year-old grey Swedish Warmblood mare owned by Sarah Ballou.

SAN MARCOS—The City of San Marcos has a new mounted ranger, Cortney Pache, patrolling its extensive trails system, and she is looking for volunteers.

Mounted patrol volunteers are sought in order to assist the City by providing safe and enjoyable trail use for park visitors and the community. Applicants must be an experienced rider aged 18 or higher, have their own or have reasonable access to an equine in good condition and sound health, and be able to get to Walnut Grove Equestrian Park or Double Peak Park and its surrounding trails.

Horses have some guidelines to meet, too, and they are available online at: san-marcos.net/outdooradventures.

At a quandary as to where to find the perfect items for all the horse-happy people on your holiday gift-giving list? Be sure to check out the Ho-Ho-Horsetrader Holiday Gift Guide on pages 22-23. You’ll find everything from bling aprons, shirts, hats, and window decals; to home décor and furnishings; to tack, apparel, grooming and stable equipment; to blankets and coats for your horse and pets; and so much more.

Several of our stores are having sales in November! Broken Horn Saddlery in Baldwin Park (see ad on page 7) and Thrifty Horse in Norco (page 45) are both having big “Black Friday” sales on Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 23-25. Deer Springs Feed & Supply in San Marcos (page 3) is hosting their annual Customer Appreciation Day on Saturday, Nov. 24 including photos with Santa for you and your pets. Inland Vet Supply both in Norco and Temecula (page 2) have all your essentials and Kruse Feed in La Habra (page 9) along with four other Standlee dealers, have a special coupon offer on their premium forage.

Be sure to shop early for the best selection, and by all means, say you saw it in the California Horsetrader. Give us a call at (760) 546-1184 if you have a gifty item you’d like to advertiser in our December Holiday Gift Guide.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.—With more than $100,000 in added prize money and some of reining’s biggest names, the Arizona Reining Horse Association’s The Best of the West highlighted the season for the host Arizona Reining Horse Association. The show featured the fund-raising Reining Boot Camp, designed for green, rookie and non pro riders who were introduced to other reiners, local affiliate volunteers and multiple trainers and had their maneuvers evaluated without the pressure of a show. Boot Camps benefit the RHF Dale Wilkinson Memorial Crisis Fund, helping reiners enduring hardships.

More online: http://bit.ly/811_AZRHA

Fall is here, and it is a great time to visit on items to take care of on our horses. It is a great time as show season is slowing down and the temperatures are more pleasant. So, let’s go over some items to consider for the fall.

First is vaccines—If you need Flu/Rhino boosters due to your situation, now is the most common time to get them.

Fecal Egg Count—Twice a year, you should be testing your horse’s parasite load and deworming appropriately

Dentistry—This is a great time of year to have those points removed and any abnormalities resolved. Going into winter, you want your horse getting the most from its feed.

Lights—If you are planning on breeding in the late winter or early spring, you want your horses ready to go and cycling properly. Day length plays a role in both the mare’s and stallion’s reproductive cycle.

Elective surgeries—Things like castrations can be done most any time, but if possible, I like to do them this time of year. The weather is cooler and there are less flies. The horses usually heal a little more quickly and with less complications

Blanketing—If you do blanket, it is time to make sure they are in good order and depending upon wehre you live, time to start using them!

As the year is winding down and we are getting into holiday season, do not forget some of the extra needs your horse may need this time of year.

It is also important to make sure your horse’s housing in is good order. With wind, rain, and cold on the way, it is good to make sure any repairs have been taken care of and for those of us in areas that freeze, that our water heaters are functioning properly.

Also, do not neglect the hay storage areas. Water getting on hay is destructive. Pests are looking for somewhere to set up shop. You need to protect your hay from water, rats, mice and rabbits.

Hopefully this list stokes some ideas on things to get taken care of. Happy Thanksgiving!

SAN MARCOS—For a dozen years now, the Twin Oaks Valley Equestrian Association has thrown a party—for themselves and the community’s non-horsey neighbors. The 12th Annual Ride & Stride Horse Heritage Festival was another hit this year Oct. 21 at Walnut Grove Equestrian Park, one of the county’s last-standing municipal arena facilities. Part fund-raiser, part-outreach and all-fun, the event is designed to give a boost to existing facilities and programs as well as to engage with potential new equestrians who just need an opportunity to know more. From vaulters to horse rescue to well-supervised rides and grooming sessions, the TOVEA event is a good model to enhance equestrians’ foothold in communities.
More online: http://bit.ly/811_heritage

According to Wikipedia, listening is defined as a communication technique that is used in training and conflict resolution. In order to be an effective listener, you must fully concentrate, understand, respond and remember what is being said. How well do you listen?

Developing effective listening skills builds a solid foundation with benefits that filter through every aspect of your life, from professional to personal. It isn’t easy being a good listener—it takes a desire to begin with because it is a lot or work.

Last issue, Les taught us the importance of good “shoulders up” posture for proper alignment in a circle. Now we’ll look deeper into circle exercises.

As you ask your horse to handle smaller circles, you’ll want to remember the motorboat image we discussed before. Keeping your weight back will encourage your horse to do the same, therefore lightening up his front end for easy maneuvering.

To start this exercise, pick up a trot with the rail of your arena on your right-hand side. In diagonal corners you will want to maneuver the horse into approximately 30-foot diameter circles. To begin, using a very light direct and neck rein, start your circle to the left. If you immediately get a response—great! If not, tell him he should have responded by collecting him with your hands and then bringing his nose a little more firmly to the inside while keeping your outside rein out and away from his neck.

This will set your horse back a little, shifting more of his weight to his hindquarters, at the same time making him move a little more dramatically to the inside with his front end. Within the next couple of strides, repeat the same cue and correction sequence.

At first you’ll be riding what will look more like a square or even an octagon than a circle, but as the horse starts to understand the sequence, he will start to balance himself to respond to the light cues, rather than waiting for you to correct him. Once the horse is responding well at the trot, move on to the lope.