Stephanie Abronson, Monte Nido
When I had the opportunity to ride in the Mammoth Lakes area with a close friend, I jumped at the chance. Debbie DiMascio and her Quarter Horse, Jake, joined me and Polina, my Welsh Cob mare, to find the Red Cones trail. A super experienced parklands Mounted Volunteer Patrol member, Debbie and Jake were the ideal riding partners. Two different rides were planned, both in the Ansel Adams Wilderness in the Inyo National Forest. First was to find the Red Cones. Debbie hadn’t yet been there.

Ever one to chat up any person I met along the trail, I always would ask directions or tips, expecting that generally they were more experienced than I. As Debbie and I began a descent to find the mid-slope trail to the Cones we had a spectacular view that opened up stretching a long way across the San Joaquin River to Yosemite. The view was due to a previous forest fire that the previous winters had strewn the burnt pines and firs about like giant pick-up sticks. As we turned onto the correct mid-slope, the Red Cones soon came into view.

Our next excursion was a lovely loop ride for lunch at McCloud Lake. I think that the photo tells the whole story.

The ‘what’ and ‘where’

Canoga Farriers Supply
Canoga Park
(747) 202-0268
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 al lmajor 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 of 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.-5 p.m. Contact them by phone or email: canogafs@yahoo.com. See ad on page 21

San Diego Trail Alliance clinic brings horses and bikes together

From Horsetrader staff reports

LAKESIDE—What could possibly be more desensitizing for a group 14 trail horses than to line them up, facing across the arena from a similar amount of spooky mountain bikers?

How about sending everyone—riders and bikers—circling the arena at once? At different speeds!

From Horsetrader staff reports

Now in its 11th year, good vibrations are still going strong for the Surf N Turf Cow Horse clinic—for everyone. The fund-raiser for Surfers Healing, a non-profit foundation for autism, was the brainchild of Izzy and Danielle Paskowitz. Izzy, a former world champion surfer, and Danielle, a talented non-pro cowhorse competitor, founded Surfers Healing in 1996 after Izzy one day discovered the rejuvenative power surfing had on their autistic son, Isaiah.

Jason Grimshaw, Sippin Boons Farm win Open Bridle at Jimmy Flores, Sr. Memorial

From Horsetrader staff reports

TEMECULA—The old song, “It Never Rains in California,” was out of tune in May, but raindrops didn’t dampen spirits of the Southern California Reined Cow Horse Association at its Jimmy Flores, Sr. Memorial.

The event, held May 17-19 at Green Acres Ranch, drew top competition from the region.

By Daniel H. Grove, DVM

The vaccine debate is not limited to whether or not to vaccinate your children. The debate continues over into our pets also. With horses, some people have the unfortunate experience of vaccine reactions that give the pause for future vaccines. So, with such concern over the vaccination of animals, we will review what is considered the minimum vaccines for all horses and what the optional ones are. First, let’s answer the question, “Do I really need to vaccinate my horse?”

Top competition, great environment reveal why El Rancho Spring Classic is a West Coast gem

Special to the Horsetrader

RANCHO MURIETA—The El Rancho Spring Classic presented by Carol Ward, owner of Carol Ward Cutting Horses and the host Murieta Equestrian Center, took place April 25-28.

The El Rancho Cutting Horse Association, an NCHA Affiliate, prides themselves on promoting one of the last outdoor cuttings on the West Coast. Competitors come from all over the Western United States to compete at one of the premier cutting facilities.

From Horsetrader sales staff

The renowned Twombly Performance Horse Sale is ramping up for its July 26-27 dates in Cheyenne, Wyom. The sale takes place during the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo—on the street in front of the Cheyenne Depot Museum. Twombly Performance Horses at Coyote Slide Ranch, located in the hills of western Nebraska, specializes in training and selling top quality geldings and mares. They offer conformation, dispositions, color and great pedigree and athletic ability. Ranch, trail, roping and reining are the ranch’s main focus, known for a style and flash. Twombly rides its horses through thick brush, up and down big hills and steep canyons. The horses are trained to be soft in the face and take their correct leads, stop on “whoa” command and to move away from the neck rein and leg pressure. All the horses offered in Twombly sales are owned and ridden by the Twombly family, nd they want to match a potential buyer with the perfect horse for them—and they intend to do whatever it takes to make that happen! Two major horse sales are held each year—the July sale in Cheyenne and the December sale in Las Vegas, Nev., during the National Finals Rodeo. The summer sale preview will be held Friday, July 26, at 6 p.m., and the sale will be held Saturday, July 27, at 5:30 p.m. Phone bids are welcome, and to view an online catalog with photos and video, visit www.TwomblyHorse.com. See ad on page 57, and direct any questions to (308) 783-1866.

Special to the Horsetrader

LAKE VIEW TERRACE—Shawn Flarida, the winningest reiner of all time, came to Hansen Dam Horse Park May 11-12 for a two-day clinic presented by LEGISequine.com, Langer Equestrian Group, Ariat, and Foran Performance Horses.

Flarida, the first and only reiner to ever slide into six million dollars of winnings, shared his wealth of knowledge with riders and auditors alike. He is a six-time NRHA Open Futurity Champion, six-time NRHA Open Derby champion and four-time NRBC Champion. The 2011 NRHA Hall of Fame inductee also was the inaugural WEG Reining Individual Gold Medalist. “Shawn was very generous with his knowledge,” said Tom Foran of Foran Performance Horses. “With Shawn there are no secrets. He’s patient with everyone. He’s as good of a teacher as he is a showman and horse trainer.”

By Lorraine Smith | for the Horsetrader

ELK GROVE—This year, the Rein for the Roses May 2-5 was extra special, as show exhibitors and attendees celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the Derby on the Derby, held at the beautiful facilities of the Brookside Equestrian Center. The Derby on the Derby went back to the basics by holding one special event on Saturday, which proved to be a very well-attended and entertaining event. Brookside welcomed back judges Kristen Lilley and Dave Belson to judge the show, which was the second NRHA affiliate show of the season for the West Coast Reining Horse Association.