Saluting a year’s worth of highlights and heroes

Winter

CELEBRATING THE CHALLENGE—Each year, the California Reining Horse Association puts on “the show of shows” on the West Coast, and last January’s issue was the one to celebrate “The Challenge”. It also was time to to honor the club’s list of 2018 Year-end Champions and Reserve Champions.

More than $260,000 paid out in ARHA reining at Westworld

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.—The Arizona Reining Horse Association hosted its “Best of The West” show at West World Oct. 1-6, paying out more than $260,000 for all classes—including over $130,000 in the open and non pro futurities.

Highlights were in abundance, from Craig Schmersal’s Open Derby title with a 225.5 aboard Pale Face Gunslinger in the Open Derby, to a battle in the Non Pro Derby between Luca Fappani on Spooks N Jewels and Jennifer Neudorf on Shining In Town—ultimately won by Luca by a half-point, 220-219.5.

The Open Futurity winner was Andrea Fappani on Guns In My Genes, owned by Rancho Oso Rio, with a 226.

More online: http://bit.ly/912A_rein

From Horsetrader sales staff

If boots, hats or clothes are on the shopping list for your favorite cowboy or vaquero this Christmas, be sure to check out the huge sales are some of your favorite stores! Herradura de Oro in Ontario has 10X Larry Mahan hats discounted to $299 and Bota La Barca boots for just $45.99! (see Herradura ad on page 18). Hawthorne Country Store in Escondido has a cozy supply of Pendleton® shirts as well as sweaters at great prices, too (see Hawthorne ad on page 19), as well as their traditional gems of country Christmas decorations. And at Thrifty Horse in Norco, Bill and Fran Klovstad have put together an unmatched selection of holiday decorations and gifts, including hats for you as well as your furry-haired friends! (see Thrifty Horse ad on page 19). There are lots of other gift ideas in the Horsetrader Holiday Gift Guide on pages 18-19. Support your local stores this Christmas!

By Daniel H. Grove, DVM

Horses are extremely good at dealing with a drop in temperature. I have driven through snow-filled states in temperatures in the teens and watched horses happily walking through the snow without a care in the world, no shivering or any other sign of a low body temperature. I have been in Southern California when it was 50° F out and I have full-grown adult mares coming into the barn to be palpated—and they were shivering like no tomorrow. What is the difference? Mostly, human management! Yes, there are certain circumstances where an individual may not be capable of proper thermoregulation without human interference, but by and large, with a little help, they can usually do it very well on their own.

By Sheryl Lynde | Horsetrader columnist

A client whose horse I had in training some time ago returned for follow-up instruction. After watching me work with her horse for a few minutes, she made the observation that he respected me more than her. She said that when she took him home from training, he was attentive and respectful, but after a period of time, she lost it, Now she wanted to know how to get it back.

How do you get respect from your horse? You have to lead. What exactly does it mean to be the leader that your horse is looking for?