The 2009 National Stock Horse Association Futurity came to a close on SUNDAY, Aug. 23, culminating a week’s worth of action, camaraderie and world-class horsemanship.

SUNDAY, 6:00 a.m.
On the final morning of the NSHA Futurity, riders and attendees enjoy a complimentary breakfast in the new Mission Square area of Paso Robles Event Center. The breakfast was sponsored by San Juan Ranch.

The morning NSHA Select Sale and evening 2009 World’s Richest Stock Horse competition on SATURDAY, Aug. 22, bring the crowds to the NSHA Futurity.

SATURDAY, 8:30 a.m.
Saturday morning, the World Championship Team Penning Association event at the NSHA Futurity attracts 162 contestants from five states to the Midstate Fairgrounds. Show secretary Kris Vienna of Hemet said the Open division’s total purse exceeds $8,000.

“The team penners enjoy being here during the futurity, especially the cow work. We’re looking forward to the sale. I think there might be some real bargains on good horses.”

A variety of classes fill FRIDAY, Aug. 21 at the NSHA Futurity, including several NSHA and VCHA classes.

FRIDAY, 8 a.m.
Cattle enjoy an oat hay breakfast behind the main arena. Fresh cattle, 840 of them here, are a key to good competition. Cattle manager Pat Russell says the trail of this group of Mexican cattle began last winter.

“One key is to go to a supplier with cattle from a single source, not from multiple previous owners. You want them relatively even, from front to back, and from an outfit with a good, all-weather shipping facility and a good crew that knows how to handle cattle. All contracts for this year were done by last Dec. 15 — it’s easier for the ranchers. We want them all about 500-550 lbs. This group is from Milt Rudnick out of Bakersfield. They came up from Mexico last winter, never used, weighing about 380 lbs. We checked them for size and condition weekly — see how they were eating, how healthy they were. Right before the show we get them on oat hay. These cows are fresh.”

On THURSDAY, Aug. 20, the NSHA Futurity moves into the Open reining phase. Herd work finished Tuesday, and the fence work will come Sunday.

THURSDAY, 8 a.m.
Remington, an 18-month old Papillon, is perked up about the start of the week’s reining competition this morning. His owner, Lisa Pomerance of San Juan Bautista, Calif., says he thinks he’s a horse.

“He likes working cattle. He thinks he can do it, even from the bleachers.”

WOODSIDE — Andrea Fappani successfully pulled a hat trick by winning first, second and third places at the Reining By The Bay Derby Open. The event at the Horsepark at Woodside was one of the biggest reining events annually on the West Coast.

The competition from July 21-26 featured more than $150,000 in total added money and prizes, and it was also an FEI qualifying event. The proceeds from this year’s event benefited the Peninsula Humane Society and Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

DEL MAR — As the horse show season heads toward the end of summer, many hunter/jumper riders started to gear up for upcoming competitions and took the opportunity to prepare at the Showpark August Festival, organized by Blenheim EquiSports from July 29 to Aug. 2 at Del Mar Horsepark.

With the 2009-2010 FEI World Cup Qualifier season commencing soon, 12 show-jumping Grand Prix events between August 2009 to April 2010 will have added elements of excitement and importance. Spectators get to cheer for their favorite show-jumping riders and horses, while West Coast Grand Prix riders compete to earn points toward qualifying for the 2010 FEI World Cup Jumping Finals, to be held April 14-18, 2010 in Geneva, Switzerland.

BURBANK — The California Paint Horse Association and Temecula Valley Paint Horse Club joined efforts to host a new show called Summer Sizzle from July 31 to Aug. 2 at Los Angeles Equestrian Center. TMVPHC held a 3-judge Youth/Amateur show the first day, and CPHA conducted a 4-judge Paint O Rama the last two days.

For the last two years, there has not been any PORs south of Bakersfield, since the local clubs have not been able to host a show due to financial considerations. “We have heard from so many people that they miss having a show at that facility. CPHA is the founding club in California which means we are the only club in the state who can host two Paint O Ramas in one year … Both clubs are committed to making this a great show,” said show manager Janet Radford, who is also CPHA vice president.

Continuing in a Series
In the next few installments, Les Vogt takes you through exercises of his Five Easy Pieces. When you’ve mastered them, you should be able to put any part of your horse’s body where you want it, without resistance.

Exercise No. 1: Lateral Flexion
Even if you have a trained horse that you have ridden for years, it’s important you don’t skip this section. If you’re tempted, ask yourself these questions:

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 19, began with the Non-Pro reining and moved into stock horse classes.

WEDNESDAY, 11:30 a.m.
Russell Dilday and Topsails Rien Maker, last year’s World’s Richest Stock Horse champion, enter their first class of the week, the AQHA Senior Working Cow Horse.

“Practice isn’t for him. It’s for me. The practice run is about a problem that you think you have. You go in there and you either fix it or find it.”

TUESDAY, Aug. 18, wrapped up the last set of Open herd work at the NSHA Futurity, and it opened herd work competition for the First-Timer, Pro-Am and Non-Pro divisions.

TUESDAY, 1:45 p.m.
Ron Emmons puts in afternoon reining practice with Last Thing Smokin.

“I cost this colt a point on each judge yesterday in the herd and ended up a 209. There’s a lot of show left, though, and I feel good about all four of my Futurity horses. I figure anytime I’m over 210, anything can happen. They all rein and they all go down the fence real well. This colt is going to be right in there, too.”