BURBANK — The California Reining Horse Association, as the Southern California affiliate of the National Reining Horse Association, hosted its premier annual event, the CRHA Challenge, at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center from Oct. 21-26.

This was the 16th consecutive year CRHA has put on this show. CRHA hosted the NRHA Western region affiliate finals in conjunction with the Challenge as they have done for the previous 12 years. As has become customary, the event offered something for every reining exhibitor, including open and non-pro futurities and derbies, a full slate of open and non-pro jackpot classes, NRHA Western region affiliate finals, and AQHA classes. Many used the show to prepare for the NRHA Futurity and North American Affiliate Championship Show slated for Nov. 26-Dec. 5 in Oklahoma City.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The 2009 ASPCA Maclay National Championships have come to a close Oct. 31, and it was 17-year-old Zazou Hoffman of Santa Monica, Calif., who prevailed through three rounds to win this year’s coveted equitation final riding the horse Ivy. The ASPCA Maclay National Championships were the highlight event of the 126th National Horse Show, which was featured within the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament held at the War Memorial Arena in the Oncenter Complex.

In the first round of competition, 150 riders from across the United States, including some Californians who qualified to compete there, were tested on a course designed by the judges Bill Moroney of Middleburg, Va., and Jack Towell of Camden, S.C., in cooperation with course designer Richard Jeffery of Dorset, England.

TEMECULA — Fans of reined cow horse shows were treated to a good show as the Southern California Reined Cow Horse Association ended its show season with its grand finale, called the Shoot Out. Chris Martinez won the Open Championship riding Skeets Nicker, owned by Mary Jean Yockey.

In its fourth year, the SCRCHA Shoot Out was a two-day show held Oct. 17-18 at Casner Ranch in Temecula and included a variety of horse-show classes. Throughout the past year, SCRCHA members competed and rode to qualify for the event. Cheers from a crowd of enthusiastic spectators also added to the event’s atmosphere.

Organizers of the show said they were able to meet their goal of giving away saddles to Shoot Out champions and other additional awards, said Cindy Mendoza, president of SCRCHA. The overall highest-scoring reserve champion also received custom reins, donated by Jimmy Flores Cowboy Gear.

SACRAMENTO — A mainstay of the Northern California hunter/jumper circuit for junior/amateur riders, the NorCal Medal Finals Horse Show held Oct. 7-11 found a new venue for 2009. Show Manager Adrian Ward moved his shows, including the NorCal Medal Finals, to trainer Rudy Leone’s Leone Equestrians Center in Sacramento. The spotlight of the show was on the four NorCal Medal Finals competitions of the NorCal Hunter Jumper Association.

Beverly Jovais’s student Grace McLaughlin took the NorCal 3’ Equitation Medal, winning both rounds with scores of 86 and 87. “Grace and her horse Santo were amazing from start to finish,” Jovais said. “I was very proud of Grace’s performance and her ability to perform under pressure. Thank you to the whole Chestnut Hill Team for all their hard work at the NorCal Finals Show.”

PASO ROBLES — The Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association celebrated its 30th anniversary at the 2009 PCCHA Futurity and Stakes from Oct. 22-Nov. 1 at Paso Robles Event Center. Tim Smith, who has NCHA lifetime earnings of more than $4.3 million, is the highest money-earning rider at PCCHA major events, and continued his reign by winning the 2009 PCCHA Open Futurity.

Smith, of Temecula, Calif., aboard Flo Like A Cat delivered the winning 222 run as the first horse out in the 17-horse finals. Flo Like A Cat (Cats Merada x Flo N Ethyl x Mr Peponita Flo) is owned by Bill Banner of Galt, Calif., who earned the $28,879 champion’s prize.

“Last night, when Bill drew the first place slot, I told Diane as we were sitting there at dinner that I think we’re going to win,” Smith said. “I’ve had a lot of luck going first in this arena. First is a good draw here. A lot of people have won in a first place draw in this arena.”

Continuing in a Series
This time, we continue discussing the topic of Exercise No. 4: Hip Control. 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.