Nearly 200 attend Quarter Horse Outfitters Spring Open House.

Nearly 200 visitors came by to check out the new spring line of clothing and home décor in the Quarter Horse Outfitters store

By Becky Newell for The American Quarter Horse Journal

Despite an early evening downpour, there was a great turnout for the Spring Open House on April 26 at Quarter Horse Outfitters in the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum.

Nearly 200 visitors came by to check out the new spring line of clothing and home décor in the Quarter Horse Outfitters store, as well as offerings from Small Town Gypsy, a local women’s clothing boutique that is also a trade show exhibitor at the Adequan Select World Championship Show.

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Colorado State University’s Legends of Ranching Sale is on-the-job training.

The 2010 Colorado State University Legends of Ranching Performance Horse Sale featured ranching and performance American Quarter Horses. Watch the slide show below. (Journal photo)

The annual sale offers finished ranch and performance American Quarter Horses along with started 2- and 3-year-olds from respected ranches. At the same time, it’s a learning experience for students in CSU’s equine sciences program.

Students from classes in colt training and event and sales management are in charge of putting on the annual sale, from starting colts to planning the sale’s catered events and producing the sale catalog. That’s just the short list of what the students have to do throughout the fall and spring semesters.

The 2012 sale is April 28, and they’ve catalogued 65 horses from 22 consigners from across the country. AQHA will be on-site with a booth, and The American Quarter Horse Journal will cover the event.

Let’s step back to the 2010 sale (where 68 horses averaged $4,734, with the high seller bringing $20,000) and take a look into what life is like for the students’ working to put the sale on.

After the last few horses were going through the ring at the 2010 sale, back in the barns, all was quiet. Two students sat in the barn aisle, all smiles, but looking tired.

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Our first event was a success … you’ll want to find one near you!

By Kelly Bruce Beard

Stephanie Dow of Jensen Beach, Florida, rides JS Sweet Zipsation across a 22-foot-high bridge. Photo by Kelly Bruce Beard.

The AQHA Trail Challenge is a new competitive event that asks horses and riders to work as a team, navigating natural obstacles they might experience on the trail. The focus is on horsemanship, and the goal is to promote education, safety and fun. As a bonus, “trail challenge merits” will be recorded on horses’ permanent AQHA records.

The first event was held March 24 at Fox Trail Farm in Palm City, Florida, as a fundraiser for the Florida Quarter Horse Youth Association. There were trail horses there to compete, but also hunters, jumpers, cutters, reiners, pleasure and dressage horses, and just about every other make and model in between.

The riders, who were just as diverse as the horses – all ages, levels of experience and disciplines – united to make AQHA history, competing in an event that celebrates the challenges found on the trail.

Here’s what a few of them had to say about the historic event:

“Spend some time with your horse on the ground, safely getting him used to these types of obstacles, and then come out and play. Bring your horse and have some fun. We had a ball! We’ll be back for sure.”
– Jon Seefeld, trail rider, and Designated Bold, Fort Pierce, Florida

“Just give it a try. Most people are scared of the obstacles at first – they don’t think their horse is going to do it. When I first brought my hunter out here, it took us a while with the groundwork, but in the end, we were crossing the high bridge, climbing up rocks and doing all the obstacles together. There’s so much to do, and it’s stimulating for you and your horse’s mind. It’s a nice break from your normal training schedule, but it’s still really productive.”
– Lindsey Whitehead, AQHYA competitor, and XS Delux, Stuart, Florida

“Get out there and give it a try. It’s fun, a little challenging at times, but it’s worth it. We’ll definitely do more obstacles and Trail Challenges. There’s no doubt.”
– Bridget Hughen, trail rider, and GDA Roses Best, Malabar, Florida

“I’ve been riding since I was 4 or 5 years old, now I’m 63. Doing the same thing over and over gets boring. This event is more versatile and gives my horse something more to think about – and me, too. It bonds us even tighter, because he’s depending on me to be brave. My bravado takes him where he’s weak, and his bravado takes me where I’m weak. So it’s give and take. I hope AQHA has more Trail Challenges. I’ll travel for these events.”
– Suzzette Stroud, AQHA competitor, and Zippa Rona, Boynton Beach, Florida

Upcoming Trail Challenges

• May 6, Smith, Nevada
• May 13, Brunswick, Maine
• May 19, Palm City, Florida
• July 7, Topsham, Maine
• July 29, Lodi, New York
• August 18, East Sparta, Ohio
• September 15, Eugene, Oregon
• September 29, Conewango Valley, New York

Don’t miss the June issue of America’s Horse for more on Florida’s inaugural Trail Challenge. America’s Horse is just one of the great benefits of AQHA membership.

Catching up with old friends and giving colts a good start in life in the process.

By Holly Clanahan for America’s Horse

By Day 5, the colts were being ridden together in a large outdoor arena. Here, a group of riders tracks a couple of steers. Scroll to the slideshow below to see more photos. Journal photos.

It began as a problem: Cathie and Rowly Twisselman had a lot of horses to get started under saddle. Normally, they hire Martin Black to come in and start colts at their Madonna Inn Quarter Horses in California, but in 2011, events conspired against them so that that didn’t happen.  So, here it is 2012, and they had a crop of 2- and 3-year-olds to get started.

But there’s another way to look at problems: as opportunities. The Twisselmans, Martin and Chris Cox hatched the idea for the Horsemen’s Reunion. They asked 18 other respected colt-starters to come to Paso Robles, California, April 2-7, where they would have those six days to get two colts started apiece. The horsemen came at their own expense — some of them from Canada, Australia and even Switzerland — as a way to pay back to the horse world. The event also benefits Western Wishes, a cowboy-oriented group similar to Make-A-Wish.  As Cathie said, “It’s all about giving.”

Although the Horsemen’s Reunion is not a competition, there are lots of winners here: spectators, who had almost more learning than they could take in; the colts, who got great starts in life; and the horsemen themselves, who seemed to be having a genuinely good time. Many of them are longtime friends — in fact, Bryan Neubert remembered first meeting Joe Wolter in 1972 — and they enjoyed the chance to catch up with one another. Read the rest of this entry »

Team Australia wins Road to the Horse 2012. You won’t want to miss the photos!

By Holly Clanahan

Road to the Horse 2012 winners Guy McLean and Dan James of Australia celebrate with event producer Tootie Bland. Scroll to the slideshow below for more great photos from the final day of this event. Journal photo.

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie … oy, oy, oy!

That Outback spirit was alive and kicking in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, as Australians Guy McLean and Dan James won a hard-fought battle at Road to the Horse 2012, defeating teams from the United States and Canada.

After two days of round-pen sessions totaling four hours, the trainers were preparing for their final obstacle course on Sunday afternoon, when event producer Tootie Bland introduced yet another twist: 60 extra points for any team willing to switch horses with their partners. Team Australia was the only one to take her up on that offer.

So Guy, who said he’d always wanted to ride a Dan James-trained horse, took the ride on Remember Sunset, while Dan rode the horse that Guy had purchased from the Four Sixes Ranch, Valliant Paddy.

Guy joked with the audience throughout his obstacle course, at one point asking, “How do you steer this thing?” when the horse began going a little wobbly. He completed the entire course — which included among other things, upright poles to weave in and out of, a “wheel” of ground poles elevated in the center, some small jumps, a tarp on the ground, jump standards with foam noodles the horse had to push through, and a log drag. Bonus obstacles included a platform for the horse to step up onto so the rider could reach up to ring a large bell hanging from the rafters, and a water box. Guy finished these, then had time to read a poem he’d written as an ode to Australia, where he is known as a bush poet. He then returned to the round pen to unsaddle his horse and tell him, “thank you, my friend.” Read the rest of this entry »

Day 2 brings some wrinkles and changes of plans — but always plenty of good spectating. Check out our photo slideshow so you can follow along.

By Holly Clanahan

Pat Parelli introduces his new colt, Bucks Attraction, to the large ball. On his second round-pen session, Pat had the colt following the ball on his own accord, and he said that was the first step to getting him to follow a cow. Journal photo.

Saturday, the second day of Road to the Horse 2012, was an eventful one.

For starters, as the colts were brought into the round pens Saturday afternoon, the crowd began murmuring. There were supposed to have been two bays and a sorrel. Instead, we saw a bay, a sorrel … and a stocky, light-hued palomino. Emcee Rick Lamb quickly explained: Pat Parelli’s horse, Playboys Valliant — the missing bay — had had some gastrointestinal issues the night before. The veterinarian on site first thought it might have been something more serious, but fortunately, it turned out to be just a tummy ache. Nevertheless, it was enough to take the bay colt out of the competition.

“Road to the Horse has always put the horse first,” Rick said. Producer Tootie Bland said later that the horse was fine, but she likened the situation to keeping your kid home from school if he’d had a stomach ache.  

So, Pat was given the chance to select another colt, and he said the palomino — Bucks Attraction — had initially been his second choice. This colt is by the same sire as Pat’s first pick, Playboys Buck Fever, a son of Freckles Playboy. Bucks Attraction is out of Cowboy Attraction, a daughter of champion racehorse Mr Jess Perry. Read the rest of this entry »

Getting started at the world championship of colt-starting. 

Wally Finnbogason of Stonewall, Manitoba, shows his country's pride as he photographs his wife, Linda, with Canadian competitors Glenn Stewart and Jonathan Field during a meet-and-greet session. Journal photo.

By Holly Clanahan

Road to the Horse bills itself as the world championship of colt-starting, and let me tell ya, it’s a tough road. Trainers from the United States, Canada and Australia have just two hours (over two days) in the round pen with unstarted colts from the Four Sixes Ranch in Guthrie, Texas, before they’re asked on the third day to complete an obstacle course and freestyle performance.  

Friday marked the first day of competition, and to see how it went, check out the slideshow below and click on the photos to read the descriptive captions. But in summary, Team USA is in the lead with a total score of 650. Team Australia is in second with a score of 599, followed by Team Canada with a score of 569. Those scores are according to the Road to the Horse Facebook page.  

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Ron Emmons claims World’s Greatest Horseman title on Olena Oak for owners Mel Smith and Nichole Scott.

By Larri Jo Starkey

Ron Emmons and Olena Oak make their first fence turn February 5 in the World's Greatest Horseman competition at the NRCHA Celebration of Champions. (Journal photo) To see more photos, scroll to the slide show below.

Ron Emmons was determined to leave everything Olena Oak had in the show pen.

Ron had coasted through the preliminaries, trying to be just clean enough to make the finals. But February 5, he was ready to ask for everything the 2002 sorrel stallion had.

“I told my wife Ladona before we started,’ I’m going to hang it out a little bit today,’” the Ione, California, trainer said. “And every time I asked him for anything, he gave it to me.”

The World’s Greatest Horseman competition makes for a long day at the National Reined Cow Horse Association Celebration of Champions in San Read the rest of this entry »

Shiney Sushi and Jay McLaughlin have their last ride to a title.

By Larri Jo Starkey

Shiney Sushi and Jay McLaughlin circle their cow February 4 at the NRCHA Celebration of Champions. (Journal photo) To see more photos, scroll to the slide show below.

Shiney Sushi has retired.

The 2005 palomino mare collected the open bridle title February 5 for owner and breeder Carol Rose at the National Reined Cow Horse Association Celebration of Champions in San Angelo, Texas.

After a cow horse career that has seen her garner $26,349 in NRCHA earnings and $5,379 at the AQHA World Championship Show, the mare finally got the title Carol thought she deserved.

“She’s so talented,” rider Jay McLaughlin said. “She’s freaky Read the rest of this entry »

Chantz Stewart and Shining Cielo follow their Built Ford Tough AQHYA World Championship Show title with an NRCHA title.

By Larri Jo Starkey

The last seven months have been good for Chantz Stewart.

Chantz Stewart and Shining Cielo circle their cow February 3 at the NRCHA Celebration of Champions. (Journal photo). Scroll to the slide show below for more photos from the event.

The 18-year-old from Cave Creek, Arizona, started off with a world championship in working cow horse in August at the 2011 Built Ford Tough AQHYA World Championship Show.

In December, she graduated from high school.

In January, she was high-point youth roper at the Arizona Sun Circuit.

And on February 3, she earned the championship in youth open bridle Read the rest of this entry »

First ranch horses and riders claim top spots in first AQHA Ranching Heritage Challenge.

By Larri Jo Starkey

Zinn Lindsey of Jayton, Texas, ropes on Judys Ten to win the non-pro division of the inaugural AQHA Ranching Heritage Challenge. Journal photo. To see more photos, scroll to the slide show below.

Tradition, heritage and innovation.

All had a part to play in the inaugural AQHA Ranching Heritage Challenge.

Twelve open riders and 19 non-pros entered eligible Ranching Heritage Breeder horses for their share of the $13,500-added purse at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.

“It was a wonderful show,” said Johnny Trotter, AQHA Executive Committee member and a rancher himself. “Nice horses.”

In the open competition, Robert Forst of Waurika, Oklahoma, rode Seven S Party Girl, bred by Terry Stuart Forst of Waurika, Robert’s mom.

Robert and his 4-year-old mare have had a rocky Read the rest of this entry »

There’s an app for that.

Excel Associates Event Management introduced a horse show management smartphone app at the 2012 AQHA Pre-Denver Circuit. Journal photo

Excel Associates Event Management debuted a mobile application for horse show updates during the 2012 Rocky Mountain Quarter Horse Association Pre-Denver Circuit (January 1-4) and the National Western AQHA Show (January 5-7) in Denver.

“We think it is the first in the nation for that,” says Rene Elkins, of Excel. “There will probably be more of those coming (from other management companies).”

The app was almost like having the show office in your back pocket. Renee’s son, Jason, wrote the application for use on Android smartphones or mobile websites; Excel plans to make it available to exhibitors at all its upcoming AQHA shows.

“We have an event status update on it,” Renee explains. “Since we had multiple arenas going, we could put something up to give people an idea of where we were with things. We put the event exercise schedule there and class entries. We put schedule changes in the status update.”

“It has an order-of-go checker, so for some of the bigger classes, such as reining and trail, people with smartphones can download who is in that class and keep track.

“People really liked that. When the show ran long, they could go home. We’d draw the green trail that night for the next morning, and they’d be able to look at the draw from the hotel and see where they were.”

The new app was just one of several new things noticed at the back-to-back shows.

“There was a real positive energy from the people (at the show),” says AQHA Professional Horseman Bill Bormes of Castle Rock, Colorado. “There were a lot of new faces, both exhibitor-wise and young trainers.

“It has been the best it has ever been, schedule-wise,” he says. “The schedule has been revamped to maximize the facility use and time available.”

For example, the Pre-Denver combined all showmanship and halter classes so that exhibitors showed once to all five of the circuit’s judges on one day.

Entries were up, according to Renee: the Pre-Denver had approximately 4,300 entries, and the National Western just topped 2,000 (both numbers unofficial with AQHA).

Bill and AQHA Professional Horsewoman Leslie Lange of Greeley, Colorado, are the co-chairmen for the 2013 Pre-Denver Circuit. They already are making plans for exhibitor parties and events.

“I am looking forward to next year!” Bill says.

Christine Hamilton
Editor, The American Quarter Horse Journal