Quarter Horses star in some pretty cool YouTube videos.

Holly Clanahan

It’s stating the obvious to say that friends are good. But friends who always have interesting things to do or say are better. And my friend Andrea, who edits The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal, falls into that category. It’s always fun to surf YouTube with her as a tour guide. We’ve seen famous matches from horse-racing history (think Seabiscuit vs. War Admiral, 1938), as well as some more modern moments of magnitude.

So now … allow me to be your tour guide …

• Andrea keeps me posted on events in the racing world. One of my favorite horses is Snowbound Superstar, aka “Snoopy.” The big gray horse (and you know I’m fond of those!) has been running at the longer distance, 870 yards, and has twice been named a champion. In fact, he’s undefeated at the distance, and usually dominates his competition. There’s nothing more fun than watching a horse perform his job with boundless enthusiasm. Here he is after a year off from the races.
  This spring, Snoopy came to my neck of the woods, racing at Remington Park in Oklahoma City. And just two weeks ago there, he faced his toughest competition yet – from world-record setter Gone To The Mountain. It was the first time Snowbound Superstar was seriously challenged, and the two didn’t disappoint, dueling every step of the race. What an exciting race!
• If your horse has ever had a “wardrobe malfunction” – say, losing a Chicago screw and (“for want of the nail…”) the rest of the bridle, I’m sure you know the horrified feeling. It happened to me in a western pleasure class … my horse stopped, fortunately! So I can empathize completely with Guy Vernon, who in 2001 walked Endeavor Doc into the reining pen at the finals of the international United States Equestrian Federation competition. Not long into his ride, his bridle fell apart – but his horse didn’t miss a beat! (Check out their story in the June American Quarter Horse Journal!)
• And whenever I feel the need to be motivated to a higher level of horsemanship, I like to rewatch the 2006 All American Quarter Horse Congress freestyle reining performance of America’s Horse columnist Stacy Westfall. She rode Whizards Baby Doll (“Roxy”) without a stitch of tack … and no matter how many times I watch it, it inspires me.
• My favorite superstar is Rugged Lark, the two-time AQHA Superhorse who was an outstanding ambassador for his breed with his winning personality and can-do attitude. Two of my ponies (“Junior” and “Zen”) are related to him, and I just think he’s the bomb. He and his rider, AQHA Professional Horsewoman Lynn Palm, had an unmistakable bond, and it’s cool to watch them perform with or without a bridle.
• And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention AQHA’s own YouTube channel.  Right now, it’s featuring a mini-feature from our new western pleasure DVD. You can also find a primer on the unwanted horse issue and a really cool tribute to therapeutic riding horses and the American Quarter Horse Foundation called “Because of a Horse.” (Warning: major sniffle alert!)
• To lighten things up, take a peek at one of the videos/commercials produced by the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association and Remington Park to promote the “world’s fastest athletes.” This one stars trainer Russell Harris, doing a pretty good job of playing it straight, and one of his horses, as the carrot-eating comic.

Happy surfing!
Holly Clanahan
Editor, America’s Horse magazine

Don’t miss the fun, educational and heart-warming stories in the print version of America’s Horse! It goes to all members of the American Quarter Horse Association, and it’ll also keep you in the loop on Association news. We want you to belong!