Schools' Out!!

(PICTURE_ Phil and Bella on a practice run on the Similkameen River, May, 09) 

Hey everyone.

As of Friday I'm on summer vacation! Yeah! However, I don't have internet access at home, so for the next 2 months, I will probably post less frequently on this blog. I usually go to The Fish On Pub or the "Moose" for free internet access to check e mails, etc, at least once a week. Phil and I are participating in a canoe trip down the Big Salmon/Yukon rivers from July 13, until July 24/25, and then I'll be heading down to Sherri's in Princeton to get ready for "Reininin the Sun" reining show in Armstrong July 31-August 2nd. We should be around for the month of August. If anyone would like me to post/address anything specific on the blog over the summer, let me know (by e mail or phone). I will continue to send out blog updates to members on a regular basis. Have a great summer everyone!-get out and enjoy the great outdoors, and don't forget to take the opportunity to participate in (or just watch) the great reining shows, our WCRA West Coast Classic, in Chilliwack (July 17-19) and Armstrong!

Another Opportunity for Doug Mills Clinic in 100 Mile!

(Pictures-Doug Mills in action, taken from Doug's web site)

Our Sliders member, John McCarville, will be hosting another opportunity to participate in a Doug Mills, Level 1 Clinic. The clinic will be Friday evening, July 3rd, Saturday, July 4th & Sunday, July 5th.  The clinic will be at John's place 5655 Canim Hendrix Lake Road. Phone John at 250-395-2633 for details.  The fee is $300.00 and this includes a DVD which captures all of the steps taught in the clinic.  Doug will not be doing the clinic as he is still out of commission from the injury he got last month. One of his trainers will be here. Arrangements will be made for campers if necessary and board may be arranged for a couple of horses as well.

It is important that we get lots of participation in these types of clinics if we want to attract top level people in the industry into our area! Thanks John, for providing this opportunity!

Meeting??

So we've been trying to find a good time to have a meeting, and with everyone's busy schedules, it's been difficult! Here are 2 tenative dates and times. Please e mail me or post your preference here under the comments, and we will try to acommodate as many people as possible. At this meeting, we will have some introductions, and go over our finances, so far, as well as set direction for the club as a group. It is important that we have as many members as possible represented so we have a good barometer of what people are thinking and wanting in this club. I'll look forward to hearing from you, as to when you could be available...

Tenative meeting dates-please state your preference

1) Tuesday, June 30th A&W meeting room 7:00pm

2) Wednesday July 1st A&W meeting room 9:00am (note this is a holiday, so we thought people might not be working, and could get on with the rest of their day...)

2 Amazing Reining Clinics at the Cardinal Ranch

(Pictures)

Top-Jack's spur-a great example of a reining spur on a boot!! (see post on "spurs"

Middle-Legendary Horseman, Jack Brainard

Bottom-Million Dollar NRHA rider/trainer, Craig Johnson)

The Cardinal Ranch, (http://www.cardinalranch.com/#) located just outside of Valemont (1 hr west of Jasper) is hosting 2 awesome reining clinic opportunities:

1. August 28-31st, the legendary Jack Brainard will be conducting an Advanced Horsemanship/Reining Clinic.

"Jack Brainard is in his eighties, and his list of accomplishments are impressive, but most impressive is that he still rides many of the world champion horses today.  We are told that if some of the best in the world still come to Jack if they are having problems with lead changes.  (We are also told he still rides the colts too!)

   In 1966, Jack organized the National Reining Horse Association, and served as one of the original directors! You can read more about Jack on his website:

http://www.jackbrainard.com/index.html

Cost is: Riders 1,000.00 for 4 days

Auditors (was unclear but)-either 3, or 400.00 for 4 days, or 75/day

2. September 5-7, million dollar NRHA rider and trainer Craig Johnson will be conducting a "Fundamentals of Reining" clinic. 

A little bit about Craig...

Craig Johnson's special brand of reining excellence combines total precision with lightning maneuvers. His is a unique style that has been well rewarded in the arena.

Two NRHA Futurity Championships, a NRHA Derby title, two Superstakes wins, along with eight AQHA World Championships and six APHA World Titles are just some of the well-deserved laurels Johnson has earned.

Craig has also represented the United States in Jerez, Spain at the World Equestrian Games. The U.S. came home with the Gold Medals! Craig has been on three Gold Medal teams, brought home three individual Silver Medals and one Bronze Medal.

You can read more about Craig on his website:

http://www.craigjohnsonreining.com/

 

 

Intro To Reining Clinic

(Picture-Stud currently standing at Teixeira Stables)

Here is another great opportunity to participate in an introductory reining clinic with reining trainer, Carmen Texeira. The clinic will take place at The Texeira Stables, in Salmon Arm on June 27-28. You can contact Leslie at 250-307-4757 for more information. The clinic is being hosted by the Sun Reiners Reining Club. 

"Having ridden with the legendary Bob Grimshaw for over 10 years before spending 1 1/2 as an assistant trainer to 2 Time World Champion (AQHA, NRCHA) Jason Grimshaw in Texas, where she showed & trained both reiners & working cowhorses, Carmen has now established herself as an accomplished trainer & coach here in BC for riders & horses of all skill levels."

You can read more about Carmen and her program at her website

http://www.texstables.com/index.html

More show info -WCRA's West Coast Classic

Don't miss the deadline for entries into WCRA's West Coast Classic Show July 17-19th, at Chilliwack's beautiful Heritage Park. Entry deadline is coming up fast-June 15th!!

Here is the link to download entry forms, etc.

http://www.wcra.info/linkpages/2009wcc/entryform.pdf

This show has a full slate of WCRA beginner classes, and is part of the WCRA high point series. It is an NRHA approved show, as well as a NRHA affiliate series qualifier!

More Show Info

So here is the link to the Armstrong show, Reinin' In the Sun. 

http://www.reinininthesun.com/

Entry forms are now available. Note that you need to click on each separate part of the entry form, in order to get the complete document. The show runs July 31st-August 2nd, and entries are due by July 3rd. 

This show has a full slate of beginner (modified) classes, NRHA classes and working cowhorse classes. The show organizers emphasize a fun, relaxed atmosphere!

Prince George Reining Horse Association

So I've finally found the new link to the Prince George Reining Horse Association!

http://www.pgrha.com/index.html

They've done a great job on their new site, with easy to access information and links to their PGRHA reining patterns. If you take a look at their patterns, you will see that they too have adopted a number of MODIFIED patterns to accommodate beginner riders. The second show in their affiliate series is coming up FAST. In fact "Ride N Slide 09" entries are due TOMORROW (Friday, June 8th).  Show dates are June 18-20th (the weekend following the Kamloops show). You can upload entry forms off the PGRHA website.

Sherri Thomson Clinic

Picture (lft to rt) Kerri and "Maddie", Sharon and "Rein" Bella, "Jewel" and Casandra, Casey and "Nikki" (Casey had put his horse away), Sherri and 3 year old futurity prospect, "Trickshot", Kim and "Tyme"  missing-Ellie, who came out in the afternoon to help round out our group (click on picture to see larger image)

 
Thanks to everyone who came out and participated in Sherri's clinic. By all accounts everyone came away with lots of new ideas and were inspired by Sherri's knowledge and demos. We hope to offer more opportunities like this for the club, but in order to make these clinics financially viable, we need more member participation!! We have some ideas about format that we'd like to discuss with club members that will maybe improve turnout....

Sherri Thomson Clinic info

(Picture-Sherri and Nikki)

Just a reminder that we are hosting a reining/horsemanship clinic here on Saturday from 9:00-4:00 with Sherri Thomson. Cost is 125.00 and there are still a few spots available. If you would like to come out to watch cost is 25.00 to audit the clinic. Hope to see lots of you out! Sherri will be bringing 3 horses, Niki, who is a 5 year old mare that Sherri started and is now competing on, as well as 2 younger horses, that are currently in training with Sherri. Casandra will also be coming along with Sherri to help out for the day. Lunch and snacks will be provided. (for those participating in the clinic) If you want to learn about reining and see a finished reining horse in action, don't miss this opportunity!!

Doug Mills Clinic coming to 100 Mile!

Picture-Doug Mills (Taken from Doug's website)

Here is another opportunity for you to develop your horsemanship skills right here in 100 Mile, with acclaimed trainer/clinician Doug Mills. Doug will be offering his Level One-Liberty "Training Thru Trust" Clinic in 100 Mile on June 5-7.

Here is the link to Doug's website in regards to his clinic format,and specifically on the Level 1 Clinic:

http://www.trainingthrutrust.com/clinics.htm

CONGRATULATIONS TO DOUG ON HIS CONTINUED SUCCESS AT THE TRAINERS CHALLENGE, WITH HIS MOST RECENT WIN AT THE MANE EVENT IN RED DEER, APRIL 2009!!

A Call For Volunteers 100 Mile Rough Stock Rodeo

(Picture-courtesy of http://www.werodeo.com)

We are looking for volunteers from the club to help out on Sunday, May 17th with the 100 Mile Rough Stock Rodeo. If you are able to lend a few hours of your time, it would be really appreciated! If we can provide volunteers as a club, it will help us in the future when we host our own event and need assistance, so please, if you can lend a hand, let Randy know. (250-395-5175) 

What A Turnout!!

Six On FRIDAY...

1. WOW! When I showed up at 7:00 on Thursday, there were about 8 people riding in the arena, and I didn't know any of them!! Apparently, according to Randy who was at the arena at 4:00 (thanks Randy) people came in 3 "waves" to ride, and we had 5 new paid members sign up. How Exciting!! I will post up new member names as soon as I get the info from Tiffany, and add them to our e mail mail out. 

2. Congratulations to Tiffany on the purchase of her new horse "Bandit", a 12 year old APHA gelding (yeah for the paints!!). Bandit comes from Carl Woods stable and by the looks of last night he's got a few reining moves to show off! Apparently Dawnna also got a new baby??

3. Tiffany and Dawnna will have a chance to put their horses to the test this weekend, as they travel to Armstrong for an AQHA schooling show on Saturday, and then on the Pritchard to the Brandt Ranch for a reining schooling show on Sunday. They have instructions to take lots of pictures so we can post them here in cyberspace!! Good luck, ladies, and good on you for getting out in the show pen!!

4. Dawnna and I talked briefly last night about organizing an actual meeting, now that our club is getting off the ground and we have a blossoming membership. This would be a chance to introduce ourselves to each other, and set some direction for the club. We will try to get this organized for the near future, and will post information here, as we get closer to setting a time/date. If anyone has ideas of when/where to have a meeting please let me and/or Dawnna know, and we'll work to accommodate as many people as possible.

5. Participant forms for Sherri's clinic on May 23rd are now available. Randy and I  both have some and I can e mail one out to anyone planning to attend. 

6. Commenting on this Blog...I'm not sure why, but some people are having difficulty posting comments on this blog. If you would like to post a comment PLEASE DO SO! Simply click on the "comment" link beneath the post, and type your comment in the box. If you run into problems, try posting as "anonymous". You will find this on the drop down menu beneath the comment box, where you would post your comment. If you use Anonymous, DO leave your name on your post so we know that it is you posting the comment. I'll try to make this more user friendly, as I would like this to be a site where we can do some dialoguing!! Any "techies" out there that have any suggestions for me to make this easier, would be appreciated!

Schooling Show Anyone??

Here's your first chance to get out and try a reining show in a low stress environment. Our WCRA Armstrong Chapter is hosting their first schooling show on Saturday, May 2nd. 10.00 a class, for WCRA members, and all beginner and non pro classes. I believe at least, Dawnna is planning to attend...Anyone else interested?? Just want to come and check it out? How about a car pool?

Here is a link to the show site, but you can enter classes pretty much right up to class time...

http://sunreiners.zoomshare.com/files/Sun_Reiners_Spring_show_flyer_2009.pdf

Also, Prince George is also hosting their first big show that weekend. If you want to see a bigger type reining show, it would be a good opportunity!

Friday Nights are Changing to Thursday!!

WE HAVE MOVED OUR FRIDAY NIGHT RIDES TO THURSDAY NIGHTS AS OF THIS WEEK (APRIL 16TH).

This is because there are many events in the Agriplex on the weekends and they want Fridays to "set up", causing many disruptions and or cancellations to our rides. By changing to Thursdays, we're hoping to be more consistent in offering this opportunity for our club to get together to ride on a regular basis, and hoping to draw more people out to ride! Hopefully this change won't be too disruptive to what we've already got started! We also have earlier access to the facility. If you would like to ride earlier in the day, please contact Randy to make arrangements (250-395-5175).

Sherri Thomson Clinic info

(Pictures- Top-Sherri with Career Achievement Award, and client Sharon, and "Sherri Kid", Kerri

Bottom-Sherri and her gelding, "Topper"-watch out for those "sun devils"!!)

Unfortunately, we will need to cancel our planned first clinic with Sherri this Saturday April 4th, as we just don't have enough numbers to justify her travel. It was a bit ambitious, given the time of year, and as we are just getting started, but worth a try... We have the next clinic planned for Saturday, May 23rd, same format-9:00-4:00 (or when we get tired), 125.00 for the day, lunch and snacks included. There has already been a lot of interest expressed in this clinic, so please let me know right away if you are interested.

Friday Night Rides are back

(Pictures Top- Miss Sugar Talk with baby, "Brushstrokes Van Goh", Bottom- "Gay Bars Major Twister")

So we are back in action this Friday (April 3rd) night!!  Plan to come out anywhere from 6:00 and on. We hope to see new (and potential new) members out as well! Welcome to the club, Gerhard and Martina-we look forward to having you involved with your knowledge base and experience in reining, (as well as your trainer reiners), and welcome also to new member, Debbie! We now have 11 total paid members! YEAH!!

By the way...Spring is coming...REALLY!! These 2 babies above were born on April 1st and 2nd two years ago, and it was well into the -20's on BOTH NIGHTS!! In fact poor little Van Goh froze off the tip of his ear it was so cold!! That year it was so cold for the first 2 weeks of April, we couldn't get the blankets off these 2 for any more than a few minutes....

100 Mile Horse Bazaar is a great success!

(Picture- Tiffany, Kim and Bella manning the Sliders booth at the bazaar)

 
A HUGE THANK YOU! to everyone who came out to help with the horse bazaar. It was a huge success, and we received nothing but positive comments from participants and spectators alike! Special thanks to Randy for the countless hours he put into making this show happen, despite ending up in the hospital in the days leading up to the bazaar! We took in over $1,000.00 at the door, (proceeds to go towards upgrades to the Agriplex) and we had over 500 spectators over the course of the 2 days.  The silent auction was also a great success! The stands were packed for Amanda's reining demo, and we handed out lots of application forms and brochures for the club! I have videotaped Amanda and Austin's presentation, and will have it available on DVD soon for anyone who missed it and would like to see.

Friday Night Rides in 100 Mile-a bit of a hiatus...

(Pictures- 1. Casandra and Cricket out for a snowy ride, December 07

2.   "The Group" last Friday)

Unfortunately, it looks like we have to cancel our Friday night rides for the next few weeks.  Both Dawnna and Randy are unavailable, this Friday 13th and they have "the key ".  On the 20th, the Bow Hunters have the arena booked, and on the 27th, it's the night before the 100  Mile Horse Bazaar, so the arena will be getting set up. I would encourage all of us to come out and help with set up! 

In the meantime, riding outside is a good way to get your woolly horse (and yourself) back in shape for the warmer weather! The 3rd of April. is the night before the Sherri Clinic so it might be a good warm up and chance to touch base....In the meantime, stay tuned to the blog for updates and new info as it becomes available, or get in touch with me by e mail isabella.macquarrie@sd27.bc.ca. or phone 250-593-9331. 

Friday Night Rides in 100 Mile

Photos- 1. Cricket says "Hey, how come I don't get in the group shot??"

2. The group- Dawnna, Tiffany, Kerri, Bella, Kim, and Geoff. Missing (other Kim, and Randy)

Our second Friday saw a few more of us out with our horses. Despite the COLD, everyone got a bit of a work out-horses and riders! Next Friday we will be at the arena at 7:00 (instead of 6:00) See you there! Spots are filling up quickly for Sherri's clinic. Make sure to get on the list so you're not disappointed!