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!

Reining Horse Tails and Manes

Pictures 

 Top- Amanda Self's "Spooks Remarkable" (aka Marv), amazingly gorgeous mane!

Middle- Google Images-Horse with a "banged" tail

Bottom- Casandra and PR Impressive Jewel's tail

One exciting aspect of watching the reining horse is the spectacularly flowing manes and tail that are common in the show pen. Some horses are naturally graced with thick, beautiful manes and tails, and most people that show reining horses go to great lengths to create that look. For those horses that are "folicly challenged" there are fake tails to enhance "the look". Having just got my daughter's horse "Jewel" home, and in anticipation of the upcoming show season, I wanted to educate myself on the best way to maintain her mane and tail. One of the best articles I found was again on Lynda Smith's "forums". Here is what she had to say....

The Mane Thing About Growing Long Tails

Nothing looks more fabulous than a thick, long, flowing tail on a reining horse. To keep the tail looking great, the number one thing to remember is that the hairs can break off very easily. Brushes and combs break and pull out the hairs if we are too aggressive when grooming. I recommend limiting the frequency of your tail grooming sessions to once or twice weekly, using care and caution to protect the growth. I use a soft body brush and my fingers to separate the hairs, and reserve combing for after conditioning.

It is important to keep the tail bone clean and clear of scurf and fungus. There are several products on the market formulated to help encourage cleanliness and growth of the tail, have a look at your local tack store or shop online. To keep my horse's tail clean, I use a good quality horse shampoo, sometimes tea tree oil shampoo and my 'home remedy' of Listerine. I put the Listerine in a spray bottle, diluted 50/50 with water and spray it on the tail bone to kill bacteria, fungus and to stimulate circulation. I then add a good leave-in conditioner to the entire tail. I don't use shine enhancer's until I am preparing the tail before a show.

If a horse's tail is left in a loose long braid, the hairs will rub together and break off. Tails braided tightly in fabric tubes are more protected from rubbing and breakage. Never braid tightly over the tail bone (as in a french braid) or use anything over the tail bone that could cause lack of circulation (elastic tail wraps) for an extended period of time. The tail will literally fall off. A tail tightly braided and then put in a tail bag will also be well protected but I caution you to watch for breakage at the tip of the tail bone where the tail bag is fastened. I prefer to seal the top of the tail bag, or sock, with a wrap or two of duct tape to keep the bag opening snug, preventing it from getting filled with shavings and dirt. I don't allow the tape to touch the tail hairs themselves, just the bag.

Be sure to check the horse's surrounding environment for anything that could hook on to the tail. Handles on water buckets are notorious for snagging a section of braided tail and ripping it out. Use duct tape to wrap the hooks on bucket handles, remove any unused bucket hooks, and of course remove splintered boards and nails. After saying all of this, I have seen some fabulous tails on horses that have never seen a tail bag. What can be learnt from this, is that we can cause damage with improper brushing, braiding and bagging. A braid left in the tail for months will cause plenty of breakage and damage. If you don't have the time to care for the tail properly (weekly shampooing, conditioning and braiding) then leave it natural.

Just before you show your horse, clean and show shine the tail. Trim the tail in a blunt cut by gathering the tail and pulling it straight down and forward between the horse's hind legs. This angled trim, will cause the tail to look like it was cut straight across, when the horse holds his tail out behind him. Trimming the tail is necessary to prevent the horse from stepping on it during the back-up maneuver. When the tail has been trimmed, it should end at the top of the fetlock joint of the hind legs. 

Note: Lynda refers to trimming the tail in a "blunt cut". This is a popular look (often called a "banged" tail" -see picture above) with many reiniers, but just as many prefer a more natural look, such as Jewel's tail pictured above.

*** Another word of caution that Lynda doesn't mention, but that I read in numerous other atricles is "NEVER BRAID AND BAG YOUR HORSE'S TAIL WHILE IT IS WET!! (which is exacty what I did...OOOPS!!) It (the hairs) can get mouldy and quite literally fall off... 

Maddie's for sale

PICTURES (Sheza Major Madonna)

We have decided to put our AQHA mare (Sheza Major Madonna) up for sale. We have her 2 year old daughter in training, and the money from the sale would go towards the ongoing training costs of her daughter. We bought Maddie 6 years ago and she has been a great mare for us. She was professionally started by a reining trainer, and had one baby before she came to us. We had her in training as well for 5 months with Sherri, and then bred her. She has been used by us as a brood mare, and also as a general riding horse. She has been on a fall cattle round up and has tons of trail miles -loves to really walk out. She and I attended Randy's cattle sorting clinic last summer. Both babies that Maddie has thrown have been the rare grulla color. She herself is royally bred with Major Bonanza, Sir Quincy Dan, and Three Jets all on her papers. She is quiet, sweet natured, and extremely athletic. She has all the basic reining maneuvers and could easily do a beginner reining pattern. If you are interested in Maddie, please contact me. You can see her on our weekly rides, and if you'd like to ride her there please let me know!

If any members have horse they would like to advertise for sale on this site, please let me know.

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).

Training for the spin

(Picture-Casandra and Jewel spin)

Here is a great link to a video critique of a rider teaching his horse to spin by trainer Larry Trocha.

http://www.truveo.com/Horse-Training-for-the-Spin-pt1/id/1519419183. Check it out! There are other reining training critiques by Larry also available on that site for free!

Happy Easter!

Picture (Google Images)

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!

(BUT WHO NEEDS AN EXCUSE TO EAT CHOCOLATE!!)

Our Friday night ride is still on this week, but may be poorly attended as numerous members have Easter obligations....Dawnna will be at the arena at 7:00 for those interested in coming out! Just a reminder-there is a 10.00 drop in fee, and you need your horse council # to ride....

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.

We're Back!

(Pictures: Top-My filly, Twister, looking all grown up!, Middle-Sherri receiving her award for Career Achievement, Bottom-Casandra with her mare Jewel, and her training project)

Sorry for the 2 week blank! I was on my March break and didn't have immediate access to the internet, but I'm back now and look for regular new posts!

So my break included a visit to my daughter, Casandra at Olds college-soon to be graduated from the Equine Science Program, a trip to see my 2 year old filly that now has 6 weeks of training with Sherri (she's doing awesome!), an exciting time with Sherri at her awards presentation for career achievement at the River Rock Hotel and Casino, (talk about sticking out like a sore thumb-three tall cowgirls in a casino full of short asian men...) a visit with the 2 grandsons (ages 2 and 6)-they stayed with us while their parents had a much needed holiday in Mexico, and, an exciting weekend at the 100 Mile Horse Bazaar (see next post...)

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. 

Can you feel the excitement??

Here's a chance to see how reining looks at the world class level. This is Canadian Duane Latimer's exciting winning ride aboard  AQHA stud "Hang Ten Surprise", at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany. Spectacular! 

Just prior to Latimers's run, American Tim McQuay had received the identical score of 230 points. (Under 3 judges that's an average score of 76.5 each) Both Latimer and McQuay had to run the pattern a second time to break the tie for gold medal and world championship. Latimer won by 2 points!

What's in it for the youth??

Picture- Casandra and PR Impressive Jewels, BC Summer Games, Kamloops, BC 2006

Reining provides tons of opportunities for youth at the local, provincial and national/international level. Youth that compete provincially, have an opportunity to qualify and compete at the biannual BC Summer Games, (next competition to be held 2010). 

Horse Council of BC also offers travel assistance to youth competing anywhere provincially, up to 2 shows and 500 km/athlete. You can find out more about this program from Horse Council BC.

Reining Canada also offers a Young Riders Program to reiners under 21 years of age. Medals are awarded and points are accumulated so that riders may qualify to be a member of Reining Canada's Young Rider Team. You can learn more about this at http://www.reiningcanada.com

The National Reining Horse Youth Association also has a cool program called the Varsity Program. Youth members are awarded points for doing projects listed that foster teamwork and volunteering as well as artistic and creative projects. Depending on how many points are earned, participants can win some very cool prizes!! Check it out at http://www.nrhya.com/vrc/

Numerous scholarships are also awarded annually through the National Reining Horse Youth Association . You can read more about that here:

http://www.nrhya.com/scholarships.php

As a club, we would also like to create a scholarship for youth that become involved with our program. More details to follow as we evolve!

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!

reining vs dressage

 (Picture " AQHA stud, Smart Rattle Snake")

I wish I could embed this video here, but we don't have access at work. Go to the link posted and watch this!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrYOQ52U3LQ

Here is a dressage horse and rider and a reining horse and rider in the same arena. Who does a better job when they switch horses? Awesome. The reining horse and rider team are Austrian Dennis Shultz and his horse Smart Rattle Snake, reining champion of Poland, as well as other honors. The dressage horse and rider team are Peter Gmoser a member of the Austrian Olympic team, and his Grand Prix Holsteiner, Lausbub. 

She Won!

(Pictures 1. Sherri and Casandra, 2. Sherri and Kerri, 3. Sherri sacking out Bandit, 4. Sherri and the "kids" get down to Georgia with "the devil"-aka Genuine Jeepers)

Congratulations to my long time trainer and friend, Sherri for just finding out she won the Promotion Plus "Bobbie Stein Award of Excellence" for Career Achievement. This is an annual award presented to a woman that has had a major impact on promoting girls and women in sport. Sherri is most deserving, as she has been a long time mentor of young girls and women, including my daughter, Casandra. She also serves as an incredible role model for all girls and women, by achieving a huge amount of success in a sport that is traditionally dominated by men in the upper levels of competition, and by working in a highly physically demanding and challenging career of horse training.

Sherri will be presented with her award in Richmond on March 24th at a gala celebration at the River Rock Casiono in Richmond. 

Don't miss your chance to spend the day with Sherri on Saturday, April 4th at the Agriplex in 100 Mile! (see prior post for more info!) 

Amanda Self Reining Video

Here is a video of Amanda Self, winning the "Intermediate Open" Class at the West Coast Classic reining show in Chilliwack, on Rafter D Reiners gorgeous AQHA palamino mare, "Dun it Because I Can" LOOK AT THAT HAIR!! Now THAT"S a "Reiner mane"! Come see Amanda's reining demo at our 100 Mile Horse Bazaar on Sunday, March 30th! Amanda is also offering a reining clinic at the Brandt Ranch in Pritchard, April 3-5th. Contact Amanda at 250-804-1723

Another Awesome Opportunity in 100 Mile!

(Pictures- Carl at Work!)

Here is another excellent opportunity to get instruction from a top level reining and working cow horse trainer! Carl Woods will be offering one hour private sessions on March 21, 22 at the beautiful Easy Go Ranch in Lac La Hache. Cost is only 40.00. Sign up early to ensure your spot! To learn more about Carl, visit his web site at http://www.kperformancehorses.com/carls_page.html

For more information contact Easy Go Ranch at 1-888-600-7556

Sherri's coming to town!

Pictures-Sherri Thomson at work!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! SATURDAY, APRIL 4th 2008 9:00am-4:00pm

100 Mile Agriplex

Cost 125.00/day

100 Mile Sliders are pleased to offer this awesome opportunity to spend the day with reining and working cow horse  trainer, Sherri Thomson. Lunch and snacks will be provided. Sherri is a long time trainer and open level competitor in reining and working cow horse. This will be an introductory level clinic for people interested in learning more about the discipline of reining, and improving their basic horsemanship skills. It is the first of a series of clinics planned future dates TBA. Spots will be limited so book early! 

Make cheques payable to: 

100 Mile Sliders 

C 26 Crossroads

RR#1 Lone Butte

BC V0K 1X0

or phone Bella at 250-593-9331 for more info!

Now That's Dedication!

Pictures 1. Randy models our new shirts

2.Donna and Tiffany brave the cold to come out on Friday night!

So our first Friday night ride was a true test of the devoted! In the -20 something temperature, we rode a bit and talked a bit about the club, handed out some forms and got some riding pointers from Randy. I also managed to get the horse trailer stuck in the snow by the arena, and luckily Randy was kind enough to pull me out or I might of had to stay there till the spring thaw! Donna brought out some T shirts that Work and Play have kindly donated to the club. On the back we are putting "Sliders do it in the dirt!!" Everyone is keen and excited to see the club get up and running, so come on out and join us!