WOOD TEAM EFFORT STORY INSIDE MIKE WOOD INTERVIEW INSIDE
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For all the accolades and honors bestowed upon Sam Shepard throughout his magnificent halfcentury career, including an Academy Award and Pulitzer Prize, the legendary actor, author, playwright, screenwriter and director once admitted one award meant the most to him –The Wrangler.
The Wranglers are given each year at the Western Heritage Awards, recognizing outstanding works in television, film, music and literature at a black-tie ceremony known as The Cowboy Oscars, which takes place at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. And now through a labor of love of one of its employees, PBR can also lay claim to a Wrangler.
While the sport’s elite series was getting ready to buck bulls in Billings, Montana, last Saturday night, Love & Try: Stories of Gratitude and Grit from Professional Bull Riding, a vivid, heartfelt book filled with inspiring stories of resilient bull riders, animal-nurturing stock contractors, PBR’s salt-ofthe-earth crew and a few big-hearted uber-fans was awarded the Wrangler for outstanding non-fiction book of 2022.
In its review, Men’s Journal called the work “harrowing and humorous, tragic and triumphant, compellingly human.” The New York Post labeled Love & Try “an all-American celebration of faith, freedom and country,” while Gold Buckle magazine called it, “one of the most insightful and exhaustive accounts of the sport yet published.”
With PBR set to have its permanent Hall of Fame in the popular cowboy museum, The Wrangler was presented by PBR CEO and Commissioner Sean Gleason to author Andrew Giangola, who leads the organization’s PR team and wrote most of the book when COVID-19 shut down in New York City, where he lives.
“I get to take this kick-ass Wrangler trophy back to Brooklyn,” Giangola said in accepting the award. “But, by rights, it’s the property of every gritty, gracious person covered in Love & Try, as well as anyone who’s ever wrapped their hand in a rope in a curious, courageous, completely crazy attempt at staying on the bull underneath them for 8 very long seconds.
“In a better world, recognition for a book celebrating values like cowboy heart, determination and un-toxic masculinity wouldn’t be confined to gatherings like this. Our world is far from perfect, but thankfully, buoyed by the love and try of everyone living the Western way, we’re moving in the right direction.”
The author and co-publisher PBR’s proceeds from the book are donated to the Western Sports Foundation to support injured bull riders. “I occasionally suffer a hang nail banging out a press release; bull riders seriously put it all on the line,” Giangola said. “Reading these stories can support those who are injured and working hard to get back to the job they love.” The awards program was a stream of recognition of similar labors – and careers –infused with a passion for Western themes expressed and shared selflessly and authentically.
Filipe Masetti Leite initially came from a small town in Brazil but
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had a very big dream – to cross nearly half the world on horseback. He rode his horses Frenchie and Bruiser from his adopted home of Calgary, Alberta, to his family’s homestead in Brazil – a two-year trek of more than 16,000 kilometers across 10 international borders, captured in Long Rider, which was honored as the year’s best documentary.
“If you have a dream and work for it, absolutely nothing is impossible,” said Leite, who encountered harsh weather, rough terrain, danger, violence and angels in disguise along the way.
Anouk Krantz considers herself a Frenchwoman living the American dream, and like Giangola, can be seen as an outsider journeying into new places to witness and record the vibrant American spirit. Krantz, who has published two previous photo books on American cowboys, shot one of the country’s most spectacular working ranches spanning more than 300,000 acres in the heart of Wyoming for RANCHLAND: Wagonhound, named top photography book.
Other winners included: Dead for a Dollar (Theatrical Motion Picture); “Monster Slayer, Dark Winds S1, E1” (Fictional Drama); Westbound (Traditional Western Music Album); “Blues for 66” (Original Western Music Composition); Last Dirt Embrace (Poetry Book); and Red Steagall is Somewhere West of Wall Street (Western Lifestyle Program).
Steagall was also honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Pete Coors, former Chairman of Molson Coors, was only the third person to receive the Western Visionary Award. He called the honor, “one of the proudest occasions of my life.” An avid conservationist and longtime supporter of The National Western Stock Show, Coors spoke of the four pillars that brought him massive success in a fifth-generation family business: family, friends, faith, and Western heritage.
Every attendee at the Cowboy Oscars was given a metal card emblazoned with the “Code of the West” including tenets like “Live each
day with courage,” “Be tough but fair,” “Always finish what you start,” and “Remember that some things aren’t for sale.” Coors said he strives to live by the Code every day.
In accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award, actor, writer and director Lou Diamond Phillips, who first broke through to superstardom as Ritchie Valens in La Bamba in 1987, emotionally shared the influences shaping a distinguished life. Phillips, a Navy brat born in the Philippines and raised in Texas, remembers shows like Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Wanted Dead or Alive and Rifleman constantly on the TV at home. “I was always imitating these amazing performers and dreaming of the day I could do that,” he said on the broadcast carried live on Wrangler Network.
These were Phillips’ personal morality tales, what he calls “a tapestry of right versus wrong,” representing what he’d stand for and represent in life. “I looked at this heroism, and it was easy for me to aspire to it,” he said. “You say what you mean, and you mean what you say. You look a person in the eye and tell the truth. You stand up and do what’s right. All these things that go into playing a Western character were easy for me, because I learned it at home from my dad, the man who instilled in me everything that has brought me to this stage tonight.”
Similarly, Red Steagall, receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, remembered the enduring influence of his mom. Even at 84 years old, when making a decision today, Steagall says he wonders “if my mom would approve.”
The 62nd annual Western Heritage Awards, emceed by actor Moses Brings Plenty, best known for his role as Mo on television’s No. 1 drama “Yellowstone,” was held in the same beautiful ballroom that the PBR Heroes & Legends ceremony will relocate to, as the leading bull riding organization partners with one of the world’s most extraordinary cultural institutions.
Throughout the night, the vibe was an upbeat, wholly positive affirmation of hard work, honesty, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. In a museum housing one of the best American Indian art collections, Master of Ceremonies Plenty closed out the ceremony by acknowledging his Native mentors in saying, “The warrior walks humbly upon the earth. I’m asking you to be warriors, but with humility, kindness and understanding.”
Cole Hauser, the new brand ambassador and creative partner of PBR (Professional Bull Riders), will begin shooting a highlyanticipated new campaign for the red-hot sport during its biggest event – the PBR World Finals in Fort Worth, Texas.
Fans in attendance on Friday, May 12 and Saturday May 13 will witness and be a part of elements of the new brand campaign that will be seen across traditional and social media, as well as across PBR programming on CBS Television Network and CBS Sports Network.
Hauser, an accomplished veteran actor currently starring as Rip Wheeler on television’s No. 1 drama “Yellowstone,” is highly involved as co-creator of the campaign that will spread a message honoring America, those who sacrifice for our freedom, cowboys and will celebrate core values that lift up America.
Amid a cowboy renaissance driven in part by Hauser’s television show, PBR, celebrating its 30th season, heads toward World Finals during a record-breaking season highlighted by 23 event sell-outs and five CBS broadcasts drawing more than one million fans.
The Hauser-PBR partnership, unique in his meaningful cocreator role, pairs one of the world’s most popular and iconic actors with the leading Western sports organization. The jointly developed creative will promote centuries-old values associated with ranchers, farmers, and cowboys.
“For 30 years, PBR has always been unabashedly proud of America’s history and heritage, and particularly the important place in that history of cowboys and cowgirls and the values they live by, such as honesty, integrity, hard-work, commitment, and sacrifice when necessary,” said PBR CEO Sean Gleason. “The creative to be shot at Dickies Arena as the result of our unique partnership with Cole will showcase what it means to truly love America and live the cowboy way.”
In announcing his partnership with PBR Hauser said, “At its core, PBR is an inviting sport showcasing courageous cowboy athletes doing the seemingly unthinkable. But beneath the rush of an 8-second bull ride, these athletes share a simple, pure humanity and live a life centered on values that are more important today more than ever. I’m excited to work with PBR to tell stories revealing the humanity of a group of extraordinary bull-riding cowboys that pulls back the curtain in an uplifting way that celebrates family, loyalty, love, honor, determination, and friendship representing the best of Americana.”
PBR will also create programs to support a charity near and dear to Hauser, the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, an organization that ensures complete post-secondary educational support and opportunities for surviving children of fallen Special Operational Personnel and children of all Medal of Honor recipients along with providing immediate financial assistance to severely wounded, ill, and injured Special Operations Personnel.
By TANNER BARTH, PRCA Media Coordinator
Derrick Begay has accomplished so much in the sport of rodeo throughout his 19-year PRCA career.
He's won over $1.5 million and qualified to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo nine times, yet he's still not satisfied. The Seba Dalkai, Ariz., team roping header has his sights set on another trip to Las Vegas in 2023. Over the past week, Begay jumped seven spots in the PRCA | RAM World Standings up to No. 12.
"As tough as team roping is nowadays you have to draw good to have success," said Begay, 39. "It requires you having a solid horse and doing your job as well. The places that we've won this year we've drawn well at every single one of them."
Begay and partner Colter Todd are coming off a solid performance at the Red Bluff (Calif.) Round-Up. The duo finished fifth in the average and pocketed $3,902 each for their four runs. He said his horse doesn't stand out among the best, but he gives him a good chance to win when the opportunity presents itself.
"I'm riding a 13-year-old sorrel right now. He's not the fanciest, the prettiest, or the best," he said. "But when you draw good steers, he will always give you a chance at least."
Even though Begay sits in the Top 15 of the world standings, he said it's not a guarantee that he will push to make the Wrangler NFR in 2023. He plans to play it by ear over the summer run. You know when it comes to making the NFR, I don't have it written on the wall or tell myself that I have to make it," Begay said. "We don't plan too far ahead because we have stuff at home that we have to tend to at times. If things go right, you might see us out there quite a bit this summer."
Below, are the other cowboys who moved inside the Top 15 of the PRCA | RAM World Standings over the last week.
Eight Spots
Steer wrestler Bridger Anderson moved up from 20th to 12th.
Seven Spots
Team roping header Derrick Begay went from 19th to 12th.
Five Spots
Tie-down roper Blane Cox jumped from 16th to 11th.
Three Spots
Bareback rider Garrett Shadbolt leaped from ninth to sixth.
Team roping header Chad Masters moved from 17th to 14th.
Bull rider Trevor Reiste went up from 17th to 14th.
Two Spots
Steer wrestler Ty Erickson jumped from sixth to fourth.
Team roping heeler Sid Sporer leaped from 17th to 15th.
Saddle bronc rider Kade Bruno moved from eighth to sixth.
Tie-down roper Shad Mayfield went from sixth to fourth.
One Spot
Bareback rider Kaycee Feild jumped up from fourth to third.
Bareback rider Taylor Broussard leaped from eighth to seventh.
Steer wrestler Stan Branco moved from 12th to 11th.
Saddle bronc rider Cash Wilson went from 13th to 12th.
Tie-down roper Riley Pruitt jumped from 10th to ninth.
Bull rider Trey Benton III leaped up from 10th to ninth.
Bull rider Creek Young moved from 13th to 12th.
On The Bubble
Team roping heeler Trey Yates went from 18th to 16th and is $50 outside of the Top 15.
Tie-down roper Reese Riemer jumped from 29th to 16th and is $1,080 outside of the Top 15.
By Dr. Joe Carter DVM
Printed with permission by the author. Need some inspiration? I’ve got a guy!
Boots O’Neal is 90 years old. He begins his days at 5 a.m. He has spent virtually every day for the last 75 years in the saddle. I don’t know if I have met a happier guy. He is a legendary cowboy for the legendary 6666’s ranch. Boots was no doubt born in a whirlwind during the dust bowl of the Panhandle in 1932. He seems to be moving all the time. He started breaking colts at the age of 15 getting paid 20 bucks a head.
He spent the next 15 years working at various outfits, residing three years at the famed Merrick Ranch working for hall of fame
Oklahoma horseman
Walter Merrick in Elk City. He told a story of being horse back with Walter as they topped a hill overlooking his home place. There were arenas, barns and pasture that went for miles. Walter was a man of few words but he said to Boots while waving his arm across the vista, “EASY JET paid for all of this.”
EASY JET was Merrick Ranch’s historic stallion. He won 22 of 26 races as a two year old. Yes, he had 26 outs as a two year old. He won the All-American Futurity and was named champion along the way. His earnings in 2023 dollars were over $3 million. In Boots’ words, “He was a nice colt!”
He left Merrick Ranch and moved to Texas where he ran the cattle division of the Waggoner Ranch for about 30 years. Thirty plus years ago he moved on to the 6666’s where he has been and remains today. I spent the day riding with Boots last week as we, along with 18 other hands, gathered 150 momma cows and their babies out of the 10,000 acre “Big Willa” pasture. The “Big Willa” pasture is just one of many on the 6666’s.
The 6666’s ranch is huge. It’s huger than huge. Started in 1870 by the famed cattleman Burk Burnett, it comprises over a quarter of a million acres. The state of Rhode Island and the country of Luxembourg are a little over 600,000 acres a piece. So take your pick — the ranch is about half the size of a state or a country. The average pasture size is 10,000 acres or about 15 sections. Some are as large as 25,000 acres or 40 sections. It’s about a 3 1/2 hours drive southwest of Norman, Texas.
Before daybreak our fully loaded trailers pulled up to the gate of the Big Willa. We unloaded our horses in the pitch dark, no moon, and opened the gates. To quote Parker McCollum, we rode “like a thief on the run” covering miles of the pasture’s south fence line. After a bit, ranch manager Joe Leathers let off a whoop and the first pair of cowboys instinctively peeled off to
man their spot as we continued to gallop on. Every half a mile or so came another whoop and another pair peeled off and positioned themself for the cattle drive.
Twelve or 14 cowboys into it Boots peeled off and yelled “Joe you’re with me.” So I peeled off with him. After introducing myself at breakfast he always spoke to me using my first name never forgetting it. His 90 year old memory is better than my 63 year old memory! After that 30 minute gallop, walking our horses was a relief. I’m not exactly fit. We began our search for momma cows.
Boots is the opposite of Walter Merrick, he’s a chatter box. We rode side by side and as dawn broke he began telling stories. This went on for hours as we gathered strays. After asking how my horse was bred, he told me of his horse. He said he has been riding “LUCKY” for about six years. His name drips with irony. He went on to describe their relationship which seemed shaky at times.
He said when he was breaking LUCKY to ride he bucked him off fracturing 12 ribs. I’m thinking LUCKY’s not so lucky. Quick math told me that Boots was breaking his own horse to ride at the age of 84. He talked of how smooth a ride he was and if you spend as many hours in the saddle as Boots does, you appreciate a smooth
ride. It reminded me of the old Abraham Lincoln quote. “I can make a general in a week, but a good horse is hard to find.” Then he went on to tell of a covey of quail busting out from behind a cedar tree as he rode by last November. LUCKY went right as Boots went left landing on his knee splitting his femur down the middle. The femur is
the big bone in one’s leg. Not lucky! The doctor said he may never walk again let alone ride. He was 90 years 2 months old when the injury occurred. He was back in the saddle six weeks later. He’s been riding full time every day for the last month. Yes, lucky or maybe just tough. In the recent New York Times opinion piece by
Gail Collins HOW 90 BECAME
THE NEW 60 we learn the U.S. Census Bureau estimates by 2060, the number of people 85-plus will have tripled
compared with 2017 and the country will have half a million centenarians. Composer John Kander, who, at 96, is currently busy publicizing “New York, New York,” his new Broadway musical. My dad, the original Joe Carter, is 90. Doing well and a legend in mine and others eyes.
So here’s your inspiration for a Saturday morning — Boots O’Neal. He out rode & out worked me and I’m 30 years younger. He is setting a new standard for 90 years old, and don’t forget if you want to beat Boots to work don’t be “saddling at sunrise” you better be “saddled at sunrise.”
About the Author:
Dr. Joe Carter is a veterinarian and founder of one of the nation’s most renowned equine hospitals. He and his wife, Terri, have lived in Norman, OK for over 27 years. The Oklahoma Equine Hospital was founded in 1984 by Dr. Joe Carter. His dream was to establish a veterinary hospital offering superior veterinary care for horses in the Southern Plains. Dr. Carter’s vision has come to fruition. Oklahoma Equine has blossomed into a full care facility. From foaling-out of broodmares to performance horse lameness to injury rehabilitation, Oklahoma Equine offers superior quality veterinary care.
BootsO’Neal, 90,
is saddled at sunrise. He is prepared for another day’s work on the 6666’s Ranch April 11, 2023.
The National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) welcomes Kimes Ranch as the newest title sponsor of the Western Derby. In addition to being the title sponsor, Kimes Ranch will be recognized as the Official Outerwear and Cap of the NRCHA.
The Kimes Ranch Western Derby will return to WestWorld of Scottsdale from May 31 through June 10 this year. The event will feature the limited-aged derby for 4- and 5-year-old horses who compete through the herd, rein, and cow work. Furthermore, the event will host the Holy Cow Performance Horses CD Survivor Open Bridle Spectacular with $25,000 in added money, along with a Run For A Million Cow Horse Challenge qualifier.
“The Kimes Ranch partnership with NRCHA is one rooted in our love for the cow horse and the entire NRCHA community. Our brand is based firmly in the tenets of family, hard work, and integrity-values that we know run deep through the cow horse industry,” said Amanda Kimes, founder and Vice President of Kimes Ranch. “All of us at Kimes Ranch are thrilled to be part of
NRCHA during such an exciting time in the Western industry. We look forward to hosting all the Kimes Ranch Western Derby competitors in our hometown of Scottsdale, Arizona, in June.”
Kimes Ranch is a family-owned Western clothing brand located in Arizona. The brand was created in 2009 with the goal of developing a brand that was true to the Western roots that were current in the fashion world. Kimes Ranch has prioritized function and fit, making their classic jean a standout necessity for all cowboys and cowgirls.
“The NRCHA is very excited about our partnership with Kimes Ranch. They have been contributors to the cow horse industry and our membership for several years and we are thrilled to welcome them as the title sponsor of the Western Derby,” NRCHA Executive Director, Emily Konkel, said. “The Kimes brand remains true to the Western roots, which are the same core values we have in the reined cow horse.”
The National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) announced the top five riders qualified from The Run For A Million Cow Horse Event from the Teton Ridge Stallion Stakes qualifier.
Out of a 69-horse field, it took a 440.5 composite score to earn a spot to the cow horse event, which will be held August 16-19 at the South Point Casino & Hotel in Las Vegas. Justin Wright of Santa Maria, California, secured his spot for The Run For A Million for the third year in a row. Wright rode Scooter Kat (Kit Kat Sugar x Scooters Daisey Dukes), a 2015 stallion owned by Eric Freitas, to a 449.5.
“I am truly excited to be getting to compete at The Run again this year. With our busy show schedule coming off the World’s Greatest and the American, I felt that Scooter was prepared and I didn’t want to waste an opportunity to get qualified with him,” Wright said.
The pair left nothing to chance in the qualifier. Wright and Scooter Kat marked the high score in the rein work portion with a 224.5 on Tuesday, March 28. The team returned Thursday, March 30 to mark a massive 225 early in the cow work. Their composite
score held and they took home a check for $7,900 for the win.
The four additional riders who secured their spot at the Las Vegas qualifier are World’s Greatest Horseman champion, Shane Steffen from Powell Butte, Oregon, Snaffle Bit Futurity® Non Pro Champion, Abbie Phillips of Weatherford, Texas, World’s Greatest Horseman champion and NRCHA Million Dollar Rider, Clayton Edsall from Weatherford, Texas, and Snaffle Bit Futurity® champion and NRCHA Million Dollar Rider, Lance Johnston of Lindsey, California.
Between the remaining two qualifiers, there are 10 additional spots still up for grabs. The NRCHA will take five riders from the qualifier at the Western Derby, in Scottsdale, Arizona, June 1-12 and the Hackamore Classic, in Tulsa, Okla., July 24-30.
Taylor Sheridan, writer and producer, of the Paramount Network’s hit series “Yellowstone,” “1883,” and many other movies and series, has been named the 2023 recipient of the National Collegiate Equestrian Association’s (NCEA) Ring of Honor.
Annually selected by the National Advisory Board for the NCEA, this award recognizes those individuals who have a major impact in sports or business, with a legacy of service, leadership and achievement. Sheridan’s ability to mainstream equestrian sport into homes around the world has raised awareness and interest, to a new level, for the western sport and lifestyle.
The Ring of Honor event will be held May 18, 2023 at the River Ranch Stockyards in Fort Worth. For event information, tickets, and sponsorship opportunities visit here. The NCEA is committed to expanding opportunities for young women to compete as student athletes in NCAA competition.
Starting his professional career in the university sector, teaching at Findlay for almost 20 years, it is no surprise that coaching Non Pro riders has become a passion of Dan Huss’. He specializes in not only preparing his riders and their horses but in helping them become a team.
Huss implemented the training processes at home as he had taught at the college, making his program well known to non pro riders at all levels who want to take the next step in the show pen. Along with riders, Huss is also known for his training program, including starting NRHA Hall of Famer Wimpy’s Little Step.
Huss has NRHA lifetime earnings of more than $740,700 and has well-known accolades, including the 2022 AQHA Senior Reining World Championship, 2021 Prime Time Open Futurity Championship, All American Quarter Horse Congress Championships, along with many finalist and other titles to his name across all major events.
Along with his own accomplishments, Huss’s clients are frequently seen in the winner’s circle from the grassroots level to the NRHA Futurity. Between lessons, clinics, assisting all levels of non professional riders, and consistent coaching and training throughout his career, Huss is incredibly deserving of the recognition.
The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) honors a new member of the elite NRHA $9 Million Dollar Sire list, Gunnatrashya. After reaching the $7 Million milestone 14 months ago, this stallion’s offspring continue to propel him to new achievements rapidly, securing his place in history books.
Bred by Katarina Dorminy, Gunnatrashya is by NRHA Hall of Fame Inductee and $13 Million Dollar Sire Gunner and out of Natrasha. Along with his success in the breeding barn, the stallion started his career with impressive wins, including the 2009 NRHA Open Futurity Championship, 2009 All American Quarter Horse Congress Open Futurity Championship, and 2010 NRHA Open Derby Championship, with NRHA Hall of Famer Shawn Flarida. These wins pushed his NRHA lifetime earnings to over $218,000.
The stallion became an NRHA Million Dollar Sire in 2017, less than three years after his first group of foals set foot in the show pen, and has already produced several NRHA Futurity and NRHA Derby Champions. Gunnatrashya stands at NRHA Corporate Partner Oswood Stallion Station in Weatherford, Texas, for owner Arcese Quarter Horses.
Gunnatrashya sired the 2022, 2021, and 2019 NRHA Open Futurity Champions and the reserve champion in 2020. It is no surprise that Gunnatrashya was the recipient of the inaugural Peter Phinny Memorial Leading Futurity Sire Award in 2021 and earned it again in 2022. This pattern continued as he was also the leading sire at the 2022 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel. Gunnatrashya continues to pass at least one milestone annually, creating global recognition and continuing to put his stamp on his offspring.
Gunnatrashya’s top performers are: Gunna Stop (out of Stop Little Sister) $672,762, Andiamoe (out of Wimpys Little Chic) $389,083, Ten Thirty (out of Dainty Little Step) $369,059, Super Marioo (out of HA Chic A Tune) $336,562 and ARC
Gunnabeabigstar (out of Wimpys Little Chic) $298,999
Esteemed horsewoman Karen Banister of Brighton, Colorado, is APHA’s 2022 Professional Horseman of the Year.
Active with APHA since her youth, Karen continues to be a tireless promoter of the Paint Horse breed. She has served as a state director since 1999, leading several committees and task force groups. She has been an APHA Professional Horseman since 2018. Karen and her family operate White Harvest Farms. Her passion is raising and training exceptional equine athletes and developing her riders’ skills. She a carded judge with APHA, NSBA, AQHA, ApHC and PtHA.
Start making plans now to join APHA on June 30, 2023, in Fort Worth, Texas, to celebrate Karen and other 2022 year-end award winners as well as the latest class of the APHA Hall of Fame: Lynn Simons, Fred Tabor, Pat Trebesch, Craig Wood, RH Mr Imprint and Un Zip Me
The 2023 Hall of Fame & Awards Ceremony takes place June 30 at 6 p.m. in the Round Up Inn in the Amon Carter Building at Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, in conjunction with the APHA World Championship Show.
Other year-end award winners to be honored at the event include: High-Point Open Exhibitor: Karen Qualls, Judge Emeritus: Mike Baker, Cindy Rucker, Maryanne Willoughby, Scot Jackson, Debby Letham, John Letham, Rick McLain, Bonnie Miller, Mike Short and Don Manuello Ring Steward Award: Carla McMullen
Stay tuned as we continue to announce recipients for the Top Five Stallion Owners, President’s Gold Star Award, President’s Clubs of Distinction and the Distinguished Service Award. It’s sure to be a night to remember! Come celebrate these trailblazers with your APHA family.
Calling all tobianos and toveros! For the third year, high-scoring tobiano and tovero horses in select cutting, reining, working cow horse and ranch classes are automatically eligible for a $2,000 bonus check at the 2023 APHA World Championship Show, which takes place June 23-July 9 in Fort Worth, Texas.
Tobiano Incentive Bonuses are courtesy of generous sponsors: Clark Bloodstock/Jay Clark, Secret Hills Ranch/Peter & Missy Benker, and Heartbreak Ridge Performance Horses/Kelly Pinkston, D.V.M., & Skip Rulen. The high-scoring eligible horse in the following classes will earn the $2,000 Tobiano Incentive for that discipline. No additional entry fee or form required. Online entries are open at apha.com/worldshow. Entries are accepted until 5 p.m. the day before classes take place, but get the best rates by preentering by May 15.
More than $1.4 million in cash and prizes will be awarded throughout the 2023 APHA World Championship Show. That includes added money of $22,000 for cow horses, $26,000 for cutters, $98,000 for ranch horses and $102,000 for reiners, along with more than $115,000 in Youth scholarship prizes.
The year was 2014. The eventing season was winding down for the year, and young rider Alex Ahearn called her coach at the time, Tamie Smith. Would Tamie like to join her and her mother, Ellen, for dinner? While at dinner, Alex laid out her grand plan. “I want to go to college,” Alex, who was 19 at the time, told Tamie. “And you need a great horse.”
That “great horse” was a tall, lanky black German-bred gelding, originally sourced by Alex’s family via Michelle Pestl. His name was Mai Baum (Loredano – Ramira, by Leoni), and now, a few years later, on a dazzling Sunday afternoon in Lexington, KY, he and Tamie Smith captured the victory in the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by MARS Equestrian, becoming the first U.S. winner since Phillip Dutton’s victory in 2008 and the first female winner since Mary King (2015).
Alex had competed the gelding herself through what is now the CCI3* level, climbing from the Junior Beginner Novice ranks onward. He also was a graduate of the USEA Young Event Horse program, having competed with Michelle Pestl to begin his career in the U.S. first. Now feeling her priorities and focus shift, she made the offer of a lifetime to Tamie.
Mai Baum was qualified for the Advanced level by the time Tamie took the reins, and within a few months they’d already collected a string of wins at the Intermediate and Advanced levels. A year later, Tamie definitively put Mai Baum on the international radar with an emotional and emphatic win
at Fair Hill’s then-CCI3*. One would be forgiven for assuming that from there, Tamie went on to take “Lexus” to his first CCI5*. But in fact, the gelding’s debut at the uppermost level would be delayed, set back by injury that would keep him from competing at the Advanced level for three seasons.
As a result, it wouldn’t be until 2021 that Mai Baum made his long-awaited debut at the level — and he may have even won there in his debut, had it not been for an ill-timed frangible pin penalty on the latter third of the cross country course. Tamie regrouped and aimed for Badminton in 2022, where she finished ninth overall. The pair were subsequently named to the U.S. team for the FEI World Championships for Eventing in Pratoni del Vivaro, where they contributed to a team silver medal.
But Tamie knew there was more to come. “I wasn’t certain whether it would ever happen, but I just wanted him to have his moment in the sun a bit, and today he did,” Tamie said. “He’s missed out a few times even though he’s been very competitive on the world stage. I feel like it
eluded him, and I’m just more happy for him because I think he is unbelievable; he’s an unbelievable creature.”
Tamie admitted on Saturday that she was more nervous that she typically is ahead of today’s show jumping finale — and for good reason. For the first time in 15 years, a U.S. rider was leading the charge following cross country — but while she had the lead, it wasn’t by much. Just 3.6 penalties separated her and second-placed Tom McEwen (GB) and JL Dublin — and then Tom cantered in and laid down a fault-free round, and the pressure was on.
“To be completely honest,
I was quite nervous going into the show jumping with him today, because I had an uncharacteristic two rails at the World Championships,” Tamie said. “I was in bronze medal position at that moment and ended up losing that and moving down to ninth. When you’re on a horse that show jumps as well as he does, and then you have two down, you just know that sometimes the odds are just a little bit against you — I mean, he hadn’t had a rail in a few years.”
Here, Tamie credits her show jumping coach, Scott Keach, for his help to get her into the right space to go in and perform under the crushing pressure. “Scott Keach, who I show jump with, has been instrumental in the progression of myself — [he helped me with] just kind of keeping my cool and understanding how to stay in the moment, and to care enough but not care too much.
“I think all of us have been rooting for an American to win the Land Rover Kentucky Five-Star for a very long time,” Tamie said. “Phillip brought it here in 2008 and we’ve been so close so many times — I know Boyd, a few times — I think everybody’s just so grateful. I’m so happy an American won, because I’m so tired of the Europeans coming over and taking our national championship! We all have our own struggles in this sport, and we’ve all had our own ups and downs in anything at elite level — I envision that picture of the iceberg and the little tip is poking out but the bottom underneath is massive — and the struggle is a lot. In this sport, as everybody knows, you take a beating, and the resilient ones just keep coming back for more. You hope that one day it pays off, and today it did. I’m honored, and I’m elated, and I’m so excited, and I’m a bit speechless, honestly.”
Two racetracks in Arizona are under contract to sell to different entities, according to a report by Axios Phoenix published on April 12. Axios indicated that Turf Paradise is
under contract and still in negotiations with CT Realty, while Arizona Downs is under contract with The Stronach Group. Neither sale is final.
The Turf Paradise sale also
includes Revolutionary Racing as a partner on the racing and gaming side, the company's chairman, Larry Lucas, confirmed. Daily Racing Form first reported the involvement of Revolutionary Racing, which reopened dormant
Colonial Downs in 2019, built a thriving business through historical horse racing (HHR) gaming machines, and sold it to Churchill Downs Inc. in 2022. Revolutionary Racing is also in the process of building a Quarter Horse racing facility with an HHR casino in eastern Kentucky.
“There is a huge upside in Arizona for horse racing, but we need legislative relief,” Lucas told Paulick Report. Lucas did not want to be specific but said he hopes the assistance comes in the form of economic relief for pari-mutuel wagering.
Racing at Turf Paradise will continue for the next year or two, whether or not the Arizona legislature approves that assistance, Lucas indicated. In the meantime, plans for development of non-racing property at Turf Paradise will move forward once the deal is closed. Opened in 1956, Turf Paradise was purchased by current owner Jerry Simms in 2000.
James Watson is the managing partner of CT Realty and has made his career in commercial real estate and development. He served four years as a commissioner on the California Horse Racing Board in the 1990s. Arizona Downs is expected to continue racing, though it did not apply to the racing commission for dates this season because “it doesn't have the finances to hold a summer season” co-owner Tom Auther told Axios.
Lucas told the Paulick Report he is working “hand in hand” with The Stronach Group on legislative assistance.
The ProRodeo world has lost a hall of famer in rodeo clown/ barrelman Bobby Clark. Clark passed away April 13. He was 93.
Clark and his brother Gene were inducted together into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs in 1997.
From the 1940s through the 1970s, these ProRodeo Hall of Famers set the standard for rodeo entertainment,
though they got their start as contestants. Both Clarks competed in tie-down roping while Gene also did steer wrestling and Bobby competed in bareback riding, but Bobby was best remembered as a clown and Gene as a bullfighter.
Major rodeos of the past, such as the first National
Finals Rodeo in Dallas and rodeos at Madison Square Garden in New York City and at the Boston Garden, were no laughing matter, unless you were Gene and Bobby Clark.
"I was only 18 and not very big, roping against 6-(foot)something guys, and we roped big ol' calves and I wasn't doing any good," Bobby Clark said in
an April 5, 2019, article in the ProRodeo Sports News. "So, when I came home, I said I'll give it a year, and if I don't do good, I'll do something else."
Bobby Clark was born in Seminole, Okla., on March 24, 1930. The Dust Bowl drove their family out of Oklahoma and over to California's central valley. Gene served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was a player on the Seattle Rainiers, a minor league baseball team. After the war, baseball reminded him too much of the military, so he opted for the freedom of rodeo and performed his first clown act in 1947. "The team had him on contract," Bobby Clark said. "He said, 'They told me when to get up and go to bed. So, I'm going to do something different.' So, he started fighting bulls."
One year later, Bobby joined him. "He said he got a job to fight bulls at the rodeo, and he asked if I wanted to work the barrel for $25 per perf. I said you bet I'll do that," Bobby Clark said. "I was making a dollar an hour picking apples, so that was a heck of a boost.
"I was scared to death of the crowd. I was bashful when I was young, and three years later I was at the coliseum in L.A. with 100,000 people." Gene, who died on June 4, 2005, at the age of 79, started as a bullfighter, complete with continued on page 86
Q -What does it take to create a winning team?
A - It definitely takes a team to win in cutting! Starting with a horse that wants to win. The horse has to have the desire to win and love his job, and have a stylish way of working. Next factor is the rider/showman, this person has to have that competitive edge and focus to compete day in and day out. There will be tough times but you can’t be successful without the ups and downs. Keeping that focus on the goal and working hard to improve are key! There are also many people involved in the team that you don’t see in the arena. It ranges from the trainer, the loper, the manager of the business, the vet, the farrier, the groom, every single one of these people are important in creating a successful team!
Q - How important is the horse in cutting?
A - The horse, the driving force and love of so many. Cutting is based on a horse that has that natural cow sense and great athleticism. A horse has to think on its own and react to that cow, this makes the horse very important in cutting!
Q - How does it feel to experience a client entering the NCHA Hall of Fame?
A - It’s very rewarding to have a client be successful and reach goals at any level but to have one go in the Hall of Fame is extraordinary. Cutting is a difficult and highly competitive sport and to reach that level is very rewarding!
Q - Dawn Chapman’s Clays Little Kit Cat that you have shown in the Open, as well as Dawn having shown him as well. That is a lot! It is a real juggling act and most horses usually cannot handle that scenario. Tell us a bit about Clays Little Kit Cat.
A - Kit Cat is the epitome of a great cutting horse. He is strong and stout, he’s quick and has lots of stop, he’s very “cowy”, he’s stylish, but most of all he loves his job!! In order for a horse to go in the hall of fame or win for a lengthy period of time, he has to be sturdy and love his job. To this day he loves to go to a cutting!!
Q -Horseshoe Park is the center of the cutting horse world in Arizona. How do you feel about the Park?
A - I travel all over the United States attending cutting horse shows and Horseshoe Park is one of the best facilities around! The AzCHA has been hosting our shows there for quite a few years now and it’s great to hear people from all around say that they love coming to Horseshoe to cut!
Q - What are three tips you can offer aspiring equestrians be it in the cutting discipline or other discipline?
A - 1. Find a program that fits your needs and wants. Whether it’s a club show, weekend shows, or aged events, they’re different programs and trainers to choose from so do some research and find what works for you. 2. To be successful you have to be a student of the sport. You have to focus on your lessons and learn from each time you show. Watching your videos and trying to improve are important, one goal at a time. 3. Enjoy the journey! We all want to win and be competitive but we can’t win every time we step into the arena. Keep your eye on the goal and enjoy the ride. Remember, we do this for the love of the horse!
Q - How does it feel to be in the NCHA Hall of Fame?
A - Unreal!! It’s kind of like getting a college degree, something you earn that no one can take from you. It is truly something I never thought about until a fellow competitor whom I had been showing with made it into the Hall of Fame two years ago got me curious, so I looked up the requirements and thought, “Wow! This could actually happen to me!“. For a girl from Buckeye, Arizona, who started riding Shetland ponies around barrels at little gymkhanas, this is an incredible feat!
Q - How does it feel to have a horse Clays Little Kit Cat, that you own and have shown a lot, make the HOF?
A - I have been blessed to have owned and shown some outstanding cutting horses over the years but there’s no other horse I’d rather see make it into the NCHA Horse Hall of Fame as much as Clays Little Kit Cat. From the moment MIke and Roper took me to Paul Hansma‘s training facility in TX to try Kit Cat in December 2014, I knew I was sitting on the most perfect example of a cutting horse. Every year we hauled him, he gave his all, resulting in championship titles, as well as increasing his lifetime earnings. Kit Cat was nearly injury free in the past nine years so his consistency in the pen definitely catapulted me into the NonPro HOF as well as help Mike to reach his current lifetime earnings of over $3million! But the coolest part of all of it is that Kit Cat and I made it into our respective Hall of Fame status together, the same year!!
Q - When did you realize to be a Champion is a team effort?
A - I started riding with MIke Wood Performance horses in 2013. MIke Wood and Roper Curtiss are the team captains in a sense. It was then that I learned how to be a part of a successful winning team. These horses are conditioned daily to reach the extreme physicality it takes to be an outstanding cutting horse. The young men and women who are employed by MWPH put in many
hours at home and on the road. They are an incredible part of the team. There is also the veterinarians, therapy providers, and arriers that make up the team. As competitors, we not only go up against people from out of state, and those from Arizona, but many times our own barn mates. We encourage each other when battling our heads or trying to get through the slumps. It’s truly a family atmosphere at MWPH and teamwork is KEY!!
Q - How often do you get to ride?
A - I definitely don’t ride as often as most of my fellow competitors. I am definitely not the epitome of the competitor who rides 3 to 4 times a week. In fact, I get teased a little bit about it because sometimes, when I show up to a horse show, I haven’t been on my horse since the last Horseshow! There is reason for my madness so to speak. When I first started cutting, I had four little kids and a husband and had to choose between going to shows or practicing so I chose going to shows. I guess I just learned how to show and practice riding while showing. Believe me, it doesn’t always work, and I have to end up putting in time at the ranch to get over a slump, but overall it has worked out well.
Q - Horseshoe Park is the center of the cutting horse world in Arizona. How do you feel about the Park?
A - Horseshoe Park Equestrian Centre has been a game changer for cutting in Arizona. It is a well laid out facility that is able to accommodate a lot of haulers from out of state, lots of cattle, plenty of barns, and of course, the town of Queen Creek so close by which has all of the amenities of a big town. The staff is second to none and feel more like family.
Q - What are three tips you can offer aspiring equestrians be it in the cutting discipline or other discipline?
A - My three tips:
a) First do some research and find a trainer who is accomplished, has a good work ethic, honest, kind, and has a true love for the horse in whatever discipline you choose.
b) Second, trust your trainer to find a horse for you to start out on. It’s important to allow him or her to fit you with the right horse for success.
c) Thirdly, find balance in your life with work, kids, spouse, school, and your new hobby. It’s not always easy and sometimes if you are pursuing a goal in your horse sport, you have to let other things slide for a short time. You will figure it out!!
FORT WORTH – The National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) is thrilled to announce the addition of $1,000,000 in added money to the upcoming 2023 NCHA Metallic Cat World Championship Futurity to be held in Fort Worth, Texas, this November and December.
The $1,000,000 added will be allocated between each of the 2023 NCHA Metallic Cat World Championship Futurity divisions, including the Open, Non-Pro, and Amateur classes. The association continues to make supporting our events across weekend and aged event levels a top priority.
“When the Executive Committee elected to reinvest in the Futurity in 2021, there were immediate results,” said Skip Jones, representative of the NCHA executive committee. “The price of horses increased at an exceptional rate and spurred increased activity across the country at all levels, causing the horse market to reach new heights. This coverage brought new people to the sport. We believe that the historic addition of $1,000,000 to our premier event will only continue to drive entries in all levels of the association to new heights.”
Since 2020, NCHA has adopted and adhered to a strict budgeting process that has proven successful and allowed NCHA to reinvest in the association for the past three years. In 2022 alone, NCHA invested over $950,000 in total payout money across weekend and Triple Crown events and over $500,000 in awards at the weekend level.
There is no charge to attend convention, but we do ask that you pre-register by May 31, 2023.
Your registration information will be used to create name badges and help plan meeting room size requirements.
Registrations after the deadline are not guaranteed access to pre-printed convention materials.
Join us on Saturday night in South Point’s Grand Ballroom for the 2023 NCHA Hall of Fame Gala. Festivities include a cocktail reception, dinner and awards ceremony followed by The Highwayman Show featuring live music performed by Tony Suraci.
A limited number of tickets are now available for purchase at $250 per ticket or $2,000 for a table of ten.
Don’t wait - Buy your tickets now, sales close May 31!
NCHA room rates $75/night on Weekdays, $165/night on Weekends
Room block expires Wednesday, May 31, 2023
South Point Hotel and Casino
9777 Las Vegas Blvd South Las Vegas, NV 89183
866-791-7626
** if calling for reservations, you must identify yourself as being with the NCHA 2023 Convention - Code NCHA621.
“Having been a member of the Finance Committee for six years, I am proud to be a part of the team that approved the $1,000,000 to be added to the Futurity, knowing the impact that reinvesting in the NCHA will have across all levels,” said Barnwell Ramsey, representative of the NCHA finance committee. “We think of this as a significant step in a plan to continue investing in the weekend shows, nationals, and limited age events.”
Both weekend and aged event competitions have shown substantial entry numbers throughout the recent and current years as a direct result of these investments. Programs such as the NCHA National Circuit Program, NCHA Weekend, NCHA Eastern National Championship and NCHA World Finals have offered weekend-level competitors the ability to compete for more titles and added money as these programs continue to thrive.
“For a long time, NCHA was not in the position to reinvest in ourselves,” said Jay Winborn, NCHA executive director. “We are thrilled to be able to continue investing in our events by adding back to the purse at not only the Futurity but several of our other events across all levels of the sport. We are committed to the success of the association at all levels and will continue to make decisions that reflect that.”
The 2023 NCHA World Championship Futurity is tentatively scheduled for November 14 through December 9, 2023, in Fort Worth, Texas. To learn more about this event, including the tentative schedule and entry information, visit nchacutting.com/futurity.
The National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) is excited to announce that the 2023 National Circuit Championships will be held during the 2024 NCHA Super Stakes at the Watt Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, next March and April.
The NCHA National Circuit Program has seen continued growth in participation for the past three years, and the NCHA is proud to invest $300,000 in added money that will directly benefit the 2023 National Circuit Championships and its competitors from the program’s 14 circuits. Throughout the 2023 point year, competing members can earn points to qualify for the National Circuit Championships.
“The National Circuit Program is a huge success, and it continues to grow each year,” Jay Winborn, NCHA executive director, said in a statement. “We are thrilled to be able to bring even more opportunities and recognition to our weekend cutters at the 2023 National Circuit Championships.”
– The Bureau of Land Management is authorizing two studies of promising new fertility control vaccines that could potentially help address the overpopulation of wild horses on public lands by slowing their annual growth rates. The research projects, which will take place at a corral facility in Carson City, Nevada, are part of the BLM’s broader efforts to manage healthy wild horses on healthy public lands.
“Wild horses are incredible animals, but they can reproduce at a very high rate on public lands, which creates a host of challenges in arid environments,” said BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning. “The development of humane, safe, and long-lasting fertility control vaccines is critically important as we continue to ramp up our efforts to protect these herds from the effects
of wild horse overpopulation, drought, and climate change.”
Wild horses on public lands are protected and managed by the BLM and U.S. Forest Service. Without intervention by management officials, wild horse herds on public lands increase rapidly, doubling every 4-5 years.
As of March 1, 2022 (the most recently published annual estimates), there were 82,384 wild horses and burros on public rangelands. This is nearly three times the appropriate management level deemed suitable to maintain a thriving ecological balance. Many of these herds live in arid environments with little water or forage. Constant overpopulation can stress critical ecosystems to the brink, causing severe damage to riparian and rangeland resources that can take decades to recover, if they recover at all. Moreover, chronic wild horse overpopulation can lead to the inhumane death of horses from thirst or starvation, and the destruction of habitat important to other wildlife, such as elk, deer, and sage grouse.
For decades, the BLM has used fertility control vaccines to help manage wild horse
Saturday May 6th
Don’t wait to get your tickets to the biggest and best Kentucky Derby party in Arizona at Turf Paradise Saturday May 6th. Tickets are still available for our Clubhouse Buffet. Which includes a continental breakfast, Italian buffet, Texas barbecue and a desert bar. Tickets are still available for $70 a person. To purchase Clubhouse tickets call 602-375-6470.
herd growth on public lands. However, the most common fertility control vaccines for wild horses in use today require more than one treatment to remain effective and are often not effective beyond one or two years. A singledose vaccine that can last multiple years could provide several benefits for the populations of wild horses that the BLM manages, including requiring fewer gathers for retreatment or reducing instances of permanent removal.
One study led by scientists associated with Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and Northwest Wildlife Conservation Research, a small non-profit research organization, will test whether a form of porcine zona pellucida (PZP) vaccine known as ‘SpayVac’ lasts longer when injected in the neck muscle or the flank. The other study, led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s National Wildlife Research Center, will test which formulations of the Oocyte Growth Factor vaccine cause long-lasting contraception from a single dose.
To test how well the vaccines prevent pregnancy, groups of vaccinated mares will live in a pen with a stallion. Researchers will monitor the mares’ responses to the vaccines and compare them against a control group. The health and welfare of all the animals will be monitored by researchers and other personnel, with veterinary care
always available if needed. The approved projects will also have animal welfare oversight from independent animal care and use committees of the research institutions involved in the studies.
Details about the decision are on BLM’s eplanning website. The studies were analyzed in an environmental assessment that was released for public comment in 2022. The BLM also analyzed but is not authorizing at this time a third study that would have tested the effects of an intrauterine device. If the BLM authorizes that study in the future, it will do so through a separate decision. The BLM’s responses to public comments about all three studies are available on BLM’s eplanning website.
In addition to supporting the development of better fertility control tools, the BLM continues to take action to curb wild horse and burro overpopulation to protect animal and land health. The BLM set new records last year for the number of animals gathered, removed for private care, and treated/released with fertility control. Additionally, the BLM continues to ramp up its efforts to find good homes for excess animals; the agency placed nearly 7,800 animals into private care just last year.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.
The PRCA and Rural Media Group are pleased to announce an expanded schedule of PRCA rodeos on The Cowboy Channel, RFD-TV, The PRCA on Cowboy Channel Plus, and The Cowgirl Channel. This expanded schedule will now total more than 900 PRCA performances annually over the three Rural Media Group television networks and the subscription based PRCA on Cowboy Channel Plus App.
“Showcasing our small to medium-sized PRCA rodeos with this national exposure really benefits these local communities,” PRCA CEO Tom Glause said. “Rodeo fans can now watch even more PRCA rodeo action, including local hometown rodeos, the PRCA Playoff Series rodeos, and the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.”
Of the 900-plus PRCA rodeo performances being televised and livestreamed, 150 PRCA performances will be exclusively televised on The Cowgirl Channel, which launched on March 1. The mutually agreed upon schedule of PRCA rodeos on the RMG Networks will run through the end of 2028.
“We hope that these local rodeos will now have the added incentive to plan and improve their rodeo production and marketing, and accordingly make every effort to reach their rodeo’s full potential,” said Patrick Gottsch, Founder and President of Rural Media Group. “They should know that the Rural Media Group and the PRCA are here to help them do that.”
A Scottsdale horse therapy farm is putting down permanent roots after raising enough money to purchase the property it was leasing.
Hunkapi Programs had been leasing 10 acres near Cactus Road and 96th Street for the past six years, according to a press release Wednesday. The previous owner, the Conroy Family Trust, was committed to transitioning ownership of the property to the equine farm.
“We are humbled to have such a beautiful piece of property to continue sharing the healing powers of our horses with the community and to continue in our mission to ‘teach the world to fear less and love more,’” Hunkapi Programs founder Terra Schaad said in the release.
“It was important for us to stay close to the people we serve. We couldn’t be more thrilled to call Scottsdale home and to help preserve the western spirit and cowboy ethics of the West’s Most Western Town.”
The facility is home to 35 retired and rescued horses, two donkeys, two cows, two potbelly pigs, a flock of chickens and a pack of rescue dogs.
Hunkapi Programs serves 250-300 clients, offering therapeutic riding lessons, horse-assisted psychotherapy and garden therapy for adults and children with a range of diagnoses, including autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit disorder, addiction disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The venue also hosts a variety of community events, private events and summer camps.
Horses — and the manure they produce — are a big deal in Norco.
So it’s no surprise that residents and leaders of Horsetown, USA are concerned about a new bill that would allow California cities and counties to require equestrians to pick up their horses’ excrement on streets and sidewalks. Horse owners and others in the city with a focus on the equestrian lifestyle worry about how the rule would affect their lives and argue that horse manure is good for nature.
The state Assembly bill was introduced earlier this year by northern California Assemblymember Lori Wilson, D-Suisun City. “Our frustration is that people that do not live our lifestyle are making rules for us, and they don’t understand or care about our lifestyle,” said Bonnie Slager, president of the Norco Horsemen’s Association, a nonprofit organization on a mission to preserve Norco’s horse lifestyle. “We don’t feel like that lifestyle is being embraced by people in Sacramento creating these bills.”
Assembly Bill 233 would give cities and counties the authority to put restrictions on horse riders and require the person responsible for a horse to collect and dispose of excrement deposited by that horse on streets or sidewalks. Specifics on how they would need to pick up feces would be determined by respective communities.
Introduced Jan. 12, the bill originated from an issue faced by Wilson during her time as a local leader in Suisun City, which is near Sacramento. She was unable to prohibit horses from traveling around school areas, leading to children playing with manure, Wilson said recently by phone. Currently, the law doesn’t require horse riders to pick up after their horses, because the animal is afforded the same rights as a vehicle, Wilson said by phone. Because of this, cities cannot take action. However, Wilson emphasized that the bill would not require or force cities to make such regulations.
“This is an issue in my city and as a legislator, it’s my responsibility to vote for legislation that I think benefits my district,” Wilson said. “If a community feels it is not needed, then they can deny the bill, but right now they can’t go through the public process because the language in our current legislation doesn’t allow that.” In Norco, whose leaders sent an official opposition letter to Wilson, opponents believe it would give local governments more control of their lifestyle and deter horse ownership.
“We’re encouraging people to build a community, whether they’re walking together, jogging or riding their horses,” Norco Mayor Robin Grundmeyer said. “It fosters a sense of community and people being able to come together for horseback riding, and it just doesn’t need another aspect of government regulation.” Grundmeyer made clear her city’s opposition to the Jan. 31 letter.
“Horse manure is not a nuisance to be solved — it’s a minor inconvenience that comes with having these beautiful, working animals throughout our community,” Grundmeyer wrote. “We will continue to actively oppose unnecessary regulations like AB 233 to protect cherished lifestyles like ours throughout the State of California.”
Also opposed to the bill is Republican Assemblymember Bill Essayli, who represents the 63rd Assembly District in western Riverside County, said by phone, “It’s not practical to have horse owners carry all this extra gear with them. We have more things to worry about than horse manure.” Norco City Councilmember Kevin Bash said he is concerned about two things. First, even if Norco doesn’t adopt the regulations, neighboring counties and cities may choose to impose the limits on riders. His second concern is that it’s not simple to get off horses to pick up horse excrement. “The problem is in the county and state land, where people ride all the time, riders can’t just get a bag and carry the bag around,” he said, adding that alternatively, it would be silly to put diapers on horses.
Echoing the concerns of Norco officials is the 79-year-old Slager. Slager owns about 3 acres and 11 horses, whom she has to clean up after three times a day. For Slager, getting off a horse while on a ride to pick up manure requires more strength than she can muster. “I will be 80 this year, and it’s a little harder to get off and on as you get older,” Slager said. “The reality is that requiring riders to get off with some kind of bag is going to be a challenge for anybody.”
In response to the bill, Slager expressed frustration and suggested that anybody supporting the bill should visit Norco and see firsthand the difficulty of getting off and on a horse. The bill is in the early stages of the legislative process, going through the Committee on Local Government. Alexis Williams, Wilson’s legislative assistant, said in an email that a hearing date on AB 233 has not yet been set.
Wilson said she doesn’t want to ruin horse culture but to add public conversation on whether a city wants horses to be allowed to defecate on sidewalks and streets. We regularly have horses pass through our community, which is a beautiful and wonderful thing, but my particular area had a problem with children and the manure,” Wilson said. “I love the local public process and I think if people want to oppose the bill, because they have strong opinions about it, I’m open to that.”
A new therapeutic antibody might effectively give horses relief from the discomfort of insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH), or sweet itch, with minimal immune system side effects.
The antibody, which is still in testing phases, reduces the binding of a specific signaling molecule to immune cells that overreact during episodes of IBH, meaning caretakers could successfully calm these allergic reactions. The reversible neutralization of that molecule could allow veterinarians to pause treatment as necessary—such as when the horse needs its full immune power to fight other diseases—and limit treatment times to only the IBH season, said Nora Langreder, PhD candidate at Technische Universität Braunschweig’s Institute for Biochemistry, Biotechnology, and Bioinformation Systems, in Germany.
“We just wanted to try a different approach” to addressing IBH, Langreder said. “Our main goal is that we want to apply an antibody that’s not enhancing any immune reaction in the horse, and just see if that’s also an alternative.”
IBH in Horses: Still Hard to Treat
Insect bite hypersensitivity causes severe itching in horses that develop allergic reactions to Culicoides—aka biting midges. Treatment with glucocorticoids can lead to significant side effects such as metabolic disorders, increased susceptibility to infections, and laminitis, she said. Antihistamines are typically not effective for treating IBH.
So, for the most part, caretakers manage IBH by keeping horses stalled and/or covered with sheets to protect them from Culicoides bites, Langreder said. The Critical Role of Interleukin-5 in IBH
Scientists already know the proteins in the insects’ saliva glands provoke allergic reactions in horses, said Langreder. In IBH horses those proteins cause specific kinds of allergic responses that trigger the production of a signaling cell, or cytokine, in the immune system known as interleukin IL-5 that activates special immune cells called eosinophils. In IBH reactions the eosinophils overreact, which leads to inflammation, she added.
Physicians have already started successfully treating certain kinds of human asthma with antibodies against IL-5 and its receptors.
The antibody approach is an alternative to a potential anti-IL-5 vaccine, she explained. Five years ago a Swiss research team used this concept when they created an IBH vaccine based on IL-5 attached to a viruslike particle. The study horses reacted by producing antibodies against their own IL-5 cells, resulting in significantly weaker allergic reactions.
“Both approaches have advantages and disadvantages, and, at the current time, it cannot be predicted if a reversible, more short-term or a more long-term approach is better suited against IBH,” said Michael Hust, PhD, also of Technische Universität Braunschweig.
Discovering a Stable Anti- IL-5 IgG Antibody
Langreder and fellow PhD candidate at the university Dorina Schäckermann created the short-term, reversible IBH treatment based on monoclonal immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies, which reach significantly lower concentrations in the blood after two to three weeks. The idea, they said, was to have greater control over any potentially negative immune side effects. In other words, such a short-term treatment would give caretakers more flexibility as they continuously weigh the risks and benefits of possible immune suppression. They engineered a molecule that avoids activating immune responses.
The team selected several antibodies against IL-5 in their laboratory to develop the optimal anti-IL-5 IgG antibody, Langreder said. After multiple tests they narrowed their candidates to one stable, easily producible, and usable antibody, NOL226-2-D10, which blocks the binding of IL-5 to its receptor. “In vitro (in the lab), the approach is working,” Schäckermann said. “It’s a stable, monoclonal antibody that’s producible. So it’s a promising candidate.”
In ongoing tests in a small group of live horses, unpublished results show the antibody is not only safe but also probably effective, she added. “We did a first study to test safety, and we’ve had no side effects or anything so far,” she told The Horse. “And now we’re planning an extended study to test the efficacy of the antibodies.
“The plan is to start in the spring, before the season starts, so IBH doesn’t happen in the first place,” Schäckermann said. “Then continue throughout the summer with as many doses necessary for each horse.”
Further studies are needed to establish dose and how long effects would last during the midge season, the researchers added.
Well, folks, it has been a year! Last spring, we started this journey together and in, what feels like, just a few short months, we have made significant progress. It has been a fun ride to learn about the staff, our members, their American Quarter Horses and our Association. The learning
process is an on-going one so we won’t cross education off our list, but we can cross off one year of progress, growth and commitment.
When I stepped into this role, I wanted to clearly lay out how our plan to structure the future of AQHA was to
be determined. That plan is threefold: Establish the most important initiatives for the Association. Accomplish those key initiatives to the best of our ability, rather than take on too many initiatives and only reach partial completion. Continue to strengthen our team, because the stronger our team is, the stronger the results will be and the better we can serve you.
Our initiatives drive our vision and our core focus each year to serve the members. We have already moved through our first set of initiatives and we will continue to work on those areas, but this year we have additional areas of focus.
These 2023 initiatives are: Provide better tools for the staff to better support our members. Acknowledge and celebrate how diverse our membership is and increase participation in AQHA’s various programs – Horseback Riding Program, Professional Horsemen, Ranching Heritage programs and more. Complete a comprehensive member survey to determine the demographics and desires of our membership. Develop a multidiscipline educational series on animal welfare.
Our focus is on these areas, but we continue to challenge staff to think critically and creatively on how we can better serve the membership. As an Association tasked with
continued on page 78
“Our initiatives drive our vision and our core focus each year to serve theKarl Stressman shares his mission-driven plan to
drivethe Association forward. Karl Stressman
Synchrony, a consumer financial services company, conducted a study, study, "Equine Lifetime of Care" and found that the cost of horse ownership ranges from $300,000 to $924,000 based on the role of the horse.
The study, conducted on behalf of CareCredit, a Synchrony financing solution for veterinary care, investigated an exhaustive list of horse expenditures, including food and nutrition, boarding and grooming, farrier services, tack and gear, breeding, routine and emergency veterinary care, end of life care, and more, over a horse's lifetime, which is averaged at 25 years.
According to Synchrony's Equine Lifetime of Care report, costs vary depending on the horse's role: $575,000-$1,000,000 for competitive horses, $295,000-$400,000 for recreational horses, $215,000-$290,000 for backyard horses
On an annual basis, the all-in costs for owning a horse range from around $8,600 to $26,000 per year, not including events or operating expenses. "Nearly all horse owners keep their horses for life – which can be as long as 25 years. Yet, the true cost of care is consistently underestimated, and many horse owners aren't financially prepared for care-related expenses," said Jonathan Wainberg, senior vice president and general manager, Pet, Synchrony in an organizatioanl release. "With the Synchrony Equine Lifetime of Care research, we aim to better educate, inform, and prepare horse owners for what to expect financially, so they have the tools they need to make that lifetime commitment and better provide their horses with the care they need."
Synchrony also asked 1,231 horse owners if they feel prepared with horse care expenses with 83% responding yes. However, Synchrony found that the actual total lifetime cost is 3 to 4 times higher than what horse owners expect.
preserving the integrity of the American Quarter Horse, we will continue to adhere to the Association’s mission, which includes protecting our horse; recording and preserving pedigrees; providing beneficial services and diverse educational programs; and generating growth of AQHA membership; all while honing our vision to specific areas to incite change.
In 2022, the Member Experience Team focused on AQHA member services in three primary areas: work turnaround, call hold times and increasing the number of AQHA representatives members can speak directly about their AQHA work. In January 2022, there were 17,000 applications waiting to be worked, many of which had been waiting longer than 100 days. This backlog was caught up by the Member
Experience Team by April 2022 and maintained the rest of the year. Currently, work is being fully processed in less than two weeks, provided all the necessary information is in order. AQHA’s top priority is serving our members worldwide and their American Quarter Horses.
It is a privilege to work with AQHA staff, the AQHA Executive Committee, Board of Directors, Standing Committees and council members and, of course, our affiliates representing more than 130 countries, to continue to improve AQHA for generations to come.
I have operated on an opendoor policy and will continue to do so. If you ever run into me at an event, please don’t hesitate to say hi and introduce yourself or schedule a visit to come see us down at AQHA Headquarters in Amarillo. Getting to know each of you is a perk of this job and one I take very seriously. I am looking forward to another year of progress and promoting the American Quarter Horse we all love!
The Youth Activities Scholarship successfully reached its endowment goal of $100,000 directly after the 2023 AQHA Convention. In 2020, the AQHA Youth Activities Committee set a goal to endow the scholarship to perpetually award youth. Thanks to the generosity of Joe and Suzy Jeane and
a generous match by Larry and Ellen Bell, the future of educational opportunities for youth and the memory of their loved ones are secure.
Joe and Suzy Jeane worked in raising funds to endow a
A special tribute to T. Joe will take place during the Parade of Teams at the 2023 AQHYA World Championship Show.
scholarship in memory and name of their late son, T. Joe Jeane. A long-time member of the Youth Activities Committee, Suzy saw an opportunity to support youth by redirecting the funds raised in T. Joe’s memory to support the Youth Activities Scholarship.
“T. Joe was an avid and talented horseman, and our family has been honored to participate in every aspect of the AQHYA World Championship show,” Suzy said. “We know the decision to assist in endowing the AQHA Youth Activities Scholarship would have been his top priority, as this show and the friends he made and looked forward to seeing, was the highlight of his year during his time in AQHYA.”
Larry and Ellen Bell matched the Jeanes’ contribution with gracious and open hearts in the memory of their late daughter, Amy Bell. Amy was also an avid horseman and AQHYA competitor, and she made youth a priority in her life long after she reached adulthood. Bound together by friendship and shared experience, this mutual decision ensures that young people following in the footprints of T. Joe and Amy are recognized and rewarded for their passion and engagement with the American Quarter Horse.
The Bureau of Land Management will conduct a virtual public hearing regarding the use of motorized vehicles and aircraft in the management of wild horses and burros. The hearing is scheduled for April 26, 2022 from 3 to 5 p.m. MT and will be held using Zoom video conferencing technology and live-streamed at BLM.
The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 requires BLM conduct an annual hearing to consider the use of motorized vehicles in the management of wild horses and burros. The BLM typically uses motorized vehicles to conduct gather operations,
complete population surveys, and transport animals to/from corrals, pastures, and adoption, sale and transfer events.
To provide comment during the virtual public hearing, members of the public may register in advance by April 25. Written comments may also be sent to BLM_HQ_
MotorizedVehicleHearing@ blm.gov. Please include ‘‘Motorized Vehicle Comment’’ in the subject line of the email. Comments must be submitted by 5 p.m. Mountain Time on April 26.
For additional information regarding the public hearing, please contact the Wild Horse and Burro National Information Center at 866-468-7826 or wildhorse@blm.gov. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) at 711 to reach the National Information Center during normal business hours.
The BLM manages and protects wild horses and burros across 26.9 million acres of public lands in 10 Western states. More information on the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program can be found at BLM. gov/whb.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people.
The global alfalfa market size is expected to reach USD 35.20 billion by 2028, exhibiting a CAGR of 7.2% during the forecast period. The market was valued at USD 19.87 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach USD 21.63 billion in 2021. The rising adoption of pellets in horse feed and rising livestock farming are likely to fuel the market’s progress. Fortune Business Insights™ mentions this information in its report titled “Alfalfa Market, 20212028.”
Alfalfa (scientific name: Medicago sativa) is a flowering plant in the legume family, native to Asia but widely cultivated throughout the world as a forage crop for livestock. It is a perennial plant that can grow up to three feet tall and has clusters of small purple or yellow flowers.
Alfalfa is a highly nutritious forage crop that is high in
protein and fiber, making it an important food source for livestock such as cattle, horses, and sheep. It is also used in the production of hay, silage, and pellets for animal feed.
Alfalfa is an animal feed plant that is heavy and improves animal health. It is used extensively as horse feed and is rich in fiber. It improves blood sugar levels and improves glucose absorption in the body. As a result, the rising awareness regarding pellet's benefits is expected to boost its adoption in horse feed. They are costlier than hay, but they are extremely lightweight to carry and effective for horses. Furthermore, an exponential rise in livestock farming is expected to boost the pellet’s demand. As the horse population rises, demand for efficient and nutritious feed increases rapidly. Therefore, these factors may boost the industry's development in the upcoming years.
List of Key Players
Profiled in the Alfalfa Market Report: Alfalfa Monegros, S.L. (Huesca, Spain), Anderson Hay & Grain Inc. (Washington, U.S.), Standlee Premium Products, LLC (Idaho, U.S., Green Prairie International Inc (Alberta, Canada), SL Follen Company (Oregon, U.S.), Bailey Farms (Utah, U.S.), Haykingdom Inc. (California, U.S.), Cubeit Hay Company (Idaho, U.S.), Old Manor Farm Ltd. (Bedfordshire, U.K.) and Barr-Ag Ltd. (Alberta, Canada)
Cell: 602-390-3555
EMAIL: bridleandbit@aol.com
a Spanish-style cape. Bobby joined the act shortly after graduating high school.
The first rodeo Bobby worked had future ProRodeo Hall of Famer Slim Pickens in the stands. Pickens was a wellknown roughstock contestant turned bullfighter who later went on to be a movie star. "It amazed him (Pickens),"
Bobby Clark said, adding that he and Pickens worked a few rodeos together. "He was quite a guy and a good clown and bullfighter and was good to work with."
The brothers raised the bar in rodeo comedy with some of the most innovative acts of their era. Gene was selected by contestants to be the "clowning bull-baiter" for the first National Finals Rodeo in 1959.
"We got along, we had to since we were partners," Bobby
Clark said. "We had an orchard in California and lived there. We did everything together. Best friends fight and brothers do too – but we were together for 30 years." The Clarks were known for creating innovative acts such as a disappearing act, Cannon Capers, the hearse act, the magical box, and Lord Beaverbook's Roman Riding Mules. I'd think about it (a new act) every time I'd go to the bathroom," Bobby Clark said.
The Clarks were often spotted at Madison Square Garden, the Boston Garden, Houston, Fort Worth, Texas, Pendleton, Ore., Cheyenne, Wyo., and San Antonio. They also performed in Calgary, Alberta, as well as Mexico and Cuba. Of course, all those years of dodging bulls came with their share of injuries. Bobby punctured his lung twice, broke all his ribs and both arms. "We had a lot of acts, we had so many more than anyone else – I'm bragging now, but I'm telling you the truth," Bobby Clark said. "We had to have something new if we were going to succeed. We had a disappearing act with a cannon and a trap door in the arena. I'd stand over a trap door and he'd shoot, and there were flash bags around me. He'd light the cannon and when it went off, I'd push my button, so it looked like I was blown out of the arena."
The brothers continued their routine until 1978 when they parted ways. Gene moved to Oregon and Bobby stayed in Oklahoma. Although they were done rodeoing together, they still made appearances individually for many years. Clem McSpadden wanted Bobby Clark to work the Old Timers Rodeo. "I said, 'You don't expect me to fight bulls, do you?' He said, yeah. I said, 'Well, if you got any 70-year-old bulls I will," Bobby Clark laughed.
Although he was retired from rodeo, Bobby wasn't fully retired from working. He worked as a feed salesman for 14 years while ranching in Oklahoma until officially retiring in 1993. He also served on the board for the Rodeo Historical Society at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City for nine years, two as president in the mid1990s.
King Charles has been presented with a new royal horse and a commemorative sword from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
The gifts were to mark the King's honorary appointment as commissionerin-chief of the police force. He met with Ralph Goodale, the High Commissioner for Canada in the UK, for a ceremony in the quadrangle at Windsor Castle. The meeting on Friday also coincided with the 150th anniversary of the RCMP.
The King was greeted with a royal salute from four mounted members of the RCMP, also known as Mounties, who have travelled to the UK for the coronation
procession. He was presented with a seven-year-old black mare called Noble by RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme.
A member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) leads 'Noble', a horse given to King Charles III by the RCMP earlier this year ahead of a ceremony in the quadrangle at Windsor
Castle Noble will take part in the coronation procession and replaces George, who was given to the late Queen in 2009, as the King's charger horse in the Trooping the Colour ceremony. She was part of The Musical Ride, a special unit of the RCMP that toured Canada performing intricate formations and drills to music.
Supt Kevin Fahey, the officer in charge of the Musical Ride, said Noble was "incredibly bold" and "very calm". He recalled when the former Prince of Wales visited the RCMP stables last year during the Royal Tour of Canada for the Platinum Jubilee. He said: "We pointed out the two horses to His Majesty, and he said: 'Oh, they're kind of tall'. "We took that as a note to say perhaps we should be looking for a horse not quite as tall. And so we set about and landed finally on Noble."
King Charles III is presented with a sword as he formally accepts the role of Commissioner-in-Chief of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) during a ceremony in the quadrangle at Windsor Castle The silver and black sword carries the King's Cypher and Coat of Arms. The serial number on its spine, MP 1502023, signifies the RCMP's 150th anniversary and the year of the coronation.
Queen Elizabeth II was appointed Commissioner-inChief of the RCMP to mark the Diamond Jubilee in 2012, becoming the first person to hold the title. During the coronation procession five RCMP officers will ride horses from the Royal Mews gifted by the RCMP to the royal family.
The RCMP paraded in Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee procession in 1897, and has taken part in every coronation since King George V's in 1911.
Murieta Equestrian CenterSacramento June 9-11, 2023
New in 2023: Festival areas include festival tenting, Mane market mall is carpeted with astro turf, All large space around our main arena is sold out & Rigs and digs is back!
Clinicians: Warwick Schiller - Attuned Horsemanship, Steffen Peters - Dressage, Russ Krachun - Kozak Horsemanship, Lindsey
Partridge - Jumping - Harmony Horsemanship, Scott Purdum - Advantage Horsemanship, Jason and Bronwyn Irwin -
Colt Starting and Liberty, Gina Miles - 3-Day Eventing, JP
Dyal - Horsemanship, Dean
Lacey - Driving, Lynn RingroseMoe - Cowboy Dressage, Amelia
Newcomb - Dressage, UC Davis
- Horse Expo University, Carla
Bauchmueller - Centered Riding
Body Awareness.....so much more!
Events: New Evening Event, Breed Showcase
Mustang Challenge, Reining
Bootcamp, Mounted Archery, Driving, American Drill
Competition, Back Country
Horsemen, Horse Expo University, Young Rider Park, Food Trucks (Two Food Courts), Brew Ha! Beer Festival and Music
The honorary Oscar recipient will star in “Lawmen: Bass Reeves” in a recurring role. Sutherland will portray Judge Isaac Parker, who is described as “an imposing and commanding judge in the Fort Smith Courthouse with a complicated legacy.” .
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Previously titled “Bass Reeves,” the Paramount+ series will now be officially titled “Lawmen: Bass Reeves” and will be an anthology series. The first season will follow the titular Reeves, who was the first Black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River and who was known as one of the greatest frontier heroes in American history. As a federal peace officer in the Indian Territory, he captured over 3,000 of the most dangerous criminals at the time yet was reportedly never wounded. Subsequent seasons will focus on other iconic figures who have impacted history.
One of the most well-regarded and prolific actors of his time, Sutherland is no stranger to the Western genre. In 2015, he starred alongside his son, Kiefer Sutherland, in “Forsaken.” Funnily enough, Kiefer Sutherland can now be seen in Paramount+’s “Rabbit Hole.” Despite his big name, Donald Sutherland is also no stranger to television. He starred alongside Nicole Kidman in HBO’s “The Undoing” and portrayed John Paul Getty in FX’s “Trust.”
In addition to Sutherland, the series will star David Oyelowo (“Selma”), who also serves as an executive producer. Lauren E. Banks (“City on a Hill”), Demi Singleton (“King Richard”), Forrest Goodluck (“The Revenant”) and Barry Pepper (“True Grit”) have been cast in series regular roles, and Garrett Hedlund (“Tulsa King”) has been cast in a recurring role.
The anthology series is produced by MTV Entertainment Studios, 101 Studios, Sheridan’s Bosque Ranch Productions and Oyelowo’s Yoruba Saxon. Along with Sheridan and Oyelowo, Chad Feehan, David C. Glasser, Jessica Oyelowo, David Permut, Christina Alexandra Voros, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari and David Hutkin will executive produce. Feehan will also serve as the series’ creator and showrunner.
“Lawmen: Bass Reeves” is currently filming in Texas. Adding a grizzled A-list star to a Sheridan project is becoming a trend for Paramount. It started with Paramount Network’s “Yellowstone,” which saw Kevin Costner in a recurring role. That mega-hit was followed by “Yellowstone’s” two prequel series: “1883,” which starred Sam Elliot, and “1923,” which starred Harrison Ford. Then there was “Tulsa King,” a mafia crime thriller helmed by Sylvester Stallone. The man has a formula, and it’s clearly working.
This anthology series also continues Sheridan’s long and lucrative relationship with Paramount+. Though “Yellowstone” isn’t available on the streaming service, Sheridan has since created and executive produced four Paramount+ exclusives: the aforementioned “1883,” “1923” and “Tulsa King” as well as “Mayor of Kingstown.” And there are more series in the works. In addition to “Lawmen: Bass Reeves,” Sheridan’s spy thriller starring Zoe Saldaña, titled “Lioness,” is expected to premiere later this year. It will then be followed by “Land Man,” a drama about the oil and gas industry that currently doesn’t have a premiere date.
Horse Trials, Our 2023 Coconino Horse Trials Season is upon us!!! Entries are already open for Spring Coconino Horse Trials on May 27-28th. Entries for Summer Coconino Horse trials I & II featuring the Western Underground Classic 3 Day Event (BN, N, T) are right around the corner! We are busy planning and prepping to make it a fantastic series for all!!!
Coconino does need your help though! We have done an initial
evaluation of the XC Courses and have found that with the hard winter we will need to invest heavily in footing repair, tree removal, jump repair and the building of new jumps! We will start work on the Cross country courses in mid May when the park allows us access.
Please contact us about our CCHT sponsorship form. We hope that you can also invest in the future of our courses. Anything you can donate is greatly appreciatedevery little bit helps! Creative support is also encouraged! Do you have access to materials, equipment, or a service that may help CCHT? Bring it on!!!!
Our Coconino XC Fundraiser is June 17-18th and is a major source of income that helps offset the costs of maintaining our 6 courses, but with the rising costs of materials, labor, basically everything, more will be needed!.
We appreciate all of you who come to coach, compete, volunteer, support and spectate. Sponsorship is a fantastic and very helpful way to support CCHT and keep our events going strong. We are excited to help to promote your business and honor you for helping us in this endeavor!!!!!
Please contact me for any questions that you may have & to get a sponsorship form: 602.501.4697. Kind regards, Alice Disclaimer
The Publisher and Editor cannot be held responsible for errors or any consequences arising from the use of information contained in this publication; the views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Publisher and Editors, neither does the publication of advertisements constitute any endorsement by the Publisher and Editors of the products advertised.
The new product from Covetrus is the first of its kind to rely on these natural mushroom extracts to help keep horses thriving and performing at optimal levels
Covetrus, a company focusing on animal health
technology and services, has launched SmartImmune Mushroom from SmartPak, a first-of-its-kind equine supplement made from a “powerful mushroom extract blend that can help support a horse’s natural defenses against foreign pathogens.” Additionally, it features naturally occurring botanicals to help the body cope with stress.
“SmartImmune Mushroom offers comprehensive immune defense and provides a unique and innovative approach to supporting healthy immune function in horses,” said Ashlee LeCompte Lazic, director, health product development at Covetrus, in the company release.1
“Stress is ubiquitous, and research has demonstrated that it can compromise immune function. So if a horse has a heavy workload, travels often, or is simply dealing with the daily cellular stress of stall rest or natural aging, consider a targeted supplement designed to support immune resilience, like SmartImmune Mushroom,” she concluded.
Stressors including training, trailering, showing, vaccination, seasonal allergies, or the natural aging process can make horses feel worn down or more susceptible to health problems. SmartImmune Mushroom’s breakthrough formula couples adaptogenic botanicals—a naturally occurring substance that exerts a normalizing effect upon bodily processes—with the fruiting body extracts of chaga, cordyceps, maitake, shitake, and reishi mushrooms.1 Each ingredient is carefully sourced from their native geographical areas and grown naturally on native materials for maximum potency. The antioxidant-rich extracts were chosen for their immunomodulatory properties and help support cellular health, restore homeostasis, and reduce the effect of stress on the equine body.
Riding
Wave - With Clayton Edsall piloting, Von Cali has steadily climbed the Open standings to land in the Open Derby Champion spot at the 2023 Teton Ridge Stallion Stakes for the Teton Ridge Stallion Stakes, though, where Edsall rode the K&L Phillips, LLCowned gelding to a $50,000 payday and the win.
Von Cali is a chill horse with a lot of ability, according to trainer and National Reined Cow Horse Association Million Dollar Rider Clayton Edsall, but his climb to the top of the derbyaged pack hasn’t been without its challenges. It all came together in Las Vegas, Nevada,
“He’s just a super nice horse to be around, very chill. I can’t say enough nice things about him as a horse in general, he is so kind,” Edsall said.
It was more than the horse’s kind heart that took him to the top with a composite 662 (H: 223/R:218.5/C:220.5). Von Cali (Stevie Rey Von x Hotel Cali x Smart Aristocrat) stayed consistent in three events while continuing to also show his strength in the herd work. Prior to this event, the gelding
earned preliminary top honors in the herd work at the 2022 Hackamore Classic, presented by Oswood Stallion, and out of the herd placed second at the 2022 DT Horses Western Derby and fourth at the 2022 Tres Osos Cow Horse Derby. In Las Vegas, Edsall piloted the roan to the top score in the herd work for the Finals, a 223.
“He’s always had something special to him in the herd work,” said Edsall. “When you watch him, every time the cow wants to flick an ear or thinks about a turn, this horse [senses that] and lowers or waits on that cow. He is incredibly smart. It’s a neat feeling because you can cut the scariest cows in the bunch, and he can slow them down a little bit with his response to them.”
The Glade Knight-bred gelding’s cow savvy comes through down the fence, too. But the reining is one element Edsall has worked to put together. The pair’s fifth place finish at the 2023 Tres Osos Cow Horse Derby started an upward trajectory.
“He has always been outstanding on a cow; he stops so hard,” Edsall said. “He hasn’t wanted to break loose on his front end, so it’s been a bit of a struggle to figure out how to make that more presentable. We work at that a lot. It started to get better, and it was better in Fort Worth [at the Tres Osos Cow Horse Derby]. It’s been like we survive the rein work, he’s always in the top end of the herd work, then we get to the fence work. We are finally getting a handle on the rein work and that is helping us stay competitive all the way through.”
Adding to the double registered Quarter Horse and Paint gelding’s more than $28,000 in NRCHA earnings is the $50,000 derby purse and the Open Chrome Cash high score check for $1,555 from the preliminary rounds. Edsall says that while Von Cali is not near finished showing, his future is set.
