Bridle & Bit Magazine January 2023 edition

Rick Johns

Rick Johns said in 1984, when he was serving as AQHA’s 34th president. “Some of the old-timers I had an opportunity to be around in my younger days all said that the mother was a really important part of the program and I still believe that.”

Rick built an impressive broodmare band, half of which were show producers. The other half produced potential runners. But long before he was ever in the horse business, he was familiar with the working horses on his family’s vegetable farm in Arizona.

Rick first started showing in the mid1960s, taking a real liking to the cattle events, and it was not long before he was hooked. He had connections with many active horse breeders and exhibitors, particularly Dan Opie of Oregon, who had owned and campaigned halter sire Quincy Dan. Dan was also the owner of a Quincy Dan son, Sir Quincy Dan, to which Rick bred many of his mares.

Some of the top horses that Rick was associated with were 1978 world champion yearling mare Triple Lindy, Superior halter horse Quincy Cupid, AQHA Champion and Superior halter horse Quincy Style, 1976 world champion aged stallion Son Of Sun and racing ROM earners Chicks Gann, Everything Lovly, My Gracious and Azure Sugar.

Rick became an AQHA director in 1972 and served on the Association’s judges and membership committees. He was a past president of the Arizona Quarter Horse Association and was also active in the Arizona Livestock Association and the Arizona National Livestock Show.

“In the mid-1960s, I was a founding member and the first president of the Arizona Quarter Horse Youth Association,” says AQHA Professional Horseman Al Dunning, who writes the Reflections column for The American Quarter Horse Journal. “We had a great group of kids that were excited about showing horses and having loads of fun together. We were lucky enough to raise a substantial amount of funds to support our activities. In those days, the Arizona Quarter Horse Breeders Association sent representatives Jim Trimble and Rick Johns to talk to us at our meeting. They asked us to join as part of the parent association. I was against the idea (we had substantially more money in our treasury), and that’s when I got that famous Rick Johns look: a squint with a raised eyebrow. I knew I was in trouble!

“Over the years, when Rick would enter our boardroom or any other committee meetings, he had an air about him that commanded respect,” Al says. “He had done so many things within AQHA, was thoughtful in his speech, wise in his decisions and was a powerful presence. Rick has been my friend since the 1960s and has mentored me in many ways to serve AQHA and AzQHA.”

In addition to showing, Rick took on leadership roles within the Arizona Quarter Horse Association, eventually becoming president in 1971. His active role in the organization helped spur friendships with other high-profile AQHA members. “I developed a really good

relationship with Don Dodge and a very close relationship with (former AQHA executive vice president) Bill Brewer,” Rick told Al for a column he wrote in 2021 in the Journal.

“Those two have always been special for me. There were a lot of other people who were meaningful to me, including Tom Finley, Bob Kieckhefer, Marten Clark, Bill Englund, John Hoyt, Howard Weis, Dr. Barry Wood and so many others.” These relationships shaped the future of Rick’s political career within AQHA for many years to come.

In 1973, Ruth Adams approached Rick about creating a circuit show in Arizona. “She said the Florida Gold Coast had a circuit and asked, ‘Why can’t we do one, as well?’” Rick told Al. “I liked the thought, and I had the ability to financially back it. I offered it to the state association, and they said it simply couldn’t be done. I said, ‘If you don’t want to do it, I will!’ They agreed, and that was the start of the Sun Circuit.”

Rick financially backed the show for nine years, believing in the concept and knowing its potential future significance. Today, the Sun Circuit is consistently one of the biggest AQHA shows, with more than 22,000 entries during its nine-day run. Without Rick, this elite AQHA event never would have happened.

With the Sun Circuit’s quick success, Rick was eyed for more grandiose leadership roles. “(AQHA past presidents) Tom Finley and Bob Kieckhefer came to me in the late ’70s and asked me if I would be interested in being president of AQHA,” Rick said. “I told them I would be very interested, but I didn’t see how I was qualified. Finley and Kieckhefer took me under their wings. It took four years to get it done but they were masters at politics.”

Rick was elected as the 34th president of AQHA in 1984. The same year, he married his second wife, Marcia Brown, who shared an equal passion for horses.” Al says, “The thing that I respected Rick for the most when he was AQHA president was his dedication to the membership."

AQHA Past President Frank Merrill recalls the unconventional approach Rick took toward the presidency during his term by saying, “I think Rick might have been the first president, at least in my time, who really postured himself as the members’ president. Rick really took that job seriously, and he wanted to make sure the members knew he was willing to listen, and he would take action when he thought it was necessary. He really had the members’ best interests at heart. Rick didn’t care whether you had racehorses, show horses, cutters or reiners. He cared for everybody. Rick Johns is high in my book!”

Al recalls Rick walking through the barns alone and mingling with people at the AQHA World Championship Show. This was uncommon for the AQHA Executive Committee at that time, but Rick wanted to know what was happening beyond the walls of the Executive Committee. “That’s what I enjoyed doing,” Rick told Al. “I made a lot of friends down there. There were so many great people in the Quarter Horse Association. It was one of my best experiences as president.”

Many people took notice of this new approach to leading the

“My interest in horses has always been toward mares,”

AQHA Past President Rick Johns of Prescott, Arizona has passed away.

Taylor Sheridan’s ‘1923’ Sets Paramount+ Premiere Draws 7.4M In

Taylor Sheridan’s 1923 launched with record setting ratings with 7.4 million viewers for the first episode December 18 premiere after an episode of Yellowstone. Sheridan’s Yellowstone universe surpassed the previous debut record by a reported nearly 80%, out distancing Sheridan’s 1883, Mayor of Kingstown, and Tulsa King.

To pull that large a viewership the episode ran on Paramount+ and Paramount Network, plus two showings on CMT.

“The Yellowstone universe continues to break records, with our latest chapter, 1923 scoring as the most watched premiere ever on Paramount+ and debuting as the #1 new cable premiere of the year on linear,” said Chris McCarthy, President/CEO Paramount Media Networks & MTV Entertainment Studios. “Taylor Sheridan continues to tap a cultural nerve that has proven irresistible to viewers from across the country and around the world, with this newest installment showing no signs of slowing down – proving yet again the power of our franchise strategy to fuel the future of Paramount+.”

A production of MTV Entertainment Studios, 101 Studios and Bosque Ranch Productions, in 1923 the series explores the early twentieth century when historic drought, pandemics, and the end of Prohibition all trouble the west..

In addition to Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren, 1923 also stars Michelle Randolph ,Darren Mann, James Badge Dale, , Brian Geraghty, Marley Shelton, Aminah Nieves, and Jerome Flynn.

Sheridan requested Harrison Ford fly down the 6666 Ranch and visit him in the “Big House”, the headquarters on the ranch. After a few glasses of wine and Taylor sharing his drive to write for a person he has for the part, Ford realized the part was for him and signed on.

Taylor repeated the process with Helen Mirren, having her fly down to the 6666 ranch for a personal meeting.

Paramount+’s ‘1923’ Joins ‘Tulsa King’ on the Most In-Demand New Shows

Powered by Parrot Analytics we look at the top breakout shows of the past week. Breakout shows are the most in-demand series that have premiered in the past 100 days.

As predicted last week, Paramount+’s prolific showrunner Taylor Sheridan has done it again. “Tulsa King” has been joined by “1923,” making its debut in the rankings after the “Yellowstone” prequel series premiered on Dec. 18. “1923” had strong demand for its debut week, as a 56% boost in demand saw

it take ninth place on the chart with 16.8 times more demand than the average series, according to Parrot Analytics‘ data, which takes into account consumer research, streaming, downloads and social media, among other engagement.

“Tulsa King” took third place in the rankings and ended on

a high note this week, as the show saw a 5% increase in demand which made it 26.8 times more in demand than the average series. So far, “Tulsa King” has received generally positive reviews and has already been renewed for another season by Paramount+ as it was the driving force behind the platform’s “record signup day.”

Images Courtesy of Paramount+

Show

GG Daisy Duke and Ashlee Petersen

Ashlee had just rescued a different gelding for her daughter but now faced a dilemma. While out volunteering at Love This Horse in California, Ashlee met GG Daisy Dukes, a neglected Arabian horse mare that had been rescued by Oregon Law enforcement. Daisy had swung out her hip, blocking the entire barn aisle, and she wasn’t going to move until Ashlee started petting her. The wildest horse at the rescue, Daisy, had finally chosen someone to trust.

The now 14-year-old Daisy had been abandoned in a field when she was 2. For years, Daisy was neglected, wild, and forgotten. Ashlee was torn. She already had a family horse plus Daisy was feral and untrained to ride, but Ashlee’s interaction with that stocky, kind-eyed half-Arabian/half-Quarter Horse mare stuck. And so did this one question:

Armed with that one question, a trainer she trusted, and a commitment to rehabilitating Daisy, Ashlee brought GG Daisy Dukes home. From there, the pair grew together, learning more about each other and themselves at every step. They showed together at open-breed shows with great success, continuing to take everything at Daisy’s pace. In 2022, Ashlee showed GG Daisy Dukes in her local Arabian Regional Championship where the two brought home several Champion and Reserve Regional Championships. Daisy even carried Ashlee’s eight-year-old daughter with a newfound mission to take care of Ashlee’s little girl. However, Ashlee promised Daisy that they would one day make it to the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show. It was the once underestimated mare’s legacy.

Thus, in February, they are off to sunny Scottsdale, Arizona for the 2023 Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show where both Ashlee and her 8-year-old daughter will compete in a variety of classes, including Dressage and Sport Horse Under Saddle. While the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show may be the largest Arabian horse show in the world, Ashlee says that she is not intimidated. The kindness and welcoming support that she experienced since her very first Arabian show makes her feel ready to fulfill her promise to Daisy. She encourages everyone to visit the show, meet the people, and see the bond between Arabian horse and rider firsthand. Ashlee might have changed the trajectory of Daisy’s life, but Daisy changed the trajectory of Ashlee’s life forever. Ashlee found a life-long companion for herself, and a partner, friend, and guidance counselor for her daughter.

Experience the love of the Arabian horse at the 2023 Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show (February 16-26, 2023). You’ll regret it if you don’t.

“Will I regret it if I don’t?”

The one question Ashlee Petersen found herself coming to as she tried to rationalize rescuing GG Daisy Duke.

“Will I regret it if I don’t?”

Join the Fun at the 68th Annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show

The 68th Annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show takes place at the City of Scottsdale’s WestWorld, February 16-26, 2023. The largest event of its kind in the world, the show routinely attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators to experience the passion and versatility of the Arabian horse.

The show draws more than 2,400 of the world’s finest Arabian and Half-Arabian horses for 11 days of thrilling competition in pursuit of the coveted “Scottsdale Champion” title. These magnificent animals and their owners gather to celebrate this exciting show and compete for more than $4 million in prize money, luxurious trophies, and wonderful awards given to the best. With more than 1,000 colorful classes, there is always something exciting to see.

In addition to exciting competitions, gala parties, educational seminars and an international cuisine court, the event features an amazing Shopping Expo with more than 350 commercial exhibitors, offering everything from lavish jewelry, clothing and works of art, to boots, saddles and gifts. Guests also can stroll the luxurious and exotically decorated stabling areas in which the horses are housed. Each year the show has a variety of family-friendly events: Meet an Arabian Horse, behind-the-scenes barn tours, educational seminars, Paint a Pony, and games to name a few.

This is a must-attend event if you are a horse lover. The expansion of the breeding division makes this the Westminster of the Arabian horse world as we anticipate the best collection of athleticism and breeding stock anywhere in the world, including new, up-and-coming supermodels.

Scottsdale is not only the world’s largest display of Arabian horses, but offers a multitude of activities that help promote the Arabian horse. The mecca for the Arabian horse, Scottsdale is a great place to see, touch and feel the finest Arabian horses! If you are an exhibitor, the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show presents an unprecedented showcase opportunity to compete center stage, and offers prize money and abundant marketing opportunities for breeders and purebred Arabian horse enthusiasts. You can find the schedule and entry forms on our website at scottsdaleshow.com

Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Sonoran Desert, the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show is a great vacation destination as well; there is so much to see and do.

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AS THERE ARE MANY TICKET OPTIONS

BAMM! Tickets is our new ticket supplier, to purchase your online tickets click here or visit: arabian.

bammtickets.com

General Admission & Reserved Bleacher Seating Ticket Prices: General Admission - $15/day, Seniors age 55+/Military - $10/ day, Children 12 & under - Free, Reserved Bleacher Seating (All Ages)…$25/day (must be purchased through BAMM! Tickets or at the show box office)

‍FREE Admission: Tuesday, February 21

- All Day - Military Appreciation Day(Free admission to all veterans & their families with appropriate credentials), Friday, February 24 - Evening Performance – Free Family Night @ the Arabian Horse Show. Evening Performance – Saturday, February 25, 2023: No comp passes or 2 for 1 passes will be accepted for the evening sessions.

Reserved bleacher seats (All ages) - $25. Reserved Box Seating (All ages) - $35. Tickets may be purchased at the door however we recommend that tickets for the Saturday evening session be purchased in advance as tickets are subject to availability; this session commonly sells out early.

Additional Tickets Types: Eleven Day Button General Admission - $75, Reserved Box Seating (All Ages - $35/day (These tickets will be available on a first come first served, via BAMM! Ticketsaround the 1st of February), Box Seats for Entire Show - $250 (click here for the downloadable application)

Group Tickets: For groups of 25 people or more (regardless of age) we will sell general admission passes for $10/each, there are no refunds on tickets once purchased, and must be purchased in advance. (click here for the downloadable application) This offer will not be available at the box office upon arrival.

Box office Hours: Box office hours: 8am to 2:30pm &will stay open on Saturday, February 25th until 7pm. The box office opens the first day of the show to purchase tickets online please click here. Box office can be reached at 480312-6834.Doors open daily at 7:30AM. Shopping Expo Hours: 10AM6PM Sun-Thurs & 10AM-7PM Fri-Sat

SADDLE BRONC RIDER LOGAN HAY

Logan Hay had never competed in the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge before this year. That's hard to believe based on the results he's putting up in his debut. Hay won his third round in a row when he captured Round 7 with a 90-point ride on Hi Lo Pro

Rodeo's Garden City Gal before 17,166 spectators Wednesday at the Thomas & Mack Center. "Yeah, it's crazy man. I never ever expected it to be as good as it's been going," said Hay, 25. "It's unbelievable. I'm drawing really good horses and I'm riding good too. I can't deny it."

Association, including Bill Brewer, who served as AQHA executive vice president when Rick was president. “That’s a practice I learned from Rick and one I continued doing myself,” Bill says. “Rick has been a leader at AQHA for many years and is a valued friend and confidant. I really became close to him during my time working with the judges committee, which Rick was on. One of my very favorite programs during my time at AQHA was the Judges Applicant School. AQHA was the first association I am aware of that implemented such a school, which set the standards for providing qualified judges by putting them through a real test before they ever became judges. Without Rick, I’m not sure that program would have ever happened. From the very first time I talked to him about it, Rick strongly supported the school and the concept of what the school was trying to do for AQHA and judging. I feel strongly about Rick’s influence on the school and getting the school up and running.”

Al says, “Rick was able to combine it all with his heart for the American Quarter Horse and for his fellow man. Thinking of others is a wonderful attribute. Even with his esteemed status, Rick always thought of people first.” Rick was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 1997.

He is survived by his wife, Marcia of Camp Verde, Arizona; son Richard Michael Johns and wife Stacey of Phoenix; daughter Gena Elizabeth Seivert and husband Paul of Phoenix; and step-son Michael Edward Brown and wife Susan of Phoenix; and five grandchildren.

Per Rick's wishes, there will not be a funeral service. He will be interred with his parents.

"It definitely helps to get on a roll like the one I've been on," Hay said.

Wrangler National Finals Rodeo And The Cowboy Channel Cowboy Christmas Rope Impressive Attendance Figures

The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, which ran from Dec. 1 – 10, wrapped up its ten-day run at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas and The Cowboy Channel Cowboy Christmas culminated after 10 straight days at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Both had impressive total attendance numbers.

For the Wrangler NFR, total attendance over the ten performances reached 173,350, up from 169,539 in 2021. The total attendance on the final performance on Dec. 10 was 17,788, the highest single-day attendance figure since 2014 which was

prior to the renovation of the arena that decreased total seating capacity. Since the Wrangler NFR’s arrival in Las Vegas in 1985, total attendance for the 37 years at the Thomas & Mack Center has surpassed 6.3 million.

In addition to the rodeo action, the NFR Experience events up and down the Las Vegas Strip and downtown culminated on Saturday evening. Over the ten days of the Wrangler NFR, there were more than 80 concerts and 30 locations that offered NFR Live presented by Teton Ridge, the official satellite feed of the rodeo.

The action on the dirt was competitive and intense from start to finish, with 120 total contestants vying for the coveted PRCA Gold Buckle. At the end, the following earned the title of world champion: Jess Pope, bareback riding; Tyler Waguespack, steer wrestling; Kaleb Driggers (header) and Junior Nogueira (heeler), team roping; Zeke Thurston, saddle bronc riding; Caleb Smidt, tie-down roping; Hailey Kinsel, barrel racing and Stetson Wright, bull riding. Wright also claimed the All-Around title. For the full recap, click here. Video highlights are available here.

Meanwhile, the 10 days of shopping and entertainment at The Cowboy Channel Cowboy Christmas also culminated on Dec. 10. The official gift show of the Wrangler NFR featured more than 375 exhibitors from across the U.S. Total attendance at the South Halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center – which incorporates both The Cowboy Channel Cowboy Christmas and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Hunter & Outdoor Christmas Expo – was 279,465, up from 241,522 in 2021. This also included the total attendance on Dec. 3 of 40,894, the highest single-day figure in the event’s history. Over the past 36 years, Cowboy Christmas has attracted more than 5.1 million attendees.

Known as the richest and most prestigious rodeo in the world, the Wrangler NFR attracts the top 15 contestants in each event to compete for a share of the $10.9 million purse.

COWGIRLS TO THE CORE

By Jennifer Dennison

The fifth annual Art of the Cowgirl event showcases the skills of Western women, whether they’re riding in a saddle, creating in a studio or performing on a stage.

A cowgirl is not defined by age, geography or profession, it is her integrity, can-do attitude, and love for horses and the Western lifestyle that earns her the title. Nowhere can you connect with genuine cowgirls from all walks of life and learn more about their work and lives than at the Art of the Cowgirl main event, January 18 through 22, 2023, at Horseshoe Park & Equestrian Centre in Queen Creek, Arizona.

Founded in 2018 by Tammy Pate, a lifelong horsewoman, former Miss Rodeo Montana, artist and bootmaker from Montana, Art of the Cowgirl showcases the talents and stories of women making their living in different aspects of the Western industry, from ranching and horse training to saddle making, silversmithing, and sculpting. Their knowledge provides inspiration to other women pursing their passions in traditional Western arts and trades through the Art of the Cowgirl Fellowship program.

“The fellowship program is at the heart of Art of the Cowgirl,” says Pate. “It was my dream to provide an opportunity for emerging western artists to work with masters to refine their art, and give them the knowledge and empowerment to develop their businesses, while also honoring and preserving our western heritage.”

The fifth annual Art of the Cowgirl main event is one of the avenues that raises funds for the fellowship program. The event kicks off on Wednesday, January 18, with an array of educational workshops in silversmithing, songwriting, photography, rawhide braiding, armita making, drawing, beading, leatherwork, dog training and recreational horse packing. Taught by masters in their respective fields, the workshops are a rare opportunity to gain hands-on instruction and tap into decades of experience. (Note: Workshops have limited space and require preregistration and tuition. Students receive a five day pass to the event.)

Throughout the five-day event, attendees will be immersed in all things Western, through demonstrations, discussions, exhibits, live entertainment and a curated trade show with oneof-a-kind art, gear and accessories made by female artisans. The handiness of working cowgirls and their horses will be displayed in the All Women’s Ranch Rodeo, presented by Cowgirl Magazine, the Kimes Ranch World’s Greatest Horsewoman competition, presented by Western Horseman, Breakaway Roping presented by Merck Animal Health, and in ranch roping and cowdog rodear competitions. There’s also the Art of the Cowgirl Elite Horse &

Working Cowdog Sale on Saturday, January 21. Find online bidding at cci.live. Overall, the event is a celebration of Western women, traditions, horses, heritage and artistry.

“To me ranching and horsemanship are just as much of an art as painting and carving leather,” says Pate. “It takes creativity and innovation, and we celebrate the families–men, women and children–who keep the Western lifestyle alive. We welcome everyone—male or female—to come out and see what it’s all about.”

The event has two new offerings this year. First, a Ranch Roping competition produced by Rockin X will showcasing talented ropers from across the country where they are judged on style, stockmanship, and horsemanship. There will also be a compelling quick-draw competition co-hosted by Cowgirl Artists of America. The artists will also be making their marks on range teepees, which will be sold to raise money for the fellowship program.

“We’re really focusing on the fellowships and artists and creating a hands-on art experience. We encourage everyone to come take it all in and support our artists,” says Pate. “The vibe of Art of the Cowgirl is so welcoming, whether you’ve been to a past event, or this will be your first. It’s a place to experience the true cowgirl spirit and connect with Western culture and the people who create it.”

Spectators don’t want to miss the exciting short rounds of the All Women’s Ranch Rodeo, presented by Cowgirl Magazine, and the finals of the Kimes Ranch World’s Greatest Horsewoman, presented by Western Horseman, held on Sunday, January 22. The top five four-woman teams from the long round of the ranch rodeo will compete in events that simulate ranch work, such as branding and doctoring. In the World’s Greatest Horsewoman competition the horse and rider duos will test their skills and versatility in four exciting phases of competition: herd work, rein work, steer stopping and cow work. The winner will take home cash, prizes and the chance to compete at the prestigious National Reined Cow Horse Association’s World’s Greatest Horseman, held in February in Fort Worth, Texas.

“Art of the Cowgirl is driven by horsewomen and I wanted to produce an elite cow horse event for women like me who come from ranching backgrounds and dream of taking a cow down the fence in Fort Worth, yet still respect the working cowboy, cowgirl and ranch horse,” says Art of the Cowgirl Event Director Mesa Pate. “For a lot of horsewomen, horsemanship is their art, and they’re interested in reined cow horse because it embraces ranching. They may not have the opportunity to compete due to finances and the long distance to travel to shows. The World’s Greatest Horsewoman is a unique way to tip our hat and show respect to working ranch cowgirls and the horses they’ve trained.”

Tickets are $60 for a day pass and can be purchased at the gate or online, $195 for a five-day pass and $495 for a VIP pass that includes priority seating in the main arena, free parking, swag bag and access to the VIP reception and quick draw competition, and more. Admission is free for youth 15 and under.

Sarah Dunlop making a custom hat during her 2022

World’s Greatest Horsewoman 2022 Champion,

Breakaway Roping Competition presented by Merck

Exciting competition at the Cowdog Rodear Trial.

Top 5 NRHA qualified athletes to compete at The American Performance Horseman, presented by Teton Ridge

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) is thrilled to announce the top five NRHA Professionals who will compete at the unprecedented The American Performance Horseman (TAPH) presented by Teton Ridge.

The top five riders who qualified to represent the reining community are NRHA Seven Million Dollar Rider Shawn Flarida, NRHA Seven Million Dollar Rider Andrea Fappani, NRHA Three Million Dollar Rider Casey Deary, Fernando Salgado and NRHA Million Dollar Rider Matt Mills. These NRHA Professionals will join the top five riders from the National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) and National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) to compete for a $1 million payout in a first-of-its-kind competitive exhibition format.

“This event is an unparalleled opportunity to showcase our sport along with other exciting western performance events like fans have never seen before,” said Gary Carpenter, NRHA Commissioner. “We have been here all along with great horses and great riders, this puts it in the front shop window for all to see. What it means to these riders,

their careers, and all NRHA riders is something that we could have only dreamed of before.”

The American Performance Horseman will make its debut at The American Western Weekend, Friday, March 10th, 2023, at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

Notes related to other year-end standings and rankings lists: The reiners selected will be the top five NRHA Professionals determined by total 2022 earnings in NRHA Categories 1-10. TAPH will utilize a modified version of an NRHA pattern. Earnings for the event will be recorded in NRHA as Category 11 money. TAPH Reining Qualifiers are being published in advance of the 12/31 official year-end as all events that could affect the top five are published. NRHA Top 20 Professionals, Non Pros and Owners lists for 2022 will be published after the official yearend. NRHA World Title Top 10 Standings for 2022 will be published after the official year-end. At present, the ReinerSuite team is testing the 2023 Eligibility Tool so it can be released by the second week of January

Playing Cowboy Exhibition to bring Private Collection of Vintage Toys to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Opening February 10, 2023 at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Playing Cowboy is a new exhibition exploring the topic of the American West as represented and experienced through Western-themed toys. The exhibition will look at the beginnings of Western toys following the Wild West shows of the 1880s, their growth in popularity in the 1930s through the 1960s and examples of their enduring appeal today.

“Western movies and TV shows created an enormous

cast of Western heroes for children to admire and want to emulate, and spurred a Western toy industry that was inescapable in the 1950s and 60s and still plays a role in the toy market today,” said Michael Grauer, McCasland Chair of Cowboy Culture and Curator of Cowboy Collections and Western Art.

This exhibition is drawn entirely from the Johnie and Bob Terry collection from Springtown, Texas. Bob Terry is a renowned historian of Western toys and appeared

as “Woody” in promotions for Disney’s Toy Story series.

The Terrys operate Wild West Toys, a company that makes molded plastic Western figures and casts toy cap guns from the original vintage molds.

More than 800 items from their collection were loaned for the exhibition, which will showcase everything from cap guns to costumes; board games to a coin-operated mechanical horse.

Playing Cowboy will be on exhibit through May 7, 2023

Hearst Ranch: Raising cattle on historic

By JULIA HOLLISTER

When George Hearst — William Randolph Hearst’s father — purchased a ranch in 1865 it was beautiful, rugged and iconic. One hundred years later, the purchase of the nearby Jack Ranch nearly doubled the size of the operation to 156,000 acres.

“The two properties, which are about an hour apart, complement each other well,” said Ben Higgins, director of agricultural operations for the Hearst Corp. “The Jack Ranch is perhaps less well-known and scenic, but an excellent cattle ranch in a decent year with strong feed, good groundwater and about 2,000 acres of farm ground, which we use to produce hay and for permanent pasture.”

Higgins also oversees the original 83,000-acre Hearst Ranch at San Simeon surrounding Hearst Castle. It and the 73,000-acre Jack Ranch are in San Luis Obispo County. He also served four years as executive vice president of the California Cattlemen’s Association and as state director of USDA Rural Development. In addition to 1,500 mother cows on each property, the ranches raise 1,200 head of grass-fed, hormone- and antibiotic-free cattle annually.

Each animal spends its entire life on the ranches and is raised on grass to a finished weight of 1,300 pounds. The primary customer is Whole Foods Market, with over 40 Southern California locations. Hearst is the largest agricultural landowner on the Central Coast. There are over 50 historic residences and structures and over 300 miles of road on the San Simeon property.

“Like most cow-calf operations, we’re mostly Angus,” Higgins said. “Our ranch managers — Keith Pascoe and Dann Russell — have a lot of discretion to select and buy animals which will work well for the different climates and constraints of the two ranches, and are going to produce excellent grass-fed beef.”

The lack of rainfall is a major concern. He said during his 10 years with Hearst, the ranches have received the historic average rainfall in San Simeon only once and at the Jack Ranch just twice. Producing grass-fed beef when you’re constantly short on grass is a major challenge, regardless of breed, he said, adding that day-to-day operations would be a lot easier if there was a decent rain year. Higgins said there are larger challenges facing all of California’s livestock ranchers.

Ranching in California has been pretty marginal economically for the last 30 years at least, and things have really gotten bleak in the last two years. It’s hard to paint any kind of economically viable picture with $7 diesel, $400 hay, and everything from fencing materials to equipment to groceries up 30% at least, he said.

Higgins said California is also “coping with the loss of a lot of our young families to other states — constraining labor in many areas.” The many regulations imposed by local, state, and federal governments are ever present, he said. This organization, fortunately, has the ability to weather these storms but a lot of smaller producers do not, he said.

In 2005, the Hearst Ranch was forever protected from commercial development with a perpetual conservation easement, held by the California Rangeland Trust. Thirteen miles of coastline were also donated to the public and are managed by California State Parks. Thanks to this agreement — one of the largest conservation easements in U.S. history — this property will forever remain a working cattle ranch and one of the most remarkable and diverse assemblages of native plant and animal species in the country, he said.

Evolution of Elaborate Belt Buckles

The most coveted buckle in Western sports is the gold PBR World Champion buckle – and only 29 have been awarded to date!

But cowboys haven’t always worn large, fashionable award buckles. When competitive rodeos started in the late 19th century in Colorado, cowboys did not wear buckles unless they were veterans of the American Civil War. Instead, they wore suspenders. However, that changed with the introduction of denim jeans which contained belt loops and belts, allowing buckles to become more functional.

As Civil War veterans who kept their military belts found them to be more practical than suspenders, the US Cavalry and Texas Rangers followed European tradition with ornate buckles that showcased their organizations. Saddle makers and silversmiths were inspired to create fashionable buckles that rodeo cowboys first wore during balls and social events. In 1920, these elaborate buckles were introduced at rodeo events as prizes, beginning in San Francisco’s Cow Palace.

Movie makers in Hollywood took note and movie heroes began wearing similar buckles. Precious metals adorned with gemstones were used for the most prestigious award buckles and a tradition was firmly implanted in Western culture. Today, the PBR is partnered with the iconic Montana Silversmith’s who create and produce all of our award buckles in the United States. But they don’t just outfit the world’s best cowboys and cowgirls! Montana Silversmith’s is also the exclusive maker of PBR’s commemorative fan buckles, with designs to fit all tastes and styles.

Stetson Wright Caps Epic Season

With All-Around, Bull Riding Titles At Wrangler NFR

Courtesy of the PRCA Stetson Wright capped his Wrangler NFR season for the ages Saturday night.

Wright set the single-season PRCA earnings record ($927,940), all-around single-season record ($758,829), bull riding single-season record at $592,144 and bull riding earnings at the NFR at $271,545, counting ground money before 17,788 spectators at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge.

“This year has been the best and the hardest year I have had in the PRCA,” said Wright, 23. “It started off really hot, moving to No. 1 in the world in broncs and bulls. And it kind of didn’t slow down from that point on. But I had a few injuries where I had to have surgery, sit out and miss some rodeos. When you are missing stuff like that, you don’t feel like you are doing your best. I had to learn a lot of patience. I had to trust everything my mom and dad said when I needed to sit out. I learned that if you wait and get healthy, you will do a lot better.”

The Milford Utah, cowboy now has seven career world championships – four in all-around (2019-22); two in bulls (2020 and 2022) and saddle bronc riding (2021). Wright also placed in 15 out of the combined 20 rounds he competed in saddle bronc riding (seven) and bull riding (eight) at the Thomas & Mack Center. Wright finished fourth in the saddle bronc riding PRCA | RAM World Standings with $335,797.

“I didn’t think it was,” said Wright when asked about winning more than $900,000 in one season. “I feel like I have shocked myself a lot this year. It came with patience and trusting that everything would be all right. That was what this year was about.”

Wright was quick to point out he has no plans of taking his foot off the gas pedal.

“I love breaking my own records because that means I did better than I did the year before,” Wright said. “That’s my goal to be better. I feel like what I have done this year, I feel like I

can do even better if I stay healthy and don’t miss anything. I really feel like I can do better and break more records.”

Tie-down roper Caleb Smidt collects fourth world and average titles Caleb Smidt doubled his pleasure at the 2022 Wrangler NFR. The Bellville, Texas, cowboy won his fourth world title and fourth NFR average honor. Smidt, a model of consistency, earned a PRCA tie-down roping single-season record $374,737. He also earned an NFR tie-down roping record of $225,221.

“It’s unbelievable. Just what I have accomplished is beyond my imagination,” Smidt said. “My belief in God and the horse I have, and my family pushed me to be better every day. It’s a tough sport to even do this. To leave your family in the summer to make it here is hard, and it’s a long 10 days here. It’s an unbelievable blessing to do this. And to have the success I have had and great friends

I rope against every day who encourage me to be who I am, it’s amazing. I am happy for my family. They have been supporting me all week. I do it for them, for the fans and I give all the glory to God.”

Smidt won the average with an 82.5-second time on 10 head. He also won world and average titles in 2015, 2018, 2021-22. Smidt is tied with tie-down ropers Olin Young (1959, 1962-63, 1971); Roy Cooper (1976, 1979, 1983, 1995); and Fred Whitfield (1991, 1997, 1999, 2002) for most NFR average wins.

“I don’t even think I would have a gold buckle without him,” said Smidt of his star horse Pockets. “That’s how good he is. The consistency he gives me every time I nod my head. It’s unbelievable. When I am back in there, and I know it’s all on me to win something, it’s pretty easy. I don’t have to worry about my horse. A lot of guys this week were switching horses to try to find something that works. When I ride on him, I know I have a chance. When you have a horse that does the exact same thing every time it gives you a chance. He’s going to do his job.”

Steer wrestler Tyler Waguespack claims fourth world crown Tyler Waguespack is no stranger to winning world championships –but his fourth world title on Saturday night was a bit improbable.

The favorites to win the world – Stetson Jorgensen and Will Lummus – stumbled. Jorgensen received a no time in Round 10 and Lummus broke the barrier. In came Waguespack to win his fourth world title. Waguespack also was the world champ in 2016, 2018 and 2021 and 2022. Waguespack finished atop the world standings with $268,881. He narrowly defeated Lummus who finished with $266,188. Waguespack split fourth in Round 10 (4.0 seconds) and was third in the average with a 57.1-second time on 10 head.

“I feel undeserving of this world title,” Waguespack said. “That was the craziest round of steer wrestling I have ever seen. Will Lummus bulldogged great all week long. The steer he had tonight actually took me out of the average earlier in the week that’s the steer I got the barrier on. I would have never thought that would happen. Will should be sitting here instead of me. I was the lucky one who came out on top at the end. That was one of the craziest rounds I have ever watched.”

Waguespack is joining some elite company in steer wrestling world title circles. Only Homer Pettigrew (six) and Luke Branquinho (five) have won more world titles than Waguespack. The Gonzales, La., cowboy is tied with four world titles with Ote Berry, Everett Bowman and Jim Bynum.

“This is so awesome,” Waguespack said, “I grew up watching all my heroes and dreaming about having one gold buckle, you know. Ote Berry is one of my biggest role models and biggest supporters and helped me out so much. I can’t wait to see him here in a little awhile because I have got the same amount he does, and I get to rub it in that I am still going so maybe one day I will get lucky and get one more on top of him.”

Saddle bronc rider Zeke Thurston nabs his third world crown Canadian Zeke Thurston made it a hat trick on Saturday night. Thurston won his third career gold buckle in 2022, thanks to earning a PRCA single-season saddle bronc riding record with $399,316. Thurston of Big Valley, Alberta, also won world titles in 2016 and 2019.

“This one was probably the hardest one I have ever had,” said Thurston of title No. 3. “I had to work for this one. The other 14 guys in the room are crazy talented and ride awesome. I had quite a bit of money to make up coming in here. I knew if I just made the best ride I could on every horse and kept placing in the rounds I would give myself a fighting chance. And that’s what I did. Having my family and everybody here, it is really cool. I have won a couple

of others. To have them all here for this one is really special.” Thurston earned an NFR saddle bronc riding record $256,078. He earned $74,150 for winning the average with 876.5 points on 10 head.

“I am not usually an average-kind-of guy,” Thurston said. “I darn sure didn’t come here with the mindset to win the average. When it comes down to it, it can make-or-break you. To be the guy leading it coming in, I would almost rather not have been in that position because it starts playing tricks on your mind. I just blocked it all out and went and made the best possible ride tonight.

Team ropers Driggers/Nogueira wins second straight gold buckles. Make it back-to-back for team ropers – header Kaleb Driggers and heeler Junior Nogueira – who won their second straight world championships. Driggers/Nogueira finished atop their respective world standings with $340,708 each. They earned $112,830 each at the NFR and finished second in the average with a 71.4-second time on nine head.

“This is what we’ve always dreamed about, being here and winning a gold buckle,” Driggers said. “This week we had a lot of trials and tribulations. We had to overcome them. It didn’t go exactly as we planned. At the end of the day, we kept our faith in the Lord and our faith in each other and we persevered.” Nogueira echoed his partner.

“It was one of the toughest finals (without winning a round), especially for me,” Nogueira said. “Kaleb did an amazing job of keeping me up. A great job. Perhaps, I just humbled myself a little bit, I guess. We had to fight through it. There’s nothing easy. We always compete against the best guys in the whole world, and they don’t make it easy on anyone. We were blessed to be good in average, and we really had to catch that last one, a tough steer. We were able to do it. And you have to give all the glory to God.” Bareback rider Jess Pope snares his first career world crown

The wait is over for Jess Pope. After finishing third and second in the world standings in 2020 and 2021, respectively, the Waverly, Kan., cowboy is a world champion in 2022.

“This is awesome. The emotions right now, there isn’t anything like them. It is just so rewarding. I worked my whole life for this, and it finally came true.

“I knew I had it in me. It was just letting the cards fall right and drawing right where I was supposed to and doing what I was supposed to when I was. God’s plan, the way it was supposed to be I guess.”

Pope also won his third consecutive NFR average crown with 860 points on 10 head.

“Man, I was just showing up and taking it one horse at a time, being a cowboy,” he said. “When your day working or anything whatever you have in front of you, you have to do your job and that’s what I was able to do. This feels incredible.”

Barrel racer Hailey Kinsel wins her fourth world title in five years

Hailey Kinsel concluded her 2022 season with her fourth world championship in five years. The Texas cowgirl finished as the world standings leader with $302,172 to capture her latest world title. She also won world titles in 2018-2020.

“Oh gosh. This is so much to put into words,” Kinsel said. “(Sister) is amazing. I really don’t know how and why she loves this so much and wants to be better every time. She got stronger as the week went on. She came into the last two rounds like she could go 10 more. I felt really good that I could tell her we are quitting while we are ahead. It’s good to give her a day off as a reward when she’s done that well. She’s so special to me. She’s like family. All our horses are. It’s been an incredible time to be with these ladies. We have a wonderful group of women and amazing horses.”

Kinsel edged 2021 world champion Jordon Briggs, who finished with $274,520.

Vermeir and Iq steal the show at Mechelen

by Louise Parkes

There’s nothing quite like a win in front of your home crowd, and this evening Wilm Vermeir brought the spectators to their feet with a spectacular victory in the ninth leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2022/2023 Western European League on home ground at Mechelen in Belgium.

This Christmas fixture is always special, and even before the competition began the atmosphere in the arena was already electric and filled with emotion as the crowd sang their national anthem. And they were rewarded with the result they wanted when 43-yearold Vermeir and his faithful familyowned gelding Iq van het Steentje snatched victory when last to go in a sensational five-way jump-off against the clock.

Vermeir knew what he had to do. German pathfinder Hans-Dieter Dreher had thrown down a huge challenge when racing through the timers in 35.19 seconds with the lovely grey stallion Cous Cous to set a strong early lead. But the Belgian pair galloped home relentlessly to take the win in 34.45 seconds and set the arena alight.

Their all-or-nothing run to the final vertical was breathtaking. "If I’d had the last fence down it would have been an unbelievable disappointment for everybody, but everything was on our side - the jump-off was perfect, the horse was perfect, it was all just super good!" - Wilm Vermeir (BEL)

Testing - Eddy Geysemans’ 13-obstacle first-round track was testing. “It was a scopy course, the triple combination (fence 7) was not easy and the horses had to give everything there, and then the following vertical was high and close to the side of the ring so that was already a difficult line. And the one before the last one was a difficult oxer. I gave Iq too much space there - but he is fantastic!”, Vermeir explained.

That massive oxer at fence 12 was 1.52m high and 1.60m wide and proved pivotal throughout the early stages of the competition. This was no day for the faint-hearted, with several fences, including the wall at four and the planks at fence 10, standing at 1.63m high. First of the five to go against the clock, Dreher really put it up to to the rest when his handsome 10-year-old horse broke the beam in 35.19 and although Belgium’s Pieter Devos and the 15-yearold mare Mom’s Toupie de la Roque left all the poles in place they were almost a second slower through the finish.

Next in, 24-year-old Gilles Thomas looked set to shake up the leaderboard with a thrilling ride on the leggy Casall mare Calleryama, but as they thundered down to the final vertical she took her eye off the fence and ran out to the right for a four-fault penalty in a slow time. So the young Belgian who has firmly established himself at the top end of the sport this year would have to settle for fifth place in the final analysis.

Germany’s Deusser was next to set off, and no-one doubted that he’d be giving it his best shot. When the World Cup was last

staged in Mechelen in 2019 he reigned supreme with Killer Queen, and because his family and friends are closely associated with the Mechelen fixture the 2014 series champion is always keen to put his best foot forward. But after producing a classic clear in the first round he said the jump-off course was not built to suit his horse, and although Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z was foot-perfect once again their time of 35.39 wouldn’t challenge for the lead.

Pin drop

As Vermeir returned to the ring for the final time you could hear a pin drop. Could he wrest victory from Dreher’s firm grasp and make it a home win? He wasn’t going to think too long or too hard about it. He was partnering a horse who he has known all his life, and they were simply going to give it everything they had.

Iq is not the quickest horse on the planet and Vermeir was delighted when the first-round time-allowed of 73 seconds was so generous because he reckoned that helped them jump clear. But it was that deep understanding that develops between horse and rider over time that clinched it for them in the end, Iq listening to every word as Vermeir talked him around the track and responding instinctively to every movement of his rider’s body as they weaved their way down to the last line where their race to the final fence had everyone gripping the edges of their seats.

“There was not so much in my mind galloping to that last jump. I just had to go as the distance was long and hope he did not touch the pole!”, he said afterwards. It stayed firmly in place, and when the clock showed 34.45 seconds for the winning time the arena erupted with a roar of approval.

Treasured horse - Iq (Toulon/Kannan/BWP) is a treasured horse, much loved by the entire Vermeir family. "He came directly to us as a foal. My brother rode him until he was a six-year-old and then he came to me, so the family has him 14 years and he’s very special to us all!" - Wilm Vermeir (BEL)

The gelding is officially owned by Wilm’s brother Bert. “This year I did a lot of Nations Cups with him and we have a very good understanding between us. He means a lot to us all and we will never sell him!”, said the rider who has produced many top horses during his career from his base near Lummen in Belgium.

Second-placed Dreher was happy with the result he achieved from the eye-catching young stallion Cous Cous. “It was his first 1.60m today”, he said, and he praised the crowd for their enthusiastic support for every rider in today’s competition.

Content

Third-placed Deusser said he was also content. “I am very happy with how my horse jumped and I can’t remember when he last had a fence down. My jump-off was not perfect, my turns were not optimal but I am very happy for Wilm - he would have been difficult to beat this afternoon!”, he pointed out.

Both Deusser and Dreher plan to compete in the next round of the 14-leg Western European League in Basel, Switzerland in two weeks’ time.

“WewillbeattendingtheWESAtradeshow inJanuarytobringthebestofthebesttothe Arizonaequestriancommunity.”

Arizona Practice Owner Joins AAEP Board of Directors

Tegan Easton, DVM, MS, owner of Phoenix Equine Veterinary Services in Scottsdale, Ariz., has joined the AAEP board of directors. She was installed Nov. 21 during the AAEP’s 68th Annual Convention in San Antonio, Texas. Her

three-year term expires in 2025.

Dr. Easton earned her veterinary degree from Texas A&M University in 2008. She accomplished this four years after receiving her master’s degree in veterinary medicine with a theriogenology focus. Dr. Easton completed a rotating

surgical and lameness internship at Pioneer Equine Hospital in Oakdale, California. She stayed on as an associate until 2011. She subsequently practiced in Texas, Missouri and Illinois before moving to

Arizona in 2017. Dr. Easton established her ambulatory practice in 2020, and it has grown to a three-doctor practice. Her primary areas of focus are sports medicine, reproduction and general health practices, including dentistry.

In addition to her role on the AAEP board of directors, Dr. Easton serves on the AAEP’s Performance Horse Committee. She was a 2021 participant in AAEP Lead, a leadership workshop for those in practice 15 years or less. In addition, she mentors Arizona veterinary students as a volunteer with the Arizona Veterinary Medical Association’s Mentorship Program.

PBR Hall of Fame

The PBR (Professional Bull Riders) and National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum today announced a new partnership creating the PBR Hall of Fame at the historic Oklahoma venue. As part of the new relationship, PBR will relocate the organization’s prestigious Heroes & Legends induction ceremony to Oklahoma City starting in 2023.

As PBR readies to embark on its 30th anniversary season, the plans to construct the organization’s Hall of Fame mark the first effort to collect and exhibit artifacts from throughout the sport’s storied history in a compelling and unified format. The PBR Hall of Fame will be unveiled in Spring 2023 in the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum’s American Rodeo Gallery.

Chrome Cash pays $116,140 at the 2022 NCHA Futurity

By Jessica Hein

Chrome Cash’s huge purses at the 2022 NCHA Futurity made it even more rewarding to ride a Paint. More than $116,000 was paid out across nine divisions, with 224 Paints vying for the cash. Non-Pros and Amateurs cashed in especially big, scoring $63,505 in Chrome Cash just for them.

Facts:

224 Chrome Cash-participating Paints at the 2022 NCHA Futurity 60% increase over 2021

$116,140 paid to Chrome Cash winners $49,978 increase 61% increase in Chrome Cash purses over 2021 Chrome Cash purses are the result of jackpotted entry fees and $4,000 added money from Check Up Ranch, Jeff & Jennifer Foland of Weatherford, Texas

Ripp Tide & Brandon Westfall were the biggest Non-Pro champions, scoring $4,456 for their Chrome Cash 3-Year-Old Non-Pro victory; the duo won the finals as well, netting $70,300 more. Quite Cash & Tiffany Sternfels earned $3,862 in the 3-YearOld Amateur Chrome Cash class, with The Kindred Spirit & Beth Rockey close behind with $3,812 in the 3-Year-Old Intermediate Non-Pro. Beth and The Kindred Spirit won the 3-Year-Old Intermediate Non-Pro finals, too, adding more than $11,000 to her tally.

In the Open Futurity, Grant Setnicka piloted Cinca De Force to tie for fifth overall—that scored him a $75,690 payday plus $6,369 as the Chrome Cash Open champion. Playful Smoothtalker and William Moore won the Intermediate Open and Limited Open events, along with the Chrome Cash pots in those divisions, taking home more than $47,776 in full.

Congrats to all of our Chrome Cash champions: 3-Year-Old Open— $31,845 paid to 12 Champion: Cinca De Force & Grant Setnicka ($6,369) 3-Year-Old Intermediate Open— $13,860 paid to 7

3-Year-Old Limited Open—$6,930 paid to 4 Champion: Playful Smoothtalker & William Moore ($3,880 & $2,772)

3-Year-Old Non-Pro—$22,280 paid to 11 Champion: Ripp Tide & Brandon Westfall ($4,456) 3-Year-Old Intermediate Non-Pro —$13,645 paid to 9 Champion: The Kindred Spirit & Beth Rockey ($3,812)

3-Year-Old Limited Non-Pro—$1,980 paid to 2 Champion: Homiedontplaydats & Jimmy Purselley ($1,188)

3-Year-Old Amateur—$12,875 paid to 9 Champion: Quite Cash & Tiffany Sternfels ($3,862)

3-Year-Old Intermediate Amateur—$9,655 paid to 5 Champion: Marie Levon & Sawyer Hennig ($2,896) 3-Year-Old Limited Amateur—$3,070 paid to 2 Champion: Von Rubie & Stephen Roseberry ($1,842)

Launched in 2018, Chrome Cash was designed to increase payouts for registered Paint Horses at select events across the country. Now , Chrome Cash classes can be found at cutting, reining, reined cow horse, roping and all-around events across the country, where it pays to ride a Paint. At the NCHA Futurity, exhibitors pay a Chrome Cash entry fee that’s jackpotted—that jackpot, plus the $4,000 added by the event sponsor (Check Up Ranch), is paid out to eligible Paint exhibitors.

World’s richest Paint reining & all-breed slide brings $84,000+ to Fort Worth in June 2023

By Jessica Hein

Buckle up, buttercup— reiners will vie for more than $84,000 in Fort

Worth, Texas, during June 2023 at the world’s richest Paint reining & allbreed slide. Put this reining spectacular on your 2023 show calendar now, and make plans to bring your Paints and all-breed

reiners to pocket that cash for yourself.

What: World’s Richest Paint Reining & All-Breed Slide

When: June 27-30, 2023 Where: Will Rogers Memorial Center, Fort Worth, Texas (concurrent with APHA World Championship Show) Money Talks: $84,000 added, plus jackpotted entries to bolster the purses even more Pre-Entry Deadline: May 15, 2023 (late entries accepted until 5 p.m the day before the event)

Bring your Paints for a shot at huge purses in APHA-only Open & NonPro reining challenge classes, paying across 4 levels, and to vie for world championship titles. Bring your Quarter Horses & other reiners to compete in all-breed NRHA classes, with added money of their own. This is a reining for EVERY HORSE IN YOUR BARN!

Photos by PCH & Seth Petit Photography, courtesy Sunny Bates Pictured: Ripp Tide, Quite Cash, Cinca De Force

Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira came in as the pair to beat in the team roping and paid it off with their second straight Gold Buckle. Their final tally was $340,708 apiece.

After breaking the regular season record in late July, both men entered the NFR with leads of more than $80,000. After a touch-and-go NFR, they ultimately finished second in the NFR Average and won the Gold Buckle by a healthy margin.

“I’ve been kind of thinking about (going back-to-back) all

Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira Finish Record-Setting Regular Season with Another World Title

year,” Driggers said. “I wanted to follow it up and show that we’re meant to have it.” Both Driggers and Nogueira were ultimately about $33,000 clear of NFR Average “ Kaleb did an amazing job of keeping me up. A great job. Perhaps, I just humbled myself a little bit, I guess,” Nogueira said. We had to fight through it. There’s nothing easy. We always compete against the best guys in the whole world, and they don’t make it easy on anyone.”

Hailey Kinsel Wins Final Two Rounds to Rally for Fourth World Championship

Hailey Kinsel enjoyed not having the pressure on her for 10 nights at this year’s NFR.

The now four-time World Champion entered the NFR fifth and hit a

barrel in Round 1, which gave her the opportunity to have fun riding her mare Sister and try to go as fast as possible for the next nine nights.

“She’s a challenger, she makes me be better, she does not let me slack and I’m thankful for that I really am,” Kinsel said of Sister.

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The plan ultimately worked to perfection as Kinsel rallied to win Rounds 2 and 3 and then later Rounds 9 and 10 with the two fastest times of the rodeo. She finished the season with $302,172, about $25,000 ahead of 2021 World Champion Jordon Briggs.

“I just tried to take my focus off winning the World Title all week, I didn’t want it to be about that, I wanted to enjoy my horse and enjoy my time here,” Kinsel said. “I guess just taking a little pressure off, allowing yourself a chance to lose a little

bit makes you freed up to win.” Kinsel has now won four of the last five WPRA Barrel Racing World Championships and took time to reflect on her career so far in her press conference Saturday night.

“You start to realize that this does not last forever and you need to enjoy this as much as you can. So, I just become more grateful for every run, I don’t know how I could be more grateful than I am today, but the next run I make on (Sister), I’ll be more grateful to get to ride her, she’s amazing.”

The 2023 Winter Slide runs January 26-29 at the Hardy Murphy Coliseum in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

“We’re excited to start 2023 with the Winter Slide,” said Pete Kyle, Winter Slide owner and manager. “There are classes for all levels of riders and we’re pleased that this show is NRHA, SWRHA, OKRHA and AQHA approved, giving exhibitors an opportunity to earn more toward their show goals in the new year.”

WINTER SLIDE JAN 26-29

Barbra Schulte Selected as the 2022 Modine Smith Humanitarian Award Recipient

The National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) congratulates Barbra Schulte of Brenham, Texas, as the 2022 recipient of the Modine Smith Humanitarian Award.

Modine Smith was a longtime member of the NCHA and selflessly committed herself to the betterment and promotion of cutting for nearly five decades, serving on the executive committees of the NCHA and the Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association. The Modine Smith Humanitarian Award was established in 2012 in her honor and is presented to a person who displays unwavering support of the NCHA and the NCHA Foundation by continuously working to enhance both associations.

Schulte has been an NCHA member since 1981. She served on the NCHA executive committee for many years, including a vice presidency in both 1994 and 1995. Schulte was also very active in the show pen with earnings in excess of $832,000. She is active in many programs, including the NYCHA BraveHearts Shootout where veterans learn to ride and show a cutting horse.

"I am tremendously honored and humbled to receive the Modine Smith Award,” said Schulte. “Modine was the hallmark of staunch support of the NCHA and unwavering kindness and personal support to every one of its members. The members of the NCHA are my family. They have been with our family through thick and thin, and I can only hope to do some small part to return the favor to them. I am deeply grateful."

Schulte was presented with the Modine Smith Humanitarian Award at the 2022 NCHA Metallic Cat World Championship Futurity in Fort Worth, Texas.

Jonathan, the world’s oldest land animal rang in his 190th birthday over the weekend, surrounded by his closest friends, caregivers, and admirers.

The world’s oldest land animal rang in his 190th birthday this past weekend, surrounded by friends, caregivers, and admirers.

Hatched in 1832—five years before the coronation of Queen Victoria—Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise, was honored at Plantation House in Saint Helena. The British territory, which is located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coasts of Angola and Namibia, has been his residence since 1882.

“Jonathan is truly a national treasure, loved by the people of Saint Helena,” the territory’s tourism board said in a post on its Facebook page. “This was shown when the community

Jonathan the tortoise celebrates 190th birthday

The territory of Saint Helena honored its beloved resident with a fruit and vegetable came together to celebrate his amazing milestone.”

Jonathan, who obtained the Guinness record for world’s oldest animal on land in 2019 at the age of 187, achieved the title of oldest chelonian (a category encompassing all turtles, terrapins, and tortoises) earlier this year.

Though he can no longer see or smell, Jonathan’s hearing is “excellent,” the Saint Helena Government said in an update about his health, adding, “He loves the company of humans and responds well to his vet Joe Hollins’ voice, as he associates him with a feast.”

In celebration of his birthday, Jonathan was presented with a cake consisting of his favorite fruit and vegetables.

The tortoise, which was hatched during Andrew Jackson’s presidency, has lived through several significant

human milestones, Guinness reports, including:

The first photograph of a person ever taken (1838) The first telephone call (1876)

The invention of the incandescent lightbulb (1878) The completion of the Eiffel Tower (1887)

Photo courtesy facebook.com/ visit.sthelena

Jonathan (left) with another giant tortoise in 1886.

Nomination forms are available online. To learn more call 806-378-4330.

AQHA new Emerging Leader Award

Young adult AQHA members ages 21-35 will be eligible for nomination for the new AQHA Emerging Leader Award. Honorees will be formally recognized each year during a plaque presentation at the AQHA Convention. AQHA has a wealth of young adults achieving an elite level of professional success, contributing to their communities and transforming the horse industry, and AQHA would like to acknowledge them for their accomplishments and impacts on the Quarter Horse industry.

Candidates may nominate themselves or be nominated by another AQHA member. A completed nomination form and all supporting materials must be received in the AQHA office by January 15, of each year. Nominations and the award recipient will

be reviewed and selected by a member committee. Award recipients will be notified and invited to attend the AQHA Convention for the award presentation. A member can be honored with the AQHA Emerging Leader Award only once and the nomination form will compile information on the nominee, including their achievements, involvement within the industry, Emerging Leader qualities, career accomplishments and letters of recommendation.

Honorees may be recognized in a variety of categories, including but not limited to: Leadership, Service,

Science, Education, Impact, Innovation, Ambassador

Selection for the award may be based on direct involvement within the Association or may highlight the successes of an outstanding AQHA member who remains committed to and involved in AQHA. If you or someone you know exhibits qualities in each category, applications are due via email to youth@aqha.org by midnight Central time on January 15, 2023.

SUN CIRCUIT’S JUBILEE CELEBRATES WITH FANTASTIC AWARDS AND CASH

When the 50th Anniversary Scottsdale Arizona Sun Circuit takes over West World in Scottsdale March 4 through 12, exhibitors will have a lot to celebrate with an unprecedented line up of added money classes and awards. Twelve Sun Circuit Anniversary logo’d golf carts, 36 saddles and over $100,000 in added money will be distributed across disciplines including Trail, Ranch, Western Riding, Cow Horse, Roping and more.

One of the highlights will be $10,000 added to the Snippity Snap 4 & 5 Year Old NSBA Open Trail Futurity sponsored by Kent Ray Taylor. The champion exhibitor of the Futurity will also win a Sun Circuit Golf Cart. Machine Made is sponsoring a Limited Rider 4 & 5 Year Old NSBA Trail Futurity as well, with $2,000 added. Plus, the champion of that event will take home a Blue Ribbon Saddle.

Western Riding competition for young horses will surely heat up with $7,500 added to the Nothing But Nett 5 & Under Western Riding Maiden Stakes. Horses must not have shown in Western Riding prior to the 2023 Sun Circuit and the class will run concurrently with L1 Jr. Western Riding.

Ranch exhibitors know Sun Circuit is the place to be for fun, great competition and plenty of added money. In 2023, their expectations will be exceeded. Farnam is once again sponsoring the L1 Open Ranch Horse Stakes with $5,000 added, combining scores from L1 Ranch Trail, L1 Ranch Riding, L1 Ranch on Rail plus halter. The Champion will receive $2,500 and a buckle, reserve wins $1,500 along with a saddle pad and 3rd place receives $1,000 and bronc halter. Ranch exhibitors also have a shot at one of two Golf Cart Awards for their division. There is a Non Pro High Point cart and a Ranch Exhibitor cart. Sweet awards keep coming in Ranch with Two High Point exhibitors set to win a prize package that includes a pair of Woods’ chinks, a CR Ranchwear Shirt and a pair of Rod Patrick Tall Top Boots worth a total value of $2,500. More money can be won in the Ranch Riding 2D jackpots with $1,000 added. The jackpot classes will run concurrent with the regular AQHA Junior and Senior Ranch Riding classes on Wednesday and the L1 Amateur Ranch Riding, Select Ranch Riding and Amateur Ranch Riding on Thursday. Exhibitors are reminded you must enter these to be eligible to win the cash.

Cattle Classes are a huge part of the Sun Circuit scene and offer even more lucrative award opportunities. Ropers can battle it out in the ARHFA Sun Circuit Futurity classes with a total of $35,000 added. There are two golf cart awards specifically for Cow Horse exhibitors. One will be awarded to the Non Pro High Point Reined Cow Horse, Cutting and Cow Horse Exhibitor. Youth and Amateur exhibitors are eligible for that award. The Working Cow Horse Exhibitor Golf Cart Award will go to the individual who

accumulates the most points in Jr, Sr, Amateur and/or Youth Working Cow Horse. The Arizona Golden Cowboy is back, challenging all cowboys and cowgirls to test their skills in herd work, Muley steer stopping and Cow Horse. Cushing Performance Horses is sponsoring the popular event with $2,500 added. In addition to cash, the champion will receive a buckle, Reserve wins a saddle pad and third gets a bronc halter.

Scores from cutting and cow horse are combined in a quartet of jackpotted Spectaculars. Rogers Heaven Sent Ranch is adding $2,500 to both the Junior and the Senior Spectaculars in 2023. Bob and Becky Grant of Anchor Cross Ranch are throwing $1,000 into the pot for the Amateur Boxing Spectacular and Shadd Parkinson is sponsoring the Amateur with $1,000 added. Champions in both Amateur classes also win a buckle, while reserve takes home a pair of Sun Circuit Spurs.

As if that was not enough incentive for Cow Horse enthusiasts to play at Sun Circuit, saddle awards are on the line for Circuit Champions. Bob’s Custom Saddles will be awarded in Junior, Senior and Amateur. Jim Taylor Saddles will be awarded in Youth Cow Horse and Amateur Boxing.

There are multiple NSBA Pleasure and Hunter Under Saddle futurities too. Gil Galyean Quarter Horses is sponsoring a suite of Western Pleasure futurities. The $2,500 Novice Horse 3 Year Old Pleasure has $1,000 added and the 3 Year Old Western Pleasure also has $1,000 added. There will be a 3 and 4 Year Old Non Pro Pleasure with $500 added as well as a 3 and 4 Year Old Int. Non Pro Western Pleasure with $500 added.

Change gears and check out the 3 and 4 Year Old Open Hunter Under Saddle with $1,000 added along with a 3 and 4 Year Old Non Pro Hunter Under Saddle, also with $1000 added. Both are sponsored by Good Better Best and Nancy-Sue Ryan – Show Stop Farm.

Super Sires is back in Scottsdale with a slate of $2,500 added futurities. Horses must be by an eligible Super Sires Stallion and nominated to the Super Sires program. Their offerings include L1 Jr Western Riding, L1 Sr Western Riding, L1 Jr Trail, L1 Sr Trail and L1 Open Western Pleasure. Super Sires Futurities run concurrent with the respective L1 AQHA class.

The fun and cash is spread around all the arenas. There is $2,000 added to 2D reining jackpots for Junior, Senior and Amateur, along with $1,000 in the Select.The jackpot classes run concurrent with the AQHA classes. Trail Stakes add $2,000 each to 2D jackpots in Junior and Senior and $1,000 to Amateur and Select. Plus there are more golf cart awards in Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle, Reining and Trail, with a total of 6 carts specifically for Non Pro exhibitors.

74th Annual Gold Rush Days & Senior Pro Rodeo

FEBRUARY 10-12, 2023

This event celebrates Wickenburg’s origins as a ranching & gold mining center in the days before there was a Phoenix. The heritage event was founded 74 years ago, and today Gold Rush Days draws tens of thousands of visitors during the 3 ½ days of activities. Gold Rush Days most significant recognition is from the Library of Congress, “whereas Gold Rush Days is one of America’s Living Legacies.” The Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce is the proud producer of the celebration each year, along with partners and sponsors.

OPENING CEREMONIES & CLASSIC CAR SHOW

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10 - The official opening gets underway on Friday during the Opening Ceremonies on Frontier Street at 10:00 am with western stuntman Will Roberts and Gold Rush officials kicking off the event. Friday is also the only day you will be able to see beautiful classic cars on Frontier Street from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

CARNIVAL, THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAYBrown’s Amusements Family Fun Carnival opens at 10:00am in the downtown district on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The carnival is also open at 4:00pm on Thursday, February 9th until 10:00pm.

ARTISAN FAIR, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, & SUNDAY, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM - The main festival area on Valentine Street in the historic district will host 150 exhibitors at the Wickenburg Art Club artisan fair, juried art show, family fun carnival, free stage entertainment, gold panning, over 100 arts & crafts vendors, and much more from 9:00am to 5:00pm on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

GOLD RUSH DAYS PARADE, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 10:00 AM - The parade is on Saturday, February 11th at 10:00am and is one of the largest in Arizona, including over one hundred horses within the entry classes. Classic automobiles, floats, marching bands, and youth groups will also be participating. The parade theme for Gold Rush Days 2023 is Back in Gold! The Gold Rush days parade was named the #3 Parade by Arizona Edventures' Top Ten Parades to attend in Arizona!

SENIOR PRO RODEO, SATURDAY & SUNDAY, GATES OPEN

AT NOON - The National Senior Pro Rodeo and Open Rough Stock takes place on Saturday, February 11th and Sunday, February 12th. Performances often include bronc riding, team roping, barrel racing, calf roping, and more. Gates open at 11:00am. The National Senior Pro Rodeo Association selected the 2022 Gold Rush Days Rodeo as their “Rodeo of the Year."

RODEO DANCE, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 6:00 PM to 10:00

PM - Join us on Saturday night for the Rodeo Dance during Gold Rush Days! The dance is brought to you by the Humane Society of Wickenburg. Bring your dancin' shoes to the Wickenburg Community Center on Saturday, February 11th and enjoy live music by the Pat James Band. The dance will run from 6:00pm to 10:00pm and feature a full bar. Tickets will be available at a later date.

By Audrey Pavia

Through this guidance, we will be able to allow enforcement discretion. We think veterinarians need those unapproved drugs, yet the drugs don’t go through the FDA’s premarket approval process. We don’t know their safety and efficacy.

This past summer, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a new Guidance for Industry (GFI) that will take effect in April 2023, affecting how compounding pharmacies fill veterinary prescriptions. Called GFI #256, the guidance is intended to encourage the use of FDAapproved drugs by veterinary professionals and control which bulk substances are used to create compounded medications.

According to FDA, the new guidance is designed to protect human and animal health by limiting the use of animal drugs compounded from bulk drug substances to when a veterinarian, acting within a valid veterinarianclient-patient relationship, determines there is no medically appropriate human or animal drug that is FDA-approved, conditionally approved, or indexed to treat the animal.

we intend to apply enforcement discretion,” says McCoig. “The FDA hopes that by making this policy available to people, it can help clear up some confusion.”

McCoig adds that a lot of veterinarians think compounded medications are just tailored drugs that are specific for the patient and are just as safe. In truth, the bulk substances used to create the compounded drug have not undergone the kind of scrutiny approved drugs undergo from the FDA.

“I’m hoping coming out with this policy will help veterinarians to see that although we recognize there is a need—there are not enough drugs out there specifically approved for animals—they will also see that approved products are going to be the most safe and effective,” says McCoig.

FDA updates Compounding Guidelines for Vets

The lists

This new guidance is intended for veterinarians, state-licensed pharmacies, and federal facilities interested in compounding animal drugs from bulk drug substances for use in non-foodproducing animals, as antidotes in food-producing animals, or as sedatives or anesthetics in free-ranging wildlife under limited circumstances, when no other medically appropriate treatment options exist, according to the FDA.

Amber McCoig, DVM, senior veterinary medical officer for the Office of the Director at the FDA, explains the guidelines were designed to make sure veterinarians get the compounded drugs they need.

“All drugs that are compounded from bulk drug substances are unapproved drugs, and that has always been the case,” says Dr. McCoig. “Through this guidance, we will be able to allow enforcement discretion. We think veterinarians need those unapproved drugs, yet the drugs don’t go through the FDA’s premarket approval process. We don’t know their safety and efficacy. We also don’t have post-market information where we get adverse events reports, and we don’t know anything about the manufacturing of these products. So, this is our way of helping to make these drugs available when they are needed, but still trying to have people use the approved products when possible because that’s the safest way,” she says.

In the past, FDA has generally refrained from taking enforcement action against animal drugs compounded from bulk drug substances under certain circumstances when no other medically appropriate treatment options exist. GFI #256 continues this practice while balancing the FDA’s concerns about the risks of animal drugs compounded from bulk drug substances that have not gone through FDA premarket review. This guidance is intended to provide additional information and clarify FDA’s current thinking about animal drug compounding from bulk drug substances.

“This is not really a change in our policy, but it is showing where

As part of this guidance, the FDA is maintaining the List of Bulk Drug Substances for Compounding Office Stock Drugs for Use in NonfoodProducing Animals, as well as a List of Bulk Drug Substances for Compounding Office Stock Drugs for Use in Food-Producing Animals or Free-Ranging Wildlife.

Bulk drug substances on these lists can be used to compound drug preparations for office stock for specific species and disease indications without concern of the FDA taking enforcement action against a state-licensed pharmacy or state-licensed veterinarian.

The FDA intends to include a bulk drug substance on either of the lists under three different circumstances: when there is no marketed FDA-approved, conditionally approved, or indexed animal drug that can be used as labeled to treat the condition; when there is no marketed FDA-approved, conditionally approved, or indexed animal or human drug with the same active ingredients that could be used in an extra-label manner to treat the condition; and when the FDA has not identified a significant safety concern specific to use of the bulk drug substance in animals.

For bulk drug substances used to compound drugs intended as office stock for nonfood-producing animals, in addition to these stipulations, drugs can be included on the list when urgent treatment with the compounded drug is necessary to avoid animal suffering or death, or to protect public safety.

Substances can be nominated for either list by submitting information to the FDA. Drugs under review will not be targeted for FDA enforcement while they are pending approval. The names of drugs currently on both lists as well as those under review are available on the FDA website under the GFI #256 pages.

Photo coutesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media

First injectable pentosan for equine osteoarthritis is approved by FDA

Unapproved injectable formulations of pentosan have a long history of use in horses, but the newly approved therapy is the first injectable pentosan product to have met the FDA’s standards. FDA-approved drugs have been demonstrated to be safe and effective for their intended use and have been consistently manufactured to preserve the drugs’ identity, strength, quality, and purity. The FDA is strongly encouraging veterinarians to use the legally marketed FDA-approved pentosan polysulfate sodium injection when pentosan is indicated for use in an equine patient.1

The drug’s sponsor conducted a field study of 237 clientowned horses of various breeds that were each diagnosed with osteoarthritis in 1 lame leg. In the treatment group, 120 horses received pentosan polysulfate sodium injection by intramuscular administration in the neck once every 7 days for 4 weeks for a total of 4 doses. In the control group, 117 horses were given an equal volume of saline at the same dosage regimen.1,3

Each horse’s lameness was graded on Days 0 and 28 of the study. On Day 28, improved lameness grades were demonstrated in 57% of horses in the group that received pentosan polysulfate sodium injection and 36% in the negative control group.3 The study results indicated that treatment with this injection at the labeled dose benefited horses with single limb lameness due to OA.1

The most common adverse reactions associated with the administration of pentosan polysulfate sodium injection were administration site reactions such as pain, heat, swelling, redness, and neck muscle cramping; and prolonged coagulation parameters,1,3 lethargy, behavior changes, and colic.3

Some injection site reactions initially occurred around the time of dosing and other injection site reactions were initially delayed, up to 3 days after dosing. All peri-dosing reactions resolved without specific treatment. All delayed reactions resolved within 5 days from onset, and most didn’t require treatment. Clinical signs of bleeding were not seen in any horses.1

FDA guidance

In a letter to veterinarians, the FDA strongly encouraged the use of the approved pentosan formulation. In contrast to the approved pentosan polysulfate sodium injection, the absorption and bioavailability of compounded formulations of injectable pentosan polysulfate sodium are unknown and may be inadequate or variable, according to the FDA. Furthermore, although there are many post approval requirements for sponsors of FDA-approved animal drugs, including the mandatory reporting of adverse drug experience reports, there are no such mandatory reporting requirements for compounded preparations.2

The letter also urged veterinary professionals and animal owners to report adverse drug experiences and product defects associated with animal drugs and devices to the agency. FDA officials also vowed to monitor and evaluate reported adverse events associated with pentosan polysulfate sodium, including monitoring for potential human safety risks.2

The FDA has also emphasized that pentosan polysulfate sodium injection is not indicated for use in humans. Because the formulation is a weak anticoagulant, people who take an anticoagulant should use caution when handling or administering the drug.2

Roots N’ Boots Queen Creek 2023-24

Royalty Application now available

The application, including picture and introduction, are due by Feb. 18, 2023 and try outs will be held Feb. 25, 2023.

DO YOU

LOVE RODEO, ROOTS N' BOOTS & THE TOWN OF QUEEN CREEK? Applications are now being accepted for the 2023-2024 Rodeo Royalty Court! Applications due February 18, 2023 Tryouts February 25, 2023 Applications can be found on our website: Roots Boots.org/royalty or for more information call Tiffany at 208-221-2795. PRCA PRO RODEO QUEEN age 18-26, SR. TEEN QUEEN age 15-17, JR. TEEN QUEEN age 12-14 AGES ON OR BY 02/01/2023. $2,000.00 Scholarship** **Scholarship only for the PRCA Pro Rodeo Queen (age 18-26) Contract requirements must be met to claim

Apple debuts first trailer for ‘The Boy, The

Mole, The Fox and The Horse’

By Jordan Hoffman

Apple TV+ released the trailer for its upcoming animated short “The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse,” an adaptation of the 2019 bestseller from Charlie Mackesy, which won the Book of the Year award from British chain Waterstones. Its debut on December 25 positions it well for nominations in the Best Animated Short Oscar race.

The children’s fable was produced by J.J. Abrams and Cara Speller, a producer on “Ant-Man” and “Rocket & Groot” animated series, as well as “Love, Death, & Robots.” Woody Harrelson is an executive producer.

The voice cast includes Jude Coward Nicoll (the boy), Tom Hollander (the mole), Idris Elba (the fox), and Gabriel Byrne (the horse). Peter Baynton, whose work in visual effects includes the beloved “Paddington 2,” is the codirector alongside Mackesy. Jon Croker, credited with “additional material” for “Paddington 2,” plus a co-writing credit on the quite good Netflix horror pic “No One Gets Out Alive,” is the cowriter.

Isobel Waller-Bridge composed the score, which was performed by the BBC Orchestra conducted by Geoff Alexander. The short trailer highlights the 2D hand-drawn animation design and the tender, emotional storyline of exploration and caring. When I was a kid I watched a lot of “Woody Woodpecker,” but maybe that’s why my generation is deranged.

18th Annual Hershberger Performance Horse Sale

Sale Info: LOCATION: Westworld, Scottsdale, AZ

, DATE: Friday, March 3rd, 2023 Sale Begins 1:00 PM, PREVIEWS; Jackpot Roping: Thursday, March 2nd, 2023 2:00 PM, Preview Friday, March 3rd, 2023 9:00 AM, Sale Manager Jason Hershberger, Office Staff Andrew Larson and Jessica Larson, Misty McAuliff, Nikki Hershberger-Michelle Williams-Crystal Williams, Auctioneers

Joel White-Blake Thompson, Announcers, Wyatt Hershberger

Bid Spotters, Jody Doescher, Justin Morris Stacy LeeSpence Kidney, Sale Office, Phone Number: (602) 2840836

from page 90

Compounding

As far as how veterinarians will be affected by the new guidance, Bliss is optimistic that it will not make prescribing compounded medications more difficult.

“There won’t be drastic changes in the availability of office use medications,” she says. “If something is on a ‘not-listed ‘list, it just means a veterinarian will have to write a patient specific prescription for those items and some kind of clinical rationale for that prescription.”

The greatest compliance burden will fall on the compounding pharmacies, according to Bliss.

“The pharmacies that are doing compounding are going to have to ensure compliance with those guidelines,” she says. “Our understanding is that the FDA will be focused on pharmacy compliance, as well as the pharmacies ensuring that the veterinarians are compliant.”

Audrey Pavia is an award-winning freelance writer who specializes in pet and veterinary topics. She lives in Southern California with a menagerie of dogs, cats, and horses.

All American Quarter Horse Association members and horse enthusiasts from around the world are invited to attend the 2023 AQHA Convention, which is slated for February 24-27 at the Omni Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas. View the tentative convention schedule. Register online by January 31 to avoid late registration fees. AQHA is again offering the young adult registration, which is a special registration rate for members ages 35 and under to be involved in the Association’s governance process.

In addition to attending membership, board of director and committee meetings, convention attendees will have the opportunity to attend the Affiliates In Motion Rally, plus mix and mingle with fellow horse enthusiasts during special events and receptions.

Attendees can also purchase tickets to honor the breeders who have shaped the equine industry during the AQHA Breeder Recognition Banquet, presented by Teton Ridge, on Sunday, February 26. Once you’ve registered for convention, don’t forget to book your hotel room at the Omni Fort Worth hotel. To receive the special convention rate, reservations must be made prior to February 3, 2023.

Register online by January 31 to avoid late registration fees. AQHA is again offering the young adult registration, which is a special registration rate for members ages 35 and under to be involved in the Association’s governance process.

which

Update - Wild Horses Shot to Death in Apache-Sitgreaves

At least 30 horses were found shot to death in the ApacheSitgreaves National Forests in October, highlighting the tensions among scientists, hunters, government agencies and horse advocates.

The Forest Service is helping investigate the deaths, but this isn’t the first time feral

horses have been slaughtered on federal land. Wild horses are protected by the Wild Horse and Burro Act of 1971. In the Apache-Sitgreaves forests, the horses in the Heber Wild Horse Territory in the Black Mesa District area on the Sitgreaves side are considered wild and are protected by the act. Horses

in the Alpine Ranger District on the Apache side are considered feral or unauthorized, so they’re not federally protected. The Apache and Sitgreaves national forests were administratively combined in 1974 and are managed as one from Springerville. The Forest Service uses legal designations

laid out by the act to distinguish between wild and feral horses in an area that stretches over 2 million acres.

Rob Lever, a detailed deputy forest supervisor for Apache-Sitgreave, said the classification has to do with location and timing. Horses present during the passage of the Wild Horse and Burro Act are protected, but those that arrived after that or were born out there are considered unauthorized livestock and aren’t protected.

Horses aren’t native to North America. Spanish conquistadors brought them to the continent in the late 1400s, and feral populations grew from escaped animals. Although horses were an integral part of pioneer life, they’re an invasive species that some scientists consider hazardous to the environment.

The Wild Horse and Burro Act established that “wild freeroaming horses and burros are living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West; that they contribute to the diversity of life forms within the Nation and enrich the lives of the American people; and that these horses and burros are fast disappearing from the American scene. It is the policy of Congress that wild free-roaming horses and burros shall be protected from capture, branding, harassment, or death; and to accomplish this they are to be considered in the area where presently found, as an integral part of the natural system of the public lands.”

Lever said the horses found dead in October are classified as feral and aren’t protected by this act, but may be protected by other laws. “Wild livestock is somewhat protected by Arizona state statutes, as far as animal cruelty, etc.,” he said. “They’re not protected as far as living in that landscape by the ApacheSitgreaves forest because they’re not native.”

Shawn Flarida and Andiamoe Win 2022 NRHA Futurity Open

When Andiamoe hit the entrance to the Jim Norick Coliseum, the crowd was already cheering. They’d watched the absolutely masterful go-rounds, where Shawn Flarida and the royally bred mare had marked 228.5 and 224.5. They knew what they were in store for.

When Flarida hit the first stop, the crowd was so loud he wasn’t sure Andiamoe heard him. Regardless, Andiamoe knew the drill, sliding to a stop and scooting her way back to the center From there, she riled the crowd up even further. On his final stop, Flarida’s smile was visible from the back gate. As the score of 230 rang out over the audience, Flarida earned his seventh NRHA Open Futurity Championship and a payday of $350,000. With the win, he had launched himself squarely into the mix for The American Performance Horseman. “She’s a very happy horse. I just tried to stay out of her way,” Flarida said. “She’s so determined, and she’s so confident. Sometimes I’ve just got to be there to pet her and tell her, ‘Hey, you did good.’ Very seldom do I ever have to tell her to work harder. We do a lot of petting and a lot of walking.”

Flarida called Andiamoe a clone of her mother, NRHA Million Dollar Dam Wimpys Little Chic. Flarida earned his fourth Futurity Championship on the palomino in 2007. To make the feat more impressive, Flarida earned an NRHA Open Futurity Championship on Andiamoe’s father, as well, NRHA Eight Million Dollar Sire Gunnatrashya.

“Andiamoe is just so special. She’s amazing,” Flarida said. Andiamoe was bred, nominated, and owned by NRHA Two Million Dollar Owner Arcese Quarter Horses.

Flarida credited his steady mindset throughout the intense week to his family, saying his son Sam Flarida is the one who coaches him throughout the process.

“From the time I get my chaps on to the time I go in, he says some of the most important things to me,” Flarida said. “Tonight, he told me to move my hand slow, to trust myself, ‘This is yours. You’ve been building yourself up to do this, and your horse is ready, and she looks cool.’ He was very instrumental in making sure I got through that gate.”

Flarida said the list of those to thank would be too long for the page, but those at the top included his family, friends, wife, Sam, and his owners.

SHAWN FLARIDA

“And my horse. She is absolutely amazing,” he said.

Finishing as the Level 4 Open Reserve Champions were Customize My Dream and NRHA Three Million Dollar Rider Casey Deary. The pair put together a solid 228.5 run, earning a cool $150,000 for owner Devin Warren. Customize My Dream, by NRHA Eight Million Dollar Sire Magnum Chic Dream out of Gunna Be Custom, was nominated by Garth Hystad, who received $7,500.

Rounding out the top

three and earning $100,000 was Abby Lengel and her horse Bringnthaheat. Lengel bred, nominated, raised, and trained the talented mare by NRHA Million Dollar Sire Inferno Sixty Six out of Tackie Dreams.

Level 3 Open Champions – Matt Mills & Walla Be A Bigstar

Drawing last in the MS Diamonds Level 4 Open Finals is a coup, and NRHA Million Dollar Rider Matt Mills planned to capitalize on it. He knew the scores to beat, so when he rode into the Jim Norick Coliseum on Walla Be A Bigstar, he did so with authority. From the very first stop to the last, it was clear Mills and the flashy palomino stallion were true contenders. Unfortunately, a bobble on a rollback sparked a judges’ review, and Mills had to sweat.

Once the review was over, his score – a 222 – was announced. It was enough to not only win the Level 3 Open Championship but also good for seventh in the L4. That meant that Mills had won the $70,000 check for first in the Level 3 and an additional $52,634 for the L4.

“I’m just really happy for that horse. He’s incredible – we had that darn rollback, but I’m really, really pleased with this incredible horse,” Mills said.

Walla Be A Big Star, by ARC Gunnabeabigstar and out of Smart Little Walla, was bred and nominated by Danny Dalton. He was trained and started by Garrett Thurner, who was showing the horse at the Kimes Ranch Tulsa Reining Classic when he first came on Mills’ radar.

“I saw him showing that week, and I could see the horse was just oozing talent. I went right to Garrett and asked him if I could be first in line. I got a chance to try that horse there and bought him. Garrett did a phenomenal job training that horse, and I didn’t have a lot of time between here and Tulsa, but I’ve typically done pretty well in that situation,” Mills shared. “What a horse he is! I’m not going to lie – during that review, I was holding my breath wondering if we’d be drinking to celebrate or to cry.”

Making the win even more special for Mills was that Walla Be A Bigstar is owned by his longtime clients, Tim and Marybeth

Ruckman. “I’m so happy for them. They have always supported me. I also thank my other owners, including Janice Dickson and Taylor Sheridan. It’s a team effort, and it took us all to get the horse here tonight.”

Tying for reserve in the Level 3 were Martin Larcombe and Jordan Larson, who each marked 221.5.

Larcombe, who passed the million-dollar mark in earnings during the NRHA Futurity, rode Vincent Van Whoa, a stallion he owns with Andrea Costa. Vincent Van Whoa, by Spooks Gotta Gun out of FM Master Tag Chex, was also bred and nominated by Kim Adamic, who received $2,125. Larcombe and Vincent Van Whoa also finished second in the Open Prime Time for total earnings of $44,076.

Larson and HA Tune Of A Mobster took second in the Level 3 and tied for eighth in the Level 4 for total earnings of $83,964. HA Tune Of A Mobster, by HF Mobster out of HA Lena Smart Tune, was nominated by Hillis Akin Family Partnership, who received $4,198, and is now owned by Heritage Farms.

Level 2 Open Champions – Guglielmo Fontana & CD Gunnas Chex Olena

Guglielmo Fontana and CD Gunnas Chex Olena earned the most frequent flier miles when traveling to Oklahoma City to compete in the NRHA Futurity. The pair made it count, putting together solid runs all week. With a 219.5 in the MS Diamonds TX Level 4 Open Finals, they ended the week as the Level 2 Open Champions. They also finished tied for ninth in the Level 3 and 14th in the Level 4 for total earnings of $78,957.

CD Gunnas Chex Olena, by ARC Gunna Sparkya and out of Mistis Chex Olena, was nominated and is owned by Società Agricola CD Horses SRL.

“I’m really happy with my horse. He gave me everything. For me, it’s a dream to be here, and I’m really proud for me and my horse,” Fontana shared. “This is a dream because this is my first time to show here in the states. We decided to come here three months ago, so this is something very special. To just be here tonight, it’s like I won.”

Fontana thanked both Matteo Rondanina and Francesco Martinotti. “Matteo arranged the flight for myself and my horse, and then after showing in Ardmore, I moved my horse to Francesco Martinotti’s,” he explained. “I say a really big thank you to both of

them.” Now Fontana plans to return home, which is in Italy. “We will see with the horse. Maybe we will come back next year. I don’t know yet; I have to speak about it with the owner,” he said.

Tying for second in the Level 2 were Chuy Chavez on Post Palone and Rodrigo Nieves on Spook Lil Whiz. Each marked a score of 218.5. Post Palone, by NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire Pale Face Dunnit and out of Blazed By Commander, is owned by Electric Shine Equine. The colt earned $20,000, with $1,000 going to breeder and nominator Alan Chappell.

Nieves and Spook Lil Whiz, by NRHA Five Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Whiz out of Lil Dreamer, qualified for the Finals in Levels 4, 3, and 2, earning a total of $$44,897. Spooks Lil Whiz is owned by Renata Lemannwas nominated by NRHA Professional Eduardo Salgado, who passed away earlier this year.

Open Futurity Finals Level 1 Champion – Graddytude & Ethan Wiley

Graddytude lived up to her name in the NRHA Open Futurity Finals, bringing home the Level 1 Championship from the first section of Open Finals Saturday, Dec. 3. The pair scored a 216.5 and earned $13,000 for the Level 1.

“She’s a really good-minded horse,” rider Ethan Wiley said. “There is nothing that she doesn’t try to think through. Her strength, to me, is that she’s a team player.”

Graddytude is owned by Lisa and Mark Doering and was teamed up with Willey a few months prior to the Futurity.

“She’s gotten better the whole way [including] when we got to this horse show,” Wiley said. “Today, she was like a machine, and I was able to chase her in the circles. The faster we went, the better she was.”

Sired by Thirteen Million Dollar Sire Gunner and out of Miss Little Addy Tude. She was bred and nominated by Toyon Ranch. “I showed her at the Southwest before this, and we had a couple of turn penalties, [plus] her rollbacks were a little rough. So, we had some stuff we had to clean up,” Willey said. “Our plan [today] was to go in there and either make it or break it. I really thought I made a mistake on my first stop – I missed my timing a little bit – but that mare is so good that she saved me on that.” Willey thanked Danny and Fred Tremblay, Mike Flarida, and wife Angie Willey.

ETHAN WILEY

American Quarter Horse Foundation Scholarship Applications Due January 15

The deadline to apply for an American Quarter Horse Foundation scholarship is approaching. The deadline for 2023 American Quarter Horse Foundation scholarship applications is January 15. Applicants wishing to obtain scholarship funding from the Foundation for the 2023-24 academic year can download the scholarship guidelines for a complete list of criteria and requirements.

The Foundation will award scholarships totaling more than $310,000 for the 2023-24 academic year. Since its inception in 1976, the Foundation scholarship program has awarded over $9 million in financial assistance to more than 1,600 young horse enthusiasts and industry members. To be considered for a Foundation scholarship, please complete the online scholarship application. In addition to the application, several support materials are requested.

Eligibility of applicants is based on the individual criteria and requirements of each scholarship. Applicants must be AQHYA or AQHA members. Become a member here. Recipients are selected based on academic achievement, financial need and American Quarter Horse involvement, as well as the applicant's leadership and communication skills.

Museum Acquires Large Collection from the King of Cowboys and the Queen

of the West: Roy Rogers and Dale Evans

Dusty Rogers, the son of the iconic on-screen cowboy and cowgirl, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, recently donated on behalf of his siblings a massive collection of photographs, documents, costumes, hats, toys, guitars and more to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum through his family’s trust, The Roy and Dale Evans Rogers Childrens Trust, making the Museum the owner of the largest collection of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans archives and artifacts.

“Roy Rogers is an icon who influenced so much of what we know as Western culture today,” said Natalie Shirley, Museum President & CEO. “We’re excited to bring this collection under our roof and know it will help our curators show how popular stories of the American West became synonymous with American culture.”

Since April, a team of curators and archivists has been working to pack up, transport, unpack, process and catalog the collection. Items destined to be preserved in the Museum’s archives include letters, contracts, photographs and rare glass and vinyl recordings of Roger’s songs.

Examples already on exhibit in the Museum’s Western Performers Gallery were formerly on loan from the family but will now become part of the museum’s permanent collection. Other material will eventually be on exhibit for the public to see including costumes from Roy, Dale and Dusty, hats, boots, guitars and numerous examples of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans merchandise such as lunch boxes, watches, toys, air rifles and more

“This collection is important because Roy Rogers and Dale Evans represent everything the National Cowboy Museum stands for,” said Michael Grauer, McCasland Chair of Cowboy Culture / Curator of Cowboy Collections and Western Art. “Roy Rogers influence as a performer and a moral example is still felt in popular Western culture today.”

Roger’s was one of the first movie stars to inspire merchandise, much of which was readily available for purchase decades after his films were released.

Turbine-Powered 1989 Batmobile Re-Creation Among Hollywood and TV Tribute Vehicles Crossing in Scottsdale

Barrett-Jackson is rolling out the red carpet for a group of iconic vehicle designs made famous on television and the big screen during its annual Scottsdale Auction at WestWorld of Scottsdale, January 21-29, 2023. Included in the docket of star car re-creations is the world's only turbinepowered Batmobile recreation (Lot #1324) based on the 1989 Batman film, a Ford Galaxie re-creation (Lot #1023) driven in the film “Fast Five” and a re-creation of the 1930 Pontiac “Munster Koach” (Lot #1100).

“Movie cars have a role all their own and can be just as iconic as the actors who drive them,” said Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “Our Scottsdale Auction will have truly remarkable star car recreations, like the 1989 version of the Batmobile originally brought to life by the creative genius of American filmmaker Tim Burton. All these re-creations crossing the block, like Marty McFly’s Toyota SR5 from ‘Back to the Future,’ each hold a unique place in Hollywood and TV history.”

The 1989 Batmobile re-creation (Lot #1324) is the world's only turbine-powered Batmobile. It was built by Ohio auto restorer and designer Casey Putsch and is faithful to the original. The bodywork on this one-of-one build is made from fiberglass and aluminum, with a steel cockpit chassis. It weighs 2,800 pounds, is 20 feet long and is powered by a Boeing turboshaft engine that can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds with a reported top speed of 185 mph.

Made famous in the 1960s TV sitcom, The Munsters, the 1930 Pontiac “Munster Koach” re-creation (Lot #1100) is noted by the consignor as the most exact example built. It is powered by a V8 engine mated to an automatic transmission and has been professionally replicated in every detail. The 1995 Munsters Dragula coffin-car re-creation (Lot# 995.1) features the custom purple velour interior with fringe bobbles, a V-shape steering wheel just like the original, candle-flicker headlights and the famous headstone on the front.

“Some collectible cars are so recognizable they need no description,” said Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson. “The TV and movie car re-creations crossing our block in January are just as fun to own as they are to show off at the local Cars & Coffee. If you’re looking for a collector car or truck that will turn heads, our Scottsdale Auction docket will have the star-powered vehicles that movie and TV buffs desire.”

The 1963.5 Ford Galaxie 500 XL R-code re-creation (Lot #1023) was featured in the movie "Fast Five" ‒the fifth installment in the Fast Saga movie franchise. This car was driven in the movie by the character Tej Parker, played by the actor known as Ludacris.

The car, built by Mason’s Hot Rods out of Georgia, is powered by a period-correct 427ci V8 side-oiler engine mated to a 4-speed manual transmission.

The 1985 Toyota SR5 4-wheel-drive pickup (Lot #735) pays tribute to Marty McFly’s dream truck from the movie series “Back to the Future.” It is powered by a 22RE 2.4-liter engine backed by a 5-speed manual transmission. It features 4-wheel drive, upgraded bumpers, a roll bar with KC lights, a gray-on-gray interior and brand-new Goodyear Wrangler tires, as well as replica movie items that include a hoverboard, a pair of “self-lacing” shoes, a Gray’s Sports Almanac and two sleeping bags.

Two 1967 Ford Mustang Eleanor Tribute Editions (Lot #1327) and (Lot #1427) will also cross the block during the Scottsdale Auction. Lot #1327 was hand-built from the ground up and is powered by a specially tuned modern 475hp 8-cylinder Coyote engine mated to a 6-speed manual transmission, both from Ford Performance. This unique build started as a 1967 Ford Mustang fastback and was upfitted with parts from the actual suppliers for the 2000 movie “Gone in 60 Seconds.” Another Eleanor Tribute Edition (Lot #1427) is powered by a Ford Racing 351W engine stroked to 427ci and mated to a T5 manual transmission.

Our Condolences Kelle Smith

While in Oklahoma City for the NRHA Futurity, one of the Association’s most accomplished riders, Kelle Smith, passed away.

Kelle was fierce in everything she did, and that tenacity helped her win countless titles, including two NRHA Futurity Non Pro Championships. On Sunday, she competed on her horse, See Ya Seven, and advanced to yet another NRHA Futurity Finals.

“On behalf of NRHA Board of Directors and Staff, I extend our most sincere condolences to Kelle’s husband Sam, her loved ones, the members of their team, and her friends throughout the reining industry. This is a loss that has hit so many of us hard,” shared NRHA President Rick Clark, who’s known Sam and Kelle for nearly 30 years. “Kelle was a tremendous competitor, and I always thought a lot of her.”

Sam Smith designated the Reining Horse Foundation for gifts in Kelle’s memory. We’ll share memorial information when we have details.