2 | The American Horse | November 2013 | TheAmericanHorseMagazine.com
In This Issue.. .
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Page 7: Bridlewise by Richard Shrake
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Page 13: Kelsey Keathly
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Page 19: Stories from Ronnie Ford Page 67: Lil More Conclusive Page 73: A Surprise Championship
THIS ISSUE: Contributing Authors: Richard Shrake Lana Grieve Ron Ford On The Cover: Lil More Conclusive Cover Photo: Vivian Earabino HAVE A STORY? Tell us about it and your story could be in an upcoming issue of The American Horse! Please submit stories or story ideas to: submissions@theamericanhorsemagazine.com
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Bridlewise
by richard shrake
If Your Horse Won’t Accept The Bit
Problem: Your horse doesn’t want to accept the bit & throws his head when ridden.
`points.’ This is a sharpened edge on your horse’s teeth. When your horse eats, he eats sideways in a grinding motion, causing this condition. Take your thumb and rub it Solution #1: up and down on the inside of your horse’s cheek. If they are sharp you need to immeIn Resistance Free(TM) Training and Riding diately have this taken care of. You need to we teach the rider to listen to their horse. have your horse’s teeth floated. When they do this correctly, they are able to work out the problem before it turns into 3. Always check your horse’s mouth for a major disaster. It is much like the fireman tooth decay, cuts on his tongue and mouth putting out the spark before the barn burns sores. You do this by smelling his breath and down. inspection. When your horse refuses to be bridled, he is telling you very directly that he has been hurt or abused in either the bridling process or the bit itself has caused some degree of pain in the past. Before I start to correct a situation like this, I always follow this three step procedure.
A qualified Equine Dentist or your veterinarian can correct all of these conditions. He will remove the wolf teeth, `float’ your horse’s teeth and check his mouth. Have this inspection done every six months. If everything looks good, my next step is to review my technique bridling my horse.
1. Always check your horse’s mouth first. Make sure his wolf teeth are pulled. They are small teeth, about the size of an eraser on the end of a pencil. They have no roots and are very sensitive. The wolf teeth are normally located in front of the molars. When the mouthpiece is placed in the horse’s mouth, it will cause a jarring impact with the wolf teeth, causing small shocks to go through your horse’s system and causing him great pain. This is one of the major causes for your horse not to accept the bit, so have these wolf teeth pulled. They are wisdom teeth, they serve no purpose.
Solution #2: Before bridling, have your halter and lead around your horse’s neck and make sure you do not have him tied solid or in a cross tie. Either remove or undo one side of the chin strap. Stand to the side and not in front of your horse when bridling. This allows you to put your hands up over his poll, using your hands together. Make sure your headstall fits correctly. Your bit should be wrapped in latex tape, so if it does hit a tooth, it will not cause the pain that a metal mouth piece does.
2. Always check to see if your horse has 6 | The American Horse | November 2013 | TheAmericanHorseMagazine.com
With your fingers, push on the corners of the inside of your horse’s lips, making him start to chew. Then with your other hand up at the poll with the top of the bridle, pull up until he picks up the bit with his tongue. The first contact to your horse’s lips is with your fingers and not the bit. Always let your horse drop the bit from his mouth when he is being unbridled. Never pull the bit out of his mouth.
“Learn to develop feel in your hands. Hold the reins in your fingers, not your fist. ”
Once he starts to chew and lick his lips with your finger pressure and accepting the wrapped bit, he will realize there is no pain involved. You have just made your first step to creating a very positive experience for him. Don’t stop now. I would then bridle and unbridle your horse at least 20 times. Make sure you are patient! Don’t let your temper take over if you experience resistance. If he does not let you touch or come near his mouth with your hand, just back up and see if he will eat a little grain out of your hand. This will start him chewing and gaining trust. If it takes several days to gain his confidence and trust, take several days. Don’t get in a hurry at this point. When your horse continually throws his head when you are riding him, you either have the wrong bit or your riding skills need to be improved. I have found that 90% of the time it is the rider’s hands that have no “feel.” When you are over riding your horse and your hands are too quick and heavy, it is a guaranteed result that your horse will protect his mouth by stiffening his jaw and pulling back. Have a friend shake your hand with a soft rhythmic cadence. Then one of you start to move your hand faster and stronger. The result will be resistance. Next examine your bit. Rub your fingers all over the mouthpiece and make sure there are not any burrs or rough spots that will cause your horse to fight the bit. This would be like having a small pebble in your shoe. It is irritating and eventually feels like a large boulder which causes friction and pain. If you are using a bit that is too severe, it will also cause head throwing and nervousness. Always use a bit that complements the level of your horse’s training and your riding skills. Remember, anytime your horse feels pain it will frighten him and cause flight. Thus the fight syndrome will take over. The “red light” of head tossing needs to always be addressed. Learn to develop feel in your hands. Hold the reins in your fingers, not your fist. This allows you to feel the corners of your horse’s lips and tongue and you will be able to develop the lightness needed to communicate with your horse. Keep everything slow and simple; walk several circles letting your hands feel the rhythm of your horses shoulders and leg cadence. Your “green light” will be a harmony of giving and gathering. It could take 60 days of this program to achieve this goal. TheAmericanHorseMagazine.com |November 2013 | The American Horse | 7
I recommend using a snaffle and two hands. The snaffle should be as mild as possible. A large, smooth tapered mouthpiece is recommended, such as the Resistance Free(TM) bit I have designed for exactly this use. Anything used that is more severe will only keep the mental pressure of flight and pain, causing your horse to fall back in his training program. Once you feel your horse relax and start to trust your hands and the bit, only then advance to faster work at the trot and canter or lope. You should feel your horse start to trust your hands during your ride. This is your ultimate goal to a great relationship with your horse, so keep him in good health, go slow in your training program and follow a routine that gives him confidence and allows for both of you to build an ongoing trust.
May you always ride a good horse........Richard Shrake
Profile on Richard Shrake: The Master of Horsemanship Why do some horse people succeed, while others fail? There are a number of reasons. Among them...the presence of someone you can model yourself after...a teacher whose professional capabilities and personal qualities are worthy of respect and a teacher who has already achieved and gives people the tools to succeed themselves. Unfortunately, role models are few and far between, that’s why Richard Shrake fills all the needs of the goal oriented horse person. It is not hard to understand why Richard Shrake is such a phenomenal success. Shrake is considered by his peers as the “Trainer’s Trainer,” and shares his extensive knowledge and humane training techniques to all who know him. The Richard Shrake method of teaching allows all who follow his riding and training methods to gain the greatest possible insight into their horse’s minds and their riding ability. His gift of being able to break down each problem into a very solvable situation is what makes his teaching far above all other trainer’s methods. As you can see, if you want to excel in your riding and training skills, you’ve got to have a mastery of fundamentals and be aware of your talents and have the teacher who has the credentials to take you to the level you want to go. Richard Shrake has devoted his life to training horses and instruct people to reach their top goals, and he did this by reaching the top in the horse business himself. By using his flawless teaching techniques you can see why he has earned the title “The Master of Horsemanship.”
Kelsey
“Let their doubt fuel your fire, dream a little bigger, go for it, and prove some people wrong!� 12 | The American Horse | November 2013 | TheAmericanHorseMagazine.com
Keathly
Dreaming a little bigger, cherishing a little deeper
R
esiding in Greene, New York, 19 yearold Kelsey Keathly is a living inspiration. Exhibiting a will stronger than her setbacks, a level of passion beyond her demons and unmatchable sheer determination, she has worked tirelessly through tragedy to reach her goals as a PtHA and APHA youth competitor. Born into an equestrian family on her mother’s side, Kelsey’s future was bound to include horses, but being diagnosed with a complete heart block at 8 months-old would change the course of the Keathly family and present a detour to Kelsey’s undiscovered horsemanship dreams. In immediate need of a pace maker, baby Kelsey and her family were forced to wait until she was five years-old to proceed with surgery. Monitoring her condition closely, she endured open heart surgery successfully and since then has had two additional surgeries in her freshman and senior years of high school to maintain her pacemaker. “I don’t really remember what life was like without a pacer, but I do need to be very careful to this day,” Kelsey explains. “Up until I was nine or ten, I had to ride with a protective vest. I’ve never been allowed to play contact sports, and falling off a horse isn’t exactly on my to-do list because if I fall hard enough on my chest, it could cause issues. Other than that, I’m a normal 19 year-old girl, except for the bi-monthly pacer checks via phone, the yearly hospital checkups, and surgery every few years.” Once on the road to recovery, five year-old Kelsey began riding her first horse, a grey
BY LANA GRIEVE
gelding named Beau. Exhibiting a natural interest in competing, she attended her first horse show at age six showing in lead line and walk-trot classes. By age nine, Kelsey’s family purchased a stock Quarter Horse gelding named Small Town Roi that carried her to many open horse show wins and unleashed her endless love for the horse lifestyle. Kelsey reminisces, “We owned him [Small Town Roi] for a while before deciding we wanted a horse that could take me a bit further in the show pen, so we started looking for a futurity prospect that our trainer at the time could show, and that could eventually be handed down to me to show at Paint shows in 13 and under classes in Texas. That’s how we found my current show horse, Investers Norfleet, nine years ago.” Making the move to New York when she was twelve, Kelsey and Investers Norfleet made their debut on the local eastern show circuits, winning multiple highpoint titles. Due to limited finances, Kelsey’s dream of APHA level showing would have to develop slowly. Beginning a limited PtHA and APHA show schedule three years ago at age sixteen, her long awaited goal of competing at the national level would come to validate her continuous devotion to learning. Showing on the APHA and PtHA circuits in New York, Kelsey was ramping up for her first Color Breed Congress. Forced to have heart surgery to perform a lead change procedure on her pacemaker in September 2011, Kelsey was unable to ride her horse
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until two weeks before leaving for the show in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Despite the challenges of her circumstances, Kelsey and her loyal gelding earned a fourth place in Novice Youth Showmanship and a ninth place in Novice Youth Hunter Under Saddle. Kelsey shares her sentimentally to her special once-in-a-lifetime horse.
likes to sit around and do nothing. Being stuck in bed for three weeks with a neck brace wasn’t really my style. I got really depressed, I hated life, and I just wanted my horse. I wasn’t able to ride for three months, and even after I could, I had to take it easy. I lost all of my strength, and all of my confidence.”
Changing her perspective toward life perma“I’ve been showing the same gelding since nently, Kelsey’s gratitude for simply being I was ten. Normie (Investers Norfleet) is a alive slowly overcame her dejected state. 2002 gelding by Mr Norfleet out of Vested Revamping her confidence, she invested all Maiden (by The Invester). We purchased him of her energy and devotion to studying for as a two year-old and have showed togeth- the 4-H Nationals Horse Judging competier in the walk-trot division, rarely coming tion, resulting in an unexpected first place home without a high point, and have stayed title. together in both the 13 and under and 1418 divisions. Normie is my best friend. I “While I couldn’t ride horses, I put all of my don’t know what I would do without him. I energy and time into studying horse judgcould not imagine showing another horse.” ing. I was just hoping to earn a Top Ten in Reasons. I never expected to win the entire One year after Kelsey’s third success- contest, or to be the first from New York to ful heart surgery, on September 15, 2012, do so. After that happened, I started to think Kelsey was driving to the barn to prepare I could do anything I put my mind to.” her previous trainer’s horses for the Color Breed Congress. It is a road she drives every day. Thinking nothing of the upcoming blind corner on the familiar country road, Kelsey suddenly encountered a car speeding 65 MPH that crossed over the yellow line and hit Kelsey’s vehicle head on. “The accident happened literally within a hundred yards of the barn,” Kelsey frightfully recalls. “I was eighteen at the time and I was left with a severe head concussion and torn ligaments in my neck. I wasn’t able to show at the Color Breed Congress as I had planned, and I almost had to sacrifice competing at the 4-H Nationals for Horse Judging.” Hospital bound for one week and wearing a neck brace for nearly a month after the accident, Kelsey was required to stay on bed rest throughout the duration of her recovery. A naturally active person, the initial days after the accident introduced the onset of severe depression. “Recovery was very tough on me,” Kelsey admits. “I’m not the type of person who 14 | The American Horse | November 2013 | TheAmericanHorseMagazine.com
trauma of her accident. “I’m very prone to concussions since my first one was so severe. When I was clipping Normie’s legs at a Pinto show this summer, he picked up his leg, slamming his knee into my head, causing me to nearly black out.
In April 2013, Kelsey made her debut back to the show pen after her accident. Nervous to compete after only two months in the saddle, Investers Norfleet carried his longtime owner through a new point of healing within that singular experience. “It felt fantastic being back in the pen with my dream horse. It truly was an indescribable feeling. That horse has been there for me through everything. If I didn’t have him, I don’t think I would have made it through. From sitting in his stall crying after a long, hard day or long trotting stirrup-less to try to rebuild my strength and, in turn, my confidence, Normie was there for me.” Achieving her National Championship in 4-H Judging, and a Novice Reserve High Point at the ESPHC Futurity Show in September 2013, Kelsey’s fierce, determined nature was necessary, overcoming a second head concussion and living with heightened Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from the
Since the accident, I have also developed bad PTSD. I have to drive the road my accident happened on every day, so I get really nervous when I’m driving there and I’m overall a more nervous person now. My memory and concentration are terrible and my headaches are constant, and I have no choice but to keep working through it. There are times I’m miserably depressed and don’t want to do anything, but I remind myself that I’m blessed to even be alive. No one really wants to have severe symptoms from a concussion over a year later, but because of this, I know that I can make it through anything. I know a lot of people think Normie and I shouldn’t be able to make it. After all, I’m a girl with a messed up head, riding an eleven year-old, 15 hand horse, but hey, I’m in the business of proving people wrong!” Cheering her on through thick and thin, Kelsey acknowledges her profound support group responsible for keeping her motivated on the days she felt weak. “My mom, my trainer, and my barn owner are the three most important people in my life. My mom is and always has been there for me. She never hesitates to push me to be the best I possibly can, and to not let the comments others say, or my own doubts, get me down. My trainer, Joan Schaefer, took a broken girl and an eleven year-old horse, and transformed us into a team that, I feel, is a force to be reckoned with. I recently needed to switch trainers and Joan stepped up and took us under her wing, and transformed us form slightly above-average to a team that can go to a Paint show and fit in with the big names, and Karen Myers, my barn owner, is without a doubt my biggest inspiration. She is always there with kind words, encouragement, and years of knowledge.”
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Competing against national level competition at the ESPHC Futurity Show, Kelsey took home several class wins and the newfound confidence to be ready for the 2013 Color Breed Congress. Her last year in the youth division, Kelsey and Investers Norfleet will be entering the youth all-around classes and novice youth horsemanship, trail, and equitation.
in The American Horse, GoMag, The Paint and Quarter Horse Connection and InStride Edition. It’s crazy and keeps me busy, but I could not be any happier!”
Living with messages of doubt from outsiders her entire life, Kelsey voices the importance of not allowing others to influence life direction. “I have been told many times that my ambitions of showing a horse and competing Finishing two semesters at a local commu- were not possible and that there’s no way I nity college on top of her horse show sched- can make it. My best advice to someone with ule, Kelsey will be taking this college semes- hardship is to not give others the privilege of ter off to focus on becoming healthy again. seeing you fail. Let their doubt fuel your fire, She plans to attend her dream college, the dream a little bigger, go for it, and prove University of Findlay, to earn a Bachelors some people wrong! Nothing is impossible degree in Public Relations and hopefully earn a spot on the IHSA College riding team. She will also continue to manage her thriving graphic design business, Norfleet Equine Productions. “I started Norfleet Equine Productions about a year ago when I made a banner for my trainer at the time, then my sister wanted one, then a friend, then another friend, then someone said I should make it into a business. From there, it’s really taken off. I’ve made over 200 banners that have gone all over the US and Canada, I’ve sponsored the All American Youth Horse Show, I’ve had ads
if you work hard for it. And never give up.” Visit Kelsey’s business page on Facebook: www.facebook.com/norfleetequineproductions
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Stories from
Ronnie Ford Ride Your Own Ride!
Last night I received a phone call from a client that was in tears. I think her pride was hurt and she was scared and felt a little somewhat like a failure because she felt she had let her riding companions down. She had brought her horse to me a while back for me to prepare him for sale and while he was here she rediscovered what a neat little horse he really is. I remember when I originally started this horse under saddle. Everything you taught him, he picked up really quick and most of the time it was like he was saying, “Ok, I got that. Lets go on to something else”! After his original start she carried him home and did most of her riding in the arena and pretty soon they drifted into a relationship that was more of a competition and one of arguing about who was in charge, which had made it a fairly easy decision to sell him. When she rediscovered him she started enjoying him and he started enjoying his new life being out on trail rides and getting to see different country and different horses. If anything he’s been kind of pokey and lazy and there has been more complaints about him being slow.
ent levels of training and she would even see fools galloping their horses up and down the highway on the pavement. I told her, they are there to have a good time and there is nothing in the world wrong with that, but if their own safety isn’t a consideration for them then there is no way that yours will be. Her first day on the ride went fairly well. While not perfect she was starting to understand a little bit of what she had let herself in for. The second day it had turned cold and of course the horses are feeling it and it was a little rougher day. The third day was another cold day and the horse was starting to respond to her concerns and she ended up on the ground after having some other riders run past her and something spooking the horse. The horse of course responded in a manner you’ve heard me mention before as he returned to his INSTINCTUAL DRIFT!
Now to get to what I’m actually writing this piece about. She got back on the horse and made it back to camp. The whole time people putting pressure on her to stay and finish the ride. Every now and then I have somebody come through that relates to me that they had a trainer or someone they were She called a while back and related that taking lessons from telling them that when she had signed up to do this big trail ride. I they had a bad experience with the horse questioned her on whether or not she really they had to get back on and work through it thought they were ready for that and if she so the horse wouldn’t learn he was in charge really understood what she was getting her- or how to bully them and for them to deal self in to. I explained to her that she was go- with their fears. ing to be putting herself in a situation where she would be riding with people of different I always ask them if they felt their life was levels of horsemanship, horses with differ- in danger and if they were scared. 18 | The American Horse | November 2013 | TheAmericanHorseMagazine.com
If they tell me yes, they always seem to be relieved when I tell them they did exactly the right thing by not getting back on the horse. I tell them that as a professional trainer the very last thing I want is a scared rider on a scared horse for that is a recipe for disaster. Normally they will ask what about the horse learning the wrong thing and what I tell them is “What about it? Tomorrow is another day and as long as you and he are alive the two of you can learn how to do something DIFFERENT tomorrow.”!
About Ronnie Ford.... Ronnie Ford is a native of Florida and specializes in practical horse training and has some great stories to tell. The American Horse features one of Ronnie’s stories each month, but you can get his full collection on audio CD by visiting his website. Information about the CD is listed on the right side of the page.
When the Horse Speaks to the Heart
The first release of a heartfelt collection of stories on audio CD as told by Ronnie Ford as only he can tell them. A frank, honest and direct disclosure of how differently horse and human see their world. You will smile, laugh and tear up...but there is NO denying his uncanny ability to help the human take a good look at “self” and ultimately see the “horse” for the first time through honest eyes. Getting “self” out of the way is one of the most “key” principles in opening the eye of the wishful beholder of the ultimate in horsemanship. Well worth the listen...if you “hear” the whispers... http://www.ronniefordhorsemanship.com/ the-tack-room-a-little-of-this-and-that.html TheAmericanHorseMagazine.com |November 2013 | The American Horse | 19
Stallion Alley Gamblin Zippo
COMPAQ PLAYER
CHILLEN
OBVIOUS CREATION
MR ICE TE
SPIN IT N WHIZ IT
WHATA VESTED ASSET
SET FOR LIFE
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Twist N Boogie 2008 Black APHA Tobiano, Double Homozygous,16.2 H.HYPP N/N APHA Breeders Trust. Producing outstanding foals. Shipped Semen Only. $700 Stud Fee. Even Haven Horses (605) 270-1214 www.evenhavenhorses.com
In It Only To Win It APHA Bay Homozygous Tobiano. N/N for 5 panel Sire By Appointment Only 2014 Stud fee is $650.00 Cooled semen available. LCFG. Will be in APHA Breeders Trust for 2014. Nelson Performance Horses www.nelsonperformancehorses.com
Huerfano River Blue 2010 Black Stallion, own son of Mecom Blue. full brother to Mbob LTE $22,519.18, and Mucho Macho Mecom LTE $91,048.62. 14.3 HH 1050 #. Gentle with lots of bone and cow sense. Currently in training with Steve Lewis. $400 Stud fee. Dr. Kynan Sturgess. (806) 364-1331
Designed by Tin Man 2001, 15.2 h.h. Sired by APHA Champion Tin Man out of Mr. Small Town Jack. Unshown due to injury as a foal. Excellent personality and movement that he passes on. Negative for his 5 panel test. $500 Stud fee, discounts available. Rising Water Quarter Horses www.risingwaterqh.com
Phenomenal Creation 1998, 15.3 h., Red Dun, AQHA. Sired by WC sire The Phenomenal. WC & sire of multiple WC/RWC Halter horses. N/N for 5 panel. Rising Water Quarter Horses www.risingwaterqh.com
Obvious Creation 2010, 16.0 h., AQHA. Sired by WC Phenomenal Creation. Obvious Creation is a 10 x WC/ RWC & AQHA regional champion. AQHA Superior in Halter. Homozygous for Dun. $1,000 Stud Fee. Discounts Available. Rising Water Quarter Horses. www.risingwaterqh.com
Go Joe Ranger HZ Black Dun Roan Stallion AQHA-FQHA-APHA LISTED Stud fee is $500 (includes 150.00 booking) Mare care is $10.00 a day wet or dry. AI Fee is $300 + shipping. Ginger McGovern 509-990-5233
FG Kids And Fellas 2009 AQHA Palomino Stallion HYPP N/H PSSM N/N Palomino World Champion AQHA ROM in Open Halter with limited showing. 2014 stud fee $1500 including first shipment AQHA Incentive Fund, Go For The Gold Futurity. Ultimate Acres 561-795-7344
KIDSLOOKINTOUCHABLE Kids Classic Style x Lookin Touchable x Touchdown Kid. 2005 NH Buckskin Stallion. AQHA Top 10 Stallion; Sire of WC, RWC, Superior Halter and Futurity Champions, Nominated to Multiple Futurities - BHF, MSSA IL Paint Horse, NWSSA, Go For Gold and More! $1,000 Stud fee. Rees Ranch 209-327-3206
SPOOKS HIRED GUN N/N for 5 panel, LWOS N/O and tests SW2 for splash gene. 2011 bay overo stallion by SPOOKS GOTTA GUN out of Champion and champion producer MS TRIPLE SCRIBBLES. Will be accepting select mares in 2014 private treaty. Calico Quarter Horses 604-746-7630
One Good Invitation 15.2 hands ABRA AQHA Buckskin. Sire: Good Version Dam: Invite Me Too/Invitation Only Due to demand for shipped semen he will be standing at Select Breeders Southwest for the 2014 season. NSBA AQHA If Enrolled, ABRA World Champion producer, NSBA Champion producer. $1,000 Stud fee. Ruth Angle 806-435-5571
Patches Lucky Straw “Lucky” Buckskin Tobiano, 14.3hh. Lucky is our beautiful APHA buckskin tobiano stallion. He is homozygous for tobiano. This guy is bred and built to be a working horse. He is well put together with a beautiful head, great conformation, and good bone. By Design Farm 608-606-2563
Holidocs Lil Peppy “Badger” Brown Stallion, Homozygous Black, N/N 5 panel, 15 hh. Sired by Holidoc & out of Prima Badgerina. Holidoc has lifetime earnings of over $120,000 with offspring earnings nearing the Million Dollar mark! His Dam is a NCHA money earning and producin g daughter of Peppy San Badger. $700 Stud fee. By Design Farm 608-606-2563
Theres No Telling Bay AQHA Stallion Sire: Coats N Tails, Congress & World Champion Dam: Powered By Visa. Congress Top Ten in Hunter Under Saddle, Open Hunter Under Saddle ROM, and Futurity Top Five in Longe Line. First year standing in 2014. Stud Fee: $1000 Sure A Winner Farm 756-414-6837
Mr Ice Te 2004 AQHA Buckskin Stallion 2007 AQHA World Champion AQHA Reserve WC, Congress Grand Champion Amt Stallion 2008 Congress Res Grand Champ Open Stallion, 3x Congress Champion, Sire of WC/ RWC, AQHA, APHA ,ApHC, ABRA , Palomino and European Champion. 16.2h 1650lbs Tin Star Ranch 319-350-9228
Set For Life 2005 AQHA Black Stallion by Gucci Only & out of a point earning and producing daughter of Snazzy Story. He is homozygous for black & is N/N for HYPP, HERDA, & OWLS. He offers the desirable wither high conformation. His beautiful head neck have been a stamp on his babies, as well as the awesome mind this stallion possesses. He is easy to be around, kind and gentle. Awesome mind, exquisite form, with movement to match! Stud Fee $750 Shipped Semen Available, LFG. oaksqh@yahoo. com, www.enchantedoaks.com 817 447-2371 or 817 832-4520 Contact: Charlen McBride
SLOW MOUNTN MUSIC 1992 homozygous dun AQHA stallion. This stallion has several points in multiple events,reining ,halter, lungeline,trail, western and english.Sire of nearly 300 foals all dun factored! Sweet,gentle disposition that he passes onto his foals.Standing to a limited number of mares in 2014 $650. LCFG APHA approved. Calico Quarter Horses 604-746-7630
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Whata Vested Asset The total package! Over 25 World & Reserve World Championships including over 9800 combined LTP back his world class pedigree! Standing 16’1, he has the size,talent, trainablilty, disposition,beauty and color genetics to produce well balanced, athletic foals. Look for his first foal crop to start arriving early 2014. Five J’s Ranch 678-0406
Zippos Gold Rolex 15.1 hand, 2000 model Stallion by the late Zippos Old Gold and out of Shiloh Deluxe (superior producing dtr of the late Dynamic Deluxe). Rolex has offspring with multiple Superiors, an AQHA Champion, an AQHA Top 10 World Champion, multiple all around championships, multiple futurity money earners and Championships (in such shows as The Tom Powers Triple Challenge, The Reichert Celebration, The NSBA BCF and World Show, and many others). $750 Stud Fee. Shipped Semen Available, LFG. oaksqh@yahoo.com, www. enchantedoaks.com 817 447-2371 or 817 832-4520 Contact: Charlen McBride
Too Slick Two Watch 1998 AQHA Buckskin, NFQHA 92%, AMRHA Earner of 56 points in three AQHA events - Heading, Heeling, Calf Roping. ROM Dally Team Roping in first two shows, Qualified 2002 AQHA World Show Open Jr Heading, Open Jr Heeling. Beautiful head, correct conformation, high caliber competitor, and charming disposition. Produces color on any color mare, even sorrel or black. Approved for APHA and ApHC mares. Suzie Davis Quarter Horses 574-656-3202
Truly Priceless 16.3H Gray AQHA Stallion - Homozygous for black Sire: Only Blue Sky, Congress Champion Dam: Slew of Grace (tb), multiple Congress Top Ten producer. Congress Top Ten in Hunter Under Saddle, Congress Top Five in Longe Line, multiple Circuit Champion in Hunter Under Saddle, Open and Amateur Hunter Under Saddle ROMs. Oldest foals of 2011 and already the sire of a Circuit Champion and Congress Top Ten. Stud Fee: $1500 Shipped Semen available. Sure A Winner Farm 756-4146837
Don’t Wait! The deadline for our 2013 Stallion Issue (December) is November 20th! Call us TODAY to find out what special packages we have available for your stallion! 1-800-341-2650
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Featured
2004 Double Homozygous APHA Stallion 66 | The American Horse | November 2013 | TheAmericanHorseMagazine.com
Stallion T
he story of how the playful double homozygous black tobiano stallion came to stand at Lalobarun Ranch starts in 2007 when current owner, Eileen Cashman, called on an ad for a black and white stallion. After receiving photos of the advertised stallion, Eileen and her life partner, John Kellar, went to see him. As they were walking around the farm, Eileen spotted another black and white stallion on the other side of the mare pasture. Escorted by the seller, Eileen and John were taken aback when the young stallion immediately ran straight towards them. Assured by the seller that they were alright, they waited to see what would happen. The three year old Lil More Conclusive, affectionately called Joe, came to a stop directly in front of Eileen and pressed his forehead into her chest. That was the moment when Eileen knew she had found the stallion she had long been searching for! The seller offered a two week trial for Joe, so Eileen and John returned with their trailer to pick him up. Despite limited handling, it was obvious from the start that Joe was a gentle horse with a wonderful disposition. He responded well to John’s handling and jumped right in the trailer. He hauled well and was rewarded when John made a pit stop at a grocery store and filled up Joe’s feed bag with organic carrots! The Eileen and John knew that, although he was a little rough around the edges, Joe would turn into a wonderful breeding stallion for their farm. Shortly after purchasing Joe, it was decided to take him to Equine Affaire. Upon arrival, Eileen was asked if she would be willing
to bring him to the Monty Roberts clinic at Equine Affaire for clinic participation selection. John handled Joe in the crowded selection pen and the stallion was well behaved, even though it was a new environment for him and there were several other stallions in the crowded pen with him. Monty spotted Joe and commented to Eileen that she had a “very unique horse” and that is when Joe made history for Monty Roberts. It was announced that Monty would be doing something that he had never done before, he would be selecting one horse for multiple clinics. That horse was Lil More Conclusive, who was selected for two of the four clinics. In the short time they have owned him, Joe has brought many people into Eileen and John’s lives. These opportunities and friendships, along with his wonderful disposition and train ability, leave Eileen feeling truly blessed. As a sire, Joe has already proven himself a success! He has sired a 2 x Pinto World title winner and a 3x APHA Open Champion. His foals all receive his beautiful head and disposition.
Lil More Conclusive & Monty Roberts: Photographer Unknown
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tees no Reds, Sorrels or Chestnuts...Conformation, Temperament, Trainability Plus! Proven Sire of Double Homozygous, Homozygous Black, Homozygous Tobiano, Heterozygous Tobiano Foals! and his foals WIN!
As they continue to enter the show arena in a variety of events, his success as a sire will continue. With frozen semen now available in Europe and Australia, Lil More Conclusive is a hot seller and his first international foals should be on the ground in 2015.
Breeding information for North American breeders can be obtained by contacting Eileen Cashman at paints@lalobarun. com or by phone at 978-6093999. The website for Lalobarun Ranch is: www.lalobarun. com. Australian breeders can contact Kyla Faye at Fernleigh Paint Horse Stud, the website is: www.fernleighpaints.com.au. Article photos by Vivian Earabino and Dusty Perin.
Where Joe will be standing for the 2014 breeding season remains to be seen. Fred Tabor of Tabor Ranch has requested that Joe stand at his farm in Texas for 2014. Lil More Conclusive’s stud fee for 2014 is $750 (international rates may vary). Lalobarun Ranch...... Lalobarun Ranch is owned and operated by Eileen Cashman. We are located in the lovely town of Newbury Old Town, Massachusetts. We breed Registered American Paint Horses and proudly stand our 2004 APHA/PtHA “Lil More Conclusive” 2013 BREEDERS TRUST Gold Futurity Stallion, TT - Homozygous Tobiano EE - Homozygous Black Stallion-15.2 H, 1100 lbs, HYPP N/N, HERDA- N/N, GBEDN/N, PSSM 1- N/N, LCFG,TCSA, TFSA, MMD,Generations of Champions! Guaran68 | The American Horse | November 2013 | TheAmericanHorseMagazine.com
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Retired stallion, Hot Ones Only, wins the Congress on a whim
A Surprise Championship BY LANA GRIEVE
The All-American Quarter Horse Congress is a place where not only dreams come true, but where equine legends are discovered. Piloting many extraordinary horses at the largest single breed horse show in the world, amateur exhibitor and multiple Congress champion, Sharnai Thompson, admits that her 2006 bay stallion, Hot Ones Only, has obtained greatness beyond what she thought any horse could ever achieve. Little did Sharnai’s family of Taymar Ranch in Pilot Point, Texas, know buying a Thoroughbred mare named Hot Shot Hit in foal to AQHA stallion, Invitation Only would produce a living legend. Resulting in a handsome colt with what Sharnai describes as possessing a “beautiful presence,” she named the Hunter Under Saddle prospect Hot Ones Only.
the team at Highpoint Performance Horses decided to bring him out of retirement for Sharnai’s mother, Tammy Dyer, to compete in the 2013 AQHA Adequan Select World Show in Pleasure Driving. Winning the class and the first world championship for Tammy personally in August, Highpoint’s Jason Martin also qualified him for the Senior Pleasure Driving at the upcoming 2013 AQHA Open and Amateur World Show.
Opting to show Hot Ones Only in November, Sharnai had no intention of hauling him to the Congress, until she got an unexpected phone call. She explains, “Bruno wasn’t originally on the list to go to Congress this year, but Highpoint had a horse back out two days before they left, so Jason called my mom and asked if Bruno could go. That Sharnai elaborates, “(Bruno) was born and way, Jason could have a practice run in the raised at our family ranch. I started him as Pleasure Driving before the November World an early two year-old, and then we sent him Show. My mom gave them the okay to take to Highpoint Performance Horses in Pilot him, and once they arrived, Beth was riding Point, Texas, for formal training. From day him during the early part of Congress preone, I’ve thought that Bruno had a majestic paring him for Jason. look to him, but he proved to everyone the first time he set foot in the show pen that he was a true show horse.” Prepared by AQHA Professional Horsewoman, Beth Case, she and Sharnai prepared to debut Hot Ones Only at the 2008 All American Quarter Horse Congress. Presenting him in the 2 Year Old Masters Hunter Under Saddle, Amateur Hunter Under Saddle and the Junior Hunter Under Saddle, the young stallion would begin his noteworthy career by setting a new record. “My personal favorite Congress of Bruno’s was his two year-old year,” Sharnai happily remembers. “He won the Masters Hunter Under Saddle, the Junior Hunter Under Saddle, and the Amateur Hunter Under Saddle, all as a two year-old! He is the only horse, past and present, that has ever achieved that.” Today, Hot Ones Only is a 9 time World Champion, 13 time Congress Champion, and has earned over $100,000. Initially retired undefeated in 2010 after his second Amateur Hunter Under Saddle World Championship, TheAmericanHorseMagazine.com |November 2013 | The American Horse | 73
Christi (Highpoint’s Breeding Manager) vid- rity champions with his oldest foal crop beeoed him because she said he looked great! ing just three years-old. Beth showed the video to Jason and he said it was okay to enter him in the Senior Hunter Under Saddle, but only for fun with no expectations since he had not been in hunt seat training for years.” Although everyone knew about Bruno’s added Congress class, Tammy managed to keep it a secret from Sharnai until the very moment the class was over. Sharnai laughs, “The only secret going on was from me! And when Beth showed him, I didn’t get the call until after he had won the class. That was when I found out that he had shown in Senior Hunter Under Saddle! The hardest part for me was not Creating a legacy uniquely his, Shargetting to watch him perform! I was home nai and her family are elated to see how working and didn’t know to turn on the live Bruno’s foals will transpire the industry. feed since I didn’t know he was showing!” “It wasn’t until his first foal crop entered the When Sharnai found out her legendary stal- pen that we truly knew what kind of stallion lion had remained undefeated at the Con- we had,” Sharnai conveys. “Out of his first gress in both of his classes, she couldn’t crop, Bruno produced a Congress Champiput her excitement into words. “We hadn’t on in the 2 Year Old Ltd Open Hunter Under been riding him. He pleasure drove with my Saddle and a 2 Year Old Hunter Under Sadmom in August at the Select World and had dle Open Reserve Congress Champion. Our no training since then until he went to the breeding clients have had a lot of success Congress. It feels incredible to know that my with their foals and we have heard from nustallion, even after years of not showing, is merous people that Bruno’s foals are really still at the top of his game in the hunt seat laid back and easy to break and train. That says a lot when we breed to Thoroughbred pen.” and Appendix mares in this industry. We Training with Highpoint Performances Hors- have also bred him to some western mares es since her childhood, Sharnai credits Jason and have some really cool prospects coming Martin, Charlie Cole and Beth Case for their up. We raise a few every year ourselves and impeccable work, unwavering expertise and we are thrilled with the quality of his foals.” faithful relationship. “Jason has a brilliant mind and always sees the ‘big picture.’ He Intending to show one or two choice Hot has never steered us wrong. Beth has ridden Ones Only prospects each year, Sharnai is Bruno from day one and knows him better eager to present her latest three year-old, than anyone, and Charlie is the best! He and Hoos The Best, at the AQHA World ChamI have a lot of the same personality, so we pionship Show in November. Hot Ones Only himself will also make his final appearance get along great.” at the World Show in Senior Pleasure Driving. Holding the highest earning Hunter Under Saddle stallion title, as a sire, Hot Ones Only Hot Ones Only will be standing his 2014 seahas produced Congress Champions, NSBA son at Highpoint Performance Horses. To find World Champions, and multiple major futu- out more information visit www.hotonesonly. com 74 | The American Horse | November 2013 | TheAmericanHorseMagazine.com
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