12/ JULY 2012 THE RIDER VISIT OUR WEBSITE www.orha.on.ca President


Carol Ivey - 705-686-3074 email: president@orha.on.ca


Recording Secretary Patti Spedaler


Ontario Reining Horse Association 2012 Board of Directors


Treasurer Michelle Mahabir


1st Vice-President Mike Munroe


2nd Vice-President John Purdie


Youth President Jesse Pecore


Membership Secretary Anne Pearse


Tom Cudahy Blair Spedaler Joanne Milton John Purdie


2012 Directors


Art Roberts Ken Van Alstine Sharon Jones


President’s Message


After a great start to our season with the first show at Fletcher’s, it was most regret- table that the next show, Powassan, was cancelled by the hosts. It left a long gap between shows, although some members attended out of province shows instead and placed very well.


have to president@orha.on.ca.


And finally, plans are underway for this year’s Grand Finale, which will not only include the Sired Stakes Futurity, but also the Regional Affiliate Finals.


Our next show is Pickering, followed by Meaford, and they both promise to be terrific events. Both Pickering and Meaford are generously offering a social night, which is always a highlight to any show. As a reminder, we are still looking for photos to put into a 25th anniversary com- memorative book – please send what you


WAHOO - Ontario does it again!


Congratulations to Tim Stanton for win- ning the $2000.00 added Open on Chex To Bee Cashed in Syracuse, NY with a score of 150. A very impressive run.


We are looking for sponsors to offset the cost of this show, so if you are interest- ed, please let me know.


ing.


There will be an indoor arena and it will be a trophy show, and it will be live webcast throughout and will be a memo- rable and first class event.


Until next time, stay cool and safe slid- Carol


Meaford BBQ


There will be a bbq on Friday night at the Meaford Reining Show, open to all competitors. Thank you Ron and Gillian for your generosity in offering this.


Congratulations!


HUGE CON- GRATULATIONS to both Heather Vaughn and Loris Epis for their amazing runs at the first AQR show of the year in Blainville. They tied to win the OPEN with a score of 74 each, both on four year old horses owned by John Fletcher - “Gotta Magnum Dream” and “Resting Whiz.”


And Dan Fletcher kept the family name front and centre by earning Reserve Cham- pion on “Wimpys Tin- seltown” with a score of 71.5 in the NON PRO class.


Left: Heather Vaughn on Gotta Magnum Dream


ORHA Calendar of Events 2012


July 14-15 - Spirit Of Excellence & Sired Stakes Derby, Meaford, Ont. Contact Ron Lubinski 519-538-0510, ynotfarms@ynotfarms.ca July 28-29 - Canadian Reining Classic, Waterford, Ont. Contact Fletchers’ Horseworld. 519-443-7333 johnfletcher@kwic.com Sept. 1-2 - Pickering Reining Classic, Pickering Horse Centre, Pickering, Ont. Contact: Gary Yaghdjian, gary.yaghdjian@live.ca Sept. 11-13 - OBBO, Western Fair Agriplex, London, Ont. Contact Harvey Stevens 705- 639-5767 reinersrus@sympatico.ca Sept. 28-30 - Grand Finale & Sired Stakes Futurity & Affiliate Finals, Western Fair Agriplex, London, Ont. Contact Mike Munroe 519-938-0620 mmunroe@rjburnside.com Oct. 5-28 - American Quarter Horse Congress, Columbus, Ohio Nov. 3 - ORHA Banquet, Holiday Inn, Guelph Nov 22-Dec. 1 - NRHA Futurity & Adequan North American Affiliate Finals Champi- onship Show, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma


Kentucky Cup 2012 By Jane Lyons.


Park. When I got the invitation to steward at the Kentucky Reining Cup this year I was very pleased to get back to the Park. I was last there for WEG, and that experi- ence had left such an impression that I knew this was going to be another special trip. Not only that, there would be some time to watch the Rolex Three Day Event. Very lucky me!!


I love the Kentucky Horse


Briefly, my job as an FEI Steward is to watch over the welfare of the horses competing in the Cup, and to assist the riders to not break the FEI Rules of Reining, so they don’t get excused from competing. This can range from excessive use of riders’ aids to what they can put “in or on” their horses. We also monitor the coming and going of people into the restricted stabling area, so no one can tamper with the equine athletes. It also gives the riders a quiet place to get ready, away from the fans. We answer questions from the riders if they aren’t clear on the rules, to keep them out of trouble. We do have the authority to remove someone from the competition if there are major infractions of the rules, but if we, as Stewards, support and offer guidance to those riders, then we can avoid that happening. No one wants to see competitors unable to take part after putting so much effort into getting there. We had a great bunch of older, sound horses to watch being prepared and the entire American WEG team was back to ride for some very big bucks. There is usually a very interesting cross- section of riders, non-pro and open, owners and grooms to talk to and hear their stories. Everyone is very polite and keen as they pre- pare to ride.


I spent a lot of time chatting with the entourage that came with Shane Brown of Colorado. Ten people drove out in a convoy, eight in a motor home and two, includ- ing Shane, pulling the horse trailer. All of them are close friends and clients of Shane’s. They brought two stallions for him to show, Shepherd Star and Houston Shine. Houston Shine was to be ridden in both the CRI Class and the Freestyle. These people were hav- ing a wonderful time watching the Rolex, shopping and nearly giddy with anticipation to watch their horses compete. Their cama- raderie was infectious.


was Bill Brewer, the past Execu- tive Vice-President of the AQHA, that was waiting for his wristband. It’s a very odd feeling to be the guardian of these horses from peo- ple who have spent their whole lives dedicated to the benefit of those very horses in the barn. It is a mark of how far we have come to see that no one objected and com- pletely understood why they had to wait. It’s different set of global rules when you decide to ride for your country.


Many riders pulled up and retired their horses partway through when they realized they just weren’t ready for such a test.


I had an opportunity to speak to a number of people at the Park for the Rolex. I was quite impressed with the level of respect and interest they showed in our sport. And as the arena filled up, it was quite evident that the Eventers were more than mildly interested in what the reiners had to show them. Many of them had turned


Jane Lyon, FEI Steward, with competitor Shane Brown of Colorado at the Kentucky Cup 2012


Although I try hard not to stare, even though it’s my job, it’s hard not to as some of the biggest names in reining warm up and try to stay within a tighter set of rules. The afternoon of the CRI Class, I had to stop a very nice, well- dressed Western gentleman while his aide ran to the office to sign in and get their wristbands, allowing them entry into the stabling area. In the meantime, I had the oppor- tunity to chat with some of the competitors the gentleman had come to visit. They were Lyle Lovett and Tim McQuay, and it


clockwork. By the way the draw went, you would have thought it had been stacked. As the scores came out, they started to climb and the intensity in the nearly sold out arena climbed with it. The last six after the drag were about to blow the roof off the Alltech arena. Tim McQuay, Casey Hinton and Randy Paul kept the previous momentum going at respective scores of 220.0, 220.5 and 221.0. Next was Craig Schmersal on a palomino mare with a heart as big as the arena, Whizs Katrina, scoring 223.5. World Equestrian Games winner Tom McCutcheon drew up next and rode Chics Olena Starbuck to a blistering 224.0. Last year’s Cup winner, Shawn Flarida, had an old friend with him, Wimps Chocolate Chip. A product of Shawn’s train- ing program, their ride was flaw- less, raising the bar once again for the win with a score of 228.0. As they say, the crowd went wild! Saturday morning was a bit of free time before the Freestyle, so the stewarding team headed over to the cross-country course to watch the fun. These beautiful athletes had finished their dressage tests the day before, and now hav- ing changed out of their formal wear, they began tackling a huge rolling course of thirty obstacles over several miles. Large, brave galloping horses and their riders blasted past us leaping into ponds, clearing immovable fences and nearly flinging themselves off huge banks. Out of sixty horses, only a third completed the course.


Friday’s CRI class went like


out to watch the CRI class on Fri- day but we had a sold-out crowd for Saturday night. A highlight for everyone was Karen O’Connor, Three Day Event Olympic medal- ist, riding Shepherd Star in a Freestyle routine. With some assistance at the in-gate from Pete Kyle and Shane Brown, Karen spun, circled and stopped incredi- bly hard, finishing to a hugely appreciative audience. And this was after riding two horses around that punishing cross-country course.


A stand-out for me was the number of horses cross-entered between the FEI class and the Freestyle. This year there were fewer themes and costumes, but the quality of the horses and their performances was far above what I had been expecting. New people are watching and getting a great impression of our horses. Last year’s winner Shane Brown, dressed in his signature tuxedo jacket and black tie, rode a spec- tacular pattern on Houston Shine to score 226.5. This year Pete Kyle took home the loot with his long-haired wig and Hippy outfit scoring a well-deserved 227.5 on A Ruf Gal.


The strength of the FEI is in its’ concern for the welfare of the horses during and after their com- petitive lives, so they get the retire- ment they deserve. Hopefully, it encourages longevity in a trainer’s program and offers a new place to show the older horse. The Ken- tucky Reining Cup showcased all of this and more.


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