4/ MAY 2014 THE RIDER HON. COL. A.W. FINN CD: Founder


BARRY FINN: barry@therider.com Publisher/ Editor/Advertising Manager


KELLY BOWERS: kelly@therider.com Advertising Sales


JOHN DAVIDSON: john@therider.com Advertising Sales


GLENDA FORDHAM: fordhampr@rogers.com Entertainment Columnist


Established in 1970, Published By 1677846 Ontario Ltd.


P.O. Box 10072, Ancaster, ON L9K 1T2 1-877-743-3715 • (905) 387-1900 Email: barry@therider.com Web: www.therider.com


THE RIDER IS THE OFFICIAL VOICE OF:


• Area 3 Quarter Horse Promotional Club • The Canadian Cowgirls • Ontario Carriage Driving Association • Eastern Ontario Pleasure Driving Society • Eastern Ontario Quarter Horse Association


• National Barrel Horse Association Of Canada • Ontario Barrel Racing Association • Ontario Cutting Horse Association • Ontario High School Rodeo Association • Ontario Paint Horse Club • Ontario Quarter Horse Association • Ontario Reined Cow Horse Association


A Horse, Of Course writer Don Blazer passes


his dream was to be a writer and he declined. Don worked as a newspaper reporter in southern California, where he learned how to get to the point quickly, but still produce an interesting column.


horse trainer, Don sold the Communica- tion Center and went into business with Cathy. Later he turned all the show training business to Cathy when she married. Don expanded the race horse training side and was very successful - training Quarter Horse and Thorough- bred Stake race winners.


From Our Founder


Remembering May 1980


19 year old Cliff Williamson


earned over $1,700 in two calf roping events in Red Deer Alberta and North Battleford, Sask. That’s $5,165.00 in todays dollar value.


The Meredith Manor School for


Horsemanship in Waverly, West Vir- ginia had a visit from Dr, Kiley- Wor- thington an animal psychologist from the University of Sussex, UK. We still often run a column by them.


AQHA announced that its first


year of its newly formed Amateur Division saw 42,638 entries.


he started his second business, The Communications Center, which special- ized in advertising consultation. It last- ed longer and was more successful than his first business. When his daughter decided to be a


While writing for the newspaper


time he was able to walk. His first busi- ness lasted one day. Young Don gath- ered old magazines and newspapers in a wagon, which he pulled through the neighbourhood; selling the periodicals to neighbours for a penny. His mother made him return the money. He was accepted at West Point, but


Cathy’s mother, Roberta (Bobbi), and his parents Jabez and Gladys Blazer. Don was a business man from the


Eleanor Butler Blazer of Bulverde, TX; daughter Cathy Hanson and grand- daughter Taylor Hanson of Vista, CA. He was preceded in death by


Camden, New Jersey; the family soon moved to Riverside, California. Don is survived by his loving wife,


changed form on April 7, 2014, at the home he loved, with his wife and daughter by his side in Bulverde, TX. Don was born June 2, 1939, in


The energy that is Don Blazer, 74,


ness partner, Eleanor, developed HorseCoursesOnline. It is the leading provider of online educational horse courses to schools and universities.


The Western Horse Association of


Ontario announced their 1980 Extrava- ganza Queen contest rules. The event was held at the Paris, Ontario Fair Grounds on July 4 to 6.


Rita Hyde, social chair of the


O.R.A,. reported that their booth at Quarterama ‘80 was a resounding suc- cess. Rita also organized the ski week- end that I mentioned in my last col- umn. 16 members attended.


The O.R.A. announced that Ella


Dickinson, past secretary and treasurer, had passed away on April 14.


The U.S. government’s Agricul-


tural Division announced two decisions that effected the Import of Horses Rules. The rules were being challenged by the American Horse Council.


The National Youth Leader Horse


Symposium announced that 630 paid registrants enrolled in the event held at


Alaska to Australia demonstrating train- ing techniques and he’s taught a variety of horsemanship courses for seven col- leges and universities. In 2003, his future wife and busi-


books on training performance horses and horse health care. He was a syndi- cated columnist, writing the columns, “A Horse, Of Course” and “Making Money with Horses”, which had thou- sands of fans across the nation. As a teacher, he’s travelled from


company, Success Is Easy, he released six critically acclaimed books about horses; “Walter (A Horse, Of Course) Spills the Oaks”, “Make Money with Horses”, “Nine Secrets of Perfect Horsemanship”, “Healthy Horses Sel- dom Burp!”, “Horses Don’t Care about Women’s Lib”, “Natural Western Rid- ing” with his daughter Cathy Hanson, and an e-book (Kindle Edition) titled, “Make Any Horse Business Profitable”. Don also wrote eight How-To


his publishing


horses. Through


owners who needed help with


deve loping c o r r e s p o n - dence courses for


horse their


training hors- es, Don was also writing horse training books


W h i l e and


his spirit and energy guide his wife, daughter and granddaughter as they continue his legacy. A remembrance of his life with us,


passion for educating and helping horse owners with the care and training of the animal he loved. He was still answer- ing questions and helping students with- in a week of his passing. Even though he is physically gone,


More than 5,000 students all over the world are enrolled in online courses provided by HorseCoursesOnline. Don was a spiritual man with a


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• Ontario Reining Horse Association • Ontario Therapeutic Riding Association • Ontario Trail Riding Association • Quarter Racing Owners Of Ontario, Inc. • Tri-County Carriage Association • Western Horse Association Of Ontario


Ann Moody (1943 - 2014) In Memoriam:


ited, International Standards Serial (1209-3995). Reproduction of editorial or advertising content is


COPYRIGHT - Contents Copyright 2014 by 1677846 Ontario Lim-


merely an offer to sell. The offer may be withdrawn at any time. SUBMISSIONS - We accept Microsoft Word, Quark Xpress, Adobe


be made to: Don Blazer Scholarship Fund Texas Buckskin Horse Association Cindy Gidden, Treasurer 1780 FM 1103, Cibolo, TX 78108


is to be held June 21, 2014 from 5 to 7, at the San Antonio Rose Palace Hospi- tality Room during the Texas Buckskin Horse Association’s show. There will also be celebration of life at his daughter’s horse training facility in Vista, Ca on June 7. In lieu of flowers, donations may


Ottawa, ON, March 28, 2014 - On March 24, 2014 the driving commu- nity lost a very active member, Ann Moody. Equine Canada would like to extend condolences to her family and friends. Ann lost her battle with Pul-


many lives with his columns, books, and teaching… he will be greatly missed by so many all over the country


Editor’s note: We have had the plea- sure of publishing Don’s columns in The Rider for several decades and con- tinue to carry the Way of Horses col- umn by his wife Eleanor. We thank Don for all his important contributions over the years and send out our thoughts to Eleanor and his family and friends.


Virginia Tech. Tulsa, Oklahoma was the setting


for Young Quarter Horse enthusiasts who were to gather for the American Junior Quarter Horse Association World Championships. Well over 1,000 youth were expected to be quali- fied for the show on August 3-9.


Spruce Meadows announced the


Nations’ Cup Competition on Septem- ber 10-14 in Calgary. The purse was $125,000. In 2014 dollars that’s a cool $3.480 million.


The Burlington-Aldershot Lions


Club announced that their annual show would be held Lions Bayview Park from June 13 to 15. The show manager was Bob Carey of Burlington.


A total of 44 entries were in the


Open Cutting and the Non-Pro Cutting event held at Quarterama ‘80. Organ Grinder ridden by Keith Barnett was


Al’s Tack Shop in Stouffville,


Ontario held their open house featuring a newly constructed jail and barber shop.


My Turn Just a reminder that if there is a


spring election in Ontario that you should remember that the governing Liberals, with the help of the NDP, destroyed the livelihood of thousands of horse people in the Ontario horse industry and sent hundreds of innocent horses to an untimely end. Also keep in mind that Toronto is the power house


Please make checks out to TBHA. Don has educated and touched so


including week long youth clinics and Introduction to Driving Clinics. Ann was a skilled instructor and achieved results with her students,” said Kath- leen Winfield, friend and fellow coach.


monary Fibrosis at the age of 71. After retirement from teaching in 1997 she was able to pursue her pas- sion of horse driving full time and was an active member of the High Country Carriage Driving Club (and had been since its inception). Ann was a competitor, event organizer, hardworking volunteer and an Equine Canada Certified Driving Coach. Her love of teaching carried on in her retirement through her coaching activities. “I had the pleasure of working


with Ann in delivering several clinics


declared the winner and Dee Doc rid- den by Randy Chartier finish second.


Pompano Park in Florida


announced that the track would be expanding its Quarter Horse and Appaloosa races to 59 days. It was also announced that movie star Burt Reynolds was sending his racing stable to Pompano for the summer meet.


condolences may do so at www.mcinnisandholloway.com. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 47 Squire Bakers Lane Markham, ON L3P 3G8, or online at www.canadianpulmonaryfibrosis.ca. In living memory of Ann, a tree


be no service, a private internment will take place at a later date. Anyone wishing to offer their


As per Ann’s request there will


will be planted at Fish Creek Provin- cial Park by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Fish Creek Chapel, Calgary, AB.


of the Liberals. If this group of voters are capable of returning this bunch of brain dead politicians back to power, maybe we need to separate Ontario from Toronto.


I am getting concerned that the


former head of the KGB will invade Canada on the pretence of protecting Russians in Canada from the Ukraini- ans who emigrated here over 100 years ago. Perhaps Mr. Putin will want to reclaim Alaska as well. Putin had the world eating out of his hands and now his desire for restoring the communist way will be his down fall.


I wish all a happy and healthy


show season. Thanks for looking down in this corner.


Aidan W. Finn CD Founder of The Rider 1970 President, Orange aPEEL www.orangeapeel.com


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