16/ FEBRUARY 2023 THE RIDER VISIT OUR WEBSITE


www.orha.on.ca


Ontario Reining Horse Association


President, Banquet Dan Fletcher president@orha.on.ca


1st Vice-President Rules & Disciplinary John Purdie


2nd Vice-President/ Treasurer Terri Purdie, finance@orha.on.ca


Past President Gary Yaghdjian


Elected Director - Secretary


Joanne Milton


Elected Director - Futurity Programs Leona McAtee orhafuturity@orha.on.ca / ob- bofuturity1991@gmail.com


Appointed Director - ORHA Futurity Programs Tracy Nelson nelsontracy@gmail.com


Appointed Directors - Professional Committee Loris Epis Jon Newnham


Appointed Director - Memberships


Janna Imrie - memberships@orha.on.ca


Appointed Director - Youth Advisor


Rebecca Nelles - oryha@orha.on.ca


ORHA News February 2023 ORHA SPOTLIGHT: MANE LANE QUARTER HORSES


By Ashley Janzen We commonly recognize the successes of horses and rid-


ers in the show pen…Futurities pay special tribute to the sires and dams of those horses…but the humans behind those crosses are often unsung heroes. Ontario is home to quite a few breeders of quality reining


horses. One brand of which you may recognize consists of an M and an L with an upside down V-shaped rafter over top. Although they have done less branding in recent years simply due to time - this brand is representative of Mane Lane Quar- ter Horses, a family-run business owned and operated by Heather and Dennis Ruthven and Rachael Laffin. Located in Tiverton, Ontario, at the end of a long lane,


Roosters Honey Bee (and her Colonels Smoking Gun colt)


manship, halter, trail, pleasure, and even some games! She had heart and gentleness that was hard to find, and the family will always think of her as the “Matriarch”. Next, they purchased a few young horses from Lapke


Quarter Horses in Iowa, which is when their interest in reining was piqued. They decided to buy a couple of the best mares they could afford and breed them to some up-and-coming stallions they thought would complement those particular mares. Today, Mane Lane remains a small operation, keeping a


handful of quality mares, and striving to continually improve on genetics. As a result, they have strong “mare power”, geared towards conformation, athleticism, goods minds, and add that “pretty doesn’t hurt either!”


They note that the success of their breeding program and


that of Mane Lane horses in the show pen is also due to their trainers and clients, who are a huge part of what they do. “Without their trust and support, we wouldn’t be where we are today,” Mane Lane owners said. This year, Mane Lane anxiously awaits a baby by Spooks


Grand Slam out of Shiney Rooster, and another by Spooks Gotta Whiz out of Sailors Last Song (Wimpys Little Step daughter). 2024 promises foals by Spooks Gotta Whiz, Colonels Shining Gun, Spooks Gotta Outfire, and Shiners Voo Doo out of their super powered mares. ORHA is honoured to have Mane Lane Quarter Horses


as sponsors, owners, and breeders, and is excited to watch their horses excel in the show pen, and see what new stars they will continue to produce.


Appointed Director - Social Media


Alyssa VanKleek - socialmedia@orha.on.ca


Elected Director – Shows Mike Munroe, shows@orha.on.ca


Rachael and Holms BS Sassilee


their horses live at the Ruthvens’ main farm (main/mane - get it? Mane Lane?). Breeding and farming are Heather’s primary occupations. The horses are a huge part of Rachael’s life, but she also works full time at Bruce Power. Heather and Rachael have always loved horses, compet-


ing at small club shows and in 4-H. They had some mares, and began breeding them to select Ontario studs. Holms BS Sassilee was the Ruthvens’ first registered


Quarter Horse mare, whom they purchased from George Holm, a long-time and well-known breeder of good, solid foundation horses. “Sassi stood 14HH and was as correct as can be - a gorgeous dark bay with wonderful foundation bloodlines, sired by George’s stud, Blue Sparta.” This was the mare that put the fire in Rachael as she competed in show-


Gunna Slide Me Again and Chet Martin While Heather and Rachael love and are proud of all of


their mares, they acknowledge that their Rooster daughters, Shiney Rooster and Roosters Honey Bee (direct daughters of Gallo Del Cielo), have never let them down. They are tremen- dous broodmares and mothers, and seem to cross well on al- most any sire. They give their foals great bone, a good foot, athleticism, and loads of pretty and grit - all of which translate to success in the show pen, as well as health, soundness, and longevity. Other Mane Lane stars include Gunna Slide Me Again


and Babys Night Light. Along with Futurity wins in both Canada and the United States, Chet Martin showed Gunna Slide Me Again to a Top 5 World Ranking in the NRHA Open in 2022, and Babys Night Light was APHA World Champion with Clemerson Barbalho on board. The Ruthvens have pulled some embryos from last year and are very excited about the 2022 foals these mares produced. Aside from show pen wins, Heather and Rachael con-


Shiney Rooster


sider every breeding season that produces healthy, sound foals to be among their greatest successes. “We have learned so much, and continue to learn both from our mistakes and from [considering the] opinions and actions of others...having an open mind and taking chances.”


Babys Night Light and Clemerson Barbalho


Tentative Show Dates: June 2-4 - Steel City Spin Ancaster


July 1-2 - Ynot Farms Meaford


July 28-30 - Canadian Reining Classic Fletchers Horseworld


August 18-20 - Steel City Spin Ancaster


Sept 15-17 - ORHA Grande Finale Fletchers Horseworld


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