18/ FEBRUARY 2026 THE RIDER


Ontario Reining Horse Association 2025 Board of Directors


EXECUTIVE


Samantha Speed President, Memberships


www.orha.on.ca


Ashley Janzen First Vice President, Shows, Volunteers


Rebecca Nelles Second Vice President, Youth


Past President: Dan Fletcher


ELECTED DIRECTORS


Joanne Milton Secretary


Mike Munroe Shows, Website


Sara Brown Treasurer


APPOINTED DIRECTORS


Leona McAtee Futurity


Tracy Nelson Futurity


Alyssa VanKleek Social Media


Sharon Hart Banquet


Ashley Gregoris Print Media


ORHA in The Year of the Fire Horse: Igniting Purpose, Passion, and Progress


By: Ashley Gregoris Sometimes, it feels like the cold winter


will never end here in Ontario. Some of us are absolutely buried in snow! So, let’s warm up and shift our focus; grab a cozy drink and read all about the upcoming Year of the Fire Horse! In the Chinese zodiac 2026 is the Year of


the Fire Horse. The Chinese Lunar New Year begins February 17, 2026. The horse repre- sents hard work, bravery, and resilience. (Smithsonian Institution).


Fire Horse starting with our Spring Clinic and of course, a full slate of show offerings!


ORHA Spring Reining Clinic, April 10- 12th 2026 The ORHA has secured two incredible


clinicians for the 2026 ORHA Reining Clinic: Katie Rose and Jason Richards!


best of the best for a one-day, high-stakes competition featuring 8 elite teams competing all under one roof. More than just a showcase of top talent, The Showdown celebrates west- ern heritage and community, bringing fans to- gether for an unforgettable day of sport and connection (theshowdown.ca).


Team PINK Jason has been selected as one of the top


8 Canadian money earners in Reining and will join team PINK alongside Les Jack (Cut- ting) and Carlene Schmidt


(Working


Cowhorse) in the $10,000 added money race to the top! I am honoured to have been selected. I


will be riding Design a Dream (Loki) owned by Elyse Tremblay. Let’s go Team Pink!


Katie Rose Katie Rose operates Katie Rose Perform-


This year will bring big energy and the


willingness to take risks in pursuit of some- thing meaningful: “This is a year that moves, ignites, and refuses stagnation. Use this en- ergy to embrace the changes and the energetic shifts that come your way” (Katie Brindle). We know that horses are natural teachers of presence and forward motion. They teach us to work with the energy they bring to us rather than attempt to suppress it. They don’t dwell on yesterday’s over-spin or tomorrow’s show nerves; they live in the moment and respond honestly to what we bring to them. The Fire Horse year invites us to ride with intention, to commit fully, and to stop holding back when opportunity is calling. What a powerful framework for goal set-


ting! As we look ahead past the ice and snow to a new show season, The Fire Horse chal- lenges us to be intentional with our energy. To ask ourselves: What am I working toward? What kind of partner do I want to be for my horse? And, how can I ride this year with both heart and confidence? So, get your boots, heated gloves, cover-


alls, toques and head out to the barn to ride, groom or schedule a meeting to map out a plan with your coach. The ORHA is looking forward to seeing everyone in the year of the


ance Horses in Fremont, Michigan. She has been riding, training, and showing for over 25 years, and has earned Top 10 World placings on multiple horses during that time, along with State Champions, Reserves, and Top 10s. Most recently, Katie is 8th in the World in In- termediate Open and has coached a client to a Top 10 placing in the Rookie for 2025.


Welcome to THE SHOWDOWN! The ORHA is proud to announce that our


very own Jason Richards has been selected to compete at the first Showdown hosted at the Calgary Stampede Grounds on March 28th. The Showdown is a one of a kind event


in Canada that brings together top competitors from three performance horse disciplines; Reining, Cutting and Working Cowhorse. This brand-new, action-packed western per- formance horse event is bringing together the


How to Tune In? Head to www.theshowdown.ca for more


information on tickets.


Jason Richards NRHA certified judge Jason Roger


Richards started his training career 33 years ago in Santa Rosa, California. As the founder of Team Richards, he has amassed many ca- reer achievements, including:


two-time


NRHA Futurity Finalist, two-time NRHA Derby Finalist, NRBC TOP 10, three-time AQHA Finalist, Congress Champion and open level 4 finals NRCHA Open Hackamore finals. He has over $300,000 in lifetime earn- ings combined.


Stay tuned for details on registration op-


portunities posted to the Ontario Reining Horse Association socials (Facebook/Insta- gram) and Website: orha.on.ca


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