18/ JULY 2025 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


All Ages and All Stages; The Many Roads to the Reining Pen


By Ashley Gregoris. Many of us are familiar with some version of the horse-crazy


kid: the one who mastered the art of bribing friends into elaborate make-believe horse dramas. Sometimes those friends tried to join in, only to quickly reveal they had no grasp of the complex herd dy- namics already in play. Patience wore thin as serious young leadline riders rolled their eyes at anyone who dared to wiggle in the saddle or slouch instead of sitting up straight to properly address the judge’s all-important question: “What is your horse’s name?” Suddenly, this seems very personal… ORHA decided to take a look at the origins of some of our


members. While some started out as horse kids and never outgrew the “horse phase”, many took up the sport later in life or graduated from the sidelines as “horse husbands” to join in the fun. We hope you enjoy this month’s feature focused on “All Ages, All Stages.”


From Hayfields to the Showpen: Mike Joslin


Mike Joslin has been finding great success in the pen as a Non-Pro these days, it wasn’t al- ways that way. He started out in the hayfields: For many, a


1. Mike Joslin and Coach Jason Richards


milestone birthday marks the start of something new—a trip, a new hobby, or perhaps a long- desired skill. For me, turning 40 was the beginning of a life-changing ad- venture that has brought me deeper into the equestrian world and intro- duced me to the in- credible


reining


community. My wife, Deb,


and I owned a farm where we produced organic hay for small ani- mals and horses. We also offered horse boarding, creating a space filled with the hum of barn life. I’d always had a connection to horses, thanks to family trail rides, but I’d never pursued formal training. So when Deb asked what I wanted for my birthday, I sur- prised her—and myself—by saying “riding lessons.” Deb sought advice from our farrier, Greg, who immediately rec-


ommended Tim and Lisa Stanton of Stoneridge in Pickering. Though it was a bit of a drive, Greg assured us they were the best people to teach me, not just how to ride, but how to truly understand horse- manship. Lisa became my instructor, guiding me through the foundations


of riding. As I worked with her, I noticed Tim coaching riders in the art of reining—a discipline that intrigued me. One day, Lisa asked me to spin the horse I was riding, and from that moment, I was hooked. My journey into reining had officially begun. The experience has been transformative in so many ways, but


what stands out most to me is the reining community itself. In other disciplines, you sometimes hear of rivalries or negativity between participants. In the Ontario Reining Horse Association, it’s just the opposite. We’re like family. Sit in the stands during a derby, and you’ll hear the crowd erupt in cheers, encouraging every competitor


in the pen, regardless of the outcome. That kind of camaraderie is rare and invaluable. If you’ve ever considered trying reining or ranch riding, but


hesitated, my advice is simple: hop off the fence and give it a spin. The ORHA is full of talented trainers and an incredible support net- work ready to help you every step of the way. Whether you’re a sea- soned rider looking for a new challenge or someone like me, starting later in life, there’s a place for you in this community. You never know where a single riding lesson might take you— it could be the beginning of your greatest adventure yet!


From Leadline to Spins, Growing up with Horses: Kate Dixon


scores would naturally increase consistently throughout the show season — but I’ve learned that growth in the show pen happens slowly, with consistency, and sometimes after taking a zero. A low score doesn’t mean failure, and a high score isn’t the only success. Some of my proudest rides have been the ones where I accomplished a small goal such as “sitting quietly at center” — even if the score wasn’t what I hoped for. My favourite memory would have to be when I showed at the


Congress for the first time last year on my mare “Wallowa Rose”. I have been going every year since I was around five years old to watch and it was always my dream to show there one day. The feel- ing of being in the arena after so many years of sitting in the stands was very cool. My biggest goal is simply to keep growing as a rider. I want to


continue learning and becoming more confident and consistent in the show pen, and hopefully show at the Congress later this year with both my mares, and maybe in a few maturities next year.


The Many Roads to the Reining Pen: Larry and Lynne Mcdougall


If you spend any time in the stands at ORHA shows, the Con-


gress or the OKC Futurity you have probably come across Larry and Lynne Mcdougall. They are the type of people who pull you in and call you family. They know everyone and are always good for a wild story!


Before we exclusively participated in reining, we showed both 3. Kate Dixon "Horse Kid" Next, we spoke with Kate Dixon, who definitely falls into the


“horse kid” category and pursued her equestrian dreams from a young age. I was nine years old when I took my first reining lesson. How-


ever, I started riding horses when I was much younger. My grandfa- ther, Wayne Dobinson, would bring me out to his farm multiple days a week to ride, and also took me to weekly riding lessons down the road, where I had a wonderful experience riding many different ponies and horses. I eventually got my own pony named Tex. I showed him in every event at the local club shows as well as the Mid-Western Horseman’s Society. I did everything from barrel rac- ing to the western pleasure classes, and eventually found my way to reining. My mom and grandfather would bring my brother and I to Con-


gress every year to watch the freestyle reining, cutting, and bull rid- ing events. I was completely drawn to the sport of reining after watching the freestyle reining at the Congress. I loved the variation of speed, the stops and especially the spins! Watching the riders ef- fortlessly perform the different reining maneuvers, all choreo- graphed to music, and sometimes without a bridle, was so incredible to watch! My biggest mentors are my coaches Lindsay and Jess Cofell. I


am incredibly grateful for their guidance, patience, and encourage- ment, in and out of the show pen. I am also very thankful for the many people who have supported me, including my mom, who drives me and my two mares to all the shows [and] videos my runs, among so many other things. My dad takes care of our other horses at home when we’re away, making it possible for me to travel and compete. I am also thankful to my grandfather for always being there to help, whether it be back at home or at the shows. The most important lesson I’ve learned through reining is that progress takes time and patience. When I first started, I thought my


Larry McDougall and Foxy Gun Gal OBBO Reserve Champion Non Pro Futurity 2013


is what attracted us to rein- ing. The spins and slides were of great interest. Now we know that is not the only hard part! The transition to reining was a huge learning curve. We attended as many clinics as we could, and rode with many professionals who freely gave advice and encourage- ment. Clare Smith was pivotal in this process. We were lucky enough to ride with some of the legends of this sport. Our interest in Futurity


programs became our driving force. We bred, trained, and showed Reiner, and that be- came our focus. We prioritize creating a real bond with the horses, valuing time in the saddle and wet saddle pads. We raised the great majority of our show horses. Birth to


2. A Long Way from the Hayfields... Mike Joslin and Shock Me 4. Kate Dixon and Gotta Hot Dream Continued on Page 19


Paint and Appaloosa horses in many events, from Western and Eng- lish Pleasure to Games and Western Riding. I [Lynne] had grown up showing Appaloosas. My Mother, Eileen Patterson, was very se- rious about showing. She also became a huge reining fan and par- ticipant. My sister, Carrie Patterson, was also actively showing. In about 1975, Larry showed an Appaloosa stallion called


Sugar Two Star, and was [among] the top 20 NRHA Open riders. From there, we changed our focus to reining wherever possible. The high-degree of difficulty and the beauty of the presentation


Building Reiners of the Future Foxy Gun Gal and her baby by Its All About Smart


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