Show us YOUR Favorite Trail Horse and get your chance to be on RFD TV !
The American Competitive Trail Horse Association is proud to announce Season Two of America’s Favorite Trail Horse, a national TV Series in search of America’s favorite trail horse. “Season One of America’s Favorite Trail Horse was a huge success! The horses we met and the stories that we shared touched our hearts, there was no way that we couldn’t do this again” stated ACTHA co-founder Karen VanGetson. “Our mission is to give the great trail horse the recognition it deserves and this is a wonderful opportunity to do just that”.
In a similar format to Season One, horses all over the country will have a chance to compete to win over $100,000 in cash and prizes, including a new 4 Star living quarter’s trailer. The finals will be held at the beautiful Franklin Family Ranch in Blanco, TX and will be aired on RFD TV!
Do you have a great Trail Horse? Have a partnership you’d like to share with America? TELL US YOUR STORY! We’re looking for all breeds, all skill levels, and lots of personality! Season 2 of America’s Favorite Trail Horse will be completely new! The emphasis this season will be on the horse/human interest story. Every equine and their human partner have a story, a partnership, a bond…we want to hear it! We want to broadcast it to the world and show how awesome the great American Trail Horse is, and we want you to tell us your journey! Each horse and rider in the Finals will be showcased in one of thirteen 1-hour episodes. America will vote for their favorite trail horse during 10 voting episodes, and then America votes again for their favorite from the top winners to crown America’s Favorite Trail Horse 2012!
More Options for 2012!
Season 2 brings some exciting changes. We have designated two divisions to accommodate different levels of competition. The divisions are Professional and Pleasure. We will also offer Live Auditions as well as Video Auditions. See details on our website. We want you on RFD TV this Fall! Go to www.actha.us to register today!
In addition to the fabulous Calizona group riding in the Rose Parade dressed in Nez Perce attire, we heard from Leslie Foxfog about this bonus for our breed:
We also wanted you to know that another Appaloosa was prominent in the Tournament of Roses Parade – his registered name is Destiny Seabreeze previously owned by Doug Danner of Solana Beach, California. The Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) was riding him in front of the EPlatoon (Equestrian Platoon). The Appaloosa was a stand out as the only “white/grey” horse in the whole entire unit. What significance for the Appaloosa breed that went mostly unnoticed by all but the true appaloosa lover. Those of us Appaloosa lovers were very proud to see this happen and ridden by such a prominent figure in Southern California. They had the highest police leader on the “BEST” horse!!!!! Appaloosas were not only done proud by Calizona but by this very action.
The Chief also rode Destiny Seabreeze and performed at Equestfest. Doug Danner was a member of Calizona ApHC for several years and we are proud on his behalf that his horse was in the parade.
Don’t forget to watch for the Calizona Appaloosa Horse Club’s Parade group in the upcoming 2012 Tournament of Roses Parade. The group is Entry #45 in this year’s parade slated for January 2, 2012. The 2012 Rose Parade in Pasadena, California is themed “Just Imagine” and will be held Monday, January 2 (not January 1st in a tradition every seven or so years to not hold the parade on a Sunday).
The CZ group consists of 12 mounted riders dressed in the traditions of the Nez Perce and northern plateau and plains region heritage costume and regalia. To quote the opening on their application, “Just Imagine … an animal so deeply embedded in the way of life of one culture that it almost became lost but over time, developed and changed because of the hearts and desires of a second people. Close your eyes and let your imagination take hold. Listen for the faint sound of hooves and see in the distance images of spotted horses, manes and tails floating on the breeze, as they run carefree across the vast open landscape of the western northern plains. Listen more closely as the air is filled with the faint sweet sound of tingling bells and cones as their music joins the sound of hooves on the hard ground growing ever closer. Open your eyes to see that sometimes what is just imagined … has come to life! Look for the Calizona Appaloosa Horse Club equestrian group to follow in the footsteps of their forefathers in the time honored horse parade tradition to celebrate in the Tournament of Rose Parade and promote the spirit of the Appaloosa Horse with the thousands of Appaloosa owners that enjoy the horse today.
The Calizona Appaloosa Horse Club’s Parade group will appear in the Tournament of Roses Equestfest on December 30, 2011 which is filmed live by RFD-TV. Equestfest presented by Wells Fargo is an up close and personal opportunity for the public to meet many of the Equestrians that will be seen in the Rose Parade. It is a 2 hour show of beautiful horses and talented riders performing drills, dances and the “wild west” comes alive! After the event, the public can stroll through the stables and talk to the performers and see the horses. Calizona performs a patterned routine to Native American Indian music to show off our colored horses and traditional Heritage costume.
The Equestfest group of 10 riders for the performance includes: Paul Foxvog, Leslie Foxvog, Debbie Herzman, Danie Foxvog, Diane Dodd, Christy Wood, Angila Gallagher, Steve Wood, CJ Brooks and Joe Brooks (two other members of the parade group, Evon Owens and Stephanie Rawley, are unable to participate in the Equestfest but will be with the group on Colorado Blvd for the parade on January 2, 2012). Calizona is ready to present the Appaloosa with beautiful stall decorations and ApHC Table top and materials display. Again, watch for the Equestfest performance on RFD-TV 12:00 noon Pacific Time, earlier for Standard/Central time.
Calizona ApHC is extremely excited to put the Appaloosa on display to all throughout this fun day!
We recently had the opportunity to enjoy the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, and we stopped by the ApHC booth at one of the Cowboy Christmas venues. It was so great to see the appaloosa horse represented and promoted to so many people! Thank you to Gary and Nicene Connolly and everyone else who made it possible!!
Attached are a couple of pictures of visitors to the booth…Jim Jirkovsky and Chet Bennett in one and Danny and Dorine Bennett in the other.
(Thanks Dorine)
Going on through Sunday Nov 6th in Tulsa, the Color Breed Congress includes competition for Pinto, Appaloosa, Buckskin, POA and Palomino horses. This is the first year for an approved ApHC show to be included at the Congress. It’s a four-judge ApHC show. The Pinto Association is the presenting organization. You can find more details at www.colorbreedcongress.com. The logo shown here is being featured on award jackets and seems to be very popular. The new four-sided video screen in the photo is new to the Ford Truck Arena.
Some of us believe the concept of a multi-breed show is a good one. Horse folks getting acquainted, vendors dealing with customers from several segments and sponsors getting their names in front of a cross section of industry participants seem to make sense.
This year’s Spruce Meadows Masters in Calgary was another big, fun affair. Perfect weather, good crowds, spectacular international jumping competition and the entertaining TELUS Battle of the Breeds. Team Appaloosa finished in second place overall among 10 breed groups. Congratulations and thanks to the members shown here: Allie Sutton, Kaylee McLachlin, Kristin Lee and Lynn Johnson. It all came down to the last horse in the last class, so spectators were pretty enthused. The Appaloosa Horse Association of Alberta took care of an attractive exhibit at Equi-Faire and organized the team. The expected attendance mark of 200,000 people was surpassed and there were folks stopping by the booth who actually wanted information about buying Appaloosas…kind of a nice experience to find out that the mood “out there” is somewhat positive. I’ll be posting a few more photos in the blog album. Thanks to Laurie, Ann and Mary Lou for all your help!
A personal call from the Tournament of Roses offering congratulations and acceptance in the upcoming 2012 Rose Parade was received by Group Marshal, Leslie Foxvog. This is the second time that the CZ Parade group will appear in the parade with their first appearance January 2010.
The 2012 Rose Parade in Pasadena, California is themed “Just Imagine” and will be held Monday, January 2 (not January 1st in a tradition every seven or so years to not hold the parade on a Sunday). The CZ group consists of 12 mounted riders dressed in the traditions of the Nez Perce and northern plateau and plains region heritage costume and regalia.
To quote the opening on their application, “Just Imagine … an animal so deeply embedded in the way of life of one culture that it almost became lost but over time, developed and changed because of the hearts and desires of a second people. Close your eyes and let your imagination take hold. Listen for the faint sound of hooves and see in the distance images of spotted horses, manes and tails floating on the breeze, as they run carefree across the vast open landscape of the western northern plains. Listen more closely as the air is filled with the faint sweet sound of tingling bells and cones as their music joins the sound of hooves on the hard ground growing ever closer. Open your eyes to see that sometimes what is just imagined … has come to life! Look for the Calizona Appaloosa Horse Club equestrian group to follow in the footsteps of their forefathers in the time honored horse parade tradition to celebrate in the Tournament of Rose Parade and promote the spirit of the Appaloosa Horse with the thousands of Appaloosa owners that enjoy the horse today.
From Lantz McLaren, Indian River, Ontario:
Well, I’m happy to report that Craig Cameron and the Extreme Cowboy Race program can motivate even the most diehard horse person to do things they would never imagine. Pushing for speed, overcoming long held phobias, even getting in on the act and putting on a show for the crowd, it rapidly all becomes part of the rush.
On June 10-11, Canada’s Outdoor Equine Expo presented the Extreme Cowboy Race and Craig for all who wished to try something just a little different. A sucker for a challenge, I bit and hauled Ima Patriotic Doc to give this YouTube sensation a try. Ima Patriotic Doc is an Appaloosa stallion that has earned 17 National titles, World Show placings and countless high-point awards in his “show pen” career. Cutting, sidesaddle, ranch trail and roping are all within our normal grasp of events, but this was a test beyond our expectations. As Craig explains, speed, horsemandship and the ability to “ride smart” are required to get around this program. The course included jumps, log gates, bridges, ground ties, roll backs, sliding stops, lead changes and a host of other demands, with a need for speed and entertainment.
Our log gate rolled off, jumping barrels we normally turn was a bit different, a single stride lope over a bridge is not a show norm and me on my hands and knees trying to wiggle through a straw tunnel seemed to please the crowd. “Smoke” and I saved the best to near last, with me the guy afraid of height scrambling up a 10′ ladder, egging on the crowd and Smoke throwing down huge stops and rollbacks, much to the delight of everyone. After the times were reviewed, judges’ score sheets tallied and the check endorsed, Ima Patriotic Doc and I were named Reserve Extreme Cowboy Race Champions and awarded a nice big ole check for $1,000!
So, it’s perfectly legal, a ton of fun, about the best entertainment going and just as easy as swinging your leg over your horse’s back to have a good time. Extreme Cowboy Racing is a “Smart Riders” way to bring fun times and fresh faces to horse related events.
Don’t miss your opportunity to attend the 2011 Land of Liberty Trail Ride June 12-18. Beginning Sunday evening, participants will embark on a week-long adventure involving all of our favorite things: friends, family, food and of course Appaloosa horses.
Located on the western edge of the Allegheny National Forest, four miles north of Tidioute, PA – the 150+ acre ranch is just a stone’s throw away from the only congressionally designated wilderness area in the Commonwealth of PA. Encompassing 8,663 acres, this pristine area abounds with many species of wildlife including white-tailed deer, coyotes, eagles, wild turkeys and black bear. There is a nearby virgin forest. The trail terrain is moderate rolling hills and single-track and old shale-based logging roads with creek crossings and is suitable for beginning to intermediate riders. Expect to ride an average of 15 miles per day.
And don’t worry about the price of fuel!! If you want to attend but you don’t want to haul your horse cross-country, there are rental horses available from Hickory Creek Wilderness Ranch, the site of the base camp. They have primitive camp sites for no additional charge. Or you can rent a cabin or a camp site with hook-ups for an additional fee. Contact them directly at 814-484-7520 to reserve your rental horse and/or cabin.
Click on the link below for more information and for a reservation form. We are still accepting reservations with no late fee so be sure and send yours in today!
http://www.appaloosa.com/trail/aphc-trail-rides.htm
If you have any questions, please contact the ApHC office at 208.882.5578 ext. 264 or by email at trailrides@appaloosa.com.
News flash from South Africa:
Storm Runner, the 7 year old Appaloosa stallion my husband imported for me in 2004, is now owned by Cobus Smit. Storm Runner (bred by B & L Ranch) had a fantastic Horse of the Year (HOY) show this past week. In General Breed (open to every breed), he was 2nd in the 1.5 to 1.67 metre Stallion in Hand class.
He was Champion Halter and Champion Ridden horse in the Western Showing Association of South Africa (WSASA) show on Friday, was Reserve Champion Stallion Halter and Champion Ridden Horse in the Appaloosa show on Saturday, then on Sunday he became the first Appaloosa to ever make it into the ribbons–top 5–at the HOY Supreme Ridden Champion event. There were about 24 horses of different breeds in the run-off and he made the first cut to 10 then was 5th in the finals.
Storm in particular and Appaloosas in general are the talk of the HOY.
For the first time both an Appaloosa mare and Appaloosa Stallion made it into the top 5 in hand–one owned by George Contos and the other by Ros Nightingale.
I am so pleased that I have not stopped smiling!
Happy Spring!
Deborah Ann Buchan
Entering the Riverside (California) Black History Parade for the first time, the Calizona Appaloosa Horse Club won the “Equestrian Sweepstakes” Award as well as Best Indian Group. The Parade was held Saturday, February 12, 2011 and eight CZ members rode to honor and promote the Appaloosa Horse with regards to its ties to the Nez Perce and other native cultures riding colored (and non colored) Appaloosas dressed in traditional heritage parade horse trappings and regalia. The parade was themed, “The Gift of Legacy” and what better than to show off the legacy of the Appaloosa!
The parade group included riders: Leslie Foxvog, Paul Foxvog, Danie Foxvog, CJ Brooks, Joe Brooks, Kristal Mead, Diane Dodd and Laura Rinard as well as two carrying the Club banner: Brian and Ashley. Other support team members included Debbie Herzman, Evon Owens and Chuck Collins. We also wowed the California State Horseman’s Association (CSHA) judge with our knowledge of the Appaloosa and detailed costumes! The Judge stated that in his past experiences, other groups could not explain their costumes or history of their horses. Calizona enjoys and takes pride in promoting the breed, and reaching out to the public to share the Appaloosa experience.
Leslie Foxvog
From ApHC Director Sandra Matthews:
At the Dodge Ram $15,000 Invitational Freestyle Reining at the National Western Stock Show in Denver on January 9, the Appaloosa horse was extremely well represented by Mr. Awesome Affair. Mr. Awesome Affair, owned by Highcrest Reiners of Dayton, MT and trained and shown by Eric La Porte of Rocky Mountain, NC, traveled 2,600 miles one way to participate. It most certainly paid off!
This event is always a crowd sell out and one of the more popular ones at the Stock Show. There were 14 participants in this invitation only event. Several were FEI medalists in international reining competitions and had also been at the World Equestrian Games as demonstrators and clinicians. Devin Warren on Bright Little Gun posted a score of 229½ mid-way through the competition. An awesome score to say the least and one most of the audience believed couldn’t be touched.
Mr. Awesome Affair and Eric were second to last to go. He performed the same routine as he did at the 2010 Appaloosa Worlds. The song was “Desperado” and Eric came in with a duster, black hat and scarf over his face. What made it even more dramatic this time was he had been out in the snow storm and walked in dripping snow! He started off with a bridle but soon removed it. Mr. Awesome Affair showed everyone that he could not only spin like a whirlwind but really get down in the dirt when he stopped. After it was all said and done, Eric and his horse scored a 229, blowing the socks off the competition and putting them in 2nd place. He definitely showed the Quarter Horses and Paints the Appaloosa would not be outdone!
The other part of this competition is the People’s Choice Award. This is determined by the audience reaction to each contestant. After the winners are announced each rider is brought forward to be judged by the crowd. Initially Eric tied with Aaron Ralston, who placed 3rd in the competition, and who did his routine bareback with a small bosal to a medley of Christmas music performed by Mannheim Steamroller. Eric was determined to be 2nd in this phase also.
After the competition, Eric and his horse had several people follow him out to the barns to ask questions and take pictures. It was a great day for the Appaloosa!
Had to share this news item from ApHC judge and exhibitor Christy Wood:
I attended my first Ultimate Cowboy Trail Challenge on Nov 20 & 21 in Bishop, CA. This was going to be my stepping stone to start entering extreme cowboy racing so I went to scope it out. There were 60 riders to run on the qualifying round on Sat with 16 advancing to the finals on Sunday. The age divisions were 2 youth, 2 non-pro and Pro. We had to memorize 29 obstacles within two arenas and out as well. They gave us 9 minutes to complete the course. I did it in 5:45seconds. The end result was that I won the whole darn thing! What a blast! I won the Pro division, my horse,”Dollar” won Top horse, she was the highest point earner for both days, and I won the entire Ultimate Cowboy Trail Challenge and was handed a check for $1,000.00.
I will be joining the EXCR association in Jan and hope to ride in more races throughout the year. I will also be back on the Appy circuit and my goal is to be back at the Worlds in Oct. Please note that this is a solid bay mare, and when I had to give a short bio for the announcer at the challenge I had him say “Dollar is a registered Appaloosa mare which goes to show you that it is in the bloodlines that gets you down the trail, not the color on the butt.” I know our breed wants to be recognized for our color, but perhaps we need to give those solids, who we do allow on our trails and in our arenas, to take center stage once in a while. I own 2 solids and two colored Appaloosas, and they are all my breed of choice!
One more note about the World Equestrian Games in Lexington. I heard the region closed schools for at least a couple of days so that kids could attend. This scene shows just one of the groups gathering at Alltech Village to begin the tour. This weekend will feature Para Dressage, Driving, Vaulting and a bit more Jumping, plus the closing ceremonies with Lyle Lovett, among others.
Probably one of the interesting sidelights for me is the mingling of so many different types of horse people. Royalty, local stars, stable hands and daydreamers all shared in the atmosphere and found at least some common ground. Perhaps that’s one of the truly major accomplishments of an event such as WEG.
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