Northernhorse.com Blog

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The for-sale signs on horse farms are as common as the bluegrass and the limestone fences here, and breeders have grown accustomed to sending horses through the auction ring and feeling fortunate when they fetch half of their asking price — or anything at all. The run-up to the Kentucky Derby is normally an exciting time for lawyers playing matchmaker between deep-pocketed clients and owners of can’t-miss stallion prospects.

No more.

“The rails are quiet,” said Mike Meuser, a Lexington lawyer who is usually in the forefront of such deals. “Collecting, or trying to collect money, is the bulk of my business these days.”

Read more on the  New York Times Site

Red Deer, AB – Ken McNabb of Wyoming took home the championship trophy at this year’s Trainer’s Challenge finals at Westerner Park in Red Deer.

“The Trainer’s Challenge is such a great opportunity for us to come together and learn from each other,” he said after receiving his trophy from Diane Anderson of Tymarc Art Studio. “It’s not about winning or losing, because when we can learn together we really all become winners.”

McNabb’s positive and encouraging attitude was evident throughout the weekend, and he kept this same mindset in the finals. “We’re on a time clock during the finals, but a horse doesn’t understand what that means,” he said during his ride. “So, you really have to take your time and hurry slowly. I’ve also got to make sure that I’m giving him as much as he’s giving me. Continue Reading »

Red Deer, AB – Another successful show has just concluded at The Mane Event, and organizers estimate that approximately 45,000 people attended the equine expo.

“We’ve had an amazing time here in Red Deer,” said Gail Barker, president of The Mane Event. “The crowd was made up of knowledgeable and enthused horse people, so it makes for a really exciting event.”

Barker attributes the show’s success to the multi-disciplined nature of the expo, as the public can watch clinics, see demonstrations and purchase products for all aspects of the horse world. “When you go to a regular show, you’re only exposed to one part of the horse industry,” said Barker. “At The Mane Event, you can enjoy learning about any discipline and breed. It’s an exciting opportunity for people, and they often travel for hours to come here.”

Throughout the weekend, the public packed three arenas, a lecture hall and a demonstration area to watch over 100 hours of clinics provided by 14 world-class instructors. Canadian clinician Jonathan Field, who has presented at each Mane Event, was impressed with the Albertan attendance. “I’ve seen this show grow every year, and it’s incredible to have such a large group of horse-loving people together,” he said. “When people come to the clinics, they have their notepads in hand and they’re ready to learn.”

Clinic riders are a key element in The Mane Event and, while learning from top-level clinicians, the participants also benefit from riding in front of an audience. “It’s such a non-competitive and supportive environment,” Field said. “As the riders are working on different tasks, the audience is riding stride for stride with them. It makes for a very powerful learning experience.”

When not attending clinics or the Trainer’s Challenge, the public filled the Trade Show area, where over 240 exhibitors had booths featuring everything from horse trailers to clothing. Jim Townshend, a regular trade show exhibitor, feels The Mane Event organizers have developed an excellent show. “Red Deer is a great location for this event, because it has a small town feeling but you’re getting a big town product,” he said. “People come to enjoy themselves and learn and have fun – that’s really reflected in the positive and neighbourly feel throughout the weekend.”

The Trade Show offered the public a chance to see and purchase products, and it was also an important event for the exhibitors, who rely on sales to support their businesses. “We were very pleased because we substantially exceeded our goals for this show,” said Townshend. “Overall, this is the best run show that I’ve ever been to, period. The organizers, the Westerner staff and the public were all great to work with. That tells me that they’re really onto something special here.”

The Mane Event organizers are looking to their next show, which will be held from October 22 to 24, 2010, in Chilliwack, BC.  In 2011, the expo will be returning to celebrate its 5th anniversary in Red Deer. The Red Deer show will run from April 29 to May 1, 2011.

For more information on The Mane Event, visit www.maneeventexpo.com.

You could watch horse demos on Saturday from 9:30 in the morning until midnight. From the Trainers Challenge which had two goes for each of the contestants today to the big evening gala, there was fun, entertaining and educational talks and demonstrations all day long. I would recommend you head on over to the Mane Event Blog where there is lots of information about all the events and happenings. If you missed it this year, plan to come next year. If you like horses there is lots here for you to enjoy.

The Mane Event Blog

Time flies on the wings of Pegasus at The Mane Event. There is so much to do and so little time. I even set up a little “schedule” on my iPhone (love that thing) so I wouldn’t miss anything. I didn’t allow for chance meetings of old friends and shopping and literally getting lost in the trade fair but I still managed to see a lot of interesting stuff.

Linda Snow from Westwind Ranch Colt Resort gave her presentation on “Does my horse cheat on me” early in the day.  She provided information on how to recognize when your horse is showing you disrespect and gave some helpful techniques to eliminate some of this disrespect.  Lots of great ideas that could help to keep you safe.

Mike Boyle is Past President of the NRHA, a top reiner and a successful coach. He showed us a series of drills to improve the turn around using six different horses with different levels of experience and their riders.  Watching how well his drills worked to improve the different horses made me want to go home and try them on some of mine. Isn’t it funny how you can watch and read some things many times and then one day something just “clicks” and you get it? I think for the horse that I am personally working with right now (Keeper) that his drills are going to be a big help – we got to see a balance of relaxation and pressure that was certainly effective for the different horses that worked in the presentation.

I was a bit late to come to watch the first contestant in the Trainers Challenge, Brent Trout. It was standing room only and it was even hard to find a place where you could stand and see.  There is a lot of interest in this competition. There is so much to be learned from these skilled horsemen and they are so generous in sharing their ideas and experience. What an opportunity for horse people to gain knowledge. I wish there had been a Mane Event when I was young. It is such a wonderful souce of information for horsepeople.

Jonathan Field is such a nice guy. There is always a crowd around him and he seems to have no end of patience in answering their questions and helping folks improve their relationships with their horses. Today we got a little impromptu demonstation of his athleticism when one of the demonstation horses took the opportunity to buck while Jonathan was standing on his back. While this would bring a lot of fear rushing through most of us, he calmly decided which way to jump, landed on his feet, calmly walked back over to the horse and went about showing the horse that this really wasn’t any kind of problem that they couldn’t work out together and worked it out. It was a great demonstration of an unplanned resistance and how to deal with it. His sense of humor really adds to his demonstrations.

Tom Forehand and Ken McNabb both worked their horses in the Trainers Challenge. I was a bit late getting back once again and once again I could get even a good place to stand so I gave in to my urge to shop. Even though I kept up a good pace, I didn’t come close to checking out all the booths. I will have to return tomorrow when my credit card cools down. LOL

I must get to bed. So much to see and do and I am sure tomorrow will go just as fast as today. If you would like to read more about the Mane Event you should go to http://maneeventexpo.blogspot.com/

Our online backup company, MOZY sent us this little graphic with some interesting human storage feats and records on it.  Aren’t we humans crazy? You can click on it to enlarge it to make it easier to read.

I really like this photo that a friend sent showing some ponies in Iceland being herded to safety out of the ash.  Alberta may have some nasty winter weather and the wind is certainly causing lots of complaints lately but isn’t it nice that we don’t have a volcano disrupting our lives nor any major earthquakes destroying our homes and towns?  And, there is even talk of some rain coming.

Well how is this for a great deal?  The Wild Deuce Girls, Brenda & Terri couldn’t decide who should draw the name out of the hat to determine the winner of this draw so… they both did!! There are 2 lucky winners!! And their names are…

April (6) and Kathy (9).

A special thanks to Wild Deuce Outfitting for sponsoring our draw and generously doubling the prize. Anyone looking for a little adventure this summer should check them out. In fact any of us who love horses and the outdoors should get this ticked off our “bucket list” pronto. It’s time we all had a little good old fashioned fun. No cell phones. A real “vacation”. Visit their website to get a glimpse of what you could actually experience. A “once in a lifetime experience” that you are going to want to repeat over and over again. Who knows? The good Lord willing and the creeks don’t rise, I might even get a chance to get out there this summer.

What follows is from the original draw. Do not enter this draw as it is over.

Why not make this year the one where you actually went on an exciting adventure instead of just dreamed about it? Ever dream of herding cattle on an open range with beautiful mountain vistas for a background? Riding in some of Canada’s most beautiful wilderness? This is your opportunity. Don’t miss it. If you are the lucky winner of this draw you will get 50% off one of Alberta’s great adventures.

Your hosts will be none other than the Wild Deuce Retreats & Outfitting folks. That pretty much assures that you will be riding a horse that is well suited for you and in the company of some fun loving cowboys (and girls) with many years of experience. This is one of those experiences that you will remember for the rest of your life. You get to be part of the actual working team. There is more detailed information about the Mountain Cattle Call & Cattle Drives trip on the Wild Deuce Website. Go ahead, read about it but be ready to want to go. This is one of those events that only a few of us will ever get to experience.

All you have to do to enter this draw is to post a comment (you can do that by clicking on the “comments” link below and telling us what magazine the Wild Deuce was featured in this month (HINT:  the answer can be found on the Wild Deuce website and in their April newsletter) – be sure to sign up for the newsletter when you are at the site so you can keep posted about their upcoming adventures.

Get your comment in today and you could win 50% of the cost of this incredible adventure. You don’t want to miss this one. Make this summer the one where you actually went on the adventure you have been dreaming about. Draw date will be May 31, 2010.

Want another little taste of the adventure? Check out Live the Life of a Cowboy on our Cattle Call Trip

New English Clinic and Dressage Exhibition by Lynn Palm Added to QuarterFest 2010.

America’s Horse, April 12, 2010 – You asked for it and here it is — grab your breeches and hunt cap because an English clinic has been added to QuarterFest 2010. The AQHA Professional Horsewoman of the Year in 2006, Lynn Palm is adding her expertise in English to the clinic line-up in Murfreesboro, Tennessee on May 2, 2010.

QuarterFest is a three-day, education-packed celebration of the horse, where horse enthusiasts from around the world will gather for fun, entertainment and festivities. Continue Reading »

Hall of Fame Member Anne Windfohr Marion and The Burnett Foundation dedicated to preserving American Quarter Horse history.

America’s Horse, April 12, 2010 – The American Quarter Horse Foundation announced during the 2010 Convention it had received an unprecedented gift of $3 million to the Foundation’s operating endowment from Hall of Fame member Anne Marion and The Burnett Foundation.

“It is an honor to receive such a gift,” AQHA Executive Vice President Don Treadway Jr. said of the donation. “It has made a huge impact on meeting the $10 million goal established for the Foundation operating endowment. We are so thankful for the gifts we receive from our members, and this one is incredibly special. Ms. Marion, her family and the Four Sixes Ranch have been extremely influential to our Association and the integrity of our horse. I cannot say enough to express how honored we are by their gift.”  Continue Reading »