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Sue Rich, President
Charleene Naughton, VP
Jean Zabriskie, Treasurer
Rae Rankin, Secretary
Joan Banahan, Director
Cheryl Hansen, Director
Vacant, Director
Valerie Baker, Youth Director
AHA Delegates: Lisa Garrison, Joan Banahan
It sure has been a roller coaster ride weather wise for horse lovers. After postponing our Fuzzy Wuzzy show, we were lucky to get a beautiful day. Thanks so much to those of you who came out to ride or support others. It was a great day.
A huge thank you to Cheryl and Tom Hansen and Joan Brase Banahan for their many hours of advance preparation and set up for the show. Without them there is no show. Special thanks to Rae Rankin and Jean Zabriskie. Rae for her many hours of Internet preparation and challenges in helping us notify and pre-register entries. She has also brought her expertise and great ideas to enhance our newsletter and activities. Jean has been our tireless treasurer, always making sure we have everything we need to keep our club on track.
Our Mother Lode club only exists because people volunteer time, energy and a wish to see our loved Arabians continue to stand out as a horse for every equine activity. Your officers continue to see that our
horses are represented in Northern California. We need you to become involved, to bring your level of expertise or interests, to see that our club continues to host activities that showcase our Arabians.
We hope you enjoy the recap of the Fuzzy Show within the pages of this month’s newsletter along with some news on a new program for dressage riders from the AHA.
Our next board meeting is Wednesday, May 24 at 6 pm at El Agave Taqueria in Auburn. Hope to see you there.
If you have events, news, or photos you would like to include in the Tailings, please forward them to the editor at mlahanewsletter@gmail.com.
Sue Rich MLAHA President
“Use
How many of you have been in a lesson and this is your teacher’s constant refrain? As a teacher, though without any paper credentials, I shake my head whenever I hear this. Why? Because very few riding instructors go into any depth as to HOW you should be using your leg.
In my teaching and riding, if I am grimacing or struggling, I am not riding well. Nor am I presenting a lovely picture. I am certainly not a ‘pleasant burden’ for my horse.
Instead, I am mindful of the ‘zones’ that my legs are in, which, by the way, are based upon the areas with the suitable neurological responses in the horse’s body. Yes, you read that right. This is why we must alternate our legs just back of the girth to improve the walk…why we ‘scissor’ our legs with the forward one encouraging forwardness and the leg behind guiding the horse’s quarters…why a slightly ‘opened’ knee joint asks the horse to cease forward movement and to even back up!
The obvious answer to the issue of better using our legs, is to use more pressure. More pushing. More strength and technique. To lift the inside of the collapsing horse, or to propel him more smartly forward. The idea of this is preposterous to me, for what sort of human will have the sheer strength in her legs to move a 1200-pound horse?
When we use our legs properly, with pulsating energy and not sheer brute strength, we ride in harmony with the horse. We remain relaxed in our ‘home’ position and not become all red-faced and vulgar. Everyone gets tired of being screamed at and a vice-grip pair of legs is like texting in call caps! Eventually, we tune it out and become desensitized. Our horses are no different.
“Instead, I am mindful of the ‘zones’ that my legs are in...”
-Lee McLean
Next time you are told to ‘use more leg’ don’t be afraid to ask your teacher to explain. Few teachers are wanting us to have the squeezing power of a boa constrictor…but you never know. I, for one, want my horses to go as lightly as possible…and my leg positioning and gently pulsating aids are always in support of that.
Printed with permission from Lee McLean, Keystone Equestrian
Lee McLean owns and operates Keystone Equine in Alberta, Canada. She has earned a reputation for selling well-trained horses and ponies. Such is her confidence and commitment to horse and rider that she guarantees her sales for one year.
She has taught women in the art of riding sidesaddle for over thirty years. From English and Western, to
Driving and Sidesaddle, Lee has the prizes--and scars--to prove it.
Lee has a legion of faithful followers on Facebook, a national equine magazine column, and appears at events from small-town horse shows to sidesaddle racing at the Calgary Stampede.
A stroke survivor, Lee resides on the family ranch in the Alberta foothills with her husband and dogs. She rides and trains the Keystone horses and ponies... and at the end of the day, she writes about them all.
She can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ livingwellridingbetter.
May 24
MLAHA Board Meeting @ 6 pm
El Agave Taqueria
Auburn, CA
July 13-23
Youth and MidSummer Nationals
State Fair Park
Oklahoma City, OK
July 19
MLAHA Board Meeting @ 6 pm
El Agave Taqueria
Auburn, CA
Editors Pick
July 29
The Tevis Cup
Western States Trail
Auburn, CA
August 16-19
Canadian National Show Location TBA
August 27-Sept 2
AHA Region 3 Championships
Reno Sparks Livestock Events Center
Reno, NV
September TBA
Ranch Horse Championships Location TBA
September 11-16
Sport Horse Nationals
World Equestrian Center
Wilmington, OH
September 20
MLAHA Board Meeting @ 6 pm
El Agave Taqueria
Auburn, CA
September TBA
Distance Nationals Location TBA
October 19-28
National Championships
Tulsa, OK
November TBA
Arabian Horse Association National Convention Location TBA
November 15
MLAHA Board Meeting & Officer Elections @ 6 pm
El Agave Taqueria
Auburn, CA
Do you know of an upcoming horse related event not listed here? Email mlahanewsletter@ gmail.com to add it to the list!
As we head into the summer months, many of us are looking for things to do with our kids or grandkids. Look no further than the 2nd Annual Kids Summer Reading Program hosted by over 20 international horse book authors including our very own Lori McIntosh, who’s book is coming out soon, and Rae Rankin.
Summer reading is important for kids of all ages. Studies have shown that children can lose up to two months of reading skills and two and a half months of math skills over the summer. If they spend just two to three hours a week reading this number drops significantly.
This year’s theme, Summer Reading All-Around, is perfect for readers interested in many different riding disciplines.
This free summer reading program was started in 2022 as a way to connect kids who love horse books with authors who write them!
The program is simple, download a summer reading log online or print it from this magazine. Register your child’s participation at https://wereadhorsebooks. com/register-your-participation/, complete the reading activities, and turn in a copy of the log by September 1 for a chance to win prizes (drawn at random) from participating authors.
The program is designed for kids of all ages from toddler to young adult. The reading log has suggested activities. Participants can also create their own reading activities as well.
Older readers can use the standard card or download the optional A to Z reading challenge which encourages participants to read a book starting with every letter of the alphabet.
For complete information on the program visit the website www.wereadhorsebooks.com
K d s S u m m e r 2 0 2 3
R e a d i n g P r o g r a m Hosted By Ho r s e B koo srohtuA
R e a d a b o o k b y a p a r t i c i p a t i n g a u t h o r .
R e a d a h o r s e b o o k .
R e a d a b o o k t h a t i s p a r t o f a s e r i e s .
R e a d f o r t h i r t y m i n u t e s .
R e a d a b o o k t o y o u r h o r s e o r p e t .
R e a d a b o o k b y a l o c a l a u t h o r .
R e a d a b o o k a b o u t h o r s e c a r e
R e a d a b o o k a b o u t h o r s e b r e e d s
R e a d a b o o k b a s e d o n a t r u e s t o r y
R e a d a n o n f i c t i o n b o o k
V i s i t t h e l i b r a r y a n d c h e c k o u t a b o o k
R e a d i n t h e c a r
R e a d a p o e m .
R e a d a b o o k w i t h a f r i e n d , p a r e n t , o r g r a n d p a r e n t .
W r i t e a r e v i e w o f a b o o k y o u r e a d a n d h a v e y o u r p a r e n t p o s t i t t o o u r I n s t a g r a m . W r i t e a l e t t e r o r a n e m a i l t o a n a u t h o r .
V i s i t a l o c a l b o o k s t o r e . M a k e a b l a n k e t f o r t a n d r e a d a b o o k R e a d i n y o u r p a j a m a s R e a d a r e c i p e R e a d o u t s i d e R e a d y o u r p a r e n t ' s f a v o r i t e c h i l d h o o d b o o k
e a d i n t h e c a r . D r a w a b o o k c o v e r o f y o u r f a v o r i t e b o o k .
C h o o s e y o u r o w n r e a d i n g a d v e n t u r e .
N a m e : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
o s t c o m p l e t e d l o g s b y S e p t e m b e r 1 t o o u r I n s t a g r a m o r F a c e b o o k g r o u p o r m a i l a p h o t o t o h b s u m m e r r e a d i n g @ g m a i l . c o m .
R e g i s t e r y o u r p a r t i c i p a t i o n F o r a F r e e b o o k d r a w i n g !
I n s t a g r a m @ H o r s e B o o k s S u m m e r R e a d i n g
F a c e b o o k : h t t p s : / / w w w f a c e b o o k c o m / g r o u p s / k i d s s u m m e r r e a d i n g p r o g r a m w w w w e r e a d H o r s e B o o k s c o m
u m m e r R e a d i n g A l lA r o u n d
Our 44th Annual Fuzzy Wuzzy Open Schooling Show was held on Sunday, April 30, 2023 featuring 78 entries including 12 Arabians and eight half Arabians.
Classic Head was won by Bonnie Crozier with Pskys The Limit and the fuzziest horse was Jelly Bean shown by Forest Sundstrom.
Horse and riders competed in a variety of classes including halter, showmanship, English, Western, and Ranch Rail.
At the end of the day Western Adult High Point was awarded to Kathleen Newman on TR Bejeweled and Western Junior High Point was awarded to Aubrie Holthouse on Miss N the Chips.
English Adult High Point was awarded to Courtney Schneider on FCR’s Dreaming Big and English Junior Hight Point was awarded to Ella Callo on DOcs Diamond Remedy.
We look forward to next year and the 45th Annual Fuzzy Wuzzy Open Schooling Show.
In partnership with the Arabian Horse Association, Spotlight Horse Shows announces four new year-end high point award trophies for 2023.
The Arabian Horse Association (AHA) will award trophies along with a customized plaque of the horse’s accomplishment. This award is based on the horse performance at Spotlight Horse Shows during the calendar year 2023.
There are four (4) high point trophies. Divisions are:
• Full Arabian Horse – Dressage
• Full Arabian Horse – Western Dressage
• Half Arabian Horse – Dressage
• Half Arabian Horse – Western Dressage
You must be an AHA member to be eligible. All scores from January 1 through December 31, 2023, will count towards the award. Competitors will not need to submit their scores to AHA as a year-end report will be provided by Spotlight Horse Shows.
Sign up for a show today at: Spotlight Horse Shows https://www.spotlighthorseshows.com/
Note: Spotlight Horse Shows are recognized by the Western Dressage Association of America
Spotlight Horse Shows is an online show management company who works with corporate clients to develop and implement programs specific to their needs. Clients include FHANA, The American Driving Society, Interscholastic Equestrian Association, Western Dressage Association of America affiliates, and US Dressage Federation group member organizations. The belief that education and opportunity for all riders and drivers is a core value. Spotlight Horse Shows is a corporate sustaining partner of The Dressage Federation.
Contact Gail Matheus (Gail@spotlighthorseshows. com) with questions or for more information.
They say that all you need to do is Meet an Arabian Horse to fall in love! Well, that is what we at the Arabian Horse Association believe and we encourage all of our members to host their own Meet an Arabian Horse Event! These events can be anything from having an open house at your barn, to taking a horse to a school, a retirement facility, or even a tractor supply or feed store. We encourage all of our members to help share the love of the Arabian Horse.
For more information, contact AHA at www. arabianhorses.org.
Here’s a few things we are looking for:
• Horse Care
• Horse Related Activities
• Horse Related Gifts
• Showing
• Trail Riding, Area Trail Reviews
• Education
• Horse Shows, Clinics, Expos
• Horse Cartoons
• Cover Photos (must be high resolution)
Issue Schedule
July 2023: Beat the Heat
September 2023: On the Trail
November 2023: Winter Care, Gift Guide
January 2024: TBD
AHR #651630. Born 6/14/2010
Joy is professionally trained for halter and well started under saddle. She is a true 16.0 hands, rich bay, and a love to handle and ride. She is a successful brood mare and with one beautiful foal by The Seeker V. She is full of positive energy to continue her training as a Hunter Pleasure or endurance prospect.
Located in Grass Valley, California
Evaluation of R Enchanting Joy - by Cindy Reich, November 6, 2014
“This is a very tall, leggy, statuesque mare. She has exceptional length of neck with a very clean throatlatch. Her head is very pleasant and feminine. She is wide between the eyes with a large, dark, expressive eye, one of her finest features in both size and expression. Her shoulder is very long, well sloped and deep. She naturally lifts her neck and combined with its extreme length and excellent shape gives a very stylish and typey appearance. She has a great tail carriage and show attitude…very athletic and showed great ability to get her hindquarters underneath herself. I believe that this mare will really be valuable as a breeding mare...she combines the best of all the major types within the Arabian breed. This makes it easy to cross her in many different directions. She is a high quality mare that should excel as a breeding mare. Her strength of body, size and extreme length of neck, combined with her athletic ability also make her an excellent performance prospect. Her attitude and carriage as well as neck might skew her towards English. This mare is very eye appealing, striking in her size and stature.”
Joy’s sire, Regal Actor JP, has sired top champions, including Joy’s siblings Bey Ambition, Arbiteur, and Regal Actress.
Joy’s dam, Enchanted Misst K, Regional Championships in Western Pleasure, Country English, Show Hack and Hunter Pleasure.
Price $7,500
Contact Sue Rich (916) 826-1796
Grass Valley, California
Jean Zabriske
Gerry Alexander
Char’s Suds and More
