In From The Range

In From The Range

 

Western Shooting Horse Lajitas Classic
5-Star Resort Hosts with $10,000 Added Money

 

Western Shooting Horse Magazine and the Cowboy and horse friendly Lajitas Resort have joined forces to present the Western Shooting Horse Lajitas Classic at the 5-star resort’s Equestrian Center and covered arena, Memorial Day weekend, May 21-24, 2009.

 

The Western Shooting Horse Lajitas Classic will feature a six-stage CMSA Double Points Grand American with $10,000 added money. Main match stages will be shot on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. A two-stage Eliminator competition will also take place during a Saturday Night Showcase along with the first of two Rifle competition stages and a Pro Class competition. Contestants will shoot for a 50% Circuit Payback with buckle choice for full classes in addition to the added monies. Overall men’s and women’s buckles will also be awarded.

 

Entry fees for the Western Shooting Horse Lajitas Classic are $165, and it’s limited to the first 150 shooters. Advanced registration is required. Entry for the Eliminator is $50 and will pay back 60% to classes 1 & 2, 3 & 4, and 5 & 6, both ladies and men’s. A two-stage Rifle competition is also offered for a $50 entry fee with one stage being shot on Saturday and the other on Sunday. Competitors can sign up on-site or online. All paybacks are before expenses to offer competitors optimal returns.

 

The Lajitas Resort Equestrian Center Arena is a regulation sized (250’ by 130’) covered arena with excellent footing and grooming. The center can accommodate more than 150 horses with covered bedded stalls and its fully equipped barn with washing/grooming areas. In addition to the main arena, the facility features a warm-up arena and 60 foot round pen.

 

Lajitas is Texas’ first destination resort and is the title sponsor of the Classic.  The 25,000-acre private estate is tucked away in West Texas between Big Bend National Park and Big Bend State Park on the banks of the Rio Grande. Lajitas features world-class accommodations in a Western themed environment of rooms, restaurants and its professional Equestrian Center.

 

Participants will have the option of staying at the resort with its luxury rooms and accommodations or at the Lajitas RV Park with 101 sites, including 60 pull-throughs, each with a 35/50-amp connection. Room rates for the Lajitas Classic will be $129.95 per night for participants and guests. The Maverick Ranch features full hook ups, WiFi, satellite TV, bathrooms with private showers, new state-of-the-art exercise room and pool, and laundromat. RV spaces are $29 per night. Covered stalls are $15 per night.

 

Western Shooting Horse Magazine, the national shooting horse sports magazine based in Tijeras, NM, sponsors the Western Shooting Horse Lajitas Classic along with the Lajitas Resort. For more information visit www.westernshootinghorse.com or call
505-286-0100.

 

SHOOTING HORSE NETWORK BLASTS OFF
Online Community Brings Mounted Shooters Together

 

The new online Western Shooting Horse Network has seen dramatic growth since being launched over the New Year holiday. With a barrage of new signups and extremely active participation, the online Shooting Horse community has exceeded 200,000 monthly visits.

 

“I’m very excited about the new community,” said Ken Amorosano, Western Shooting Horse publisher. “We have made it a point to provide a quality site for shooting horse enthusiasts to come together online to share comments, pictures, video and even music.”

 

Since being launched more than 500 members have joined the network, posting thousands of pictures and dozens of videos. The new social network allows members to create their own custom web pages and communicate with each other at no charge. In addition to posting pictures and video content, members can also upload and share music, add unique applications and post club events and blogs.

 

The service is free to anyone and is simple to operate. To join go to westernshootinghorse.com and click on “Community.” Once in the Community, simply create an account and join the action.

 

Craig Cameron Creates Extreme Cowboy Association
Organization Promotes Membership and Club Affiliation

 

Television’s “Ride Smart” clinician and “Extreme Cowboy Race” creator Craig Cameron has introduced the Extreme Cowboy Association (EXCA) Created by Cameron after many requests to expand the popular horse activity, the association is now up and running and is offering individual memberships and club affiliations. EXCA will promote a nationwide network of local events where points are kept and tracked in their region by the EXCA. Contestants then compete at year-end state and regional com-petitions where they will earn points to qualify for national and world finals.

 

An Extreme Cowboy Association event challenges both horse and rider to maneuver through a series of obstacles designed by Craig Cameron to emulate what cowboys and ranchers do on the ranch: water crossing, dragging logs, ground tying, trailer loading, traversing rough terrain, shooting, and much more.   This new equine sport showcases speed with control and horsemanship. Each Extreme Cowboy Race event is unique and different offering a wide variety of courses, obstacles, and terrain, depending on the course location.

 

To assure fairness to each rider, categories have been established for Pro and Non-Pro, as well as a Youth category for ages 12-17 and a Ride Smart category for riders 55 and over. A Young Guns category is also offered for children between the ages of 7 and 11. Participants may go anywhere in the country and compete with riders at the same skill level.

 

The EXCA requires Western clothing to keep the cowboy tradition and Western spirit alive.  The Association is open to all grades and genders of horses, ponies, and mules. Depending on the producer of the event, contestants compete for cash and/or prizes.

 

The Extreme Cowboy Association has created an official rulebook that states rules, regulations, and approved obstacles. Annual membership dues are $65.00 for individuals and $105 for a family. Lifetime memberships are offered $650.00 and include a custom EXCA belt buckle. Annual Club affiliation is $200.00 and one-day memberships are $30.

 

Members receive an official EXCA Competition Card that entitles them entry into the organized events and subscription to the monthly EXCA Newsletter, “The Brave Horse.”

 

Craig Cameron has achieved national recognition as one of America’s top horsemanship clinicians in addition to hosting his two award winning television series, “Ride Smart” and “Extreme Cowboy Race.” Craig Cameron is author of several books including the best selling “Ride Smart” book plus his own line of clothing and tack. Craig has received many awards and was recently inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame.

 

To learn about the Extreme Cowboy Association, visit: www.extremecowboyassociation.com and www.craigcameron.com

 

World Championship Ranch Rodeo Renews for Three Years in Amarillo

 

The Working Ranch Cowboy Association (WRCA) announces a three-year renewal agreement to keep the World Championship Ranch Rodeo in the Amarillo Civic Center “The World Championship Ranch Rodeo started in Amarillo in 1995 and has become one of our city’s premier events. We are delighted that the WRCA Board of Directors has agreed to a new three-year contract,” Mayor Debra McCartt said.

 

The 2009 World Championship will be dedicated to the Women of Ranching, Randall Whipple, president of the WRCA Board of Directors, announces. “This dedication will give us the opportunity to recognize the women who have contributed so much to the ranching industry and ranching families,” Whipple says. “Our organization has grown to the point where we are making a difference in many people’s lives and we can now thank those who have done so much.”

 

Whipple also announces a new initiative for the WRCA: creation of a Retirement Ranch for cowboys who have worked on a ranch all of their lives. It will be their chance to live out life on a working ranch instead of having to sell their horses and move to town.  The WRCA’s Retirement Ranch will provide a place to continue riding, work cattle, and receive medical care.

 

CMSA, MSA and SASS Competitions Eligible for AHA Points
Open Event Incentive Program Initiated

 

If you own a registered Arabian, Half/Arabian or an Anglo-Arabian and compete in CMSA, MSA and/or SASS competitions, you are eligible to participate in the Arabian Horse Association’s Open Event Incentive Program (OEIP).

 

OEIP is designed to reward owners and riders who use their Arabians, Half/Arabians and Anglo-Arabians in non-Arabian competitions.  Riders earn recognition and awards based on the number of points earned in competitions.

 

Additionally, horses used in these competitions have their competition achievements automatically recorded in their permanent event record on the Arabian Horse DataSource.

 

It is a worldwide Arabian horse database that is accessible through the internet.

 

For further information visit the Arabian Horse Association (AHA) website at www.arabianhorses.org.

 

Dare Cribbing Collar - new device for an old problem

 

Anyone who has combated the cribbing vice knows that it can be an incredibly difficult habit to remove from a horse, particularly if the vice was allowed to take root.

 

Cribbing, also commonly referred to as wind sucking, is the act of a horse gripping an edge such as a wooden fence, grain bin, metal round pen, or stable door with his front teeth, arching his neck and swallowing air. This air intake creates a grunting/belching noise. Note that cribbing and wood chewing are not the same. Some horses chew on wood without arching their neck or sucking in air.

 

Two major causes of horse cribbing are boredom and by example–seeing other horses doing it. Luckily there are a few different weapons you can arm yourself with on your quest to conquer the habit that afflicts your equine friend.

 

Professional horseman Rusty Dare of London, Ohio has teamed with tack manufacturer Schutz Brothers, Inc. of North Manchester, Indiana, to produce a cribbing collar that they claim will absolutely control cribbing in horses.

 

The Dare Collar incorporates a unique three-dimensional design built into a strap that stays in place without the aid of a browband. It can be fastened from either side of the horse and does not require extreme tightening like other collars. The Dare Cribbing Collar controls cribbing in older, habitual cribbing horses and removes tendencies in younger stock.

 

The Dare Cribbing Collar is available at tack shops worldwide and can be purchased online at www. schutzbrothers.com.

 

Rand’s Hat Company Promotes Western Shooting Horse Subscribers

 

Western Shooting Horse and Rand’s Hat Company of Billings, Montana have extended their Free Hat Giveaway Promotion through the end of April.

 

If you are not a sub-scriber or have not renewed your subscription to Western Shooting Horse, here’s a good reason to do so. Everyone who either subscribes or renews their subscription to Western Shooting Horse Magazine between March 1 and April 30, 2009 will automatically be entered to win a Rand’s Custom Hat of their choice valued at $450.

 

The promotion started January 1 and one hat has already been given to a lucky winner.

 

The Rand family has been making fine quality custom hats in Billings, Montana for 30 years. Rand’s hats are custom-made by one person from start to finish. This means your hat is hand-made, hand-sanded, and hand-finished.

 

To enter the contest, visit westernshootinghorse.com and click on the Rand’s Hat Promotion banner or any Subscribe button. To renew or extend your subscription please call Western Shooting Horse toll free 877-333-9742.

 

Old Gringo Boots in the Old

 

Picture this…you order a brand new pair of boots off the Internet. When the box arrives you’re excited for what the shiny new box has inside, but when you open it, you find a beat up pair of boots that look like they’ve been drug through the mud behind a pick up truck, then run over several times before being left out in the weather for six months!

 

Don’t send them back! They are just what you ordered and upon closer examination they are really cool. Old Gringo has come out with a new line of Cowboy boots that look like they’ve been put through the ringer. They are actually brand-new boots with a great design that, shall we say, are already seasoned.

 

The masterminds behind the original design are Old Gringo owners Ernie Tarut and Yan Ferry, who when asked how they process the boots to get that well-worn look said, “If we tell you, we’ll have to kill you!” It takes the pre-washed jean method to a new level, and whatever Ernie and Yan do they do it well.

 

The line goes by the name Cactus, and it can be seen and purchased online at Shelplers.com.

 

IN PRINT

 

Horsekeeping On a Small Acreage–Designing and Managing Your Equine Facilities Effective management requires knowledge, dedication, and a sincere interest in the well being of horses. In this thoroughly updated edition of her best-selling classic, Cherry Hill teaches you how to be a responsible steward of the land and refine your "horsekeeping consciousness" while providing horses with the best care possible.

 

Generously illustrated with photographs and instructive plan drawings, this new edition features expanded coverage of environmentally responsible management methods, acreage selection, plot layouts and barn designs, fencing options, pasture management, and useful checklists. Her advice applies whether you have one acre or one hundred.

 

Hill stresses the importance of considering the behavior, needs and safety of horses in the planning of horse facilities. In addition, Hill outlines practical procedures for fulfilling the annual, seasonal, monthly, weekly, and daily needs of the horses as well as caring for pastures, carrying out good sanitation practices, and recordkeeping.

 

Cherry Hill is an internationally renowned instructor and horse trainer and was a judge for several national breed associations for over 25 years. She is an award-winning author of more than 30 horse books and DVDs and more than 1000 articles for various publications. She lives in Colorado with her husband and their horses.

 

Find the book at www.bn.com.

 

Muck Automation

 

leaning jobs around the ranch—especially in the barn and paddock areas—seem to be never ending.  And they’re certainly not the easiest or most pleasant duties.

 

That’s why in 2005, the Australian-based Greystone Vacuums came up with the Paddock Vac. It handles a wide range of debris—wet or dry—including horse manure, wood shavings and more. The Australian equine industry came to regard the Paddock Vac as a necessity for cleaning around the ranch or farm.

 

Not long after, Greystone started a U.S. operation and began manufacturing the Paddock Vacs in Nevada.  Its success in this country has spawned a wide-range of machines, including the larger Maxi Vac for the biggest properties, to the Yard Vac,   operations (and even good-sized homes).

 

And folks who buy the Paddock Vac are finding new uses for them—like harvesting fruits and nuts. The building industry has adopted them for the heavy-duty job of cleaning construction sites.

 

Simply put, the Paddock Vac works well in any number of situations. Part of the reason for the Paddock Vac’s popularity: durability.  They’re made from tough “A” grade polyethylene on a sturdy, powder-coated steel frame.  They’re usually towed behind quad bikes or riding mowers or small tractors—and the hose and nozzle setup allows the Paddock Vac to be used from the towing vehicle, if necessary.

 

The storage compartment holds about 3 to 4 wheelbarrows full of refuse, and the pivoted frame allows easy emptying while the unit is still attached to the vehicle. The 45cc Kawasaki 2-stroke powered suction unit contains a powerful filtration system to maximize suction in dusty areas.

 

For more information on the Paddock Vac, visit www.greystoneusainc.com
 

Related posts:

1. In From The Range   New Headquarters For Western Shooting Horse   The...
2. In From The Range   Extreme Mustang Makeover Returns to Fort Worth Second...
3. In From The Range CMSA Worlds Come Back to Amarillo   Group offers new...
4. In From The Range   CHAMPIONS CROWNED AT  2009 CMSA WORLDS Hot Competition...
5. In From The Range   What’s new, what’s hot and what’s being talked up!...
6. In From The Range   Kenda Lenseigne Makes History at CMSA Worlds   Ellensburg,...
7. In From The Range What’s new, what’s hot and what’s being talked up!  ...
8. In From The Range   Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen Renee Zellweger Star in...
9. In From The Range   New World Champs Crowned In Vegas   The...
10. In From The Range WORLD SERIES OF MOUNTED SHOOTING Big Money and Top...