Real Ranch Horse Sale
Gunner NRHA
Ontario Racing Commision
Chinook Team Penning
78
Stars Cash Hunt

Montana’s Real Ranch Horse Sale Results

Real Ranch Horse Sale

Zeph Schulz of Aspen Meadow Ranch with Frannie Abbott Fishtail Basin Ranch with high selling horse AMR Hickory Dry Fire.

After seven consecutive years of selling ranch-made mounts to folks looking for proven and experienced horses, the “REAL” Ranch Horse Invitational Sale organizers find that their product is still in very high demand.  In fact, averages at this year’s “REAL” sale, held April 20th at the Yellowstone Boys & Girls Ranch outside Billings, Montana, were higher than ever. The top five ranch horses at the sale averaged $12,850; the top ten averaged $10,800; and all ranch horses sold averaged $6941.

The top seller at this year’s sale garnering $15,000 was Lot 44,” AMR Hickory Dry Fire,” a 4-year-old gray gelding consigned by Aspen Meadows Ranch, Coalville, Utah.  Winner of the Junior Horse Class in the Ranch Horse Competition, he could perform in the arena or in the hills. He sold to Fishtail Basin Ranch, Fishtail, Montana. There were two second high selling horses at this year’s “REAL” Ranch Horse Invitational Sale, both bringing $14,000.  Lot 11, “DE Frosty O Llama,” a 9-year-old palomino gelding offered by Scott and Josie Rieger of Ismay, Montana sold to Shawn Nielsen, Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada.  A top horse at Ranch Rodeos, ridden at the WRCA Finals, roped both ends and could run barrels.

The other second high selling horse was Lot 16, “Oh Be Richochet,” a 7-year-old buckskin gelding brought to the sale by Vic and Carey Nelson of Valentine, Nebraska.  A nice big well-rounded ranch horse that just about anyone could get along with went home with Tim Reimler of Buffalo, Wyoming.

The third high selling horse sold for $10,750 and was offered by Matt and Katie Walker of Sinclair, Wyoming.  Lot 12, “Cowboy Gray Jaguar,” an 8-year-old gray gelding was purchased by Cathy Cole of Newcastle, Wyoming.  He is big, gentle and been ridden by anyone and everyone.

Filling the fourth high selling spot and bringing $10,500 was Lot 25, “Sirfreckles Starlight,” a 6-year-old bay overo gelding, consigned by Lazy J3 Quarter Horses, Melstone, Montana.  He won the Open Bridle Class in the Ranch Horse Competiton and had everything done with him on the ranch.  They call him “Smiley” and he will be packing his bags for England.

Every year at the “REAL” sale, a few hands offer young ranch horses.  These horses have the same background as their older counterparts, just fewer miles.  There were two top selling young ranch horses this year, both bringing $5900.  The first was, Lot 39, “Shadow Stinger,” a 6-year-old bay roan gelding offered by Ty Linger, Miles City, Montana.  Having been used on the ranch for about everything he went home with Keith Jessop of Corvallis, Montana.

The second high seller was Lot 60, “Bennion,” a 4-year-old bay roan gelding brought by Shane Sorden, Melrose, Montana.  A sure enough head horse prospect, big, gentle and stout.  He is going to be taking a boat ride because he was purchased by Duane Shimogawa of Lawai, Hawaii. The top five young ranch horses offered for sale averaged $5000 and all the young ranch horses averaged $4161.

Horses sold to Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, California, Hawaii, Canada and the United Kingdom. Volume buyers at the sale included TE Ranch, Cody, Wyoming; Steve Uffelman, Hardin, Montana; Fishtail Basin Ranch, Fishtail, Montana; Shawn Nielsen, Spruce Grove, Alberta; Brent Kendze, Didsbury, Alberta and Robert Model, Cody, Wyoming.

The Yellowstone Boys & Girls Ranch hosts the “REAL” Ranch Horse Invitational Sale at its equestrian center.  The sale of a benefit colt each year raises funds for the YBGR, which provides residential  treatment services for at-risk youth.  Bar 7U Quarter Horses of Choteau, Montana donated the 2013 benefit colt, a 2 –year-old sorrel gelding.  Steve Mosser of Sheridan, Wyoming paid $750 for the well bred horse and 100% of the purchase price was donated to the YBGR.

Next year’s “REAL” Ranch Horse Invitational Sale is scheduled for April 18-19, 2014, and as usual next year’s catalog is already full of quality ranch horses.

For more information, visit the Montana Ranch Horse Association website at www.realranchhorses.com or call (406)446-2203.

Newest NRHA Five Million Dollar Sire

BY HAYLEY LEWALLEN
Gunner NRHA
In less than nine months after earning his Four Million Dollar Sire status, Gunner (AQHA Colonels Smoking Gun; APHA Colonels Smokingun) has become The National Reining Horse Association’s (NRHA) fourth, Five Million Dollar Sire. As of May 13, 2013, the NRHA Hall of Fame inductee has official offspring earnings of $5,096,543.

“We feel very lucky to have another great horse in our life, Hollywood Dun It being the first. No matter how great any horse is, it still takes all the people in his life to make him successful. We have so many people to thank for his success and we just want each of them to know how much we appreciate their investment in Gunner and our program,” said Tim and Colleen McQuay after learning of the achievement.

Several of Gunner’s progeny had a successful show at the National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) earning over $150,300 in the Challenge classes and Open and Non Pro finals alone. This final push gave Gunner the amount he needed to reach the five million dollar mark. Some of the top earners included: Americasnextgunmodel owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA. and ridden by NRHA Professional Casey Deary; HF Mobster owned by Heritage Farms/Rhodes River Ranch and ridden by NRHA Million Dollar Rider and Professional Jordan Larson; Chics San Guns owned by S. Coguaike and ridden by NRHA Four Million Dollar Rider, Hall of Fame inductee and Professional Shawn Flarida; Always Gotyer Gunsup owned by McQuay Stables and ridden by NRHA Million Dollar Rider Mandy McCutcheon; Customized Gunner owned by McQuay Stables and ridden by Mandy McCutcheon; and Gunsmokes TNT owned by Mary Jansma and ridden by NRHA Professional Sebastian Petroll.

Bred by Eric Storey of Henagar, Ala., Gunner is the top NRHA earning offspring of Colonelfourfreckle (Colonel Freckles x Miss Solano). Gunner is out of Katie Gun who has produced NRHA earners of more than $544,000. The 1993 stallion currently stands in Tioga, Texas at McQuay Stables, Inc. and is owned by McQuay Stables, Inc. (NRHA Three Million Dollar Rider and Hall of Fame inductee Tim McQuay and wife Colleen). Gunner earned nearly $175,000 in his career. His accolades include:

• 1996 NRHA Futurity Level 4 Open Reserve Champion ridden by Clint Haverty
• 1997 NRHA Derby Level 4 Non Pro finalist ridden by Kim Sloan
• 1998 NRBC Level 4 Open Reserve Champion ridden by Clint Haverty
• 1998 NRHA Derby Level 4 Open finalist ridden by Clint Haverty
• 2001 USET Festival Of Champions National Reining Champion ridden by Bryant Pace

Long-Term Plan For Horse Racing in Ontario

Ontario Racing Commision

Photo by Deanna Buschert

Is there a solution for Ontario’s troubled Horse Racing industry? The  Ontario’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food says there may be a long-term plan established as soon as this year. The government of Ontario has asked the Horse Racing Industry Transition Panel to put forth a plan to get the ball rolling forward for the future of horse racing in the province. The panel has been asked by the province to propose a clear proposal for modernizing the governance and regulation of the horse racing industry, ideas for growing the fan base and providing more wagering options, providing ongoing government support and ensuring animal welfare.

It is expected that a draft plan will be in the hands of the Ontario government, by June 2013. The final plan is to be completed by October of this year and the industry is gratefully optimistic.

“I know how important this industry is to communities across Ontario and I am confident that the expertise and guidance of this panel will help the horse racing industry move toward a bright, sustainable future,” says Kathleen Wynne, Premier and Minister of Agriculture and Food.

The idea of a path to move forward on is an important set for the horse racing industry.

“Significant strides have been made over the past months to ensure there is horse racing in Ontario for this year and beyond. The panel looks forward to continuing our work with the government and the horse racing industry to ensure a sustainable future for the industry,” says John Snobelen, member, Horse Racing Industry Transition Panel.

In 2013, Ontario Racing Commission has issued race dates for 15 tracks, including Woodbine, Mohawk, Hanover, Western Fair, Clinton, Grand River, Flamboro, Georgian Downs, Fort Erie, Kawartha, Sudbury, Hiawatha, Dresden, Ajax and Rideau Carleton. The Ontario Racing Commission says up to $30 million will be used to develop the Standardbred and Thoroughbred components of the Horse Improvement Program. Learn more and read the report of the Horse Racing Industry Transition Panel Minister’s Letter to the Panel.

Chinook Team Penning Update

SUBMITTED BY LILLIAN DALTON

Willow Creek Ag. Society produced their usual smoothly-run, two day show April 20 & 21, at the Claresholm Agriplex. Road trips are always a great experience, with extra time for socializing and meeting new members! Unusually, the weekend proved to be a bit of a surprise for seven riders … they involuntarily dismounted while in hot pursuit of their wily cow, injuring only their egos. Full results and the winners’ pictures from each day are available on chinookpenning.com.

Chinook Team Penning

Canmark Roofing #10 Class winners, Sabine Van Laere, Bob Bolin, Josie Abraham.

Rolling Mix Concrete #7 Class winners, Carrie & Bill Patton, Donna O’Reilly.

Chinook Team Penning

O’Reilly O’Rena #5 Class winners, Rene O’Rourke, Charlie Peppard, Ken Royko.

Cal Loree Tribute

Cal and his wife Rosemarie of Loree Quarter Horses were perhaps best known in American Quarter Horse circles as long time halter horse breeders and owners/exhibitors of such famous horses as: Coosa, Ima Cool Skip, CRL Shesa Cool Coosa, and Perpetualism. Cal and Rosemarie began showing halter horses in Canada in the 1980s, where they fitted all their horses themselves before asking a local trainer to show them.

After early success, they started showing in the United States, eventually building a facility in Guthrie, OK, in conjunction with Wayne Halvorson. In 1993, Cal purchased Coosa and Ima Cool Skip, eventually adding Perpetualism to give the barn even more star power. He sold his interest in the Guthrie ranch to Wayne, but Cal and Rosemarie retained mares and continued breeding, achieving a lifetime goal as breeders of 5 time AQHA World Champion mare, CRL Shesa Cool Coosa.

Cal served as a Director of the Canadian Quarter Horse Association since 2001, was involved with the Alberta Quarter Horse Association, and was a director emeritus with the AQHA. He served on the AQHA Studbook and Registration Committee, Youth Committee, and Hall of Fame Committee.

Cal will be greatly missed by his colleagues, many friends and admirers in the American Quarter Horse family. The CQHA Board of Directors sends our sincere condolences to his lovely wife, Rosemarie, his four daughters, Sandra, Sherry, Sharon and Valerie, eight grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Service is being held at McInnis & Holloway’s Park Memorial Chapel on Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. Condolences may be forwarded through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Alberta at www.heartandstroke.ca. In living memory of Calvyn, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park.

Click this link for the official obituary published in The Calgary Herald from May 11-14, 2013.

Amazing Backcountry

SUBMITTED BY BRENDA MURDOCK
Stars Cash Hunt

Alberta entrepreneurs Brenda Murdock and Scott Phillips have stepped out into the international scene with their Global Equine Geocaching website, Amazing Backcountry – a world-wide network of equine enthusiasts who enjoy the fun and adventure of exploring backcountry trails on horseback.

Geocaching is a sport where people search for hidden objects or caches by using coordinates that have been posted on the internet. There are a handful of geocaching websites out there with thousands of users all over the world but, “What separates us from the rest,” says Murdock, “is that Amazing Backcountry specifically caters to the horse enthusiasts.”

Scott and Brenda have designed the website to integrate rider-to- rider interaction, rider profiles through which you share your journeys to each cache through pictures and stories, and a trail database. The rider network revolves around the two core principles of sharing information, and connecting with other riders on the trail.

Of great interest to users, the trail database is an extensive collection of worldwide equestrian trail specifications. This includes locations, staging and camping areas. The database also features a rider updated photo library, interesting facts, and information on the history or geology of areas all over the world.  If you’re going on a holiday, you can easily go on the site and see what caches are in that area and what kinds of trails are available with the push of a button.

Phillips shares, “Our goal is to bring all riders together so that we can share our knowledge and passion of the trails we love to ride. This is also a great way to network with riders in other areas, and even other countries!”

The world has so many incredible places to explore on horseback. There are people that regularly ride favorite trails, and those that are always yearning to explore new territory. Amazing Backcountry caters to everyone. There are no age restrictions, skill requirements, or preference toward any discipline.  Ride where and when you want to.  As an Amazing Backcountry Rider, armed with your Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver and trail information, your goal is to use your ingenuity to locate hidden caches, or hide one yourself for others to find.

There are also fundraising opportunities available to registered Not-For-Profit (NFP) organizations through Amazing Backcountry.  NFP’s can use groups of caches to support a fundraising effort. Amazing Backcountry Riders who are part of your fundraiser find sponsors to donate to your organization in a competition to see who can raise the most.  2012 saw Amazing Backcountry participants raise $19,300 for STARS!

The Amazing Backcountry Race for STARS fundraiser will be taking place again this summer, running from late June to early September. “What makes it even more fun this year is that participants can hide their own caches for it” says Brenda.

Head over to the website and check it out at www.amazingbackcountry.net.


Manitoba’s Rocking W Spring Horse Sale

World Plowing Championship

Beierbach Smokin’ at Broncs and Honky Tonks