Likes of the Week

We’re currently on deadline with the Jan/Feb issue of Western Horse Review, so before I get into anything else I want to let you know what we’re finalizing in this issue.

World champion bucking horse Airwolf's clone, "Wolfie." Photo by Deanna Buschert.

• A fantastic and may I say, cutting-edge piece on cloning by our own Deanna Buschert. I have to say, this was an article which challenged my stand on the issue of equine cloning. Don’t miss it, much has transpired in the past two years.

Sneak peek at one of our profile western weddings. Photo by Krista Kay Photography.

• Western Wedding Style. Wow, I’m in awe of the new generation of cowgirls and guys who embrace their unique western tradition, with a twist of modernist. Fourteen pages of amazing photography, and three gorgeous western weddings.

• Nearly two years ago, we ran one of our very first contests on The Barrel Patch blog. The swag was Petrol jeans and the question was: If you could pick your all time favourite barrel racer to go out to dinner with, who would it be and why? One of the most mentioned competitors was Deb Renger. Hence, the article idea. Hey, it ain’t dinner with, but it’s a fabulous profile of arguably, Canada’s top longstanding barrel racing competitor.

• Results, pictures and interviews from both the Team Roping Futurity and the Canadian Snaffle Bit Futurity, both held during Northland’s recent Farmfair.

• Profiles of competitive riders and horses remain a core mandate in Western Horse Review. This issue we also interview an up-and-coming cow horse trainer from Saskatchewan, and an Ohio Congress champion.

• Winter chores the old-fashioned way is the theme of the photographic essay in this issue’s Out West. 

• Dainya Sapergia’s sweet interview with the modest Blake Schlosser – on his final days as pick-up man, and his heartfelt reasons for giving up the rodeo trail. I love the photo. So much, I’m not about to reveal it before the issue.

• Our health feature follow up on EHV – what top equine health professionals are advising as move-forward strategies. And leading Thoroughbred breeder and therapeutic equine care center – the impressive Bar None Ranches is featured in Horse Farm. 

• My interview with Katie Tims, who is scheduled to appear this mid-January at the annual Horse Owners and Breeders Conference in Red Deer, Alberta. Fantastic insights from Katie on the trends we in the horse industry can expect over the coming years.

By the way, if Red Deer is too far for you to travel in the dead of a Canadian winter, there are two equally inspiring educational seminars on our radar in the New Year: the Horse Council of British Columbia’s Equine Education Conference, and Saskatchewan’s first annual Equine Expo.

• Speaking of equine education, we host a section of equine schools in Canada in this issue as well.

• Don’t let me forget – Deanna Beckley also profiles six amazingly talented spur makers in Product Showdown, and one barrel racer determined to meld her passion with her business in Storefront. 

And . . . more, so much more. If you’d like to make sure you receive this issue by subscribing, you can do so here.

 

This week, I admired these photographs by Montreal photographer, Irene Suchocki. Currently the top-selling photographer on Etsy, I’m in love with her series capturing the gentle nature and graceful power of the wild horses of Camargue, a region in the south of France. Visit her Etsy store here. 

I’m impressed by the new Equine Lameness Online Lab, brought to us by Pfizer Animal Health and the Equine Guelph, particularly the Video Challenge, which shows a video of four different horses, allowing viewers to identify which horse is lame, and which leg is lame. Make your assessment, and then view the incredibly insightful audio commentary version from equine veterinarian, Dr. Nicola Cribb. Resourceful idea!

In case you missed it Bobby Kerr and Poncho were clearly the fan favorite of the 2011 Extreme Mustang Challenge.

And finally, it’s a bit of a lengthy view, but Emma Massingale’s Synchronicity with Horses is all about peace, understanding and love. We can always use a little more of that.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s post, I hope to be back with one final post prior to Christmas Day, with some last minute Christmas ideas and links.

A Trip to Texas

We just returned from the NCHA 50th anniversary edition of the Futurity.

It was a whirlwind trip, we had a lot to fit into three days, including. . .

. . . attending the Western Bloodstock Futurity Sales, including the yearling sales. . .

. . . and the seasoned cutting horse sale on Saturday.

 You might remember this horse. The six-year-old Pepto Taz gelding, ridden by Randy Holman, which won the Classic Challenge at last year’s Canadian Supreme with an amazing 150 run, and returned this year to capture the championship again on the Saturday night with a 146.5. He sold at this sale for $54,000.

Everyone seemed to agree prices were up from last year. We have an interview with Katie Tims, editor of the Quarter Horse News, planned for the Jan/Feb issue of Western Horse Review. I know she’ll have some interesting insights into the trends of the new year.

Saturday morning was also the Stallion Avenue, always a barn aisle-packed event and a great way to start off the final day of the week. I apologize for the photo . .  but I just couldn’t help including it. I’d love to meet the creative brain behind this artwork, hilarious!

Earlier in the trip, we headed out to Weatherford, Cutting Capital of the World. . .

. . . and visited with Ian Chisholm at his place. Ian and Peggy have a beautiful ranch, just up on a rise a bit, incredibly functional, with gorgeous views of the Texas hills. The horses at Ian’s always seem content and quiet to me.

On our way back to Fort Worth, we stopped at Oswood Stallion Station, and I visited with Blue’s dad, one of the highlights of the trip for me. There were some other stallions around – Dual Rey, One Time Pepto, One Time Royalty – but my adoration was reserved for this guy. I’m sure one day those others will sire a beautiful boy like Blue too.

Just to change it up, we rented a house on VBRO for this trip, which we shared with some friends. It was a different experience from staying in a hotel and allowed us to get together every evening to watch the National Finals Rodeo highlights on television.

We headed to the historic Fort Worth Stockyards for some shopping.

And dinner at Lonesome Dove, arguably the most amazing meal I’ve ever had in FW, and definitely worth the splurge. While Uncle Julio’s is the favorite Mexican feed for many cutters, we found Benito’s, an authentic Mexican restaurant just a few blocks from the Colliseum. Delicious queso flameado, and salsa!

And then, there was the cutting.

Incredible cutting.

I have to thank my friend, Karyn for taking these photos. I was being lazy about hauling my camera around so she stepped in and snapped some fine shots of the action.

What a finals.

Ten of the 25 Open finalist horses were sired by High Brow Cat. I’m not sure if that’s a record for number of horses by one sire in the finals, but it sure was impressive.

Other sires represented by offspring in the finals included:

Chula Dual

Dual Rey

Dual Smart Rey

Hes A Peptospoonful

Oh Cay Quixote

One Time Pepto (2 entries)

Peptoboonsmal

Smart Lil Scoot

Smart Little Lena

Smooth As A Cat (2 entries)

Sophisticated Catt

Spots Hot

TR Dual Rey

As it transpired, the top two high-scoring runs of the evening were High Brow Cat offspring. Ronnie Rice set a high bar with a score of 225 as the very first entry. He rode a High Brow Cat by named Jewels Bars Cat, out of a Lenas Jewel Bars mare named Sprats Dualin Jewel.

That score held until the very last run of the day. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who thought Ronnie Rice had the day. But, then Craig Thompson rode Oh Miss Caroline (High Brow Cat out of Oh Cay Shorty, by Shorty Lena) into the herd and changed everything.

Not that I’ve had the opportunity to witness that many NCHA Futurity finals, but this was a thrilling show. The competitiveness of this finals was palatable. Everyone has stepped up their game here in Texas.

And, that was the 2011 50th Anniversary NCHA Futurity, it’s all she wrote. And time to prepare for 2012. Many Canadians brought back horses, can’t wait to see them in the show pen next year.

I nearly forgot to mention, we also met Trigger.

When RFD-TV bought Roy Roger’s original stuffed Trigger for $266,000, back in the spring at the Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum auction, I didn’t expect I’d run into him here. It was a cool display, fun photo op, and I’m glad Trigger is still getting out and thrilling modern day crowds.

3 Weeks ’till Christmas: Great Gift Ideas

It’s exactly three weeks until Christmas as I write this post, meaning the countdown has begun in earnest. If you want to catch up with all of my prior 12 Weeks ’till Christmas gift ideas, the stream begins here.

This week, some apps you might find useful enough for stocking stuffers.

I begin with my all-time favourite.

I might have purchased my iphone just for the Hipstamatic camera, I’ve had so much fun with it.

The Hipstamtic, with it’s old-fashioned analog feel will remind you of your old Polaroid. Sort of. It’s much more, actually. With it’s wide range of film and options, be prepared to transform your shot into whatever mood or vintage flavor you’d like to impart it with.

I took both of these Arizona shots within a minute of each other while riding.
A year or so ago, I shot our annual fashion photo shoot in Hip, which allowed me to bring a much different perspective to the day than the professional photographers on site.

I’ve taken a ton of horse show shots with it.

. . .  and, I’ve tortured countless teenagers with it . . . including my own.

If you know someone with an iphone, it makes a great stocking stuffer at $1.99.

Another toy camera app I’ve just gotten into is the Tilt Shift Generator. I purchased it to explore tilt-shift miniature faking, which allows for a diorama effect to your photographs, giving the illusion of a miniature scale model.

I love this effect, but I haven’t quite mastered it, this being my best try at it thus far. Here’s 50 beautiful examples of what can be accomplished with tilt-shift photography. Again, a great app for anyone who is into photography.

If you know a horse person with nomadic tendencies, always planning the next leg of travel or horse show to attend, either or both of these travel apps would be welcomed.

Kayak: This is Apple’s most popular travel app, and much like the website, is a cost- and time-efficient way to search for flights, hotels and car rentals all in one place. It even features a function for a Packing List.  With Kayak you can track your flight, convert currency and check out tours and attractions around your destination.

Trip It: For those with multiple trip bookings on the go, this handy app links to your e-mail account and picks up any confirmation number that comes into your Inbox – from dinner reservations, to flights, hotel and car rentals. Install Trip It and lose the messy and inconvenient paper trail typically storing this information.

Of course, there are numerous equine apps to be downloaded as well. My confession at this point is I haven’t tried any of them! Rather than me wading through all of the choices and reviewing them, I’m calling out to you to let us all know what equine apps the most useful, and of course, entertaining.

In the comment section below, let us know what your favorite equine-related app is (If you don’t currently use an equine app, just name any app you find useful), and we’ll enter you in draw to win a Kim Taylor daytimer. I gushed over these daytimers back at week 11 of the countdown. They are a gorgeous and useful timepiece of western ranch photography, and I still have one or two at the office to give away.

Looking forward to hearing your suggestions for best apps.

 

 

Buck DVD winner

I’m sure you’ve heard by now southern Alberta experienced record-breaking winds yesterday leaving many facilities damaged, power out and fires raging. As I surveyed the damage – photos and comments posted by Facebook friends – I was amazed and grateful that animals and humans seemed to have escaped serious injuries or worse during this freakish storm.

The girls were attending a 4H lesson with their horses at a feedlot east of Airdrie, when the storm evolved from uncomfortable to insane. It took several extra adults to hold open trailer doors and load horses, and the trip home was somewhat harrowing, with sights of sheds blowing across fields, and the surreal sense of truck and trailer drifting sideways several times. Thankfully, we made it. Back at the log house, the winds initiated a 12-hour power outage, and questions and musings from Wee about the ramifications of global warming. Little kids most often worry about the big questions, don’t they.

Providing a beautiful juxtaposition to the fury of less than 24 hours ago, today we woke up to a light dusting of snow, and an incredibly calm landscape.

When you live in the boondocks, you can spend a lifetime feeling both humbled and awed by the power of Mother Nature.

I’ll be posting some great and inexpensive apps recommendations – from travel to photography to equine – later this week in our Christmas countdown, which Wee informs me is now less than four weeks.

In the meantime, thanking you all for your fantastic Best Westerns suggestions in the 6 Weeks ’till Chrismas: Great Gift Ideas post last week. Among the most favoured: Tombstone, True Grit, Lonesome Dove, Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, Jeremiah Johnson, Rustlers Rhapsody, Open Range, Pretty Horses, and, I believe most often mentioned – The Man From Snowy River.

Then some I’ve not heard of: Cactus Jack with Kirk Douglas, a copy of which I’ll now have to track down, as well as Winchester 73 (?), The Rounders with Glenn Ford and Henry Fonda and so many others which have become somewhat forgotten in the mainstream, but still alive in some of your hearts obviously.

Susan Kauffmann, Western Horse Review Health Editor offered up what may be the oddest of the lot. The film, Dead Man, with Johnny Depp and a host of other significant actors. After viewing this trailer, Susan, it’s definitely going to be on my list!

Fantastic cast!

We made a random draw from all the comments and the lucky winner is Alex, who happened to be the third final commenter, and who wrote:

“So many good movies in this list. Westerns I liked – Unforgiven, Appaloosa, and 3:10 from Yuma – all movies with good character development and story lines that are going somewhere.

“I really want to see Buck, but I think we will not get it here in Penticton. Hope it is Merry Christmas to me.”

Alex, apparently, you will be seeing Buck. Please contact us at editorial@westernhorsereview.com and we’ll get your DVD shipped out to you promptly.

Thanks again everyone for the excellent suggestions – great list for all of us collectively!

5 Weeks ’till Christmas: Great Gift Ideas

There are so many sweet Christmas ideas to share, I’m running out of weeks, and now that I’m actually on track with my week count (give or take a few days, it is five weeks to the big day), I have a few interesting sites (as in web), and views (as in sights), to share as we head into the weekend. If you would like to catch up with all of my previous ideas, you can begin the stream here. 

Beginning with views, I’m heading to Texas next week, and while I won’t be anywhere near this location (more pics here), Rancho Bravo is apparently, for sale. In the centre of exactly nowhere, it is completely a flight of the imagination listing, isn’t it?

Sometimes I’d just prefer my very own place like this to write, read, paint, walk and ride. Oh, and the time to engage in these activities.

Over in Fort Worth, where I’ll be staying, the 50th Anniversary of the NCHA Futurity is in full swing. I’m also breathlessly waiting to hear on guest blogger, Deanna Paulsen’s update on a foursome I’ve come to think of as our Road to the Futurity horses at the NRHA Futurity in Oklahoma City. They are our horses, aren’t they, Deanna?

I expect she’ll be checking in sometime soon to the My Stable Life blog with news.

At yesterday’s sales meeting Charmayne showed us the western-themed iphone sleeves available at Zazzle.

My favorite, this vintage old leather reminds me of a small leather case my father used to keep his passport in.

For those who feel the need to broadcast a love of the equine in a whimsical fashion, perhaps these garage door covers? I think the world needs more of these, don’t you?

Finally, grandparents, turn now and walk away from this blog post. It may become expensive, this Screen Doors & Saddles thing. . .

Find this and many more vintage kiddie rides, sure to please many a grandchild, and if you’re so inclined, raise some extra cash for the horses, at Kiddie Rides USA.

Have a great weekend, everyone! Remember to drop by the Young Gunz booth at the Canadian Western Agribition, say hello to Paula and purchase a Western Horse Review subscription (another great gift idea!). You’ll receive a $10 coupon towards a Outlaw Wild Ragz in return.

 

 

 

6 Weeks ’till Christmas: Great Gift Ideas

Last night I invited my friend, Sheila, to the movie, Buck. It’s showing in Calgary at the Plaza Theatre through to the end of the month. I was happy to see it at a small, independent theatre – we like to support that genre, though they are sadly, fast disappearing from our landscape.

I’m sure you’ve all seen the trailer of Buck by now, it’s received a good share of publicity, but just in case you’ve been hiding under a frozen waterer, you’ll find it at the end of this post.

Sheila, not a horse owner, loved the film. As did I, and it seemed most of the audience members in the cozy theatre. It’s not a film you absolutely need to see in a theatre, but it’s always a greater experience to see a film on the big screen, isn’t it.

The movie focuses on the life and message of Buck Brannaman, a horseman we in the industry are quite familiar with, but it was nice to see his message reach outside of our circles to the larger mainstream. Buck was recently in Alberta, and we had a chance to get together with him, gathering an interview for a feature we can’t wait to share with you in the March issue of Western Horse Review. 

Buck really is about horses, but his message is quite human. Redemptive, vulnerable, forgiving. Brimming with quiet strength. Buck is a beautiful work of humanity. No great wonder he has the following he has amassed. Just this morning as I browsed my Facebook feed, I noticed a Buck quote on the Natural Leader Facebook page:

“Possess the things horses treasure – peace and comfort; and your horse will always be willing to trade with you. If you are always mindful of that, you “should” have the perfect relationship. Betray that desire and you will be low on credit with your horse.”

Always words to ponder from Buck. He’s the kind of teacher who leaves you to dwell on the questions. But then, there’s no wisdom worth having that isn’t hard won – which is, more or less, the story of his life.

I encourage you to be sure to make Buck part of your Christmas plans, whether in a theatre near you, or on DVD. That said, I’m offering up a DVD of Buck to give away this week. Fact is, I need to stockpile a few western movie suggestions for a future post, so let us know in the Comment section below, the name of a western movie you love, and we’ll enter your name into a draw to receive a DVD of Buck. Contest closes Friday, at midnight, and winner announced Monday.

Enjoy the trailer!

Marketing Mondays – Print and Online

This morning we’re diving into the magazine versus online advertising debate. When I use the term “versus” in that sentence, it tweaks me as inappropriate. It’s not the word I want to use, as I have come to view online advertising, less as competition to the magazine, and more so as a welcome friend to the print message.

You may have already viewed the advertisement below; it’s part of a print campaign designed to differentiate magazine advertising from online advertising.

I like the analogy and visual the above headline gives me, particularly in regards to the magazine. We do “swim” in magazines, don’t we? We envelope them, cuddle up with them, and spend a great chunk of time with them.

Similar to the horse world, the world of print media is changing radically. Magazine publishers such as myself have had to learn to embrace all genres of media from internet to social media, to expand our brand and stay in touch with our audiences. Today, social media is an important communications tool and engagement venue, as well as an element of our marketing strategy. Our print publication plays an important role in bringing our audience to our online presence. A print ad is a physical thing. It will bring readers to your website, or your online presence again and again.

Still, a magazine is a magazine and it offers a completely different experience from that of online.

In a previous Marketing Monday column, I touched upon “know” media and “flow” media, explaining magazines as the “know” and online as the “flow.” It’s a little like the “swim” and “surf” above. And, these are important points to keep in mind when planning your marketing strategy. It’s one of the key elements you would choose magazine advertising as the cornerstone of your marketing campaign.

But that’s not all. Print advertising continues to offer some great benefits not shared by its online counterparts:

It’s a keeper. Newspapers are flipped through and tossed out. Web pages are quickly read and moved on from. Magazines stay in homes for months, consumers often return to their pages multiple times, or pass them on to friends.

It is highly targeted: Print advertising offers you the chance to capture the attention of your target market. This gives you very cost-effective advertising.

Magazines are credible: Many studies have proven consumers trust and believe magazine advertising more than any other media out there. Readers who see your ad in a magazine they care enough about to subscribe to, assume that you subscribe to the same philosophy as the magazine represents, and readers will be more likely to patronize your business because of it.

If you’ve dropped magazine buys out of your advertising budget because of all the hype of online and social media, I hope I’ve made a compelling enough case to have you rethink that decision. Even in this age of online, magazines are as compelling as ever.

 

 


7 Weeks ’till Christmas: Great Gift Ideas

Not very long ago, I had the chance to chat again with someone I haven’t seen for a very long time. Actually, it was beginning to feel like forever. Anxiety had crept into my brain.

Are you alright?

It was a relief, then, when I spotted him heading my way down the Calgary Stampede Corral concourse on a Saturday night – a tad smaller than I remembered him – but in fine shape, and smiling.

We were only able to chat for a bit. He was a gentleman as always. Unsurprisingly, a tad overwhelmed, and a bit embarrarrassed with the attention lavished on him. And, concerned. Concerned the Calgary Stampede Wrangler Futurity, the event we were all gathered to witness, was being held up as an auction occurred in his name.

Boy, was that typical. Always worried about the show, that Bill.

Of course, I speak of Bill Collins. Bill and Pearl were two of the very first people I met nearly 20 years ago when I purchased the magazine now known as Western Horse Review. I think dearly of them both. I know I’m hardly alone in that sentiment.

So, the story was we were gathered at the Wrangler Calgary Futurity on the Saturday night of the Futurity. Bill had brought in one of his many lifetime championship saddles to be auctioned off.

Something about a vintage saddle, isn’t there?

A lifetime of rides here.

The proceeds of the auction went to the Bill Collins Youth Scholarship Fund, an initiative he’s been heading for years, and a fund which has provided scholarships to a great many youth heading on to University. It was a beautiful gesture on Bill and Pearl’s part.

Thank you Bill and Pearl!

Photo credit: James Hudyma, Hudyma Photography

If you didn’t have a chance to bid on that saddle, there’s still a few of these left.

Divine, isn’t it?

This here fella’s the maker. Recognize him? We haven’t seen him around much this year, either. I caught this shot of him in April at the Mane Event. Back when he was likely still revelling in the glory of the moment. Prior to realizing he actually had to build 100 saddles. One hundred, exquisitely crafted, one-of-a-kind saddles in commemoration of the 100 year anniversary of the Calgary Stampede in 2012. Built by Vic Bennett himself.

I just hope he’s got some help.

I happen to know there’s only a few of these left. They would make a great Christmas gift. Perhaps a family gift in the name of a ranch or farm, which has had a history of showing livestock at the Calgary Stampede. What an incredible way to honor the legacy both of the Calgary Stampede and your own family.

Photo credit: James Hudyma, Hudyma Photography

These saddles retail for $4,995.00. With the Vic Bennett stamp, we know the craftsmanship will be meticulous, right down to the Calgary Stampede brand. The limited-edition saddles will be numbered, signed by Stampede President and Chairman of the Board Mike Casey, and Vic himself, and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

They’ll be presented during a Centennial Saddle Celebration in July 2012.

Exciting!

To find out more about the Calgary Stampede’s Centennial saddle program, e-mail saddle@calgarystampede.com or visitwww.calgarystampede.com/saddle2012

Check back next week as I present, not one, but two more ideas for great Christmas gifts in my quest to catch up to the real number of weeks left to Christmas.

In the meantime, have a great weekend!

8 Weeks ’till Christmas: Great Gift Ideas

While it may officially be six weeks or less until Christmas, I’m still running a bit behind on my great gift ideas series. Before we begin with this week’s suggestion, I’m happy to announce the winner of last week’s beautiful Mara pottery giveaway. It was my 10 week suggestion, and I happily offered to share one of my newly purchased Mara pottery pieces with the winner of the week’s question: “Who do you have the most difficulty buying a Christmas gift for.”

Thanks to everyone who participated with a comment. The lucky winner, drawn randomly, is Winona, who finds her husband hardest to buy for.

“For my hubby, the man for which is hard to buy!  He loves the great outdoors and would love the piece, I’m sure.  The pieces are gorgeous!“

Thanks Winona, you are now the owner of one of these gorgeous pieces. Contact us at editorial@westernhorsereview.com to claim your prize.

Onward to this week’s great gift idea.

Recently, at the Western Lifestyle Marketplace, during the Canadian Supreme, Wee and I spent some time at the Double N Ranch booth trying on the great selection of ranch scarves they had on offer. A certain pesky Managing Editor I happen to know cajoled and teased me into purchasing a wild rag, and a buckaroo hat for Wee. I have to admit, the transformation was adorable, and suited the kid quite well.

I don’t own one myself, but with the gorgeous patterns I’ve seen lately, that may change soon.

Like this vibrant wine-colored paisley pattern.

Or, this brilliant blue.

Can there really be such a thing as too much paisley? I think not.

Definitely not.

I love the shots of these young models – the photography is exquisite – showcasing the elegance and rugged beauty of a ranch scarf, particularly when paired with a well worn hat on a punchy ranch kid. See more of these at my original post showcasing these scarves here.

While they are certainly some of the most charming scarves I’ve seen, there are several distributors closer to home who carry an excellent selection as well.

One such, is the aforementioned Double N Ranch, check out their newest patterns and styles of wild rags at this link. 

In Saskatchewan, Young Gunz Distributing carries a large assortment of wild rags.

Such as this elegant beauty.

Or this. You can see the entire selection of Young Gunz wild rags at their Facebook page.

Just one more. Polka dot delight.

Here’s the part you won’t want to miss. Western Horse Review is partnering with Young Gunz Distributing to bring you an utterly wonderful offer, if you happen to be attending the Canadian Western Agribition, Nov. 21-26, in Regina, Saskatchewan. Pop by the Young Gunz booth and with your purchase of a Western Horse Review subscription, receive $10 off any Outlaw Wild Rag in their booth.

Hope to see you there!