NEWSLETTER Happy New Year - 2009  Welcome to WINTER! J We’ve got quite a bit of news this month, so I guess we’ll start off with “the big one”……..The National Reining Horse Futurity.  Riders, owners, spectators and of course those fabulous 3 year old horses representing many countries converged on the Oklahoma State Fair Grounds and Coliseum for this spectacular NRHA event.  Since the first day of the show was on Thanksgiving Day, the NRHA hosted a wonderful thanksgiving feast with turkey and all the trimmings.  Blessings were shared by all.  Then on with the show. 

There was a total of 450 three year olds entered in this year’s futurity for the Open, Int. Open, Ltd. Open and Prime Time Open classes.  When the competitors enter the arena through the Gateway of Champions they are introduced by the “voice of reining”, Mr. Keith Bradley.  As the riders leave the arena after each run, the anticipation of hearing Mr. Bradley’s famous line “the score” in a notch higher and louder than the norm indicating the highest score up to that point can just be flat out exhilarating!  The excitement and the energy running through the audience is really something to behold.   

Not only was the show held in the Coliseum, but vendors from all over the country had set up shop selling everything from saddles, tack, clothing, furniture, house ware, paintings, sculptures, jewelry, insurance, ranch equipment, horse trailers and of course food and beverages.  It was basically a one stop shop. 

 4R Performances Horses sponsored the Celebrity Slide to benefit the Make A Wish Foundation of Oklahoma.  Each child had a celebrity rider mainly made up of professional rodeo cowboys.  Each rider was coached by his or her own top notch trainer. A couple of the celebrity riders were PBR World Champion bull rider, Cody Lambert and PRCA World Champion bronc rider, Billy Etbauer).  And then along came Grammy Award winning artist, Lyle Lovett.  All the riders were mounted on world champion horses and completed their reining patterns with style and grace.  Lyle, riding his co-owned Palomino Stallion, Smart and Shiney, just beat out Billy Etbauer.  The audience had a great time, the riders had a great time, but most of all the children great time.  

 The State of Wyoming made a good showing at the Futurity.  Wagonhound Land & Livestock’s entry was a beautiful Palomino stallion, Shiner Olena, topped by million dollar rider, Andrea Fappani.  The duo finished first in Go 1, second in Go 2 and finished in the money in the finals.  How about next year, Kevin?  Wagonhound Ranch’s mare, Shirley’s Folly, is the grand dam of the Open Futurity Reserve Champion, The Great Tag ridden by Cody Sapergia. 

Thursday evenings main event was the FEI (Federation Equestre Internationale) World Reining Masters with 13 riders representing Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Israel, Italy, Mexico, South Africa, Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland and of course United States.  Rudi Kronsteiner from Austria took top honors aboard Smart Spook owned by Roseanne Sternberg of England.  It’s amazing how the sport of reining has spread throughout the world in such a short time.  

Two young professionals from Montana, Cameron Meissner and JR Winter (good friends and traveling partners), qualified to go on to the North American Affiliate Championship show in conjunction with the National Reining Horse Assn. Futurity in Oklahoma City.  Cameron, aboard Anne Kent’s mare Breezin Wright On and JR riding Kristy Wheeler’s mare Pay Chex Gold were co-champions in the NAAC Rookie Professional, JR was reserve champion in the NAAC Limited Open and both trainers were in a three way tie for reserve champion in the NRHA Rookie Professional and finished in the top ten for the NRHA Limited Open.  Congratulations to riders, owners and horses.  It was a long trip but well worth it. J 

A friend of CSRHA, Janice Free of Bondurant, WY has been competing in the Non-Pro divisions at the NRHA Futurity for several years.  Janice has always done well, but this year she struck gold.  Janice rode her nice gelding under the guidance of trainer, John Hindman from Jackson, WY, to the championship win in the NRHA Futurity Prime Time Non-Pro and placed in the top ten in the NRHA Futurity Non-Pro and Intermediate Non-Pro.  You go girl!  Well done. J 

Back over in the affiliate championship arena, Stephanie Anderson of Wilsall, MT captured the reserve championship on her sorrel gelding, Girls Best Friend.  Stephanie’s husband, Jarvis Anderson, rode a special colt, Pretty Peppy Chec, to a second place finish in the NRHA Futurity Intermediate Open and tied for 13^th in the Open Futurity for owner Vicky King of Idaho.  Congrats to the Anderson clan. J 

Shauna and Paul Roberts of Cody have a new addition to their barn.  They just purchased a yearling filly (Electric Encore) by Jacs Electric Spark.  She’s a pretty sorrel with a flaxen mane and tail.  Also, Susie and Jim Barry of Cody, just purchased two yearling colts.  One is a full brother and the other a half brother to Susie’s nice gelding Boons Pepto Fox also known as Smarty. 

Don’t forget to reserve March 14, 2009 for the  Year-end Awards Banquet honoring the 2008 champions and reserve champions.  A block of rooms will be reserved for CSRHA guests.  A short general meeting will start off the evening’s festivities followed by a no host cocktail hour.  We will send out complete details after the holidays. 

 Also, mark your calendars for March 21 & 22, 2009 for the Jay McLaughlin Reining Clinic being held at the fabulous Wagonhound Ranch in Douglas, WY.  See the attached flyer for details.  

 Ballots for the 2 Board of Directors positions have been sent out.  Please cast your vote and return to Kristy Wheeler as soon as possible.  Voting closes January 15, 2009. 

A late additon to the upcoming events calendar, a non-sponsored Les Vogt Clinic will be held March 7-9, 2009 in Mitchell, NE at Thomas Performance Horses.  For more information, please contact Dottie Packard at (307) 532-6312 or email: dpackard@bbcwb.net.

As always, if you have any news you’d like to share please send to Kristy Wheeler, 25 Diamond Basin Rd. Cody, Wy 82414. 

The next teleconference board meeting will be Wed., Jan. 14, 2009 at 7:00 PM.  So if you have anything you’d like discussed, please contact one of the board members or officers. 

CSRHA would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a joyous and safe New Year.

 Until next time…….       

            Happy Trails J

Reservations for the clinic will be on a first come first serve basis and spots will be sold until the cut-off date of February  20,  2009.  So come Ride n Slide in the Big Horn Mountains of Douglas, Wyoming at the warm and hospitable Wagonhound Ranch.  Sign up, pay up, bring yourselves and bring your horses for two full days of instruction in reining or just come and audit.  There is no limit on auditors space.   For reservations or more information, please contact Darlene Brunkhardt at (307)532-8182  or email at    darlene@snakecreekangus.com 

We are still planning on having jackpots, fun days and clinics and possibly co-hosting jackpots with Big Sky Reiners in the Billings area.  So check our web site calendar often for upcoming events. 

Our treasurer and one of the founding members, Peggy Peterson, has elected to resign her position as treasurer for the CSRHA effective Dec 31, 2008, due to numerous personal commitments.  Collie Vinger of Joliet, Montana has volunteered to step down from her board position to take over the treasurer’s chair and finish Peggy’s term of office.  Peggy has graciously volunteered to help where and when she’s able. 

Election time is just around the corner and we will now have three director positions open.   Two for three year terms each.  Nanette Till and Wayne Peterson’s positions on the board (3 year terms) are open for re-election and Collie Vinger’s remaining two year term on the board of directors is up for appointment.  Please send a bio to CSRHA Secretary, Kristy Wheeler, if you or any one you know would be interested in being on the ballot for the CSRHA board of director positions.  The election results will be announced at the general membership meeting in March.   

CSRHA Board of Director, Patti Larsen from Scottsbluff, NE just came back from the 2008 Appaloosa World Show in Fort Worth, TX with some outstanding rewards.  Patti and her 7 year old Appaloosa mare, Starlet N Hollywood, brought home a beautiful bronze trophy and belt buckle for winning Reserve World Championship in the Non-Pro Working Cow Horse class.  The pair then went on to place 7th in the Senior Working Cow Horse followed by a 10th place with a score of 193 1/2 in the Masters Non-Pro Reining.  Quite an accomplishment since Patti did this on her own with no trainer or coach.  Will we soon be seeing more spots before our eyes? Congratulations Patti Larsen and Starlet N Hollywood!  

Other Possible Springtime 2009 Clinics

We’ve been asked by the promoters of the following clinics to publish this information to see if there would be enough interest to pursue further scheduling for 2009. 

#1 – Les Vogt Horsemanship Clinic - This would be a 2 day horsemanship clinic in early March of 2009 in the Torrington, WY area.  It would consist of 10 to 12 riders at an estimated cost of $400 - $450 per rider.    For more information or if you would be interested in attending, please contact:Dottie PackardPhone:  (307) 532-6312Email:   dpackard@bbcwb.net  

#2 – Flying T Ranch Reining Horse Clinic - This would also be a 2 day clinic in the spring at the Flying T Ranch in Cody, WY.  Possible NRHA top rated reining horse trainers/clinicians would be Bob Avila, Todd Bergen, Brent Wright, Randy Paul, Clint Haverty, or maybe draw from the NRHA Top 20 Riders list.   There would be room for 12 to 15 riders at a cost of $500 per rider.  Proceeds from this event would go to the Cowboy States Reining Horse Assn.  For more information or if you would be interested in attending, please contact:Nanette TillPhone:  (307) 587-2666  Email:   nbtill@tctwest.net  Or  Kody RussellPhone:  (307) 899-5173  

Happy Holidays Everyone

Until next time ........   "Happy Trails"J 

If you have news or other information that you’d like share in the newsletter, please email or snail mail to  Kristy Wheeler, 25 Diamond Basin Rd, Cody, WY 82414  Email:  palolady@tritel.net 

     Show # 2 is tentatively set for August 2009 at the Hot Springs County Fairgrounds in Thermopolis, Wyoming.  It will have the same flair and fun, and possibly more, as the “Hole In the Wall Slide” of 2008.  Several jackpots and clinics for 2009 are also in the planning stages. 

     The CSRHA year-end awards banquet final phase is wrapping up the 2008 show season.  The awards and banquet committee consist of Kristy Wheeler, Shauna Roberts and Susie Barry.  They are working diligently to make this a very special evening of fun, food and awards.  The banquet is set for Saturday March 14, 2009 at the Irma Hotel in Cody, Wyoming.  The hoopla will begin at 5:00 PM with a no host cocktail hour, dinner and tons of fun to follow.  We will conduct our annual  general membership meeting prior to the banquet.  More details will be sent out as we get closer.  

     Two three year term positions for the CSRHA Board of Directors beginning April 1, 2009 will be up for election.  If you would be interested in running for one of these positions, please send a short bio to Peggy Peterson, 215 Bee Rd., Riverton, WY 82501  email: shieldhquarterhorses@yahoo.com or Kristy Wheeler, 25 Diamond Basin Rd., Cody, WY  email:  palolady@tritle.net by November 30, 2008 to be put on the ballot which will be sent to the CSRHA membership for vote the first of December. 

Check the CSRHA website at www.cowboystatesreiners.com for dates and places of other upcoming events and happenings. 

The next meeting of the Officers and Board of Directors will be a lunch meeting in Casper, Wyoming at 1:00 PM, Saturday, November 15, 2008.  The location has not yet been determined.   

If you have any news you’d like to share, please send it to Joanie Broadbent at 3421 North Fork Hwy, Cody, WY 82414 or email at wyoreiners@tctwest.net. 

Until next time…….           

           Happy Trails J 

 We are fast approaching the end of our second summer show season.  We have a lot of reiners who are really showing their stuff with their talented horses that have all learned so much.  Horses, riders and owners are all taking fast strides in making our grassroots reining horse affiliate stand tall.  This has been a summer of fun, laughter, enthusiasm and comradery with friends and family in the sport of reining.  

We completed our first three day show in June at the Hot Springs County Fairgrounds indoor facility in Thermopolis, WY.  The event was well attended, attracting reiners from as far away as Wisconsin to the east, west to California, north to Montana and south to Colorado.  The participants competed for $5,600 plus added monies, Morrison Bronzes, NRHA Plaques and many other terrific awards.  Thank you so very much for believing in us and giving us a chance to host a fun show at a great facility along with enjoying the host City of Thermopolis.   

There was time throughout the weekend to enjoy all the amenities of Thermopolis, from hot pools to great food and accommodations.  The Hot Springs County Fairgrounds manager was so very gracious and worked endlessly perfecting the ground in both the indoor and outdoor arenas.   

Saturday evening everyone enjoyed the “meet & greet” party and a silent auction, hosted by the Cowboy States Reining Horse Association.  Members of the Thermopolis Chamber of Commerce also attended the party and out bid a few of the reiners for some of the fantastic silent auction items.  During the party we had a drawing for a custom made 20X hat donated by Estouro Hats and Roger Harrison of Cody, Wyoming.  The winner of the custom hat was Anna Paris of Powell, Wyoming.   

Also presented at the party was a custom made belt buckle donated by Devon Energy Inc. of Riverton, Wyoming to the highest scoring youth rider.  This young reiner, Erin Skaj, also traveled the furthest distance, all the way from Mason, Wisconsin.  Erin and her mother, Lori, with their two reiners, Derby Tivio &  Hesa Colonel Melody, laid down some “BIG”  tracks that first weekend in June.  They also brought with them some other “Cheese Heads” for their own private cheering section. 

The Open and Gelding class champion was another reiner who also traveled a great distance to spin a blur and stop a correct mile.  Nathan Ivie of Spanish Fork, Utah won the Morrison Bronze Trophy with a score of 71 riding Smart Juicy Chic Two for Carolyn Goldsmith.  Nathan and his family hauled along with them a trailer full of horses and many youth riders to make the competition pretty stiff in each division.   

The Morrison Bronze for the NRHA Non Pro went to Sharlene Stone of Butte, Montana and her great gelding, Mr Jacs Enterprise.  She also won the NRHA Intermediate Non Pro, Novice Horse Non Pro and was second in the Novice Horse Open.  Shar was accompanied by her husband George, dog Chelsea and their two fancy show horses.  Although Sharlene Stone does have roots in Cody, Wyoming, the Morrison Bronze went back to Montana. 

Another Montana reiner from Livingston,  J. R. Winter, rode Kristy Wheeler’s little yellow mare, Pay Chex Gold, for a win in the NRHA Rookie Professional and Limited Open.  J.R. had his hands full that weekend coaching his Rookie and Non Pro riders along with getting his open horses shown to the head of the class. 

Cameron Meissner of Manhattan, Montana hopped on the talented mare, Breezin Wright On for Anne Kent of Billings, MT. to win the Intermediate Open with a 72, which was also the highest score of the show.  Cameron also had a handful of rookies and non pros to watch over. 

The NRHA Rookie Plaque and Prime Time Rookie was awarded to Harvey Lewis and his cute circling mare, Annies Shoto Whiskey.  Harvey made it all the way from his “home away from home” in Belize, for the win with a score of 71.   

The top awards for the CSRHA classes for Green Rider and Green Horse went to Lorra Mitzkus of Red Lodge, Montana, riding her pretty little roan, All Reddy Ribbon.  Linda Hahn of Manhattan, MT. won the CSRHA Non Pro class riding Wright On Broadway for a score of 71.  Russ Vinger of Joliet, MT. took the honors for the CSRHA Two Handed Rookie and Senior Non Pro (60 & over) riding Daisy May Dun It.  Ok Russ, the big question of the day…….how do you NOT practice and go out and win the class with a 71??? J 

Finally the last NRHA Non Pro classes of the show were won by a Wyoming reiner from Cody, Wayne Peterson, riding his chestnut gelding, It Reinsin Hollywood.  The pair teamed up to win the Limited Non Pro, Non Pro Gelding and Prime Time Non Pro with a score of 70.  Non Pro, Becky Melzer, had a fantastic pattern 3 until the last maneuver, the spins, for which she was eliminated.  Beautiful run Becky, anyway you look at it.  Watch out Wayne J You can view the complete list of show results on the CSRHA web site under the “Forms” link.  www.cowboystatesreiners.com 

Thank you to all the participants and members for making this such an enjoyable show: Show co-managers, Steve Skelton and Peggy Peterson.  Steve recruited his Riverton & Thermopolis family to handle the in & out gate and various other duties throughout the weekend;  Kathy Skelton, Steve’s sister sang the National Anthem each morning (her rendition of this very patriotic song brought complete silence to the crowd) - All this talent in Riverton, WY; announcer Carl Larson of Billings, Montana; show secretary Barbara Williams, Idaho; videographers Dan & Rainey Browning “Raindancer Video” from Corvallis, Montana with all their miniature Aussie puppies to help entertain us at “drag time”;  show photographer Cher Harrison of Cody, who took her life in her hands in the arena taking fantastic shots of stops, spins and circles; Greg Paris of Powell, Wyoming did the invocation each morning after the Nation Anthem;  caterer, “The Cake House”, for keeping up well fed from morning though afternoon; and if you forgot some tack, Cameron Meissner’s tack booth had a bit of something for everyone including a saddle or two for purchase. 

CSRHA has many events in the planning stage for 2009.  First out of the box is the Black Hills Stock Show, Rapid City, South Dakota in January.  Then, of course, there’s the CSRHA Awards Banquet & general membership meeting in March.  June 6 – 8, CSRHA/NRHA reining at the Camplex in Gillette, WY.  Also being talked about are late summer/early fall shows in Thermopolis and/or Torrington, WY and possible fall, winter & spring jack pots and clinics. 

We will be announcing our team for the Regional Mountain States Affiliate Finals in Denver, CO (Oct. 14 – 19, 2008)  soon after the last show in Wilsall, Montana  Sept 5-7.  We should have quite the representation this year.   Thank You Everyone for all your enthusiasm and support in CSRHA’s “YEAR NUMBER TWO”.  We are for the “rider who wants to put a spin on life”. 

Coming in December, ballots will be sent out for two openings on the CSRHA Board of Directors.  These positions are for a three year term.  Anyone wishing to be nominated will need a short resume to include on the ballot.  Please contact Peggy Peterson, Darlene Brunkhardt or Kristy Wheeler for nominations.  Or if you would just be interested in serving on a committee or have suggestions for the future of CSRHA, please contact one of the officers or board members.  We are always open to new ideas and help.  

Until next time……

     Happy Trails  

One final note, if you have news or other information that you’d like published in the newsletter, please email or snail mail to  Kristy Wheeler, 25 Diamond Basin Rd, Cody, WY 82414  or  Email:  Palolady@tritel.net