Area VII Quarterly Newsletter, Summer 2018

AREA VII Shetland Pony & Miniature Horse Association, Inc. S U MME R 2 0 1 8 EE Sensational Storms – The first foal sired by our triple registered, multi-national pleasure driving and halter champion, Mountain Meadows Simply Sensational. “Stormy” is a high-spirited, vivacious, spitfire of a filly –co-owned with Kathy Courtney of Red Star Ranch. Double E Ranch Jacob Elliott and Richard Erickson P.O. Box 598 • Galt CA, 95632 Jacob: (916) 479-0962 [email protected] Rich: (916) 897-4386 [email protected] www.doubleeranch.us



2018 Officers and Committee Members President: Jacob Elliott Past President: Susan Browning-Wroe Phone: (916) 479-0962 Phone: (916) 969-9722 [email protected] [email protected] Term of office: 2 years, 2018–2020 Membership Committee: Vice-President: Susan Browning-Wroe Michele Nelson: (510) 326-6487 Phone: (916) 969-9722 [email protected] [email protected] Term of office: 2 years, 2018–2020 Show Committee: Melissa Berschens, Robert Blackwell, Lynn Secretary: Melissa Berschens Blackwell, Susan Browning-Wroe, Jacob Elliott, Phone: (530) 620-2751 Richard Erickson, Julie Mabie, Michele Nelson, [email protected] Kathie Peterson, and Richard Radulovich Term of office: 2 years, 2018–2020 [email protected] Treasurer: Michele Nelson Sunshine Committee Phone: (510) 326-6487 Linda Anastasio: (209) 838-6399 [email protected] Cell: (209) 614-9346 Term of office: 2 years, 2018–2020 [email protected] Director: Richard Radulovich Newsletter and Website: Phone: (209) 368-2026 Michele Nelson: (510) 326-6487 [email protected] [email protected] Term of office: 2 years, 2018–2020 Area VII National Directors: Director: John Gracey Shetland Seat Phone: (530) 741-1092 Julie Mabie, (831) 684-1555 [email protected] [email protected] Term of office: 1 year, 2018–2019 Term of office: 2017–2019 Director: Robert Blackwell Open Seat Phone: (916) 723-6932 Eric Tani, (310) 704-3833 [email protected] [email protected] Term of office: 1 year, 2018–2019 Term of office: 2016–2018 Mailing Address: 5619 Market Street, Apt. B, Oakland, CA 94608-2809 [email protected] • www.areaviiclub.com Area VII Shetland Pony & Miniature Horse Assoc., Inc. The Area VII Shetland Pony & Miniature Horse Association, Inc., was incorporated on June 14, 1998 by the Board of Directors: President Marjorie Vliet, Director Virginia Flint and Director Jim Curry. It is and has always been member supported and driven, with a dynamic group of people volunteering to run the club. Area VII is an American Shetland Pony Club/American Miniature Horse Registry/American Show Pony Registry (ASPC/AMHR/ASPR) registered and recognized club that is primarily ac- tive in California, though our area encompasses California, Nevada, Arizona, and Hawaii. Our membership includes owners of both ASPC Shetlands and AMHR Miniature Horses. Area VII welcomes members from all over—and you do not need to own a mini or pony to join. Area VII’s membership is spread across California and Nevada at this time, with members of all ages, with varied backgrounds and interests. Area VII is primarily a club for those that enjoy their Shetlands and Miniatures, with a particular interest in showing. “We are an informal group of people of all ages who gather together for the enjoyment of friendships made, and the promotion of our beautiful equine. As members of this organization, we help maintain the recognition that our fine Shetlands and Miniatures deserve at the ASPC/AMHR level.” Summer 2018 Page 3

2018 Calendar of Events For updates, go to www.areaviiclub.com JUNE 30 Carriage Driving Playday Roger Cleverly Equestrian Training 2 Carriage Driving Playday Oakdale, CA Roger Cleverly Equestrian Training, Featuring a variety of obstacle driving skills Oakdale, CA tests. Drivers are also welcome to work in Featuring a variety of obstacle driving skills our dressage court, marathon hazards and tests. Drivers are also welcome to work in just drive around the property. our dressage court, marathon hazards and Roger Cleverly, (925) 348-1346 just drive around the property. www.rogercleverly.com Roger Cleverly, (925) 348-1346 www.rogercleverly.com 30–July 1 June Jamboree (AMHR, Classic, Modern, ASPR) 2–3 Rolling Hills Roundup (AMHA) Hosted by Pacific Coast Miniature Horse Club Hosted by NorCal Miniature Horse Club George Ingalls Equestrian Center, Norco, CA Rolling Hills Casino, Corning CA Jennifer Humphrey, (909) 705-6326 Rinda Pullen, (425) 231-7464 www.pcmhclub.com www.norcalmhc.com 8–10 Western States Horse Expo JULY Cal Expo, Sacramento, CA 20–22 AMHA Western Regional Horse Expo, Inc., (800) 352-2411 Championship horsexpoevents.com Reno Livestock Event Center, Reno NV 15-17 Summer Festival CDE Laura Mullen, (607) 769-6743 ADS approved. Third leg of the 2018 West www.amha.org Coast Triple Crown. VSEs and Ponies 21–22 July Jubilee welcome! Volunteers needed, no experience (AMHR, Classic, Modern, ASPR) necessary. Lunch provided for volunteers! Hosted by Pacific Coast Miniature Horse Club Clay Station Horse Park, Wilton, CA George Ingalls Equestrian Center, Norco, CA Deb and Stan Packard, (916) 952-2196 Jennifer Humphrey, (909) 705-6326 www.claystationhorsepark.com www.pcmhclub.com 15–17 NWMHSPA Cavalcade Of Ponies 30–August 4 ASPC/ASPR National (AMHR, Classic, Modern, ASPR) Congress Hosted by Northwest Miniature Horse & Lake St. Louis, MO Shetland Pony Alliance www.shetlandminiature.com Tacoma Unit One, Spanaway, WA Rinda Pullen, (425) 231-7464 AUGUST www.nwmhspa.com 4–5 Clay Station Horse Driving Trials 30 Area VII Performance Classic Each day is a separate event. VSE and Pony (AMHR, Classic) divisions. Volunteers needed, no experience Hosted by Area VII Shetland Pony & necessary. Lunch provided for volunteers! Miniature Horse Assoc., Inc. Clay Station Horse Park, Wilton, CA All-performance show, including Liberty Deb and Stan Packard, (916) 952-2196 Murieta Equestrian Center, www.claystationhorsepark.com Rancho Murieta, CA Rinda Pullen, (425) 231-7464 www.areaviiclub.com Page 4 Summer 2018

11 Carriage Driving Playday OCTOBER Roger Cleverly Equestrian Training 4–7 California Fall Classic CDE Oakdale, CA ADS approved. Third leg of the 2018 West Featuring a variety of obstacle driving skills Coast Triple Crown. VSEs and Ponies tests. Drivers are also welcome to work in welcome! Volunteers needed, no experience our dressage court, marathon hazards and necessary. Lunch provided for volunteers! just drive around the property. Clay Station Horse Park, Wilton, CA Roger Cleverly, (925) 348-1346 Deb and Stan Packard, (916) 952-2196 www.rogercleverly.com www.claystationhorsepark.com 17–19 SASHA International Ponyfest 27–28 Clay Station Horse Driving Trials (AMHR, Classic, Modern, ASPR) Spokane Interstate Fairgrounds Each day is a separate event. VSE and Pony divisions. Volunteers needed, no experience Spokane, WA necessary. Lunch provided for volunteers! Dixie Anderson, (801) 458-0261 Clay Station Horse Park, Wilton, CA www.spokanesasha.com Deb and Stan Packard, (916) 952-2196 SEPTEMBER www.claystationhorsepark.com 6–16 AMHR Nationals DECEMBER Expo Square, Tulsa, OK 8 Area VII Annual Meeting www.shetlandminiature.com Location TBA Santa Cruz County Fair (Classic, AMHR) Full class list for Classic Shetlands, performance only for AMHR Miniature Horses, Open classes for all horses and ponies 46” and under. Julie Mabie, (831) 684-1555 28–30 JJ Horse Celebration (AMHR, Classic, Modern, ASPR) Tacoma, WA Jennifer Hoyt, (269) 209-3784 Save the Date! April 20–21, 2019 • Murieta Equestrian Center • Rancho Murieta, CA Summer 2018 Page 5

A Message from the President First off, I cannot say thank you enough to everyone who contributed to the success of the Cali- fornia Classic this past April. From the sponsors to the participants to those behind the scenes (and you know who you are!), the show was fun, well-run, and well attended! One hundred twenty-four horses to be exact. I’d especially like to thank Michele Nelson for all she does practically every day to keep this club going! Susan Browning-Wroe and Robert and Lynn Blackwell for setting up the decorations, bringing donuts and coffee, and for providing such beautiful awards! Finally, I’d like to thank the show committee and the board for their tireless work in keeping this club moving forward. To that end, we have the Summer Performance Classic coming up June 30 at Rancho Murieta Equestrian Cen- ter. Although we are fairly solvent at this time, there are always a number of expenses associated with putting on even a one-day show. I encourage our members to sponsor classes for the show and to keep us moving ahead into 2019. I just want to say how much I enjoy presiding over this club. The members are great, and the board is awesome. I appreciate the collaborative way they do things with the future of the club in mind. Again, thank you for the support and look forward to seeing you out in the show ring! Yours, Jacob Elliott June 30th, 2018 • Murieta Equestrian Center • Rancho Murieta, CA June 30 2018 • Murieta Equestrian Center • Rancho Murieta, CA Judges: Cindi Carlson, CA, and Lauri Villalpando, UT All-performance show featuring Driving, In-Hand and Liberty classes for registered ASPC Classic Shetland and AMHR Miniature Horses. Pre-entries are due Friday, June 15 (postmark). The premium is available at www.areaviiclub.com. Show Manager Sponsorships Rinda Pullen, (425) 231-7464 Jacob Elliott, (916) 479-0962 [email protected] [email protected] Michele Nelson, (510) 326-6487 [email protected] Page 6 Summer 2018

California Classic After almost a year of planning and weeks of obsessively watching the weather forecast, the Show Commit- tee is delighted to report that California Classic 2018 was an amazing success! A total of 124 horses showed—up from 87 in 2017. It seems that word has spread! We thank all of our exhibitors and spon- sors; our judges, Jim Curry and Kim Sterchi; the wonderful show manage- ment team of Rinda Pullen and Gwen and Sarah Rinkle; our ASPC Steward Maryan Baker; and the many volunteers who worked hard to make our show a such a great success. Our Exhibitors’ Social on Saturday night was orga- nized and co-sponsored by Heidi Jensen Arao. This was no small task: she worked with the caterers on the menu, provided the wine, beer, and soda, deco- rated the space and set the tables, and then spent the evening welcoming people as they came in and mak- ing sure every one had plenty to eat and drink. Oh, and somehow Heidi also managed to present a beau- tiful Liberty performance just before the party! This big news this year, other than the great turn- out we had at this show, was the opening of the new Murieta Inn & Spa, a beautiful hotel with a good restaurant conveniently located within walking dis- tance of the show grounds. We were able to take advantage of the special room rate the hotel offered us for our judges and staff. Please save the date—California Classic 2019 is scheduled for April 20-21, 2019, at Murieta Equestrian Center. Summer 2018 Page 7

California Classic 2018 Award Winners Barbara Naviaux Memorial Pat Michielssen Memorial High-Point Multi Color Champion Award Classic Shetland Pony Award Sponsored by Dennis and Jan Haney, Sponsored by Linda Andrews Gray Half Measures Miniature Horse Ranch and Debbie Andrews Marshall Cherryville Majic’s Sir Lancelot Whispers Rock & Roll and Marcy Parsons and Heidi Jensen-Arao Area VII “Yes We Can!” Award Sponsored by Stephanie Jumper, Christine Morse, and Elizabeth Pride, LSC Minis Jim Curry and Michele Nelson Sierra’s Dances with Gold Youth Spirit Award Sponsored by Susan Browning-Wroe, Marvin Wroe, Robert and Lynn Blackwell, and Daniel Benner, Ravenstar Farm Kimberly Groverman Tommy Yost Page 8 Summer 2018

California Classic Sponsors Arena Sponsors Ribbon Sponsor Summer 2018 Page 9

California Classic Sponsors Gold Sponsors Kathy Courtney • Reno, NV Tomahawk Ranch Nancy Turner 5250 Mill Creek Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448 (707) 433-4346 • [email protected] ROCKIN Z MINI A T UR E S Charmayne and Jon Zucker Reno, NV Page 10 Summer 2018

California Classic Sponsors Pat and Linda Anastasio Jean Hayunga Richard and Penny Radulovich Bellota Ranch Black Mountain Miniatures Radulovich Farms Melissa Berschens Suzette Hutchins Maxine Richey Silver Buckle Services Wild Streaks Leatherworks Michelle Sharrock Susan Browning-Wroe, Marvin Linda Andrews Gray and Debbie Wesco Farms Wroe, Robert and Lynn Black- Andrews Marshall well, and Daniel Benner in memory of Pat Michielssen Paul and Ailene Tarap Ravenstar Farm Nancy Turner Heidi Jensen Arao Gail Byrnes Faerie Glen Pony Farm Tomahawk Ranch A&G’s Dreamcatcher Cynthia Villarimo, Kai Moore, Vicki and James Killfoil Christine and Emma Caringello Lost Spur Ranch and Mary Gilligan Villarimo Caringello Farms Redwood Acre Ranch Stephanie Jumper, Christine Kathy Courtney Morse, and Elizabeth Pride Jill Wright Red Star Ranch, LLC LSC Minis Charmayne and Jon Zucker, Jacob Elliott and Richard Ken and Julie Mabie Rockin Z Miniatures Erickson Whisper Equestrian Center Double E Ranch Mark and Michele Nelson Dennis and Jan Haney Half Measures Ranch Charlene Palmer JCP S e e w h a t w e c a n d o f o r yo u ! } { Marketing & Design M U LT I P L E AWA R D W I N N I N G that leaves a lasting impression. Print & Web | Social Media | Consulting & More All Breeds | All Disciplines | All Business w w w . s i l v e r b u c k l e s e r v i c e s . c o m | K a s h a F o r d ( T X ) 5 1 2 . 2 5 9 . 6 7 0 5 | M e l i s s a B e r s c h e n s ( C A ) 5 3 0 . 6 2 0 . 2 7 5 1 | A ff o r d a b l e & R e l Summer 2018 Page 11

Thanks from Kimberly Groverman My name is Kimberly Groverman. I am eight years old and enjoy showing miniature horses. When I was four years old, I fell down and our pack mule stepped on me. I spent a lot of time in the ER, every test was good, and the nurse gave me ice cream. But I became very afraid of our mules and horses. My mom and dad ride a lot, and my dad has horses for the cows. My mom was a horse pee drug tester and she met Sharon Housley at a show. My mom got me a lesson with the miniature horses to help me. Soon I got my first mini—Mr. B or Aloha Acres It Must Be Magic. He helped me. He is now at our house and I now show Al- amos Poes Im A Flirt. At home I can bring the big horses from the pasture. I now can help my dad get the cows off the hill. I can go all by myself on his big rope horse called 3X. This year I also drive Alamos with no adult. Thank you Ravenstar Farms for sponsoring the “Sierra’s Dances with Gold” youth spirit award. I shared my award and the painted pony statue with my class and we talked a lot about how to drive a horse. Here is a picture of me and Alamos at a lesson with Sharon Housley, we are practicing our driving outside the arena together. Page 12 Summer 2018

News from Jim Curry While I have been fairly busy lately I did want to say “Thank You” to the club and those that voted that I receive the “Yes We Can” award. It was to- tally unexpected and I very much appreciate the honor. The certificate is on my living room wall and I will wear the jacket with pride. The certificate is next to the one making me a life- time member as a founding member of the club. I received that in 2016. That particular wall also has my ASPC/AMHR “Peoples Hall Of Fame” plaque that I received in 2009 as well as one given to me by the Valley Sierra MHC in 2004. On a shelf near it is an trophy and a notice of lifetime membership awarded to me several years ago by the Norcal Miniature Horse Club. It is a real honor to have my participation in the various organizations recognized and appreciated. Michele Nelson also received a certificate and jacket “Yes We Can” award at the same presentation. While most of my active participation is in the past, Michele is still active and very much a driving force in our club. It is an honor and pleasure to share the award with my long time and much valued friend. I have had an enjoyable year so far—I have judged several shows and have more to judge in the next few months. Judging is something I really enjoy and I appreciate the various clubs giving me the opportunity. As some of you already know, Barbara Johnson and I recently obtained the ASPC/AMHR stallion SMHC Armani. While Barbara’s Arabian, Honest Injuun, is currently at trainer Bryce Baker’s, when not at the trainers he is located in Fort Bragg where Barbara lives. Armani is here in Lodi, so we each have a horse to work with and enjoy. We plan to have both Injuun and Armani at the shows next year and look forward to many more years of enjoying life with horses and horse friends.—Jim The deadline for the Fall Newsletter is Friday, August 24 The Area VII newsletter is produced quarterly and is distributed to our membership via US mail or as a digital download according to preferences. The PDF and digital flipbook versions are available for anyone to download from the Area VII Web site. Ranch/Member News: Tell us about your new foals, your adventures in and out of the show ring, and anything else you’d like to share. Photos are welcome. (Please, no advertising.) Advertising: We welcome advertising to help offset the cost of producing, printing, and distrib- uting the newsletter. Membership is not required—everyone is welcome to advertise. For rates and specs, please see the Area VII Web site for details. Send your news, photos, and ads to Michele Nelson 5619 Market Street, Apt. B, Oakland, CA 94608 Phone: (510) 326-6487 Email: [email protected] Summer 2018 Page 13

Redwood Acre Ranch News Cynthia Villarimo This past month Kai and the minis had an exciting time at the California Classic debuting Dramatic Diamond T Diva. The following weekend Kai drove twice, first with Samba in single cart and then with his mini-mare team in the wagon at the HDT event at Clay Station. Thanks for the help from Piece of me Miniatures! In the end he took 2nd place (Mary received his ribbon for him) in Training Pair VSE, and the “Oops” ribbon from his rodeo with Samba in Dressage. The next day, Kai volunteered his time and mini-mare team to bring a little girl’s pony-themed birthday to life, surprising her with real horses with the help of Patty and David Bry. This little girl was diagnosed with an aggres- sive form of brain cancer and Kai made sure that she was going to have the best birthday ever. She got to meet Sparkles, our little mini who was di- agnosed with Cushings last year (which is a brain tumor that is growing near her pituitary). Both of them were able to bond. Mary asked for me to mention her “new baby brother puppy” Bandit! Page 14 Summer 2018

Wesco Farms Ranch News Michelle Sharrock Congratulations to all those that competed at the Area VII show. Awesome to see the club pulling in good numbers like that! We were here on foal watch (as usual in April), and ended up with seven lovely foals—two fillies/five colts—so the sleepless nights, exhaustion and worry were well worth it. We’re very fortunate to have a good group of mares and haven’t had any foaling problems (knock wood) in the past few years. Even our maidens have taken to mother- hood right away; sometimes in a ‘stay away from my baby’ way, but still being good moms. We will have all the foals for sale and a few other stallions/mares. We’re out of geldings this year until November-ish or post fly season. We have a few mares in with Topper (WCR Top Cop) for 2019 foals. I really don’t like summer ba- bies here in our hot valley weather, so April is our target month for foaling. The boys get a small window to get their mares covered of four weeks to get their job done! I’m fine with a short foaling season after all these years! Other ranch news, our newest Livestock Guardian Dog arrived from Texas on April 30. Nina is a Polish Tatra Sheepdog. They look like Great Pyrenees and likely have common ancestry many generations back, but are their own breed. Tatra’s are still classed as a rare breed here with only 300+/- registered in the USA and in Poland considered good all-around farm guardians without being overly aggressive or have the wandering gene many LGD’s have—something that we were looking for here. For those on Facebook, thanks for bearing with my horrid attempts at video-taping/pho- to’ing and sharing the 2018 foal pics. iPhones have quite a number of features which I’m still practicing with. I do admire those with great photo skills—I’m completely lacking those—but keep plugging away anyway! Here’s to a warm not cooking hot summer, maybe some cooling rain randomly and NO fires! Summer 2018 Page 15

News from Marcy Parsons Marcy Parsons Area VII Member/Represenative I am currently the Co-Chair of the Youth National Committee for AMHR/ASPC. Please check the national youth website at www.shetlandminiature.com/programs/youth and the ASPC/AMHR Youth Facebook page for info and deadlines for tons of upcoming contests and awards. The Youth Comittee needs volunteers! Please contact me at (530) 473-3980, [email protected], or Youth Committee Chair James Walsh (Area I), at (301) 514-4528, [email protected] Cherryville Farms is donating another gelding, Cherryville Rambo’s Merle, to this year’s Super Gelding Program. John writes “Merle is foundation certified and was last year’s Champion All-Star Geld- ing—40”–43”. He is a way cool, kid-gentle little dude!!!” The winning ticket will be drawn at Congress. Raffle tickets are $20 each, available from Keri Kinghorn, Geld- ing Promotion Comittee Chair: (435) 225- 2061, [email protected] Youth, get those pens and pencils out! That’s right! The 2018 Youth Essay Con- test will start soon. The prize will be a gor- geous Cherryville horse! Info will be on the Cherryville Rambo’s Merle, 2018 Super Gelding ASPC/AMHR website by June 1st. Raffle horse. What a wonderful show we had hosted by our club. The California Classic was so much fun! I wanted to say how honored I was to have my Stallion, Cherryville Ma- jic’s Sir Lancelot win the Barbara Naviaux Memorial Award for Multi Color Cham- pion Horse! Such a beautiful award in honor of a wonderful woman who loved these little horses! Also a huge thank you, to the award sponsors, Dennis and Jan Haney of Half Measures Miniature Horse Ranch. Thank you, and Happy Showing in 2018! Cherryville Majic’s Sir Lancelot Page 16 Summer 2018

Wintry Residue John R. Killacky The pony and I are having a hard time. She’s been pulling me in a cart for seven years now. Out of nowhere she’s gotten anxious and persnickety, not wanting to go full circle in a clockwise direction. Counter clockwise is no problem. Reversing direc- tions, she shies and crow-hops sideways—danger- ous for me as well as others in the indoor training arena. It’s as if she’s forgotten how to do her job. Nothing seems to be wrong physically: her feet are fine, no abscesses, and her teeth check out. No is- sues with the fit of her bit and harness equipment either. While the Vermont winter has been a mild one, perhaps she’s just a bit stir crazy from being stall bound for so many months. Others at the barn are also having performance issues. One teen rider saddled up, but knew something was not right. “I feel like I am riding a Greg Merhar volcano,” she called out. Seconds later, she was thrown from her over-excited horse. Another older rider was about to mount when her horse reared. She wisely decided to lunge the animal on a long line and not get in the sad- dle that day. Even as the thermostat warms, my equestrian friends and I must be patient and carefully warm up the animals. Driver error could be setting the pony off stride, so I bring in my trainer. With him, the pony is well behaved and on task in both directions. Not so when I drive by myself, her disruptions continue and my frustration builds—it’s just not fun. I like working through problems and making progress in training, but feel a bit helpless and stuck. My coach notices that clockwise, she is not moving forward straight between the shafts and leans into her left shoulder. I work to correct this on the ground as well as in the cart. Small micro-calibrations focus on strengthening and straightening. Some days, progress is made, other times, she is discombobulated. Here, I try to stay calm, ending with success. Small victories are important. Although, as her misbehav- ior lingers, I am at a loss as to what to do. It’s important not carry over anxiety from one session to the next. All too often we trigger our animals unknowingly, as equines are ex- tremely empathetic. I’m hoping all of this is just a seasonal wintry residue. Spring can’t come soon enough, before the horses are outdoors in their pastures every day, working off pent up energy. Until then, patience and persistence must prevail. Barn issues are no different than life issues. Tomorrow I plan to return and begin again. John R. Killacky is executive director of the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts in Burlington, Vermont. Summer 2018 Page 17

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CF CARINGELLO FARMS CLASSIC SHETLAND PONIES 20200 Almaden Rd., San Jose, CA 95120 408-205-5892 Summer 2018 Page 19

Cherryville Majics Sir Lancelot ’ Winner of the Barbara Naviaux Memorial Multi Color Champion Award Presented at California Classic 2018 “Lance” is owned by Marcy Parsons, John Cherry, and Cindy Benton Cherry, and shown by Marcy Parsons