Specialty
Hello PHBA members and Palomino enthusiasts,
Effective September 1, 2009 Brent Harnish has resigned as Chief Operating Officer of the Palomino Horse Breeders of America. Brent identified personal reasons for his resignation. Brent has shared with me that he did not reach this decision easily but believes it is the best decision for he and his family. Please join me in wishing Brent well in his future endeavors.
Brent will remain COO with PHBA through the August Executive Board Meeting in Tulsa.
As many of you know, our office has endured the most difficult financial environment in recent PHBA history. The recession has effected everyone including PHBA. The PHBA office is staffed with thirty percent less staff than last year, however all employees have been cross trained to maintain service to you our members.
The PHBA executive board has created a search committee to interview and hire a new COO. Anyone wishing to apply for the position of Chief Operating Officer of PHBA should send a cover letter and a resume` to:
PHBA
Attention Carolyn Henderson
15253 E. Skelly Dr.
Tulsa, OK 74116
Thank you,
Jeff Ohler, President PHBA
Reining By The Bay Hosts Successful 2009 Competition
Woodside, CA - July 30, 2009 - The 2009 Reining By The Bay competition, held at the Woodside Horsepark, received rave reviews from spectators and exhibitors and was a huge success. The competition was held July 21-26 and featured over $150,000 in total added money and prizes. It was also an FEI qualifying event. The proceeds from this year's event benefited the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA (PHS/SPCA).
Elite Rider Andrea Fappani was the leading rider at this year's competition, sweeping all three of the top positions in the $70,000 Added Derby event. He won the event aboard Shiner Olena, placed second with Chromed Out Mercedes, and earned the third place award with Custom Harley.
"I took three really good horses this year. They are the best of all the horses I have in the barn," noted Fappani. "I think that the competition was a little bit tougher this year than it has been before. We had a few new people showing up from the Mid-west, and that really made things interesting because there were quite a few good riders with high scores."
Fappani admitted that Shiner Olena is a very unique horse and that he has to be careful not to over-prepare him. "He's an amazingly talented horse but he can be a little bit of an over-thinker," he explained. "Before the show, I back-off and let him relax. I didn't prepare him for the pattern the way I normally do with the other horses, but it worked out really well. I never really have to ride him that hard."
"I was a little bit concerned because he's a pretty small horse, and it's such a big arena. I didn't know if the judges would like the look of him in the circles," Fappani continued. "It probably didn't look like he was going as fast as some of the other horses, but he has really good stops so I wanted to highlight those, and it worked out."
Fappani has been attending Reining By The Bay for the last six years and has always enjoyed the unique competition. "It's a little bit more relaxed than other shows," he said. "It's a good place to take young horses to get their feet wet. The facility is beautiful, and there is always good weather. I always enjoy going to that show."
Randy Paul was victorious during the FEI Qualifying event with his mount, Rancho Oso Rio's Starbucks Finest. "I was really happy with his run," smiled Paul. "Starbucks Finest is a neat little horse. He's one of those that doesn't take a lot of training; he's pretty broke and pretty finished."
"He's one of those horses that you can't get after too much or he gets a little scared," Paul added. "He's already trained, it's just a matter of getting him in good condition. I was really happy with him at Reining By The Bay, he was really good and just went out there and did it."
Paul enjoyed showing in the large outdoor arena at Reining By The Bay. "It's a great place to show," he said. "It has a nice big arena, and if you have a hard run you can really get running fast without getting nervous. You're also up on the hill overlooking the bay, which is beautiful."
Reining By The Bay sponsored the PHS/SPCA, who was in attendance at the event and also brought animals that were available for adoption to the event. "It was a very successful event for the PHS/SPCA's homeless animals," emphasized Ken White, President of the PHS/SPCA. "Animals found homes, funds were raised to help us help more homeless animals, we met new friends, and I believe we came away with a bunch of folks now wanting to help us in the future. All our staff and volunteers celebrated this amazing success, and we are deeply appreciative that Reining By The Bay made this possible!"
For more information about the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA please visit http://www.peninsulahumanesociety.org/.
For more information about Reining By The Bay please visit http://www.reiningbythebay.com/.
Photo Credit: Randy Paul and Rancho Oso Rio's Starbucks Finest won the FEI Qualifying event at the 2009 Reining By The Bay competition. Photo By: John O'Hara.
High Roller Reining Classic to Feature "Play It Forward" Poker Tournament Benefiting the Equestrian Aid Foundation.
Las Vegas, NV - August 12, 2009 - Calling all cowboys and card players! Here's a chance to win big and have fun for charity too at the "Play It Forward" Texas Hold 'Em-style poker tournament. The event, Thursday, Sept. 10 from 8-11 pm at the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, will benefit the Equestrian Aid Foundation (EAF), a non-profit organization assisting with basic medical needs funding for those from catastrophic illness or injury. Poker Tournament registration forms now online at http://www.highrollerreiningclassic.com/tournament.htm or call Alden Corrigan at 650-207-8622.
Limited to 150 people, the "Play It Forward" Poker Tournament offers players the opportunity to win big - having fun and making a difference at the same time. Each player will receive a seat assignment in the HRRC VIP Private Poker Tournament Room where dealers will provide $2,500 in chips. At 11 p.m., chip leaders through 10th place will win a percentage of the prize pool.
"We're really excited that the Equestrian Aid Foundation is the beneficiary of such a fun and unique event," EAF President R. Scot Evans. "This is our first reining event, and we're looking forward to becoming a part of this high performance discipline. Our recipients come from all walks of life, including western and English disciplines, so we're thrilled to introduce the EAF to this new audience. It's been our goal to include all equestrians and horse enthusiasts by creating events that make raising funds for those in need - fun, entertaining and rewarding too."
The "Play It Forward" poker tournament will be held during the international "crown jewel" of western riding competition the High Roller Reining Classic (HRRC), which takes place September 4 -12 at the South Point Hotel and Casino and features more than $200,000 in added money and prizes.
"Such a buzz has been created by having the best horsemen and horsewomen from the reining world in Las Vegas competing at the High Roller Reining Classic," Evans said. "At the end of a long day of competition, people can still go out and have a good time without ever leaving the South Point Hotel and Casino. I don't know of any other premier venue that can host a horse show and poker tournament under the same roof."
About the Equestrian Aid Foundation:
In 1996 the Equestrian AIDS Foundation was established to assist those with HIV/Aids. Recognizing a broader need, the organization changed its name and mission. The Equestrian Aid Foundation's mission is to build a membership based organization to assist anyone in the equestrian world suffering from life threatening illness, catastrophic accidents or injuries by providing direct financial support for their medical or other basic needs. It is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization that assists grant recipients with funding for medical, healthcare, rehabilitation and essential expenses, such as housing and food throughout their time of need. Visit www.equestrianaidfoundation.org for more information.
About the High Roller Reining Classic:
The High Roller Reining Classic (HRRC) competition is managed and produced by Brumley Management Group LLC, a promoter of reining competition in the western region of the United States. Reining is the only western sport recognized in the FEI World Equestrian Games, and this event is an FEI qualifier.
This NRHA "AA" rated event, with more than $200,000 in added money and prizes promises to be the best Las Vegas and West Coast Reining Event in history. This level of purse and quality venue draws entries from across the U.S., Canada and Mexico. For more information, please visit http://www.highrollerreiningclassic.com/.
Photo Credit: The High Roller Reining Classic will feature the "Play It Forward" Poker Tournament" to benefit the Equestrian Aid Foundation. Photo Courtesy of Equestrian Aid Foundation.
