May 30, 2012

by Linda Slay, AzHC Board Member

Congrats to Arizona Horse Council Trail Challenge Winners!

   On April 28, 2012, twenty-one horse and rider teams participated in the trail challenge event hosted by the Arizona Horse Council at the new Black Canyon City Equestrian Park arena. 

Open class winners were: 

1^st place – Teri Kelley riding Fabah Serr, an 11 year old Arabian gelding

2^nd place – Jackie Urbansk riding Chance, a 6 year old quarter horse mare

3^rd place – Bethany Traber riding Izzy, a 6 year old appaloosa mare owned by Sue Smith

4^th place – Danielle Miller riding Im Obviously Easy, a 6 year old paint mare

5^th place – Randy Gassett riding Sunrise Smoky Bear (Sherlock), a 6 year old Missouri Fox Trotter gelding

6th place – Grace Gee riding Cola, a 17 year old quarter horse gelding

Novice class winners were:

1^st place – Donna Petermann riding Babe’s Smoke, a 20 year old Missouri Fox Trotter gelding

2^nd place – Karen Ankley riding Cody, an 11 year old paint gelding

3^rd place – Randy Gassett riding Arraseyn (Ari), a 15 year old Arabian mare

4^th place – Freda McLay riding Taffy, a 12 year old Norwegian Fjord mare

5^th place – Deanna Eaton riding Handsome, a 12 year old quarter horse gelding

6^th place – Violet “Pinky” Smith riding Sunday Sports Page (Sporty), an 11 year old paint gelding (tied)

6^th place – Jill Worley riding Zeus, an 11 year old mustang gelding (tied)



  The course consisted of 10 obstacles in the arena.  The obstacles were:  1) cowboy curtain (complete with beer cans); 2) negotiate deadfall, then canter or trot to 3) serpentine  through barrels and over poles; 4) ground tie; 5) walk over tarp and “step-over” obstacle; 6) place front feet in metal ring and complete a 360 degree turn on the forehand; 7) “W” shaped back-through; 8) spear the rings; 9) walk up on bridge, pick up slicker and move around horse, replace; and 10) open and close gate to leave arena.  The classes were open and novice division.  Horse and rider teams were judged on teamwork and the skill with which they negotiated the obstacles.  Each obstacle was judged on a score of 0 through 10, with the possibility of earning extra overall horsemanship points for horse and rider teams.  Although the course was timed, this was not a race, but in the event of a tied score, the fastest time would win. 

  On behalf of the Arizona Horse Council, I would like to thank each and every rider that participated in this event.  Thanks to our judge, Jody Swink, who also designed the course.  Jody is a horse trainer in Black Canyon City, Arizona, with an emphasis on natural horsemanship.  To learn more about Jody, check out his website, No Sweat Natural Horsemanship. 

  A special thanks goes out to Farnam for donating gift buckets full of wonderful Farnam products for our silent auction.  Farnam also donated pens, coupon books and calendars, which were passed out to participants and volunteers.  Thanks again for helping to make this event a big success.

  Other sponsors who donated prizes were Discount Feed, Phoenix, Arizona and Sanders Ranch Supply in Black Canyon City, Arizona.  Thanks so much for supporting our event. 

 Organized in the 1960’s as the Arizona State Horsemen’s Association, the Arizona Horse Council is a broad-based, statewide equestrian group whose mission is to preserve, promote and protect the Arizona equestrian lifestyle.