The Ontario Reining Horse Association welcomes new members and invites you to take an inside look at reining and our members with the attached video, and our New Member Orientation Package offers you a wealth of information about our great sport and our shows. We encourage you to come out and give reining a try. For more information, please email president@orha.on.ca.
Please click here to download the New Member Orientation Package.
(large file so will take time to load if you have a slower connection)
The ORHA is asking all horse enthusiasts, regardless of discipline, to complete a very short survey (5 minutes), so we can do some strategic planning. And if you have a local horse club, please send it on to them to also complete (it is on the ORHA Facebook page):
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ORHAReining
ORHA Video link >> click here
New & Noteworthy ...
ATTENTION EVERYONE. The registration so far for Knowlton Ridge at the end of this month is very low and the show is in danger of being cancelled. Please book your stalls asap if you plan to attend so the organisors know where they stand.
Stacy Westfall Clinic
TICKET to Stacy Westfall Clinic at Five Star Ranch on May 25 - 26. We are taking bids for a pass to this clinic ($140 value), with funds raised from the sale going to the ORHyA. Please email your bid to president@orha.on.ca before May 16. http://fivestarranch.bugs3.com/
ORHA BOARD MEETING
May 14th at 6:30 p.m. Comfort Inn, Topflite Drive, Mississauga at 6:30 p.m.
All members welcome to attend, but President to be notified at president@orha.on.ca at least a week ahead if you wish to speak at the meeting or have an item put on the Agenda.
ATTENTION YOUTH RIDERS
For information on qualifying for the North American Junior and Young
Rider Championship, please check out these links:
- Canadian Reining Rules
- North American Junior and Young Rider Championship and WEG Selection Criteria
NRHA Inside Reining – “You Be the Judge”
This is a great learning tool, produced by NRHA. Watch each of the videos and judge them, then watch the actual judge's score and compare. Video links - click here
You can also check out these videos on Facebook at www.facebook.com/insidereining
QUARTERAMA CANCELLED
It is with great regret that we announce the Quarterama show has been cancelled.
YOUTH MEMBERS - HELMET REQUIREMENT
Further to the open discussion at the AGM, and the overwhelming consensus from the adult members present at that meeting, the ORHA has introduced a mandatory helmet rule for all riders under the age of 18, as follows:
All riders under the age of 18 must wear an approved safety helmet while mounted on a horse at any ORHA approved show. Any rider aged 14 to 18 is exempt from this requirement while showing in a class IF a signed waiver from a parent is on file at the show office.
To help offset the cost of these helmets, the ORHA will refund $15 of the price upon proof of purchase. In addition, Picov's is offering a generous discount on the purchase of helmets by ORHA members and will bring some to the first show at Fletchers to be sold at their cost. If you would like to order one in your size, please call Julie at Picov's. Also note that the OEF offers a member discount on helmets (http://www.pleasantridge.ca/oef.htm)
WAIVER - click here
YOUTH ASSOCIATION
The ORHA Board is delighted to welcome two wonderful young women to the ORHyA - Kim Larsen will be joining President, Carol Ivey, as a Youth Advisor for 2012, and Taylor Mariani has offered to support ORHyA members with their fundraising ideas. We are very pleased to have you on board, thank you.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
February was marked by our Annual General Meeting, which saw 44 members in attendance. The ORHA Board updated the membership on its various projects and activities of the past year.
First was the promotional video put together by ORHA Director Tom Cudahy, with videographer Melissa Glidden, which is featured on our website and is a very informative and impressive piece of work. Combined with our New Member Orientation Package (also on our website), which is kept relevant and current by Director Art Roberts, we have a stellar offering for prospective new reiners.
Sharon Jones, another of our Directors, has been working on interviews and bios of our reining trainers, and these have been put into a blog that can be accessed at www.ontarioreining.com/trainers or via the ORHA Facebook page.
Sharon was also instrumental in the establishment of our Facebook page this past year, which has become a popular site with members and non-members alike, as a place to post news and photos, ask questions, list horses for sale and so on.
2011 was the first year for our mandatory volunteer hours, and it was definitely a success. The shows ran more smoothly with the extra help, and many members commented on how much they enjoyed being more involved in their sport, and that they had learned from the participation.
Last year, Mike Munroe and I ran a Scribes Clinic at Joanne Milton’s Reiny Season Clinic, which was well attended, and it was rewarding to see so many of those participants put their new skills to work at the shows. We plan to offer another Scribes Clinic at this year’s Reiny Season Clinic, so please consider attending. Joanne’s clinician this year will be Heather Vaughn from Fletchers Horse World, and it will be another terrific event. Not only is Joanne a generous and gracious host, but she also donates back the proceeds from her clinic to the ORHA each year, so please support the clinic.
After four years in the role, Mary Jo MacDonnell is stepping down as our Membership Secretary. She has done an exemplary job and we truly appreciate all her hard work and dedication.
Anne Pearse has generously agreed to take over from Mary Jo and she did a terrific job at the A.G.M. in her first official event, so she is to be commended.
Please note that membership cards will no longer be mailed out – they will be available for pick up at the shows.
At the February Board meeting, we were pleased to appoint a new Director, Blair Spedaler, to the ORHA Board, and his wife, Patti, was appointed Recording Secretary. The Spedalers are fairly new to reining, but they bring a wealth of horse show experience to the table and we welcome them both.
As many of you know, Joanne Milton will no longer be running the show office at our shows, and her extensive knowledge and assistance to the members will be greatly missed. Fortunately, she will continue on as an ORHA Director and as Show Committee Chair, to liaise with the show hosts and Show Managers, and I am sure we will still see her at the shows – coaching her students or just enjoying the show.
Sharon Jones presented Joanne with a gift basket (well, actually a gift BUCKET) of horsey goodies as a token of our appreciation for her work over the years.
Sharon and Jane Lyon have been busy exploring initiatives to increase interest in reining, and Sharon gave an update at the A.G.M. of some of the ideas they have come up with. Stay tuned for more.
And finally, we held a raffle at the A.G.M. for a one year membership, and it was won by Deb Bateman.
All in all, it was a very good A.G.M.
Carol
REINING TRAINERS SHOWCASE
We are pleased to announce the ORHA Reining Trainers Showcase website. Click here to visit the site today!
SHOW CALENDAR UPDATE
Our 2012 Show Calendar is now posted but there is a change to the Canadian Reining Classic at Fletchers Horse World, which has been moved to July 28 and 29 from August 4 and 5.
The Sired Stakes Committee is pleased to present changes to the Sired Stakes Stallion Program for 2012. Bronze, Silver & Gold levels have been added,
benefitting both mare and stallion owners.
See Sired Stakes page for more information
* 44 foals nominated to the Program in 2011*
NRHA MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL REMINDER
Please remember to designate the ORHA as your Affiliate when you take out, or renew, your NRHA membership.
OBBO has a new website
The OBBO is an independent committee of the ORHA which reports to the Board of the Ontario Reining Horse Association (ORHA) and its membership but operates independently, and neither the OBBO or ORHA are in any way responsible for each other. Any questions relating to the OBBO should be directed to them at www.obbofuturity.ca
LORIS RULES AT THE OKC FUTURITY - watch video | another video
Loris Epis and Resting Whiz earned Reserve Champion in Level 1 and 2 at the OKC Futurity with a score of 220!! And Gotta Magnum Dream, also owned by John and Sharon Fletcher, was 4th in Level 1 and 5th in Level 2, with an equally impressive 217.5. The Loris Epis name just hit the world stage. Congratulations Loris and Team Fletcher.
And Molly Stevens ran a 201.5 in the second go, for a composite of 406.5.
A huge THANK YOU to Mary Jo McDonnell for her years of service as the ORHA Membership Secretary. You did a fantastic job Mary Jo and have left big shoes to fill. Anne Pearse has graciously agreed to step up and take over the role and we wish her the very best and appreciate her willingness to always pitch in wherever needed.
ORHA BANQUET
The ORHA banquet was another great success and thanks go to the Banquet Committee - Dan and Berenice Fletcher and Dana Van Alstine - for a job well done.
BRIAN HEATON MEMORIAL AWARD
John Purdie was honoured at the year-end awards banquet when he was presented with the Brian Heaton Award by his good friends and last year's recipients, Larry and Lynne McDougall. A very well deserved honour John.
OEF PEOPLE MAKE A DIFFERENCE AWARD
Congratulations to Tim and Lisa Stanton for being this year's recipient of the OEF People Make A Difference Award, for their years of contribution to the sport of reining in Ontario.
FUTURITY RESULTS
- 2011 Sired Stakes Futurity Results now on the Sired Stakes Page
Sired Stakes
Congratulations to the winners! 2011 Derby Results now online
NEW RULE RE: Year-end eligibility
As per 2011 Rule Book, Section L, paragraph 2, page 18:
"In order to qualify for year-end awards, Champion and Reserve riders must have competed in the said class at least 50% of the total times offered at shows, and must volunteer a minimum of two hours in that calendar year to the ORHA. In order for monies earned to be eligible for year-end awards, rider and horse owner must both be a member in good standing of the ORHA."
This change reflects the custom of various other groups and Associations and is intended to get more of our members engaged in the operation of the ORHA and our shows. The volunteer time can be time served on a committee, writing articles for the Slider or The Rider, helping in the Show Office, scribing, manning the gate, and so on. An alternate person may be designated to complete the service on a member's behalf, with the time logged at the show office.
NEW 2012 Membership Form with HST- click here
Please ensure you include your O.E.F. number, if applicable, on your O.R.H.A. membership form, and if you are a trainer and would like to be included in the Trainers Directory please let us know.
ORHA FUNDRAISER
Now on sale at all upcoming ORHA shows is the latest club fundraiser, this licence plate frame is available for only $10. A wonderful addition for your tow vehicle, trailer, or “just around town” vehicle to show your support for reining. Please see the ladies at the Show Office to buy your frame.
Pard's is offering a 15% discount to ORHA members on in store items (except saddles) with presentation of this coupon. It can also be used for online purchases.
SUSPENDED MEMBERS
(As per Section 10, page 15 of the ORHA Rule Book)
Susan Muir of Ontario
"Ontario Reining Horse Association," "O.R.H.A." and the O.R.H.A. logo are not to be used under any circumstances without the express prior approval of the Board of Directors.