(Photo Caption: Lindsey Thomas rode HF Shiney Surprise to win the Ron Williams Youth Traveling Trophy at the 20223 RMRHA Summer Slide in July. Photo Credit: Colorado Horse Source)
Getting to Know Colorado Horse People
I had the privilege of visiting the Rocky Mountain Reining Horse Association (RMRHA) Summer Slide in July. I love watching some of the top horses in the state, and from around the country, competing. Reining is such a precise sport, and while it takes lots of saddle time to get these horses competitive, it’s well worth the ride! Many thanks to Travis Chapman, RMRHA President, and to Dana Cohen, who sponsored the Ron Williams Youth Traveling Trophy. I was excited to meet this year’s winner, Lindsey Thomas, riding HF Shiney Surprise. Her parents have worked hard finding her the right horse and the training it takes both horse and rider to get to this point. At just 14 years old (competing in 13-and-under because of her birthdate), this young lady is well on her way to a career in showing reining horses! Congratulations, Lindsey!
It’s been a while since I’ve spent much time traveling to shows and connecting with horse people. I’m just gearing up to make new friends and acquaintances in the Colorado horse community. Seeing Matt Livengood at the reining show was great. I’ve been a little homesick since our move a little over year ago, it was good to see a familiar face. Matt was working as the show steward representing the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA).
So many things happened this summer. My neighbor, Cymmie, found me a horse to ride, so we’ve been visiting different trails in our area. It certainly gave me the itch to have a horse of my own to ride again. Around that same time, my farrier sent me information about a horse for sale that seemed perfect. I wanted a horse that was quiet enough to help me gain my confidence again as well as safe enough to share with others by giving rides to kids and non-horse people in a program I hope to start up again. I’ve been spending time getting our place ready for a new horse, boosting up the fencing and cleaning up dunnage from trees we’ve taken down. I’m blessed to have some good friends to help me with the process.
It’s been well over a year since we moved from Washington State. I’m finally starting to settle in and ready to really get started with meeting more of you by visiting different horse facilities and events. It’s a big state with so many things happening, so I’m gearing up to share all the different things there are to do in Colorado!
Lastly, please enjoy the winner of our annual Senior Horse Contest on page 5. We’re delighted to offer such great prizes this year. A big thanks to Farnam for donating a $500 gift basket to our winners. If you missed it this year, be sure to participate in our contest in 2023! For now, season’s greetings. Have a wonderful holiday season.
“Some of the biggest achievements of your life will come from helping others achieve.” -Unknown
See this article in the November/December 2022 online edition:
November/December 2022
Owner/Publisher Karen’s lifelong love of horses began at a very early age when she wore out a couple of rocking horses before convincing her parents to get her the real thing. That ill-tempered bay gelding, Brandy, was a challenge for the young horsewoman, but it drove her ambition to become a horse trainer. After attending Canyonview Equestrian College’s Horsemanship Program, Karen realized she needed work that was a little more lucrative than training, so she took a job with Customs Brokerage to pay the bills. There, she discovered an affinity for computers and a talent for creating informative, entertaining newsletters. The Northwest Horse Source began as such a letter in December 1995, with a distribution of 1000 copies for its 12 black and white pages. Now 25 years later, it’s an online magazine and website with a reach of over 10,000 per month and growing! Not bad for the results of one woman’s dream to work with horses!
Today, Karen remains involved with every aspect of the magazine and treasures the community of thousands who share a common passion. Now excited to start a version of her original magazine in Colorado!