Newsletter February - March 2013

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Thank you for all those who braved the weather and came to the banquet in Joliet. Most everyone got there without driving in the ice. However for some it was right on their heels leaving Iowa. I hope everyone made it home OK. I think they made it worse then what it turned out to be. It was announced at the banquet that this year we will continue with the Rookie II saddle award, and the others will go to the Non Pro Division and the other to the Open Division. This is how it will work. Everyone in their respected division who wins the championship their name will go into a bucket with all the other champions in Open or Non Pro division. Each champion will receive their award. As each person receives their champion award they will pull a name from the bucket. The last person who remains in the bucket will be awarded the saddle. So any one of the divisions could win the saddle. The only thing we have not made clear is to whether you need to be present at the banquet to get your name into the bucket. We feel this will give everyone a chance to win the saddle and make the banquet more thrilling (or how to lose friends if your name happens to get pulled). Also at the banquet an incentive was announced. The board would like to grow and promote the Directory. We would like this not only to help advertisers but also aid our membership in finding services. An example would be in an area such as a reining horse farrier. New folks are buying reining horses and may bring their horse home and there farrier is not equipped to shoe a reining horse. Where do they go? We would like them to be able to pick up the directory and know in their area this is who they could call. Same could go for hay, shavings etc. So with this in mind, we are offering free stalls at our Gordyville shows to anyone who brings in any ad’s that total $500. The break down includes full page color to business cards. Now if you can only come up with half that amount that will get you 1 free stall at one show. Last year we had over 2700 hits on the web and we feel this will continue to grow as the directory grows. We cover a large area with 4 states involved, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and Wisconsin. Won’t you please give it a try and see if we can make this directory something we can be proud of to help fellow Reiners. See the break down (on page 3) for the directory ad’s and if for some reason you can’t bring yourself to ask someone but you get the feel they might want to be involved in the directory, give us the name and contact and we will make the call. If we get them you will get the credit. Also we will have the saddle raffle or $1000 cash. Each member will be given two books to buy or sell for the drawing in August at South of the Border. Hope everyone has a wonderful fun show season. Kathy

Our hearts go out to Gigi Challas on the loss of her 14 year

old palomino stallion Gunsmoke Fritz. He came from the

bloodlines of Mr Gunsmoke and Bueno Chex. Gigi raised,

trained, showed and also bred this horse with her

own group of broodmares. Gigi has raised and sold his

foals in which many are in the NRHA show pen today. " Hank" became a very big part of her life

and family. We all know to well how hard it is to make the

decision to put one down. Her horse developed laminitis

as a result of being insulin resistant. She took him to the

University and was treating him with several medications.

Nothing was working to relieve the horse's pain. So on February 8th she had him euthanized.

We are so sorry for your loss.

Check out our website! MWRHA.com

If you received this newsletter in the mail MWRHA

does not have your email information. If you

would like to send us your email contact

Midwest Reining Horse Association Jodi at (309) 251-5645 or jodis@mailptg.com.

DIRECTORY SPONSORSHIP 2013 Rates remain the same as last year. Full page color prime spots (covers and center fold) $500. That includes color on the web site, banner display at all the shows, (you supply the banner), newsletter & announcements at all the shows. Full page black & white $250.00 that includes web site, banner display at all the shows (you supply banner), newsletter & announcements at all the shows. Half page black & white $125.00 includes web site, newsletter, & announcements at all the shows. Quarter page black & white $75.00 with announcements at all the shows, directory only. Business Card Ad enlarged $50.00 with announcements at all the shows, directory only.

As stated in American Cowboy, June 1999 edition, Raul Munoz is a charro.

Not a cowboy, Not a vaquero, nor a ranchero, nor a Norteno. Raul is a charro,

distinguished by master horsemanship and wizardry with the lariat.

Come join MWRHA and the Raul Munoz family to honor this great Don of

all charros in Joliet. Huge 300 x 100 show arena, great footing, Kaiser drag,

authentic Mexican Food concessions on the grounds! Limited stalls available

(40-50) contact Dottie Smith to reserve 219.742.0122!

WATCH FOR MORE INFO ON THIS GREAT MEMORIAL SHOW

ON mwrha.com, facebook, and advertised at up coming MW shows!

May, 18 2013

NEW for 2013

Raul Munoz Memorial Show

$5,000.00 added 7 & Up aged event and one day MWRHA affiliate show

CLASSIFIEDS (contact Kathy or Jodi if you'd like to include an ad to our website or newsletter)

FOR SALE Blood lines of Peptoboonsmal, Doc’s Stylish Oak, Gunsmoke, Gangster Chic NRHA eligible 2yr olds, NRBC eligible 3yr olds, and Broke aged horses for sale as well. Call for more information to: Challas Quarter Horses (708) 476-0461

FOR SALE The Vazquez's are selling a great horse Juiced Up Doc. Lifetime earnings $160,000 and he is still showing great. Mariana just showed in the youth at NAAC and was 5th out of 60. He is a great horse and would make a wonderful addition to a youth, rookie, limited and intermediate non pro. Call for more information 773-251-6892 or email mariana_vazquez_13@hotmail.com

Introducing our new Webmaster MWRHA would like to introduce Nicole Mauser-Storer, as our new Webmaster. Nicole will be keeping MWRHA's website up to date and working with the board on a few new projects. A little about Nicole: She taught web design at ICC for almost 10 years and has earned a "Certified Internet Webmaster" certificate, she is currently working on her last semester to complete a certificate as a Rich Internet Application Developer at ICC. She has worked on websites for Caterpillar, ICC, UMECRA and various projects for non-profit groups. A little about her horses: Nicole has been riding endurance on her horse, Peso. Her and Peso were Reserve Champion Novice, Top 5 Rookie and then Top 10 Competitive in the last three years with UMECRA (Upper Midwest Endurance & Competitive Rides Association). In their spare time Peso has been showing Level 1 Dressage, and has even started jumping. Nicole also recently purchased a Hungarian Sportlo Gelding, registered with the Hungarian Horse Association of America and the Performance Shagya Registry. She is also on the committee for the First Performance Shagya Registry Inspection in the US.

MWRHA would like to welcome Nicole to the team!

I decided to retire Sign An Go “GiGi” Jan. 28th of this year. It appears as though age and arthritis have caught up with us. I started reining in 2001 with purchase of Gigi’s full sister - Lily’s Sign. Lily was a good introduction to reining, but she much preferred chasing cows, so she and I competed in Working Cow Horse classes and did some team penning. That was a lot of fun, but I wanted to focus a little more on the sport of reining, so I purchased GiGi in 2003. We’ve been together ever since. She’s a super horse…smart, talented, athletic, patient, kind and beautiful. She’s been a wonderful partner all these years…always willing to do whatever I asked of her. She made me look so much better than I am. I’m confident that had she shown in much more capable hands than mine, she would have done great things. I’m definitely going to miss showing her, but I know that it’s in her best interest she no longer competes . Lounging around with her sister and the occasional trail ride is in her future. After all she’s given me, that’s the very least I can do for her. Having been bitten by the bug, I’m currently in the market for another reiner. Until we find that “special one”, you’ll find me in the role of “show mom” for “the other Laurie” and anyone else who may need anything, and cheering on all those that are doing their very best to put together that “great ride”. Laurie Miller

Sign An Go “GiGi” registered Appaloosa mare DOB: 05/08/97 (16 yrs) Sire: Heza Sure Sign

THANK YOU! Becky Ruehle for the picture!

2013 Reining Horse Clinic Featuring Lori Nelson

I would like to thank Kathy and all responsible for the

beautiful flowers presented to me at the Banquet! I have made so many Great Friends since I became a MWRHA Board Member! Thanks everyone for the

kind words! Thanks, Jodi

Lori Nelson has a passion for reining. She has ridden with many top National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) professionals in order to build the knowledge she shares with her students. She has competed, as well as coached her students, to both regional and national levels. Lori and her clients have earned numerous year end awards from several associations including the Midwest Reining Horse Association, Illinois Reining Horse Association, and Indiana Reining Horse Association. Lori finished the 2012 show season in the Top Ten for her NRHA division. Lori owns and operates Lori Nelson Training located in Mechanicsburg, IL where she works with students from beginner to advanced levels to help them achieve their goals. Her adaptable teaching and training methods produce a soft and responsive horse resulting in success across a wide range of disciplines from reining to pleasure to hunter/jumpers. Bring your horse and join Lori Nelson for her reining clinic at the 2013 Illinois Horse Fair! For more information go to: http://www.horsemenscouncil.org/HorseFair/Reining.php

2012 AWARDs BANQUET January 27, 2013

Joliet County Club

Norbert Glynn is one happy guy

to be part of the 2013 MWRHA board!

Quinn Selner and Gigi Challas

our 2012 saddle winners!

Oscar Munoz 1st place 13 & Under

Allen Mitchels at the podium before

starting his video presentation!

For more pictures go to www.ruehlephotographix.com

2013 MWRHA

Affiliated Show Circuit & Saddle Circuit

All shows will be used for points in the saddle circuit. But, you must

show at least 4 of the 5 days of MWRHA shows to qualify

Gordyville Breeders Cup Gordyville USA * Gifford, Illinois

March 14th-17th

INRHA Cloverdale Reining ShowCloverdale * Cloverdale, Indiana

April 13th & 14th

MWRHA ClassicGordyville USA * Gifford, Illinois

May 4th & 5th

MWRHA Memorial Show for Raul Munoz (see ad in this newsletter)

(Added 7-up Class)

May 18th

Illinois Reining State FairState Fair Grounds * Springfield, Illinois

July 15th-16th

South of the Border Gordyville USA * Gifford, Illinois

August 17th & 18th

NRHA North Central US Affiliate Finals

Minnesota Equestrian Center * Winona, MN

MWRHA GREEN REINERS RIDING, SLIDING, SPINNING, and WINNING As you know MWRHA went Green in 2012. We offered NRHA approved Green rider classes in our

NRHA/affiliate approved shows. This means Green riders are rewarded for points earned by NRHA. Points are awarded based on the number of horses in the class on a sliding scale from one to ten (see scale below). Through the GREEN RIDER REWARDS PROGRAM, Green riders with 50 points are awarded an NRHA jacket and Green riders with 100 points earn a Montana Silversmiths trophy buckle. After achieving 100 points a rider is no longer eligible for the Green Reiner class format. This year MWRHA will offer one more opportunity for entry level reiners to ride in NRHA approved classes. Ride & Slide level 1 and Ride & Slide level 2. As with Green level classes all you need to show is a $20.00 associate membership. You do not need NON-PRO declarations, competition licenses, or even need to own the horse you are riding. All classes require standard NRHA Rules for bits and attire; long sleeved shirt, hat or helmet, western saddle and western bridle, chaps are not required. Let me try to explain the differences between Green and Ride & Slide Classes. Rules for entry level classes are on pages 73-74 of 2013 NRHA handbook.

GREEN Reiner Classes: $20.00 Associate membership Use NRHA patterns 1-11 One or two handed Simple or flying lead changes Green Level 1 open to riders who have less than $100.00 in NRHA earnings, have less than 25 NRHA Youth points and less than 50 green points. Green Level 2 open to riders who have less than $100 in NRHA earnings, have less than 25 NRHA Youth points and less than 100 Green Rider Points.

Ride & Slide Classes (these classes can be offered in open, non-pro and youth) Ride & Slide Level 1 open to riders who have $0 in NRHA earning and 0 youth points.

$20.00 Associate membership Reduced patterns are permitted One or two handed with any bridle

Ride & Slide Level 2 open to riders with $500 or less in NRHA earnings and less than 50 NRHA youth points

$20.00 Associate membership Standard NRHA patterns and rules Two more points of interest for all entry levels, any money earned will not count toward your Rookie status. Exhibitors can be given the opportunity to talk to judges at the conclusion of the class. In closing, MWRHA would like to welcome reiners of all levels to our show. Our Green rider program will offer a less expensive way to show, an easier way to complete at an enjoyable level and a great way to improve your reining skills. THANKS, Jodi Summer, MWRHA Secretary / NRHA Liaison (309)251-5645

NUMBER OF HORSES SHOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10+ Place

1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 6 1 2 3 4 5 7 1 2 3 4 8 1 2 3 9 1 2 10 1

Don't forget to visit the MWRHA Website

for a full update of show rules,

show schedules and show bills.

Membership cards are being sent out now.

We would like to see if we could get

everyone to send in their membership

as soon as you can, to avoid extra work

for the show office at our first show!

Remember you have to be a member to earn points!

Keep in mind you must be a MWRHA member

and attend 4 of the 5 MWRHA shows to qualify

for year end awards and the saddle circuit.

ALL 11 shows will count toward year end points.

A FEW ITEMS FROM THE BOARD

Thank you Becky Ruehle of Ruehl Photographix for the picture!

C/O Jodi Summer, Secretary

31569 Irish Lane

Eureka, IL 61530

Midwest Reining Horse Association Board members

PRESIDENT: Kathy Dam 708.380.2364 VICE PRESIDENT: Tawney Denn 847.863.6654 SECRETARY: Jodi Summer, NRHA Liaison 309.251.5645 TREASURER: Dottie Smith 219.742.0122 BOARD MEMBERS: Albert Burton, YOUTH CONTACT 847.226.0031 Gigi Challas, 708.476.0461 Norbert Glynn 708.436.3140 Ed Gomez 630.638.4951 Lori Hedges 217.801.1630 Martin Melgoza 708.525.0166 Gary Todd 815.459.3487