Hello Cutters!!

 Wow, we really started the 2012 show season off with a bang, producing our biggest show EVER!! Over 90 entries including practices! It was a very long day for most of us, but everywhere I looked people were smiling. The weather cooperated, a bit cold to start off with, but then the sun came out and all I saw was smiles.  That’s what it’s all about isn’t it?  

We tried something different this year and really seemed to work well, Tiffany Castaneda took on the role of herd changes and seeing that the arena was worked up regularly, she did a great job and the show ran very smoothly. We will plan to do that from now on. If you are not showing and would like to volunteer to help out with that at a show please let us know, your help would be greatly appreciated.

We had many new cutters, experienced trainers, and lots of in betweeners, everyone did a fantastic job, and all were fun to watch.

There is a great article in the February issue of Horse and Rider written by Bob Avila titled “How Not To Lose”. He talks about riding to the level of your ability, consistency, knowing your horse, and taking your time. To me. the most important point that he made, was the first time he won the Worlds Greatest Horseman competition he did it without winning a single round. He placed second and third in each go round, but went home the winner. He was consistent.

In my eyes everyone that shows up with their horse is a winner. It takes a certain amount of moxie to get out there in front of a Judge and your piers and show your horse. Especially a cutting horse where you have the “cow factor” which is always an unknown. I commend all of you for joining us and truly hope everyone will be back for the rest of the show season, getting more comfortable and more consistent.

We do have one spot available in the Russ Elrod cutting clinic on Feb. 25^th, please contact Linda Beck for  more information 503 732-2005.

If there are any suggestions or thoughts out there, I’d really love to hear them. You can email me at horsieheidi@comcast.net, or call me at 503 628-0235.

Sincerely,

Heidi Olds

2012 CRCC President