Horse Affairs Featured Guests!
Martin Black
Richard Shrake
Mitch & Jolinn Hoover
Steve Rother
Jason Grimme
Jeff Spencer
Sara Mittlieder
Ruben Villaseñor
Steve Huffman
Spirits of the Old West
Robert Aja
Barry & Amy Krohn
Ambra Allgood
Treasure Valley Gunslingers
Ed White
Richard Shrake is not only a great man, he has also been an icon as a professional in the horse
industry for over 40 years. He lives his life with simple and timeless principles, believing in hard
work and family values. His dream was to create a balanced, common sense program based on
knowledge and wisdom, that would help riders and their horses everywhere realize their potential.
Through his uncomplicated formula for success, the Resistance Free® Riding and Training Methods,
Richard has achieved this goal. He inspires... He motivates... He cares. His gift of teaching and
training has touched and enriched the lives of riders and their horses... from beginners,
to intermediates to professionals.
Known as "The Horse Teacher," Steve is dedicated to all horse people who
strive to teach their horses by educating themselves. He has a unique ability
to teach and communicate to both horse and human. By blending education with
entertainment, and utilizing equine psychology, Steve helps thousands each
year unlock the potential of their equine dreams. He is not limited to specific
disciplines, but rather the development of a willing partnership between horse
and rider. Steve spends the year conducting clinics and presenting at Expos
in the US and Canada.
His gift is in his communication skills which give him the ability to reach both the horse and rider through a few simple principles. Horses and riders have the opportunity to make choices but learn they do not control the consequences of their choices. For more information about Jeff and his Horsemanship School, visit his website www.spencertraining.com
Bit & Bitting Clinic
A sell-out at all past shows. Get a seat early for this one.
Sara Mittleider
Learn what it is like to be an Olympic hopeful and meet Idaho's Olympic hopeful and youngest participant of the acclaimed Rolex - Sara Mittleider.
Sara Mittleider is a 21 year old rising star in the sport of Three Day Eventing. She and her horse, El Primero, leaped onto the international eventing radar screen in 2004 with their 13th place finish at the Fairhill International CCI 3 star Three Day Event in Elkton, MD.
The following spring they placed 18th at the Rolex Kentucky International CCI 4 star Three Day Event in Lexington, KY. She is the youngest rider to ever complete the 4 star event. Sara competed with El Primero at Rolex in 2006 and was again the highest placing young rider, finishing in 14th place. She was also awarded the coveted Best Conditioned Horse Award. This showing against some of the top Olympic level riders in the world earned them an invitation from the United States Equestrian Federation to travel to England, train with the US team, and be a team alternate for the World Equestrian Games that were held in Aachen Germany that summer.
In 2007, they again competed at the Kentucky three day event and finished in 12th place, again the highest placing young rider. She is the first rider to win the award 3 times. They also placed 2nd in the 2007 World Cup Qualifier. Sara and El Primero are currently working toward selection to the US Equestrian Eventing Team for the 2008 Olympics Games to be held in China later this year.
Some other awards that Sara and her horses have won include:
- Named to the United States Equestrian Federation Eventing High Performance Team
- The Jacqueline Mars Grant to compete in England
- The Amanda Warrington Grant for exceptional up and coming riders, twice
- The U.S. Cavalry Association Trophy, twice
- Regional awards for advanced level eventing, three years running
More information about Sara can be found at www.saramittleider.com.
Meet her after the Saturday evening event and ask away, she will be available for Q&A, sign autographs and will inspire your kids too.
Ruben Villaseñor
Ruben will entertain the crowds in the evening program and also plans on sharing his knowledge throughout Horse Affairs on the following topics:
1. The Bosal; How to Fit and Use it Correctly
2. Creating Balance through stops and turns
3. Beginning Lateral movements
4. Neck Reining made easy
5. Refining your cues under saddle
6. How to combine all elements to create 100% Pure Horsemanship
In the evening showcase, Ruben will present the results of his training by performing his famous musical rides on horses he has trained, both client-owned and his own. This will be Ruben’s fourth appearance with Horse Affairs. Everyone enjoys the variety of breeds Ruben works with during the expo including Arabians, Quarter Horses, Morgans, Tennessee Walkers, Paso Finos and many more.
In the past he has wowed the crowd with his awe inspiring musical rides. This year we are fortunate that Ruben will be performing for us again, and will be joined by Isela, his wife and Elyse, his seven year old daughter. Ruben has brought his stallions Aiden, a Curly Bashkir, and This Zipper is Magic, a Quarter Horse. Elyse will perform with Toughy, a Welsh pony owned by Brian and Sherry Kowalski of Benton City, WA. Also appearing will be SA Meshach, an Arabian stallion owned by Diane and Gerwyn Jones of Walla Walla, WA.
Ruben lives and trains from his facility in Benton City, Washington situated in the heart of the Columbia Basin wine country with his wife, Isela, daughters Aliya and Elyse and son, Mario. He produces several clinics a year and provides riding lessons.
The Villaseñor name has long been associated with good horsemanship. If Ruben Villaseñor is anything, he is a student of the horse. Before assuming the title of "clinician," he is first and foremost a horse trainer. His style is simple and eternal, to develop the movement of a horse and its athletic ability. To make the horse supple, relaxed, flexible and obedient. If this sounds a bit like dressage, well, it is. Dressage for everyone. Although dressage is a term that means simply, "training," it is a higher degree of training the average equestrian often avoids. This is unfortunate.
Villaseñor hopes that through his "Horseman's Western Dressage," ordinary backyard horse owners will discover and reap the benefits of a timeless discipline. (From an article written by Catherine Madera for Northwest Rider Magazine, July 15, 2007)
Ruben Villaseñor is currently in the process of creating a web page which will provide information and links to useful sites. Please feel free to contact him via e-mail at hwdhorses@aol.com by phone at (509) 947-4125.
Enjoy the performances with these great horses and Ruben Villaseñor
Elyse Villaseñor is a seven year old second grader who lives in Benton City, WA with her parents, an older sister and one year old baby brother. She sat on her first horse at the age of one, and began riding by herself at the age of five on Lyla, a 17 hand Lipizzan-cross mare, her father Ruben trained.
Elyse began performing musical free-styles and conducting clinics at expos last year and loved every minute of it!!! Besides riding, Elyse loves to sing, tap dance, recite poems and draw. Her clinic topic is "Being Safe Around Horses" with an emphasis on child safety, riding, and living with horses.
"Yielding to Pressure"
With over 35 years experience, Steve Huffman is one of Idaho's most seasoned horse trainers. In his natural progression of horsemanship, Steve uses a simple and logical approach. Participants in his clinics will learn practical techniques and helpful tips to create a more responsive and willing horse. In his seminar "Yielding to Pressure", he addresses one of the most fundamental yet important skills in the development of a balanced relationship between horse and rider.
presented by Steve Huffman and Friends
Relive the past as local young women from the Treasure Valley commemorate the cowgirls of the late 1800s. Dressed in period attire, these young women will demonstrate horsemanship skills while honoring the pioneering spirit and determination of the cowgirls of the old west. Learn about Prairie Rose Henderson, Ruth Roach, Mabel Strickland and others who paved the way for today's western woman. How bout those Cowgirls?!
Aja Training Stables
Robert Aja, Jr.
Robert has spent most of his life learning to listen to his horses.
He was born and raised on the family ranch in Arizona where everything started a horse back on the ranch.
Later on in work related opportunities from feedlots to ranches he furthered his knowledge of horses in Idaho and Oregon.
The horse has always been a central part of his life.
Now he endeavors to share that knowledge and love for horses to those who care for horses.
Robert and his wife Judy live in Caldwell and train horses in Star, Idaho.
He selected the following Topics for 2008:
You are invited:
Cowboy Cathedral,Inc.
Robert and Judy Aja
Robert and his wife are the administrators of a local "Western World Outreach".
Their main purpose is to encourage people to have a relationship with God.
Robert Aja will be sharing the Word of God on Sunday, Feb. 17, at 10:15 AM, to encourage
all who attend, how to have a relationship with God and His Word.
Come join us.
Valley Mule Company
Barry grew up in the mountains of Colorado, at the age of 12 or 13 he started working for different ranches and outfitters, training mules and horses, building fence and packing salt and other supplies. Moving to Oregon in 1987 he kept his mule training program going.
Amy grew up in Oregon always having a horse to ride, she loved to trail ride and riding on the sand dunes. In 1986 Amy moved to Corvallis to continue her education at OSU. In 1991 she decided to enter the LBCC shoeing program where she has learned to become a top notch shoer. Amy loves to work with horses and set out to learn a better way to teach horses and mules.
Amy & Barry met in 1993, finding out that they both shared a love for mules; they bought their first jack and a hand full of good brood mares. This started their Valley Mule Company Business.
Today Amy & Barry work together hand in hand, with everything involving their business. From mule training programs and clinics to lessons, they are teaching mules and their owners to understand each other. Valley Mule Company also includes a couple of breeding jacks, their main jack is Mule Train, and a new addition, VMC Saddle Mountain Milo, a tri colored spotted jack. Last but not least they also specialize in mule sales, shoeing, and their own line of mule saddles and tack that they have developed.
Let them help you understand the intelligent and versatile mule.
For Horse Affairs 2008 they will present a few great topics.
Confidence Building & De-Spooking - Build confidence in your mule with their proven Reward Training Techniques and build a bond with your mule that will last a life time
AMBRA ALLGOOD is a friend to all: a storyteller, author, director and educator with the magic of "The Pied Piper" she "awakens" the child in us all. Ambra uses her love of nature, horses and story to guide and encourage. She has directed events and theater programs that both entertain and educate in Idaho, Washington and Utah for 36 years. She is a member of The Guild of Idaho Storytellers and has performed in theatre as well as storytelling in the Northwestern States. Ambra has a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from The University of Utah, and a Master of Arts Degree in Education from Boise State University. Ambra is currently studying Parelli Horse-Man-Ship and aspires to build the language of love and leadership with her horse companions: Bella the Mustang mare, Rana Fra Pegasus Ranch the Icelandic filly and Sonar Con Dios the Peruvian-Paint colt.
Ambra began formal training in theatre at the young age of 2 years old, but recalls her first storytelling, song and dance routine in front of an audience:
"At two years old, mom replaced my thick cotton training pants with the most beautiful pair of red lace panties, with five rows of red ruffles on the seat. She then put me in the old blue Buick, and off we went to visit her church lady friends. Momma told me if I performed "My Little Red Wagon" song and dance that they would watch me. She reminded me I just had to remember not to wet my pants. Momma lifted me up on the table; I sang and danced my heart out, and I didn't wet my new red lace panties with the red ruffles. Everyone clapped and cheered and I knew I was a success. Thus, my stage career began along with a multitude of disciplines necessary to my life on stage!"
Delightfully unique, Ambra's background of experience also gives her an uncanny ability for improvising stories with audiences of all ages.
The West in the 1880's
in a town when everyone was armed,
respect was expected and given.
Rules were simple and life was charmed.
If you knew that everyone was packing
and might shoot straighter or faster than you.
You'd probably be more understanding
and a might friendlier too.
You'd consider your hog leg always loaded
and only clear leather when prepared to go to work.
You'd be honest, humble and hard working,
thoughtful, trustworthy and true,
kind, courteous and careful
and your word would be stronger that glue.
This is the part of history we're promoting:
gun safety and the right to pack a gun.
To relive this time as close as we can,
meet new friends and have some fun.
We do this for each other,
We do it everyday,
We do it for America
And we do it the Cowboy Way.
Shoot Straight & Flash the Light
Clown Dominum is the nickname that Ed White gives his rodeo barrel. White, who will be here for this years Horse Affairs, laughs when asked how his barrel got its name, "it is also where I get sent when I get in trouble at home, most men get sent to the dog house". Then he says "just kidding, actually I will be married 25 years this year to my wife Laurie, and that is how many years I have been a professional rodeo clown".
White and his wife Laurie have three daughters Katie, Kylee and Brandie who usually travel the circuit with him any chance they get. White, like many other bull fighters in the industry finish off their rodeo careers by retiring from cowboy protection to comedy. This profession, is known as a Rodeo Clown. "My job is to entertain the crowd and also provide a safe haven for the cowboys that may have no other place to hide when being chased by an angry bull". White admits that it is his job to make it appear to be fun and games when he is in the arena, it does get very rough at times. He recalls the time when he was performing in his barrel at the Payette Rodeo and was charged by an angry bull. "The bull saw me in the barrel and I knew by his speed and attitude this wasn't going to be good". White laughs and says "the next thing I knew, I was upside down and fortunately still in my barrel". "It felt like I was in a car wreck, and my barrel looked like it had been in one as well".
When you talk to Ed White you can hear story after story just like this one. White admits "you see a lot to scary and sometimes very funny things when you have been in this business as long as I have". White who is a senior on the circuit has been selected multiple times as the Barrelman of the Year in the Intermountain Rodeo association and once by the Idaho Cowboy's Association. "I rodeo with the sons and daughters of the people I use to rodeo with". When he reflects back on his career, he says one of the most positive changes in rodeo that he has seen is that the riders are wearing the protective vests. "It is a very rough sport and anything we can do to protect the rider and the animal is a positive move for the sport of rodeo". White says, the best part of his job in the rodeo arena is entertaining the crowd. "It is great to see the smiles on peoples faces when you tickle their funny bone". White, who has a great sense of humor himself, smiles and says "that's my job".
Come to this years Horse Affairs and visit with Ed White and hear some of his great stories. He will also give your kids a ride in a real "clown dominium" rodeo clown barrel so they can see what it feels like to be out in a rodeo arena. Ed will also be entertaining the crowd throughout the day and during our evening show as well. This year's show will be entertaining for the entire family.
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