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Club of the Moment: Goulburn Valley Reining Horse Association

Published on Thursday, September 20, 2012 in Clubs

Club President, Brett McDonald, riding Badgers Lil Gem

 

Kate Elliott and Lil Ripper Whiz owned by Anthony & Deb Ross

 

Youth competitor, Georgia Mundie, riding Azure Bleu

 

Lyndon Hale on OP Whizzel Do

 

Youth competitor, Chelsea Ragg, on Triandibo Indeniable

 

David Norbury riding CD Quixote owned by Susie Farquhar

Goulburn Valley Reining Horse Association (GVRHA) is one of Australia's most innovative, and successful reining clubs. In 2012 members have won and placed at every Non Pro derby offered around the country.

GVRHA has a broad member base consisting of green/beginner reiners right up to the most successful Open and Non Pro riders in Australia. As we all know, we have to start somewhere. GVRHA is a great place to make a start in Reining with the Club running clinics for all levels and hosting shows containing beginner level classes for a not so intimidating start.

Reining is a fun, exciting and competitive sport to be involved in. Whether you are into Dressage or Western Pleasure, Reining is a sport that you can easily adapt to. “To rein a horse is not only to guide him, but also to control his every movement.  The best reined horse should be willingly guided or controlled with little or no apparent resistance and dictated to completely.” (ref Jim Willoughby NRHA Hall of Fame Inductee.)

Horsezone caught up with Michelle McDonald from the GVRHA, to find out more about this exciting and energetic club...

What's the biggest event of the year for the GVRHA?

2012 has seen GVRHA incorporate a very family friendly social atmosphere, providing BBQ dinners with plenty of live music at our events.  The next competition and social event will be held on 9-12 November and is our biggest event of the year. This show is on  the weekend leading up to Equitana.  It will feature a Saturday night Open and a  Non Pro class running concurrently, starting from 6pm.  The best riders from all around the country will be exhibiting their Reining manoeuvres, putting on a must- see display of those famous fast rundowns to a sliding stop, spinning on a dime and the gentle willingness of guiding their horse around those fast and thrilling circles.

The November event will feature Friday 9 paid warm ups and practice day, leading into Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 for competition. Judges will be Pam Spokes (VIC) and Shane Watts (QLD).   Prize money up for grabs in the Non Pro is $1500, Sponsored by Greater Shepparton City Council and EA Salce Pty Ltd.  Open division will be $2000, sponsored by Australian Horseman Magazine and Equissage. Other great prizes up for offer over the weekend include: a Hot wash, Webber BBQ sponsored by Melbourne Wood Heaters, Equitana day passes, Reining tack wear, GVRHA clothing and stable gear, Buck - The Film DVD’s sponsored by Madam Entertainment, Inside Reining DVD’s sponsored by NRHA, Horsezone Gift Vouchers.  Saturday night entertainment will feature live music playing from 6pm. Door entry will be $5 per adult, kids free.

Trade stands throughout the weekend will feature Affordable tack wear from Tatura, Equissage, Handmade Hatbands & Jewellery, Hot Spot Coffee Van for refreshments. The local Tatura Football club will be catering all weekend for breakfast, lunch and Saturday night BBQ. See PDF flyer below.

After completion of competition, GVRHA will be running a reining clinic with two of Australia’s most popular Reining trainers Warren Backhouse and Shaun Saunders on Monday 12 November. It will be a one day clinic, $200 per rider and the rider will get a half day tuition with each trainer. Food will be included.  Fence sitters at $80 per head.

What is your most popular clinic?

The NRHA Judges Clinic held at the end of August 2012 with Ollie Griffith was hugely popular. There are great benefits to these clinics. You don’t have to want to be a judge – judges clinics are a great way to find out what judges really want, how your Reining runs are really scored and are a great way for you to see the things you are doing that are letting you down in your score.

One or two well respected judges will run the seminar and you will get to see Reining from the judge's perspective. They will point out all the things that detract from the manoeuvres and lose us points. We all make them and do not even realise it at times – it is amazing what you recognise when it is pointed out to you! At the seminar you will also learn what it means to run a -11/2 score compared to a + 11/2 score and everything between. This will help you increase your understanding of the scoring system – it is not all about the stop – it is all the bits that lead up to the stop too! At the end of day one, usually a tape is played and you pair up to take turns in judging a run or two. This is fun! You see how close you can get to the actual scores, or at least see if you pick the competitors in the correct order.

The second day is normally when the seminar coordinators (judges) get down to the nitty gritty . There is a formal judging test for anyone who wants to give it a try. You may or may not choose to attend this day but you might enjoy the challenge and decide to stick around. Even if you are not interested in taking the test, it is great fun to be there and be a scribe for some of the people who decide to sit for the test. To sit the Formal Judging test this will cost an extra $200 for NRHA to mark the test and perform appropriate paper work.

Who are the rising stars in the GVRHA?

Mackenzie Bascombe, Georgia Mundie and Chelsea Ragg are all youth competitors who are doing extremely well and look like being stars of the future.

Who are your Club's recent success stories?

In 2012 GVRHA members have won and placed every Non Pro derby been offered around the country these members are Brett McDonald, winning the RRHA Wagga Autumn Slide Non Pro Derby and the NSWRHA Sydney State Reining Championships Non Pro Derby on his little mare ‘Badgers Lil Gem’, who he bred and trained. While Mick Taylor won the QLDRHA State Championships Non Pro Derby with his horse ‘Whizzel With Me’.

Future plans for the GVRHA?

2013 will see us run the  “Ride & Slide to America”  series for the second time. The major prize includes flights to Oklahoma City to watch the NRHA Reining Futurity and seven days accommodation is also included.

GVRHA has long been a member of the Horsezone Clubs Contribution Scheme and integrated with Horsezone this year - how are you finding that?

Integration between GVRHA and Horszone websites in our 'For Sale' section is a fantastic idea for members! They can log on to their Club's (GVRHA) website and be directed straight to Horsezones website, which will directly link them to Reining Horses For Sale. (See below for more information on how your club can integrate with Horsezone).

Thanks so much for your time Michelle and we look forward to being a part of the 'Ride & Slide to Equitana' show in November!

Raise More $$ For Your Club

Are you looking to raise more funds for your Club? Be like the GVRHA and take advantage of Horsezone’s offer of a fundraising opportunity - 10% of products listing fee for all listings placed by your members! Click here to find out more about how the Club Contribution Scheme works and to register your Club. When you register with Horsezone, to help raise more funds, you can also integrate our comprehensive sales listings into your Club's website! Integration encourages members to list stallions at stud, horses, floats or gear for sale with Horsezone and in turn donate 10% of their listing fees back to the Club. To make life easier for members, they can view horses for sale on Horsezone simply by visiting their club's website. If you'd like to go ahead with integration, simply email jenny@horsezone.com.au with the search criteria for the breed/discipline of horses you would like to appear on your site. It’s super easy to set up – add it to your existing classifieds page or save the hassle of setting one up and use our comprehensive sales site! Integration is currently used by many clubs Australia-wide. Click here to see it in action on the GVRHA website.

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