Tehachapi News

Ride the winds

Chuck Lewter and his horses recently won in a big way a few horse show. And “big” is the operative word. Lewter raises and shows Clydesdales at his ranch Chadeau Mountain, off Highline Road.

He competed in three major draft shows in California and did well in all three. At the Ventura County Fair, the Grass Valley Draft Horse Classic and the Los Angeles County Draft Horse Show his stallion; Robyncroft Perfect Son (AKA- Sonny) won first place and Grand Champion at all three shows. Sonny also was Reserve Supreme at Grass Valley. His mare, P.S. Scotwing Grace won Reserve Grand Champion Mare at all three.

The LA show was a five-day event in which Sonny was entered in Cart Prep Class (first place) and Pleasure Driving Cart Class (tenth place). Brittani Street rode Grace to a seventh place finish in Junior Rider Walk/Trot Class. Portland Ream tood eighth in the Adult Bareback Walk/Trot. Emily Berry took seventh in the Adult Bareback Walk/Trot on Sonny. Christine Froehlich took top honors in halter with her gelding, Thunder.

Lewter is hoping for another winner as Grace is in foal to Sonny and her foal already has been sold sight-unseen. Lewter says Sonny is available for breeding to outside mares and he's able to ship semen.For more information contact Chadeau Mountain Clydesdales and Lewter at 333-3519 or click www.chuck.clydesdales.net.

The Tehachapi Western Events Association has a final Playday on Nov. 4 at Spit Creek Ranch off Perch Road. The cost is $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Prizes will be awarded in both Open and Youth. Sign-ups begin at 9 a.m. and will start around 10 a.m.

TWEA recently held Trail Trials and the winners included in the Open Division, Joi-Ashli Gibbs, Annette Norfolk, Tracy Silva, Cheremy Krueger and Jill Nelson. The Youth winners were Alyssa Adams, Matthew Krueger, Morgan Gibbs and Lindsey Krueger. TWEA's next regular meeting is Nov. 6 at Jake's Steak House. For more information on TWEA, call Al Anders at 823-7046 or click www.tehachapiwesternevents.com.

The Tejon Ranch, California's oldest working ranch, has a Ranch Roping Clinic Dec. 1 to 3. The ranch also offers different practice schedules for roping, cutting cow horse and cattle handling on Sundays for $50 a day. For more information call 342-7654 or click www.tejonranch.com.

The horse community lost one of its own with the passing of Villa West. He was a local trainer and horseman, and a colorful individual who was not afraid to spin a lively tale. He will be missed.

On a personal note, I recently went to a local horse show in Bear Valley Springs. I showed our grullo stallion, Tees Black Gold, in halter and placed third. I also tried something called Country Pleasure, where your show your horse doing its favorite gait. I entered our 5-year-old gelding, Hobbys Par Twister, for his first time. Although we didn't win any ribbons, I was happy at how well he performed in front of a crowd and maintained his gait, the trot, over the entire course without stopping. Sometimes it's satisfaction enough to know your horse performed to the best of his ability. It also will help as we try to sell him that he can do a variety of things for a potential buyer.

For those who love shopping for anything horse related, it's time to start thinking about visiting Las Vegas from Nov. 30 to Dec. 10, when the NFR Rodeo is going on. The Convention Center (Cowboy Christmas), the Sands Expo (Country Christmas) and the convention center at Mandalay Bay (Cowboy Marketplace) are filled with everything cowboy including tack, furniture, art, trailers, clothes and whatever. You can even buy a horse at the bucking horse sale and place a bid. Just click www.nfrexperience.com, www.countrychristmas.com and www.cowboymarketplace.net.

Don't forget, if you have any information to report on the horse community such as upcoming events, clinics, raffles or you've won an award, please contact Jill at 823-1114, fax 823-1115, e-mail jillbn@yahoo.com, or drop material off at the Tehachapi News. Jill and her husband, John, operate the Bar Double J Ranch on Cameron Canyon Road, raising performance quarter horses (barjjranch.com). They also run a production company, which will make videos or DVDs of your horse or set up a website.