Welcome to the
Extreme Cowboy
Association
We are excited
about 2013 and
the many fun
filled and
exciting Extreme
Cowboy Racing
events that are
on the schedule.
The formation of
EXCA has been an
thrilling and
challenging
adventure! Many
people have
worked
tirelessly to
create an
association that
you will be
proud to tell
your friends
about.
This is the
latest issue of
your monthly
newsletter, The
Brave Horse.
You will receive
it each month
electronically
around the
middle of the
month. The Brave
Horse will be
full of
interesting
stories, EXCA
event results,
point standings,
human interest
stories about
EXCA members and
Tips and Tales
from our
founder, Craig
Cameron. We
encourage you to
communicate your
suggestions for
stories and
ideas that will
make The Brave
Horse fun,
better and more
informative. The
Brave Horse the
best newsletter
in the equine
world.
Please forward
your ideas and
suggestions to
Frank Turben at
webmaster@extremecowboyassociation.com
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Photo
By:
Marilyn
Merrick
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Basic
Flexibility
Exercises
Flexibility in
horses is
fundamental in
every discipline
of horsemanship.
It is through
flexibility that
you have control
over your horse.
It allows you to
position his
body, whether
it's to a jump,
a barrel, a cow,
a gate or even a
mailbox.
Flexibility
begins with
lateral flexion
or the ability
to bend the
horse's body
with one rein. A
lot of
horsemanship
entails using
one rein at a
time. The last
thing you want
to do,
especially with
a young horse in
the beginning,
is pull with
both reins. If
you pull on the
horse's mouth or
head, his
natural instinct
is to pull back,
whether you're
on the ground or
on his back.
By using one
rein at a time,
it's harder for
your horse to
brace or lean
against you.
Just hold your
pressure until
he finds the
release point in
giving. Then he
learns to give
instead of pull
back. That's
what your aids -
hands, legs,
bit, halter and
lead rope, rein
and spurs - are
all about. Your
horse learns to
yield to the
pressure you
place upon him
with theses
aids.
Lateral Flexion
Lateral flexion
is one of the
first things to
achieve with
your horse
because it's the
basis for
control. By
bending your
horse right and
left with a
single rein, you
control where
his body goes.
Here's how to
accomplish that.
First, outfit
your horse with
a side-pull or
snaffle bit
because they
work off a
direct pull on
either the sides
of the horse's
face or the
corners of his
mouth. That
makes it easy
for the horse to
follow the
pressure; thus,
they're beat for
communicating
lateral flexion.
Shanked bits, on
the other hand,
apply too much
pressure on a
green horse
who's trying to
learn.
Pick up one
rein, and hold
it steady; don't
pull on it.
Learn the
difference
between holding
and pulling. In
holding the
rein, you wait
on the horse to
respond. In
pulling backward
on the rein, you
try to force the
horse to respond
with a
tug-of-war
technique.
One of the most
important things
in horsemanship
is to never
allow a horse to
pull on your
hands. If you
let the reins
slide through
your hands, or
your arm moves
forward as the
horse pulls,
you've taught
your horse to
pull against
pressure. Before
you know it, to
find release, he
roots his nose
in the air or
pulls on your
hands at your
slightest rein
cue. As you pick
up and hold the
rein, wait on
the horse to
give his face.
The second he
does, release
the pressure.
The amount of
bend your horse
gives isn't as
important as the
try he makes in
giving it. Some
horses resist
more, but others
give their heads
easily. With a
resistant horse,
you might have
to ask for more
bend by bumping
or shaking the
bit until you
can find a good
spot to hold.
Adjust to fit
your particular
situation and
circumstance.
(to be
continued).
Excerpt
from: RIDE SMART
by Craig Cameron
with Kathy Swan.
Published by
Western
Horseman.
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Craig
Cameron
Collection
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Click
on
logo
above
to
take
you
to
Craig's
collection.
These
are
the
tools
&
equipment
he
uses
everyday.
They
will
help
you
to
Ride
Smart
and
achieve
success
in
any
discipline
you
choose.
Especially
Extreme
Cowboy
Racing!
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Visit
Our
Sponsors
(click
on
logos)
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Instant Replay Productions
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JOIN OUR
MAILING
LIST
_____________________________
Find us
on
Facebook
_____________________________
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SPONSORSHIP
Become a
2013
SPONSOR
Corporate
Sponsorships,
Branding,
Display
&
Signage
Opportunities.
Visibility
for
sponsors
is
offered
through
web,
advertising,
printed
flyers,
signage
and
race
day
promotions.
Corporate
sponsors
are
encouraged
to
take
advantage
of
the
various
opportunities
for
exposure.
CLICK
BELOW
LINK
FOR
DETAILS:
Contact
Us
EXCA
Texas
Headquarters
Phone:
(254)
728-3082
Fax:
(254)
728-3081
Email:
doublehornd@lipan.net
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2013
EXCA
Dues
Reminder |
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Don't
forget
to
renew
your
EXCA
club
memberships
and
competition
licenses.
This
can
be
done
online.
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2012 WORLD HIGHLIGHTS
 |
Click on photo to see the Promo video
"2012 EXCA World Finals Highlights"
A must see for EXCA Enthusiasts |
Now
forming
the
EXCA
2013
World
Championship
Show
Committee
and
Volunteer
List
Sign
Up
Here
We
are
approximately
10
months
away
from
EXCA
2013
World
Finals.
Get
your
horses
tuned,
earn
your
WQ
points,
and
get
your
flags
ready!
We
are
getting
ready
Circle T Resort!
ATTENTION
CLUB
PRODUCERS
AND
DIRECTORS:
WE
ARE
LOOKING
FOR
2013
WORLD
SPONSORS.
Please
let
us
know
if
your
club
can
contribute
in
any
way.
Email:
EvonKurtz@gmail.com
The EXCA Brave Horse is looking for good human interest stories, favorite action photos, and touching tales of your EXCA horse's courage.
Please submit photos and stories to: EvonKurtz@gmail.com.
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Rule
Book
Changes:
Futurity
&
Green
Horses
Requirements
/
Qualifications
- 12 and Over Riders, Futurity Division (3 and 4 year olds only).
- The Futurity Division is a sanctioned competition at the EXCA World Championship only.
- .A futurity horse must be nominated by August 1 to be accepted for the EXCA World Championship competition.
- Any late nominations will require a $100 late fee at time of nomination.
-
Any horse that is nominated may compete in the sanctioned EXCA Green Horse Division (can only compete in the Green Horse class to remain eligible for 2013 EXCA Futurity at the World Championship.) Futurity nominated horses may not have shown in any EXCA (or similar organization's) competition.
- Horses of any breed are accepted. Horses do not have to be registered.
All horses must be turning either 3 or 4 years old after January 1 of the competition year.
Green Horse
All green horses must be turning either 5 or 6 years old after January 1 of the competition year.
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MESSAGE
FROM
OUR
NAB
CHAIRMAN
-
BILL
CAMERON
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Photo by Andrea Kaus
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Ask
the
Judge:
Question
1:
When
showing
in
an
arena,
what
is
the
correct
lead
between
2
obstacles
that
are
in a
straight
line
if
you
start
on
the
left
lead
to
approach
the
first
obstacle
and
then
the
next
2
obstacles
are
in a
straight
line
before
reaching
the
end
of
the
arena
and
turning
to
the
left?
Answer:
This
is a
very
good
question.
My
strategy:
if I
was
coming
around
on
the
left
lead
towards
two
obstacles
and
after
those
two
obstacles
I
was
going
to
have
to
turn
to
the
left,
I
would
definitely
keep
my
horse
on
the
left
lead.
If
there
are
two
obstacles
that
are
jumps
there
is a
chance
your
horse
could
be
on
the
right
lead
after
the
second
jump
and
at
this
point
you
would
change
leads
to
the
left
and
not
be
marked
down.
Question
2:
I
would
like
to
know
if
an
organizer
of a
sanctioned
extreme
cowboy
race
has
the
right
to
refuse
the
participation
of a
competitor
because
he
does
not
like
this
person?
Answer:
In
my
opinion
an
individual
does
not
have
the
right
to
refuse
membership
to
someone
based
on
the
fact
that
they
do
not
like
them.
However,
when
an
individual
is
going
around
slandering
or
bad
mouthing
people
in
the
Association
or
the
Association
itself,
the
organization
has
the
right
to
remove
them
and
take
away
their
membership.
This
seems
to
be a
topic
everywhere
I go
and
in
all
countries,
so
we
have
to
be
careful
who
we
try
to
exclude
from
a
club.
Everyone
has
a
right
to
their
own
opinion
and
many
of
the
people
in
the
Extreme
Cowboy
Association
don't
agree
with
each
other
but
they
respect
each
others
opinions.
- -
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Bill
Cameron
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Club Spotlight:
Tranquility Valley Ranch, OK EXCA
James Rathburn, Founder
Interviewed
by
Evon
Kurtz
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When did you join EXCA and who inspired you?
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Mr.
Craig
Cameron
inspired
me
to
join
EXCA.
I
have
been
a
member
since
2010.
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Who helped you to make EXCA become a reality for you?
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Nick and Laura Rendon, owners of Harmony Farms in Kentucky, were the first to come on board with Bluegrass EXCA formed July 2012. Carolyn Saulters owner of Tranquility Valley Ranch in Oklahoma was the second club, Oklahoma EXCA formed January 2013. Craig Cameron, Carolyn Saulter, Lisa Floyd, Leigh Ann Matthews ( Heartland Horse Trade and photos), Kim with Potuea Daily News, Alan Maxwell (Photos), all the staff, volunteer, visitors, and our EXCA competitors have contributed greatly.
Where do you pull competitors from?
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We pull competitors from all over, each state is surrounded by different states...Oklahoma EXCA pulls from TX, AR, CO, LA, MO, NE, and CA.
What are your club plans for 2013?
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The Oklahoma EXCA plans to have one event every month over the next several months...our members plan on going to the Nationals in May and the EXCA World Championship in November
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What would you like to say to the Youth and Young Gun competitors?
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Young Guns or Youth riders that want to earn points...Come A Ridin'!.
Personally I like the YG, and Y divisions, because EXCA supports kids learning, work ethics, outdoors, and self worth...to name a few.
If I could say something to YG or Youth Divisions..it would be this:
Horses are a Passion, an Obsession, and a Lifestyle...Not a Hobby.
I listened to family, mentors, and friends, when they said "If you truly love the horse, then reach for the STARS". I am living and riding my dreams...
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Photo
of
the
Month
Taken
by
EXCA
Member:
Dena
Still
Taken
at
the
South
Pacific
Region's
NaturalBornRacers
EXCA
Race
Genuine
007
with
Tom
Ryan
aboard
during
their
free
ride.
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Put
on
Your
Creative
Hats!
Calgary
is
looking
for
new
obstacle
ideas.
Now
is
your
opportunity
to
play
a
part
in
this
spectacular
event.
We
are
looking
for
interesting
and
challenging
obstacles
that
will
complement
our
overall
course
design.
(click
above
photo
for
details).
PRIZES:
Up
to
three
submissions
(maximum
of
one
per
day
of
competition)
will
be
selected.
If
selected,
you
will
receive
the
following
recognition
and
gifts:
signage,
including
your
name,
posted
beside
the
obstacle
on
course;
recognition
by
the
announcers
and
on
the
Jumbotron
during
the
event;
an
official
copy
of
the
DVD
for
that
day;
an
8"x10"
photo
of
your
obstacle
-
autographed
by
the
winning
rider
that
day,
as
well
as
Craig
Cameron;
and
official
Stampede
prizes.
In
addition,
if
you
are
in
attendance
that
day,
you
will
also
be
offered
admsion
for
two
to
Stampeded
Park;
lunch
for
two
with
Craig
Cameron;
an
opportunity
to
tour
the
course
before
the
race
and
have
your
picture
taken
in
front
of
your
obstacle.
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