2023 9th Annual Functional Horsemanship Arena Challenge Results

We concluded the 9th Annual Functional Horsemanship Arena Challenge with the smallest number of riders to date with 17 Entries across the four competitive divisions of Stockhorse, Open, Intermediate and Novice. Four people pulled prior   to the competition due to injuries/sickness and five riders did not show. Despite the small turnout, the day went on without a hitch, the higher than normal temperatures for this time of year and solar eclipse weren't much of a factor. When it was all said and done the division winners were: Stockhorse - Debby Hale (pictured above right); Open - LuAnne Benally; Intermediate - Gena Blankenship; and Novice - Mark Schleicher. The Horsemanship Award, which I think is the highest award, voted on by competitors and judges, went to Mikayla Loveland, a first time competitor at this event. That's Mikayla below backing straight through an open gate, and yes, her horse is that big, over 17 hands.

Final placement and scores in each division were:

Stockhorse: Debby Hale 620; Don Carpenter 577; LuAnne Benally 567; Jessica Bailey 537; Mark Schleicher (riding two different horses) scored 463 and 445

Open: LuAnne Benally 601; Erin Weich 587

Intermediate: Gena Blankenship 534; Marianne Bailey 525; and Nikol Endres 446

Novice: Mark Schleicher 277; Dan Bailey 240; Mikalya Loveland 223; Jessica Bailey 219; Edith Deleski 196; and Shelly Clark 161

To keep tasking the riders with new skills, several new requirements were added for this year's challenge in the Stockhorse division including a hip shot, scoop loop and tying knots requirements. The Stockhorse division is heavy with rope skills as the riders also had to throw a head shot, trap shot, rope a barrel and trot around it stacking coils, and trot off pulling a heavy log. The three knots each rider had to tie were a clove hitch with one piece of rope, a bowline with a second piece of rope, then tie both ropes together with a double sheet bend. Jessica Bailey was the only rider to tie all three knots correctly. LuAnne Benally is shown below tying her knots.

The Open division harder tasks were riding the trot in tight circles and a 50 foot serpentine backup. Open, Intermediate and Novice were also tasked with a dismount and remaining in a box while backing their horse up with a soft feel. L shaped and straight side passing, 360 and 180 degree turn on the hocks, navigating a cowboy (rope) curtin, opening and closing gates were some of the other tasks riders and their horses had to perform. Mark Schleicher shown below negotiating the gate.

After the conclusion of the competition, a lunch of street tacos, rice, corn, beans and peach cobbler was served then the awards ceremony. In addition to a plaque and ribbon for each division winner, as well as a trip to the well stocked prize table, the Stockhorse winner received $200 in Starr Western Wear gift cards; the Open winner received a $100 Boot Barn gift card and a sterling silver ribbon pendent with turqiouse and silver necklace made and donated by jewrely maker Tami Rafoul of San Antonio. The Intermediate division winner received a $100 Boot Barn gift card. The Horsemanship Award winner received a Painted Pony statute as well as a $100 Starr Western Wear and $100 Boot Barn gift card. This year we gave Vicky Maly of VCM Equine Services a sterling silver horse head pendant and silver chain, also made and donated by Tami Rafoul, for her lifelong commitment to the greater El Paso horse community.

Cross Training for Horses

Serena wrote to ask if doing cowboy events on her horse would degrade her horse's training and ability in Dressage...."Hello, I am wondering if you think trying cowboy events like cow sorting and roping on my dressage horse would teach him bad things and set back his training.  My friend wants me to try both with her."        

Hi Serena.  I think if you go about it right, practically anything you do on your horse, no matter what or how different, would be good for you and your horse.  I think most people would call it Cross Training and would recognize that term.  Cross- training refers to training in activities other than the one event that the person (or horse) primarily competes in with a goal of improving overall performance. It takes advantage of the particular effectiveness of each training method, while at the same time attempting to negate the shortcomings of that method by combining it with other methods that address its weaknesses.....my apologies to Wikipedia.

Some people either recognizing the value of cross training with their horses, or simply for the joy of being horseback will ride in practically anything they can get to. In either case, the results of often the same, a much better horse.

And cannot but be beneficial to the horse and rider. Everything from a trailer ride, exposure to different events and requirements, seeing what you and your horse are weak on and therefore need to work on, learning from other riders,.....the benefits are pretty wide.

I remember being entrusted to take children out on trail rides by their non-riding mothers as I convinced them that this will make their horses safer for the child's hunter jumper or dressage events. The same for barrel racers - taking their horses out on the trail makes for better riders and helps gentle those horses - getting them desensitized to various stimilus and learning to think before reacting.  Just getting outside of the arena and exposing your horse to about anything - from water puddles (picture at top right) to big barking dogs (picture at left) to rabbits jumping up close by or squirrels running up trees can be challenging and make a better and safer horse.

While I think if you go about it right, trail riding can be really beneficial to your horse and you, events like sorting, penning and arena obstacle competitions can likewise be as good. Just taking your horse to these events and not competing can be good, that's why you see people taking young horses and ponying them around or tying them so they can absorb all the stimulus.

Lately I have been ranch sorting. Several practices then a jack pot. I saw horses and riders week by week become more comfortable and confident with sorting cows and the strategy of putting the cows one by one into the adjacent pen, but also with riding in a more settled manner. It's pretty cool to see horses new sport to this figure out what needs to be done. Same for the rider's, as some were being asked to ride one handed in a port bit, according to the ranch sorting rules, and thereby making it necessary to get functional at it.

From basic cowhorse clinics, to competitive trail events, to western dressage, to ranch sorting and team penning, to gymkhanas - all of it potentially increases our skills and communication with the horse. The young lady who sorted cows on her dressage horse as well as the team roper who pretty much only rides his horse in an "go fast and turn left" pattern all benefit from cross training.


The flip side to competition is that it often brings out the negative in people. Rider's wanting to win so much that they demand their horses respond, before their horses reach an understanding of what they are being asked to do, usually by jerking on the reins and banging on their sides.  So I think if you approach everything.....every event, every ride as working on your horsemanship as opposed to focused on winning, these cross training events will make it beneficial to your horse.  Safe Journey.