It’s the Horseman’s Dream Weekend and we invite you to make plans now to attend the 5th Annual Ride The West Horse & Ranch Expo brought to you by Big R Stores May 19, 20 and 21st at the Spokane Fair & Expo Center! Three big days of clinics, demos, beautiful horses and SHOPPING!!

Returning for his second year Mr. Josh Lyons “Son of America’s Most Trusted Horseman “ John Lyons, will be conducting clinics and demos to rave reviews from his previous appearance at Ride the West. Josh has made a trusted place in the Horse Industry for himself and he’s fast becoming one of the Country’s most respected and accomplished trainers. We are proud to have him for another year at Ride The West. Josh will be instructing clinics on Foal Handling, Reining, Problem Solving and Performance Enhancement as well as Keeping the Fun in Your Horse’s Training with a few tricks up his sleeve! You can also enter to win a coveted slot in one of Josh’s future clinics, worth more than $750. His Friday Night Colt Starting Demo in the Round Pen last year was absolutely tremendous and if you missed it, or want to learn more make sure you attend that clinic on Saturday night this year in the Indoor Arena. This special event will start at 6 pm. Josh will also be riding his famous horse “Flash” in a musical performance at “Spirit of the West” on Friday night. Josh has also been throwing quite a few loops this past year, winning events and showing some really nice horses, so we just might get him to do some technique and training demos on Roping this year!

We are so pleased to have joining us again Mr. Charles Wilhelm of Charles Wilhelm Training in Castro Valley, CA. Charles graciously took the chance on a first time promoter joining our Expo Team 5 years ago and has helped us grow and improve immensely. He’s also helped many of you grow and improve with your own horses and we received many requests to again have Charles back at Ride The West. His Emotional Training concept gets at the root of people’s most frequently asked training questions, with problem solving and technique advice from a very accomplished trainer and instructor. Charles’ “Success Through Knowledge” approach to training is 100% successful in all riding disciplines from Western to English, Reining to Dressage. Charles also has a new book out “Building Your Dream Horse” and is a featured trainer on RFD-TV. Besides his own training facility, camps and clinics, he and his wife Anne are attending over a dozen Expos this year and we are thrilled to have him booked into Ride The West again.

Five years ago, my husband Rick and I sat in the bleachers at a Horse Expo we were attending and watched this man on a beautiful black Morgan stallion enter and side-pass the entire length of the Arena to Boot-Scootin’ Boogie! The crowd went crazy! At that time, I said to Rick, I hope that someday I can have this man as a featured trainer at my then, very fledgling, Expo!! Well, 2006 is the year and Eitan is the man! Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome to Ride The West, Mr. Eitan Beth-Halachmy of Wolf Creek Ranch, Grass Valley, California and his World Champion Morgan Stallion, Santa Fe Renegade!! Eitan does a limited amount of clinics and performances each year throughout the Country. He is a wealth of information and knowledge and is known for “telling it like it is.” A World Champion with many national titles in the Show Horse Industry, Eitan and his World Champion Western Pleasure Morgan Stallion Holiday Compadre (now retired) are known the world over for their now famous own brand of horsemanship dubbed “Cowboy Dressage.” Neither a dressage nor a freestyle reining performance, Cowboy Dressage is a style of riding that blends both the beauty and control of classical dressage with the speed and excitement of reining. Don’t miss “8” and World Champion Western Pleasure Morgan Stallion Santa Fe Renegade at “Spirit of the West” on Friday night, as well as his clinics and demos throughout the weekend.

New to Ride The West this year are several horsemen and women whom we have been watching over the past couple of years and are now proud to say will be presenters at the Expo. Mr. Steve Rother of Steve Rother’s Horsepower Partnership Program™ has been able to combine his early horsemanship education with a background in cow working, ranch roping, reining, cutting, dressage, jumping, rodeo, liberty, trick training, and mustang taming to provide one of the most well rounded clinic programs offered today.

Carole Mercer and The Dancing Morgans come to us from Eagle Point, Oregon. Carole’s finesse and training methods have produced an incredible team of true working horse Morgan mares who will perform their dance at “Spirit of the West” on Friday evening. Carole will also conduct several clinics on harness fitting, cow cutting in tandem, long lining and related training. Carole and her black beauties will bring a stunning element of elegance to our Expo.

Ann Kirk, Sensible Horsemanship combines the skill of an expert horseman with the heart of an accomplished horsewoman. In her Teaching the Art of Reading the Heart program Ann will show you her calming method of training to get to the emotional core of the horse. Ann has been training horses since she was 13 and has taken her expertise to another level in becoming an accredited Josh Lyons Trainer. She contacted us several years ago with an interest in our Expo and last year, we put two of our own horses in training with her. I watched her daily, I was impressed with her ability to demand obedience while softly asking the horse through pressure and release to follow her every command. It was truly inspiring. In fact, you will be able to watch Ann take our 3-year-old colt Fritz to his first time to saddle at the Expo. Ann is a local area trainer, which means she will be available to you after the Expo. She and her husband Jim reside in Elk, Washington and she is currently working out of Spur of the Moment Farm. Check out our Trainer Spotlight segment on our website and follow Fritz’ training to date.

Ruben Villasenor from Benton City, Washington will again thrill and amaze us as he demonstrates his Horseman’s Western Dressage as well as a breathtaking performance at “Spirit of the West” on Friday evening. This will be Ruben’s third year with us at Ride The West and we always have a tremendous response to his clinics, demos and horsemanship. The Bosal is Ruben’s specialty and he incorporates traditional Dressage movements such as The Piaffe, and The Passage with The Spanish Walk. Rubens’ horsemanship is authentic, honest, and simple. His horsemanship skills are evident, both in the way he lives his life and works with horses. His talent reaches far beyond trophies, placement, and disciplines. He works with all horses on all levels, executing all the virtues with which he conducts his own life.

Fairness, Honesty, Patience, & Understanding. Ruben provides a full range of riding lessons and horse training at his home in Washington as well as conducting clinics across the Country.

Doug and Kathy Vouchell of Centaur Training are a husband and wife team who come to us from Eugene, Oregon. Both avid horse trainers for most of their lives, Kathy has ridden in several different disciplines, including Hunter Jumper competitions, Western Pleasure and basic training of horses. In 2003, Kathy attended the John and Josh Lyons certification program after seeing that John’s methods were highly effective, as well as time saving in the training of her own horses. Due to the success and knowledge that Kathy gained while training one on one with John and Josh Lyons in Parachute, Colorado, Doug also decided to attend the certification program in 2004. Both agree that it was the best decision that they have ever made. John’s training methods have allowed them both to take their horse training to the next level and elevated them to true professionals in the horse industry. Doug and Kathy will head up The Extreme Trail Challenge, a brand new event to Ride The West this year. This is an open entry event pitting horse & rider against our Extreme Challenge Trail Course with over $1000 in cash and prizes to the winners! This annual event will showcase the great trail horses we have here in the Pacific Northwest!! For more information stay tuned to our website or contact us.

Louise Beach, of Pendleton, Oregon will present a sidesaddle demo for those of you interested in finding out the art of how to ride “aside.” Her clinic last year was a big hit with the audience. The Inland Empire Back Country Horsemen will show you the ins and outs of Horse & Mule Packing, Knot Tying and their Trail Conservation Program. The Northeast Chapter of Back Country Horsemen will recreate their Northeast Wilderness Camp on the North Lawn, and you will see the safe and correct way to set up your camp in the woods complete with Dutch oven cooking (might even get to taste a homemade biscuit) as well as learn about the fantastic Trails we have available in the Pacific Northwest.

We are especially thrilled to have the BLM’s Wild Horse Adoption at Ride The West again this Spring for the second year. Lesley Neuman, will be presenting two wild horse gentling demos on Saturday in the Grandstands Arena. Last year, The BLM was able to find homes for every animal they brought to the Expo and are hoping to do that again in 2006. Don’t miss the mystique and majesty of one of our Country’s greatest Living Legends.

But this is not all!! Also new to Ride The West in 2006 are two spectacular Associations that will entertain and educate you about our Nation’s History and Western Way of Life. The 14th Virginia Cavalry of the Washington Civil War Association will set up camp and perform several maneuvers and exhibitions. The Northwest Cowboy Mounted Shooters will give a rip-roarin’, gun slingin’ shooting exhibition and also be a part of our Spirt of the West Show. Both of these groups will add a whole new dimension to Ride The West and we are looking forward to their participation.

We have some of the finest Stallions...the most stunning Breeds...a spectacular Trade Show, The US Marine Corps/Safeway Toys for Tots Pancake Breakfast & Silent Auction...Sunday’s Cowboy Church, Prizes, Concessions, Entertainment and Education...you just can’t miss a minute of it! This is just the beginning of events and entertainment we are planning. We are looking forward to our association with the Spokane Lilac Festival as this is truly one of the biggest Community Celebrations in our City. Several of our horse groups will be riding in the Torchlight Parade on Saturday evening and we are proud to have them represent our spectacular Equine Industry in the Pacific Northwest.

Stay tuned for more exciting announcements! We are also looking for schooling horses & volunteers. We need horses for trailer loading, ground manners, riding & spooking issues, a foal handling clinic with Josh Lyons, and general round pen work. Please check the website or call us. Contact Susan Rae at (509)466-9639, susan.rae@att.net or online at www.ridethewest.net. Advance Tickets for the Expo will go on sale in April. Check your Horse Previews and The Exchange for updates, schedules and ticket outlet locations!

Thank you to our sponsors Big R Stores, Horse Previews Magazine, The Exchange, Cat Country 94 KDRK, and Oldies 101.1.

See the Best...Ride The West returning in May!!