What a wonderful surprise. Today Smart Rebel Girl received her AQHA Register of Merit for outstanding performance in AQHA events. She has earned 10 points in Reining and Ranch Horse Pleasure with Michael and continues to perform consistently at the top level.

Known as Baileys, this 2005 mare by Smart Starbuck was trained and produced by Michael from a two year old.

2013 British Reining Champions

What a way to end the season with a Championship title and a Reserve at the 2013 British Reining Championships at the Bodiam International Arena, East Sussex.

Riding Sue Painter’s This Ones Cutting It, Michael was awarded the Championship in the Rookie Professional among strong competition. This mare came to ML Training in June straight from field having spent most of her life as a brood mare. ‘I knew she was bred to do the job but I really didn’t have any particular expectations for this season,’ said Sue. ‘She was bought as a brood mare and as far as I am aware she has never been shown. I couldn’t be more delighted with the results Michael has managed to achieve, especially in such a short period of time. This Championship win really is the icing on the cake.’

Michael then went on to ride a cracking 141.5 in the Intermediate Open on his own home produced mare Smart Rebel Girl. The pair ran the high score of the show before being pipped to the post by just a half point by Josh Collins, fresh back from the FEI European Championships. The class was hotly contested and Michael finished above another Team GB rider Lee Rutter on three horses.

This Ones Cuttin It owned by Sue Painter

What an incredible Garden of England International Show. ML Training racked up a fantastic set of results across the board at the UK’s premier western event under judges Rick and Maj-Britt Lemay, and Carl and Karen McCuiston.

Michael placed 1^st and 2^nd in the FEI CRI 2*, took the $500 added NRHA Pewter for the Limited Open, the $250 NRHA Novice Horse and $250 Rookie Professional as well as being crowned the AQHA Gold medallist in the Reining Hi Point!

See below for the highlights…

Michael on Smart Rebel Girl (Baileys – owned by Michael)

• 1^st FEI CRI 2*
• 1^st $500 NRHA Limited Open Pewter Trophy
• 1^st $250 NRHA Rookie Professional
• 1^st $250 NRHA Novice Horse Level 2
• 1^st AQHA All Ages Reining – Show 3
• Gold Medal AQHA Reining Hi Point Award
• 2^nd $250 NRHA Novice Horse Level 2
• 2^nd $250 NRHA Novice Horse Level 2
• 2^nd AQHA All Ages Reining – Show 1
• 2^nd AQHA All Ages Reining – Show 2
• 2^nd AQHA All Ages Reining – Show 4
• 2^nd BR Intermediate Open
• 3^rd $500 NRHA Limited Open

Michael on This Ones Cuttin It (Lucky – owned by Sue Painter)

• 1^st BR Rookie Professional
• 1^st AQHA Ranch Horse Pleasure

Michael on A Winnin Tradition (Flint – owned by Jackie Langford)

• 2^nd FEI CRI 2*

Emma Collyer on A Winnin Tradition (Flint – owned by Jackie Langford)

• 2^nd BR Green as Grass Level 2
• 3^rd AQHA Novice Amateur Reining
• Bronze Medal Novice Amateur Rookie Circuit Award

Mary Stephens on Aprils Little Lloyd (Lloyd – owned by Mary Stephens)

• 2^nd BR Intermediate Non Pro
• 4^th NRHA Rookie

John Ayles and Michael

Congratulations to the Hi Point winners of the ML Training WES Novice Horse Championships at the Garden of England Summer Show, Bodiam International Arena on 21-23 June. Following the Spring and Summer Shows, the top three Novice Horses in the WES classes were presented with medals and sashes by Michael Langford, and a beautiful Gill Parker trophy plaque to the overall Champion. The winners were:

Gold – John Ayles / Heirs And Graces
Silver – Sara Hills / Nando
Bronze – Alison Sherwood / Queens Fury (owned by Rosemary Clark)

Michael and Remus

We are still celebrating our successes at the Garden of England Circuit Summer Show held on the 21-23 June at the Bodiam International Arena. The team came away with a total of eight class wins and two Silver Medals, with two of the horses being produced by Michael from babies.

Michael took three wins on his own home-produced mare Smart Rebel Girl (Baileys) in the BR Limited Open Reining, NRHA Intermediate Open Reining and the AQHA All Ages Ranch Horse Pleasure (a first for both Michael and Baileys).

He then went on to ride Tally Wade’s five year old gelding Smart Little Reynard (Remus) to victory in the NRHA Limited Open Reining, NRHA Rookie Professional Reining and the British Reining Rookie Professional Reining. A great achievement for what was this horse’s third ever show.

Emma and Flint

Further to Michael’s own successes, clients Emma Collyer (an FEI level event rider) and Sara Hills also came away triumphant. Emma, at what was her third ever western event, took the Green as Grass and Rookie Reining classes amongst great competition riding Jackie Langford’s A Winning Tradition (Flint). This gelding is another produced solely by Michael from a two year old.

Michael, Sara and Nando

The icing on the cake was Sara Hills and her Norwegian Fjord, Nando. The pair took two Silver Medals for the WES Novice Horse High Point Circuit Award and the WES Novice Rider High Point Circuit Award, following some great performances in the WES Western Pleasure, Trail and Horsemanship classes, holding their own against experienced Quarter Horses.

‘More important than the blue ribbons is the sense of achievement I get when I look at what we have achieved with these horses,’ said Michael. ‘I produced both Flint and Baileys myself from babies. Nando is a delight and has taken to western brilliantly, holding his own despite not being bred for the disciplines, and Remus is a horse that we have wanted to bring on slowly and has taken to the show pen really well.

Mary, Naomi and Nando (Pic: Sue Williams)

‘As for my clients, they are all fantastic and I couldn’t be happier for them. It’s been particularly fun working with Emma who has made the transition from high level event rider to reiner incredibly quickly.

‘I must also mention Mary Stephens who despite not taking home any first places did an awesome job working on her horse in the show ring and ironing out some problems. It takes a lot of guts to throw classes for the good of schooling and it is something I admire in any competitor. She also did a great job in the Small Fry with her four year old granddaughter Naomi.’