In Memoriam: Corky Randall
Hollywood horse trainer Buford “Corky” Randall died April 20 in Newhall, Calif., after a prolonged bout with cancer. He was 80 years old.
As a child, Randall was diagnosed with polio. His father, Glenn Randall, Sr., had him exercise instead of placing metal braces on his legs, which was the accepted treatment then. By age 10, Corky was training horses with his father, who trained Roy Rogers’ Trigger.
Beginning in high school, Randall began working in the film industry and trained horses for numerous motion pictures and television shows. He won two Patsy Awards (film animal trainer’s honor) and received the 1982 Humanitarian Award from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles. Most known for training the black Arabian stallion that starred in “The Black Stallion,” a 1979 film produced by Francis Ford Coppola, Randall’s last project was “The Mask of Zorro,” starring Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Apply for the USEF Sportsman’s Award
Applications for the U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF) Youth Sportsman’s Award are available at www.usef.org. Candidates must be active members of the USEF and a USEF Recognized Affiliate, be 17 years old as of December 1, 2008, serve as a positive role model for peers, participate in competition, exhibit positive sportsmanship and be dedicated to the promotion of the horse. Nominations from USEF Recognized Affiliates are due to the USEF by October 31.
Enter PRE Raffle
The Foundation for the Pure Spanish Horse is raffling 2-year-old Pure Spanish Horse mare Maravilla RSDP on November 26. Tickets are $10 each or 11 tickets for $100 or 111 tickets for $1,000. Go to www.prehorse.org for further information.
Cavalia Premiers in Chicago
Equestrian spectacle Cavalia debuts in Chicago, Ill., on July 14. More than 100 two- and four-legged artists perform in the multimedia show–which includes dance, acrobatics and aerial demonstrations–that honors the bond between horses and humans. Performances will run through August 2, and tickets cost $45.50 to $98.50. Special packages to visit the Cavalia stables are also available. For more information, go to cavalia.net.
Watch this video to preview Cavalia’s show:
Help Equine Research
Cornell University laboratories are conducting a study on the genetics of body size in the horse. The researchers would like hair samples (for DNA) and body measurements of as many horses as possible. To participate, contact the Brooks and Sutter Genetics Labs at 607-254-8217, equinegenetics@cornell.edu or at 607-253-3592, sutterlab@cornell.edu.
