|
There was activity everywhere at the Midway Exposition
Center with the Missouri Equine Council’s 18th annual Equine Education
Celebration, January 25 and 26, 2008. This years event was well rounded with
clinicians, a trainers challenge event, a horse judging contest, breed
demonstrations, a silent auction, a fashion show and a trade show offering
educational & equine products for shopping opportunities for the attendees. John
Coats and Sail Win Sam of Columbia kicked off the event with a special flag
presentation in the Opening Ceremonies as they have for the past 18 years.
|
|
|
Michael Richardson, this year’s
headliner clinician |
Michael Richardson, this year’s headliner clinician, started off the
activities Friday evening and impressed the crowd showing people that even
though an accident left him paralyzed for life from the waist down and
wheelchair bound, you can still pursue your lifelong dream working with horses.
Michael gave round pen demonstrations and clinics for riders including
“Encouraging Balance and Lightness” and “Building on Performance” giving
participators an opportunity to learn how to strengthen their relationships with
their equine friends.
Seminar room presentations included horse health, equine legal issues,
farrier demonstrations, computerized gait analysis, feeding the older horse, and
career opportunities in the equine industry.
The horse judging contest drew in 91 registered contestants and many
observers from all over the state. On behalf of the Missouri Equine Council
Board, congratulations to all of the Horse Judging contestants!
Adult Division: 1st Lynda Lapeky of High Ridge 213, 2nd Gina
McCulley of Mexico 196, 3rd Val Pilliod of Leubbering 193, 4th Marsha Root of
Blackwater 189, 5th Carol Maddich of Lathrop 187, 6th Kathy Cundiff of Fulton
186, 7th Nancy Smith of Rolla 184, 8th Pat Glidewell of Lathrop 181, 9th Lisa
Whipple of Centralia 180, 10th Duke Neff of Amoret 178.
Senior Division: 1st Katelyn Marlin of Marshfield 210, 2nd
Tiffany Londoll of Pierce City 201, 3rd Kelsey Chapman of Strafford 199, 4th
Cassa Davis of Memphis 198, 5th Courtney Hampton of Englewood 196, 6th Ann
Elizabeth Smith of Lathrop 195, 7th Meggan Shrank of Silex 192, 8th Hailey
Slibawski of Lathrop 191, 9th Allen Holland 191, 10th Cassie Dyer Gerald 190.
Junior Division: 1st Jake Glidewell of Lathrop 208, 2nd Natalie
Ayers of Green City 207, 3rd Shania Anderson of Trenton 206, 4th Dalton
Schuerman of Troy 204, 5th Deja Schuerman of Troy 192, 6th Colt VanWerden of
Kingston 190, 7th Emily Barclay of Plattsburg 189, 8th Isabel Maddick of Lathrop
188, 9th Chris Kahlenbeck of Union 187, 10th Jaime Erickson of Keytesville 184.
MFA, Incorporated was the sole sponsor of a brand new event for Missouri this
year, the Ultimate Equestrian Challenge. It was an opportunity for attendees to
watch three Missouri horse trainers in action simultaneously. Hannah Kaufman
from High Point, Casey O’Bryan from Millersburg and Dennis Cappel from Silex,
were given three hours to get an unbroken horse started under saddle. Dr. Kent
Haden of Columbia provided six Missouri performance-bred two-year-old horses for
the competition and MFA, Incorporated provided use of three round pens. The
Ultimate Equestrian Challenge got underway as numbers were drawn to determine
the order of horse selection. Dennis Cappel was first to select his unbroken
horse, followed by Hannah Kaufman then by Casey O’Bryan. Each trainer worked
inside their own round pen in the main arena where attendees could watch as the
horses were bridled, saddled and mounted for the first time.
The three Judges were Michael Richardson, headliner clinician, Renee Dudley,
owner of Horse Power magazine and Ed Slemp of Sturgeon, Missouri. After two
hours of hard work and determination in their round pens, the horses were given
the rest of the evening off before returning Saturday evening for the grand
finale. The round pens came down and an obstacle course was set up and the
horses and challengers were given a final opportunity to prove themselves. They
were asked to walk, trot, lope, and back their horses, cross a bridge, drag a
log, rope a bale and cross logs. It was a very close contest, but when the
results were totaled, Dennis Cappel received the coveted Missouri’s Top Hand
award. Congratulations Dennis!
The Missouri Equine Council Booth stayed busy selling memberships, Missouri
Equine Limited Liability Signs, trainer bandanas, t-shirts and Ride Missouri
memberships. The Missouri Equine Council appreciates our generous sponsors and
volunteers; with out your support this event would not be possible! Special
thanks to Premium Sponsor MFA, Inc., Platinum Sponsor Purina Mills, Silver
Sponsor Manna Pro, Bronze Sponsors Merial, Millersburg Feed & Trade, Morton
Buildings, Orscheln, and Copper Sponsors Shelton Seed of Centralia and Twillman
Feed of Mexico. We are genuinely grateful for your support of the Missouri
Equine Council. Don’t miss next years Missouri Equine Council Ultimate
Equestrian Challenge on January 23rd & 24th 2009, at the Boone County
Fairgrounds in Columbia. To get involved, contact the Missouri Equine Council.
|
