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Copyright 2008 World Publishing Company. All rights reserved. |
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RHANW reflects on September show
Cheryl James
Mike Stokes took the Open Futurity championship.
The Reining Horse Association of the Northwest held their fourth show of the year Sept. 12-14 at the Appleatchee Riders arena in Wenatchee. Participants at The Spin Out and All Star Futurity enjoyed gorgeous fall weather and great ground.
Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Matt and Amber McDowell of All Star Performance Horses, the feature event of the Spinout was the NRHA Approved All Star Futurity with $2,000 in added money. The Open Champion was Mike Stokes, riding Barbs Vanilla Latte`, a beautiful buckskin mare raised and owned by his dad, Tony Stokes. The Non Pro Futurity Champion was Joanne Pettit riding Not Just a Pistol, a fancy black gelding by Custom Pistol that she purchased from All Star Performance Horses earlier in the year.
2008 has been a very successful and fun year for the RHANW. In spite of record high fuel costs, the total number of entries increased by 22% over 2007. Total cash paid out was $25,600, a 28% increase over the previous year. Show participants enjoyed extracurricular activities including wine tasting, dog races, limbo contest, chicken dances and a Hawaiian Luau with a hotly contested Boots and Bermudas Contest. There is no question that the RHANW’s mission of promoting the sport of reining while having fun has been accomplished!
But it’s not all fun and games. There is also some tough competition at the RHANW shows, as was proven at the Northwest Regional Affiliate Finals for the National Reining Horse Association. The RHANW was well represented with the following members earning the right to travel on to the North American Affiliate Championships which will be held November 27 – December 6, 2008, in conjunction with the National Reining Horse Association Futurity in Oklahoma City:
Lindsey Bernbaum & Espresolina – Youth 14-18, Non Pro, Intermediate Non Pro, Limited Non Pro, and Novice Horse Non Pro
Andriana Christensen & Sweet Nu Melody -- Youth 14 & Under
Inger Helsen & Peppy San Elan – Limited Open
Debbie McKinlay & Hollywood Sequoia – Rookie and Intermediate Non Pro
Scott Seeklander & Jeweld Dualin Pistol – Open
RHANW members and sponsors enjoyed another great party in October at the Year End Awards Banquet. John Harris, DVM, showed that in addition to being an excellent equine veterinarian, he is also a great cook, serving up a feast of steak, crab and cedar planked salmon. Year End Champions received beautiful Gist buckles, Reserve Champions received monogrammed fleece coolers, 3rd place winners received monogrammed halter and lead ropes and 4th place winners received Classic Equine leg wraps.
Trina Olson was chosen to receive the 2008 Terry Thom Most Improved Rider Award. There were a number of very deserving people nominated for the award this year, but Trina stood out as someone who has worked extremely hard at improving her horsemanship
skills and showed steady improvement throughout the year. Congratulations, Trina!
The first official RHANW event in 2009 will be a Todd Martin Clinic to be held on April 4-5. Tentative show dates for 2009 are May 8-10, June 12-14, and July 17-19, and September 18-20 at the Grant County Fairgrounds in Moses Lake, Washington. Information about the RHANW is available at www.rhanw.com.
