Though it took a bit on convincing a few of the clients, I think they look back now and agree that going to the Seven Day Run in Des Moines was a very good decision. We kind of needed a show to get things back on track, and boy oh boy did this one deliver! Never mind the fact that it was huge numbers in almost all of our classes, we had a great new facility and overly nice people surrounding us every day. The running for Top Horse and Top Rider of the show was tighter than ever, but in the end Clearly A Goodbar and his rider Tom Clopp rose to the top of the list. Congratulations Tom on a great show!

So that I do not forget anyone I am just going to work down the row of stalls at the show with everyone’s accomplishments. Darlene Schwab and her horse I am Dressed Western (Lenny) came into this show as prepared as ever. I have to say how proud I have been of Darlene in her performances the past few weeks as she just keeps getting stronger and stronger. She was dominating in the horsemanship and started laying down superb showmanship patterns on a routine basis. Though we had a rough start in the trail, by the end of the show Darlene returned to her usual self; blazing a trail over those poles that few could follow! If Darlene continues to ride as strong as she did the past few weeks, I feel sorry for any and all selects that stand in her way come fall.

Mayers Lindley and her horse Its Amazing, aka Yogi, had a personal record breaking horse show in that she showed up to party on not only day 1, but day 2,3,4,and 5 as well. We had only one rough spot the last day, but I think that even drill sergeant Robin can overlook that one when compared with the rest of her outing. Mayers left all other youth in the dust the first horsemanship day winning first place under both judges. Though she did not dominate this strongly on the second day, she did earn strong praising from both Jenny and I as that may have been the rider I have been looking for all along. Mayers had total control of both herself and Yogi, and truly rode her horse every step of the class. Watch out AQHYA when this kid arrives in Oklahoma.

As stated earlier, Tom Clopp and Jackson performed above and beyond this past week. Run fast, slow down, flying lead change, side pass, back around a cone; they had it all! Tom earned several points in both showmanship and horsemanship in very tough competition. The judges may have overlooked him a few times, but with consistent outings like this, they will not be able to do so for very long. (Maybe that cool Iowa air did something to him, either that, or the meatballs at The Latin King!)

Love Child and the Shaggymeister had a bit of a rough start to the week. First our super horse pulled a front show, delaying competition for a few days until Tom Hanson arrived, then, our Art and Design major pulled some muscles in her back laying her up for a few days. (It may have been having to pull on Shaggy while lunging, or perhaps the super soft beds at the Value Place where we stayed, who knows) Sadly for everyone else in her classes, she did return laying down her usual killer horsemanship pattern, and winning both cards of the trail on the final day. Oh and did I mention that Lauren brought us down the home stretch in the Open Western Riding, winning the circuit in that. Great job as usual Lauren and Shaggy!

On to our former novice turned 14-18. Shyanne Smith and Impulsability, otherwise known as Bam Bam, came out of the shoots firing on all cylinders this week. Every single time they entered the arena was with complete focus on the job at hand. Shy did a little horsemanship and showmanship butt whoopin of her own winning each class during the show. This team is novice no more let me tell you! Congrats Shyanne and Bam on a job well done. See all the hard work, and circle probation is starting to pay off.

Sharese Rivait! Do we need to say anymore? Talk about a powerhouse in the 13 and under. She and her horse, Show your Invitation, won the circuit in the Performance Geldings and 13 and under Horsemanship. Added to that, she was the Reserve All- Around Youth matched up against the older kids. Quite an accomplishment if you ask me! Everyone thinks that super horse Ross is so easy, but Sharese and I know different. We are so proud of the strong rider that you are becoming, and look forward to your bright future!

Rob Rivait, former title earner “Rider of the Show”, proved to Iowa that hard work and dedication can make you reach the top. As always Rob is a force to be reckoned with in the showmanship, and the trail is not far from it! His horse, Oliver, had a bit of a rough time up north with a swollen suspensory, so with that we were not able to work him very hard before showing. Fresh or not Rob has learned to sit quiet and guide Oliver through tough novice and amateur trail classes placing in the top grouping every day.

Jasmyn Rivait also showed Classical Version, aka Oliver, in the showmanship, equitation, trail and horsemanship. She too had to deal with Oliver being a bit more lively than normal due to not being worked as hard, but managed to lay out some killer patterns. By the last day of competition Jasmyn was rider at the top of her form and ready to lay it on all the 14-18 riders, unfortunately we had to side with taking care of our horse and sit the horsemanship out. Watch out in Pennsylvania though because this young lady will have something to prove.

Oh showmanship queen, showmanship queen, where are you? I am right here answers Leena Volmer! Talk about lighting a fire in her feet, Leena and Bosco destroyed all comers in her dominating performances. Leena sat out the Hunter Under Saddle classes in Iowa to set her focus on Showmanship and wow did it pay off! With Bosco going to rest his legs for the remainder of the summer, Leena finished in complete style.

Tina Volmer and her horse, Take the Last Luke, also have the right to be crowned showmanship superstars winning the circuit in the amateur class. Still considered a young man in many of the classes, Kermit is really starting to come into his own as an outstanding all around horse. Tiina sat out the trail at this horse show to save her horse for the other classes. A good decision I think as Kermit’s performances as getting very solid and steady every time he enters the show pen.

Last but certainly not least was new team Paige Wacker and her horse, Travelers Invitation. Iowa marked her second show with us, and we are extremely excited about this talented new team. Though Paige has shown many years in the halter and showmanship, she has very little experience in the remainder of the all-around events. Though a rookie, so to say, Paige won 4 out of the 6 horsemanship cards, and stayed right at the top of the equitation class. Just think what might be possible with a few years’ experience under her belt!

Thank you so much to the Iowa Quarter Horse group for putting on a great event. We will definitely be returning next year.