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Added 06/19/06:  Mother’s Day Weekend at The All Gaited Horse Show in Elk Grove.

It was a real challenge to be ready due to the impossible weather.  Spring 2006 brought so much rain and riding was hit and miss.  The only solace was that it affected most all the competition too!!!

Holly from Carmel & Melissa from Oakdale both had never even SEEN a gaited horse show.  They came on faith in their horses and in themselves. 

For some reason the weather did a complete flip flop that weekend and it was so hot our show clothes put us into a drenching sweat. 

Both ladies did a great job and will quickly testify that showing is definitely more work than they imagined….but IT WAS WORTH IT!  The hosting club, PCFTA, was so friendly & supportive.  Many are old friends from back when Fran owned a foxtrotter and competed against them.  

Holly rode her mare Lawson’s Kiwi. Melissa rode her gelding, Thunder Jordan and Fran rode a mare Blue Moon Jordan and gelding Spectator Sport. 

 Although many blues were brought to our barn, most likely the best ribbon of all was the white won by Holly and Kiwi.  She entered an OPEN natural horsemanship class.  It was a very large class.  Holly rode with bareback pad and halter.  Being both novice and amateur to the show ring she had NO CLUE as to what she would need to do.  Taking 5^th was testimony to the whole idea of why own and ride a mountain horse.  

 Melissa did a fantastic job with her new horse Thunder.  Once she gets a few more miles under her belt she will be tough competition on the trail or in the show ring.