Horses, Of Course

 

Laurie and Roxzene (left) had a great weekend of showing their horses in Western dressage classes. 

The two longtime friends had the opportunity to show in a gorgeous setting with beautiful facilities, and did  they ever bring home the loot! 

Top Five ribbons, plaques, gift certificates, reserve championships and a couple of championships made for a happy but long trip home from Devon Wood Equestrian Center in the Portland area.

We rolled into Colburn around 9:45 last night, and I had no problem getting to sleep once I came home to welcoming dogs and a welcoming husband. 

Getting to take four days off from my usual routine to attend the horse show was a great experience for a longtime horse and people lover.

  Also, this morning, I saw the history notes below, which added even more perspective to a horse-filled weekend. 

I accompanied that judging team to Dallas where they competed in the National Youth Horse Congress judging contest. 

Four years later, I coached a team which included my sisters, Laurie and Barbara, Kim Lewis Cox and Janice Wood Schoonover. This time we went to Albuquerque for horse judging at the Arabian Nationals. 

 Laurie's first national competition as an equestrian involved an Arabian gelding named Rishmah given to her by Ardis Racicot who is named in English riding lessons history snippet. 

Laurie won a Top Ten in Show Hack on "Richie" at the Arabian Nationals in 1987.

And, so a fun-filled weekend has ended but not the good memories of new friends, gorgeous horses and exquisite horse-show competition. 

 

 

Sandpoint News-Bulletin

Aug. 6, 1973 – 4-H YOUTH TO DALLAS

Members of the 4-H horse judging team who will compete in the week-long National Horse Judging contest in Dallas, Texas are Dan Lund, Jane Lund, Linda Woolsey, and Cathy Russell. The group earned second place in state competition in July. 

Dan Lund and Miss Russell are members of the Gold ‘n Grouse 4-H Club; Miss Woolsey and Miss Lund are members of the Pack River Saddlemates.

•••

FREE ENGLISH RIDING LESSONS

For five years, two local horsewomen, Veldonna Osborn and Ardis Racicot, have given free English riding lessons Wednesday evenings at the Racicot arena [on N. Boyer] from the time school closes in the spring until early August. 

Their only requirement is that students “can remain on top of a horse.”

Laurie riding Pache and Roxzene riding Eddie in yesterday's Western dressage Regional competition.

 

Linda's horse was stabled next door to Roxzene and Laurie's. 

Linda and her buddy had a good show too. 

She's a retired history teacher, while her gelding is a rescue horse which has done very well for himself. 

I spent the weekend trying to refine my pronunciation of this young man's first name. 

He's Adonay, and he's originally from El Salvador.

He gave me a thumbs up a couple of times when I did my best to say his name properly.  

Each time I visited with Adonay, I became more impressed with his inherent curiosity for information and understanding. 

It's easy to see the wheels in motion as Adonay, a very thoughtful, introspective and soft-spoken young man, listens and processes new knowledge. 

Adonay helped horse owners from the Tri-Cities, with leading, washing, feeding, etc. 

He told me he wants to work with horses and he wants to fly. 

I have no doubt that he'll find his niche in both, along with a lot of other lifetime disciplines.

Hoping to stay in touch with him. 

 

Denise, a member of the Emerald Empire Arabian Club from Deer Park, worked long hours as show secretary.

 

Since this whole post is devoted to horses, I would be remiss in not honoring my beloved buddy Ravenwood CB Strong aka CB.  

He's 6 years old today.

Now that Laurie has finished her dressage competition, she has agreed to spend some time giving him a week's worth of warm-up riding, probably introducing him to Western dressage.   

The experience of walking the beautifully laid-out grounds at Devon Wood Equestrian Center was reward enough for making the long trip to attend  the show. 

The place has a definite touch of sophistication and a calm and inviting sense of serenity.

Now, back here at the Lovestead the serenity will come once I make up for lost time in the garden and the yard.  

Plenty of lawn mowing and picking garden goodies lies ahead. 

Happy Monday.