The crisp morning air quickly gave way to a beautiful Indian Summer day, setting the stage for a full day of activity. This year’s show celebrated the hard-earned skills accumulated over the past ten months. All 41 riders participated in two classes each: a flat class to demonstrate horsemanship basics, and a second class, either an obstacle course or an independent canter or jumping course, to highlight their advanced abilities.
We absolutely love it when a rider’s competitive side emerges, and sometimes, even we are surprised when that fierce spirit comes out for the very first time! These moments of breakthrough effort and determination are what brought forth the pure joy and proud tears felt by staff, volunteers, and, often to their shock, the parents! Special thanks go to our Judge, Jen Conway Backshall, who dedicated her entire day to carefully observing each competitor and handing out 10 champion and reserve champion ribbons.
Our hard-working volunteers fueled up for the long day with a generous breakfast spread, donated by the Glaser Family. The fun continued at the Family Fun Day activity table, where guests enjoyed fake tattoos, stickers, and pumpkin crafts. Once the char-broiled scents of hot dogs and hamburgers wafted through the air, people quickly put in their orders with the grill chefs!
A major highlight of the day was the collection of super adorable painted pumpkins. Created by our Board President, Karen Mikita-Kaufhold, these little cuties represented each of our dedicated herd members, complete with halters and name tags. Priced at a reasonable $15, these works of art were snapped up faster than you could say "peppermints!"
When the dust settled and the final contributions were tallied, over $16,000 was raised by 41 riders, 24 sponsors, and numerous donors! The rider who generated the most support for Mane Stream was Michael Roberts, representing the Camper Division. Thank you, Michael, for rallying such tremendous support for your sport!
Additional gratitude is extended to our talented photographers: Jordan McLellan of JLMC Photography, Wolfy, and Brian Greenspan, who expertly captured both the competitive action and the shared joy throughout the day. Finally, the charming Pumpkin Patch Photo Booth, set up by Jeanne Rogalin and her daughter Meg, son-in-law Connor, and granddaughter Nora, provided participants, their horses, and families with the perfect chance to capture memorable moments together.
And finally, a HUGE thank you to our dedicated volunteers who either came in for that really large early morning class or stayed the whole day. Y’all rock!
Please take a peek at a few of the pics!
