Lexington, Va:  The Region III 30th anniversary show went off without a hitch.  Held the weekend of August 27 at the Virginia Horse Center, there was something for everyone.  There were in-hand classes, flat classes, jumping classes, dressage including a 6-person quadrille and a pas-de-deux, short stirrup, long stirrup, trail, Mountain and Moorland, a costume class, and the great egg and spoon challenge. 

On Saturday evening there was also a dinner at which everyone reminisced about the last 30 years.  It was all very grand!!

The Balmullo Farm Quadrille, coached by Alexandra Duckworth and consisting of riders aged 8-13, gave their usual flawless performance, earning an 81% from the dressage judge and winning their class.  In the costume class EVERYONE was a winner.  We had The Donald and his elephant, Hillary and her donkey, a large (pony-sized!) poodle being ridden by a poodle-skirted rider, two unicorns, a huntsman and her killer hunting dog, a mai-tai drink (who thinks of these things?), a flower fairy,  and other delightful sights.  The egg and spoon challenge had to be decided by a jump-off and was won by Lulu Malinoski and Valencia Dralium.  Their egg stayed on the spoon a full yard farther from the jump than the second placed rider’s.

   

Thurman Silach (Rattle-n-Snap Laddie Boy X Thurman Keepsake) was pronounced the Best Connemara of the Day in the Purebred In-Hand Division.  Ridgetop Hollis was the Best Half-Bred.  A yearling filly bred by Susan McConnell was the best of the youngstock.  Full results will be in the American Connemara.

   

All in all it was a fabulous weekend, with everyone hoping for 30 more.