Before I get started on today’s newsletter, I just wanted to give a big apology to Janie Strang. Her picture in the last CGA newsletter was titled incorrectly. The picture was of Janie on her horse Gettysburg, not Mary Sullivan-White who actually rides with District 8. So sorry, Janie! We’re glad to have you as part of District 9 and hope to see more pictures of you soon! Remember riders, you can download your pictures at http://www.flickr.com/photos/26257970@N02/. Contact Rebekah for the password.
Many of our riders were down to the last few rides they needed to qualify for their CGA State Awards and we were glad to accomodate their event requests at our July 20th show.. Congratulations to Deanna Lacy, Julia Lacy, Amanda McDonald, Sara Castagnetto, Rebekah Crill, Katelyn Praly, Robin Brandon, Chris Rice, and Janie Strang. All these riders signed up for and earned (at least according to my records) their CGA Year End Awards! Plan on coming to the CGA Convention in November to get your stuff, guys!
Now is the time to sign up for the CGA State Year End Awards for 08-09 in order for all your shows this year to count. CGA only will take shows that fall within 60 days retroactive of your signup date. Make sure you understand the difference between Level One and Level Two before you sign up. Ask a board member for clarification so you understand how many shows are involved.
Now, on to the show! July 20th could have been a scorcher, but someone up there was looking down on us with grace again. God provided premium weather for both our June and July shows and nobody went home with heat stroke. It was fun to see our regular riders back, and especially fun to see our newbies come again. Congratulations on your jackpot win, Becky. We heard you got a new western saddle. We’re looking forward to seeing it at our August show! And a blast from the past, Ellen Gonzales rode Wonder Boy with us again. Wonder Boy decided he needed a refresher course on some of those events, but after a few runs, Ellen got him dialed in and enjoyed the day (hopefully?)
We took a little break at lunchtime (Thanks Jan for the pizzas) and celebrated Jim Lafferty’s 90th birthday. Yes, we ate the cake first!! Happy Birthday again, Jim. We’ll celebrate 91 years next August!!
Thanks to Katelyn for schooling Ivory. I think Ayla will be off that leadline really soon thanks to you. Speaking of schoolings. I think we broke some kind of record with the number of schoolings we had at this show. Our riders who were headed for State Show took advantage of the small turnout and schooled almost every event. Some even did them twice!!! Those schoolings must have paid off, because everyone did an awesome job at the State Show. (More about that later.)
Leilani showed up on a new horse (although I heard it is really her dad’s horse??) that she had only for four days before the show. Wyatt turned out to be a jewel for her (although she seems really far off the ground!!). Congratulations Leilani. Welcome back! And Katelyn? Rusty seemed extra fast this month. What are you feeding him? Amanda is also turning up the heat and really coming together with Prince. And Kaylee looks more confident every show! Kudos to all our riders who are improving so much. Keshia, it was nice to see you too, even though we missed your neighbors, the Ruggs. In fact, a lot of our regulars were absent and we hope you’re all back for the buckle show on August 30 & 31st.
High Points (Camp chairs embroidered with divisions) went to:
AAA Horse: Rachel Crill
AA Horse: Robin Brandon, Reserve: Rebekah Crill
A Horse: Sue Duggan, Reserve: Deanna Lacy
FC Horse 11/over: Julia Lacy, Reserve: Becky Rosen
FC Horse 10/under: Amanda McDonald, Reserve: Leilani Mize
Open Pony: Katelyn Praly, Reserve: Kaylee Anzalone
Now for the State Show Update: Redwood Riders attending State Show were: Robin Brandon, Sara Castagnetto, Rachel Crill (2008 State Princess), Rebekah Crill, Bonnie Sullivan, Caitlyn Sullivan, and Marietta Sullivan. And what a gang that was! On the first day, five of our group won buckles and by the end of the week, some had two or three buckles! (Buckles are given out for a first place ride.) Sara, Rachel and Marietta made it into the novice Match Races for Poles 1 and Sara made Novice Match Races for Speed Barrels too! Just a little pressure!
Pretty good for the little district from the backwoods of Boulder Creek! Congratulations to Rebekah (that would be me) for placing third overall in the High Point standings in her AA age division. (I got to ride with the old people!! It was so cool!). Not all was hunky dory, however. Sara was in the lead for the high point saddle on Wednesday. On Thursday, her horse, Chief fell and was broke a splint bone in one of his front legs. He has already had surgery and is on the mend, hopefully to run again by January. Keep him and Sara in your prayers! On Sunday (day one), Rachel’s horse, Charm, stepped on a construction nail out on the track and drove it up into the live tissue of her foot. Unfortunately, that knocked Rachel out for the rest of the show, but she was brave and went around helping others in between caring for her horse. On a brighter note, the Sullivans’ horses stayed sound all week! Hooray!
Thanks to Natalie Harnett and Sue Duggan for coming out to help on Tuesday when we ran the Speed Barrels event. And of course, thanks to Christina Castagnetto for announcing. (You haven’t announced nothin’ ‘til you’ve announced at the state show with five arenas going at the same time!!). Jan worked the gate for a little while and everyone pitched in to help in the arena at one time or another. We camped with two families from District 45 (you may remember the Hamblys who came to our Hat Show in June.) Both those families took home Reserve High Points in their respective divisions! It’s nice to know celebrities! I hope you all start planning now to come to State Show next year to ride. It’s an experience not to be missed!
Come on out for our remaining shows this year. Aug 30 & 31 -BUCKLE SHOW!, September 28th and October 25 (Sat). For those of you wanting to run gymkhana this winter, join us for some traveling as we try to visit neighboring districts 1, 8, and maybe even a visit up to Novato or Sonora to ride with our State Show friends.