By Rebekah Crill
By the time you read this, we will probably be enjoying the August weather in Hollister at the State Championship Show. But we will always remember our June Hat Show at the Graham Hill Showgrounds. What a special weekend and lots of awesome people came out to join us. Our potluck was a big success and the card games around the lantern were a big hit with the kids. "The
Night Riders" took a trail ride at 8pm on Saturday night getting back at 9:30pm with their flashlight. Anybody needing horses that see in the dark, check with the Crills, Pralys or the Castagnettos. People needing the comfort of home (or at least getting out of the dirt) enjoyed relaxing in
the Azalone's palace on wheels. The next time we camp there, maybe there'll be showers! We tried to convince the construction workers to install them early, but they said something about needing walls first!!
A special welcome to first time District 9 riders: Kathleen and Kaylee Azalone (daughter and granddaughter of our own board member Paulette), Brigette Bernhardt, and Mari Ricker. It was fun to see the pony, Sunshine, carrying around another first time D9 rider, Erika Kindred (another
granddaughter of Paulette). Thanks Paulette and Kathleen for making it a family affair and sharing your horses! We've got lots of riders - we just need more horses!!! A big thank you to all the parents and friends who joined us. John Ricker who brought out Brigette and Mari, Paulette's clan
(too many to mention and I'd probably forget someone) and Alan (all the way from Tennesee on his yellow ve-hi-cle).
Our next show will be out Annual Buckle Show on August 25 & 26th at Graham Hill Showgrounds! We have great three piece buckles from Montana Silversmith - absolutely beautiful - look for pics on the website. (If you know someone/some business that would like to sponsor these buckles, please let
Rebekah know asap!)
A note from show management: Please, please, please get your show signup forms in before 9:15. We really need to get these shows started on time. There were several riders ready to ride at 9:30 who had to wait. Respect for them dictates we need to be ready to go earlier. Remember, we have all our
signup forms online as well as a option that allows you to pay for your shows online as well. It only takes a few minutes and would help greatly saving time on show day. If you sign up and pay online, we'll give you five free raffle tickets!
Thanks to Gary and MerryLee Watrous (Head and Home Hats - headnhome.com) for our great high point hats. We're just sorry you couldn't be there to present them - hope your vacation/send off for Heather to Sweden was heavenly.
Thanks to all our riders' support, District 9 was able to purchase nice leather cell phone holders for reserve high point. Our high points and reserves are:
AAA High Point (by a hair) went to Bonnie Sullivan
AA High Point went to Rachel Crill, AA Reserve went to Rebekah Crill with Marietta Sullivan a close third,
With 89 points each, A High Point went to Caitlyn Sullivan (who had the most firsts) and reserve to Chris Rice.
FC 11 and over's hat went to Marina Middione with Rebecca Carroll taking home the reserve.
A long-awaited High Point Hat went to Sara Castagnetto for the FC 10 & Under Division (Yes mom, she looks better in the brown one) and Rory McCuiston walked away with the Reserve cell phone holder in only her third show!
District 9 would just like to thank all the fathers who came out and spent their Father's Day under the sun enjoying it with us. Special Cheers to those men who hopped on and enjoyed their Man Event ride!
After our show was totally over, we threw up a Poles I event just for dads. How spectacular! Most of these men had limited experience on horses and relied heavily on trust and faith.( AND that their ladies/children would pick a horse that understood all that while carrying our courageous men
through the course in style!) Can I just say our patient and gracious horses are super savvy? They made the men look like they've been riding for years! The event was overseen by our kids who took turns being Strict judges and Enthusiastic announcers. What fun!
Our Teams!. Team Pepe' le Pew (Sebastien Praly on Pepe' - 26.641), Team Mad Max (Bob Mize on Max - 43.635), Team Prince Charming (Mark Crill on Charm - 20.171), Team Happy Buffalo Bill Jack (Bill Sagerty on Jack - 33.898), Team Yellow Bike Zeb (Alan on Sebastien - 50.696), Team Pepe' Racing Randy (Randy Shupe on Pepe' - 27.704), Team Emmy Quentin Cop (Quentin on Emmy - 43.208) Yes - Mark Crill walked/rode away with a genuine horsehair lead rope donated
by RU Horse (Marsha Rugg) and all dads received ice cream and a D9 ribbon to commemorate their Father's Day.
Several Redwood Riders attended District 1's Aloha Saddle Show in late June. What fun! If any of you feel the need for more shows than D9 is offering, District 1(Bay Area Time Busters) is only 70 minutes away from Boulder Creek with a great venue and lots of nice people. District 8 (Tri-County Riders)
is also one of our closest neighbor districts running at Royal Oaks arena as well as the Salinas Possee Grounds. Check out their websites for show dates.
We are looking forward to the State Show Championships at the end of July. Redwood Riders will be well-represented this year: Our riders will be Robin Brandon, Sara Castagnetto, Rachel Crill (CGA State Princess three years running - always a princess, never a queen), Rebekah Crill, Kaitlyn Praly,
Marietta, Bonnie and Caitlyn Sullivan and of course all the support staff (the parents and siblings). Several D9 members will be coming down to help run our Big T event on Monday, July 30th with District 10. We are looking forward to meeting lots of new gymkhana friends.
Ride Safe!