Cedar Rapids Spooktacular

Grace Rynaski and her horse “ManRay” won their very first class ever in competition in Cedar Rapids in Nov. 2010, her dad, Todd won his first time in the ring showing ManRay in halter.  Congratulations to you both!

Kansas City Royal

Big Congratulations go to Taylor McDermott, on her first Class A show, with “Pete”. They showed at the fun filled American Royal Arabian Horse Show, in Kansas City, on Sept. 25 – 27. What a team they were as they entered into their first class and did so well, they came out with a first place ribbon. Oh, what joy!!!  Everyone was asking who they were and commenting on how nice they looked together, and what a good rider she was, and on and on.  Taylor deserved every bit of the praise. And so did Pete. He did so well, and has shown a lot more maturity, and displayed how much he likes and trusts Taylor. It was so fun to see it all happen. She did really well in the rest of their classes. It was a great show for them and us.

 Sylvia Rogan did her usual showing for success. She had to ride in front of Judge Larry Hoffman, whom we know pretty well, from showing for years with him and his team from Minnesota, at Region XI shows. He made Sylvia earn every point, which I was happy about, as he knew who she was and what she is capable of doing and didn’t cut her any slack. So she rode extremely well, for the last show of the season and finished her darling filly, Mauvro Daphne’s halter career, with much gratification. Sylvia and Daphne showed in halter for two years, Daphne as a yearling, and then as a two year old, and progressed in their technique very well. Even though Daphne is not really a refined halter horse, she was bred for performance, she learned a lot and became quite a nice lady in the ring. There’s been many a times when Sylvia did a lot of dirt skiing and big circle dancing with her. Oh. . . such memories! Daphne grew up even more on this past Saturday, and started her under saddle training with her buddy, Cowboy Bill. She will get just a few weeks of light training, on the ground work and bit work and introduced to the saddle, but no riding until next year. Go Bill!!!!

And then, to sing Sylvia’s praises even more, she buried her bad feelings for Showmanship (remember the flip she did in the Scottsdale ring with Carmella), and took Riston into the showring in  Showmanship in Kansas City. What an awesome job.  She truly is an all around horse woman, and a great example of being an overcomer. Go Sylvia!!!!!

Iowa Gold Star show HUGE success!!!

Labor Day Weekend was spent showing horses in one of the country’s largest futurity shows, in Des Moines, Iowa. Sylvia showed Daphne in halter, Merritt in Show Hack, Saddleseat Equitation, Country Pleasure; Riston in English Sidesaddle, Hunt Seat Equitation, Hunter Pleasure and Showmanship; Alexander in Western Sidesaddle, Western Horsemanship, Western Pleasure; Momentums Gold Gem “Gold” (our palomino, 4 year old stallion) in Western Pleasure Junior Horse; and Momentum NA (our black stallion) in Western Pleasure Junior To Ride, where she won the class, defeating Remington Magnum, a multinational champion stallion. Way to go Sylvia!!!!!!
So much fun and we are so proud of you for all your accomplishments.

Natasha Arritt and Sara Braymen rode their lovely geldings in many classes. Sara rode Gemmenekreweket in Saddleseat Equitation and Country Pleasure. She did a fine job and had a blast posing for beauty shots in the gorgeous park at the show grounds. That “look” and trot continues to refine. Keep it up Sara.

Tasha and FF Azzon were very competitive in Showmanship, Western Pleasure and Western Horsemanship. . Tasha and Azzon are really improving and are going to be serious contenders in next year’s shows.

Photo Credits:  Kris Arritt

2011 Scottsdale Arizona Arabian Horse Show

Reflections from Linda:

The show went well and we all had a good time. The Prairie Gem Team – Sylvia Rogan, Kerry McFadden and Shannon McFadden – all rode their best and all got placed in at least one class. Shannon and Kerry rode like two brave little girls, first time in big classes in an enormous arena, and with some of the best riders in the country. “So cute,” was the comment that many people said about the two of them. And the horses, Alexander and Sunny, were their usual “up to challenge” but actually did pretty well. They said they had so much fun.

Sylvia was in some of the biggest classes that I have ever seen, in the 12 years that I have been going to this show. She had 27 in her Country Pleasurre Championship class, 20 in her Show Hack Class with Kat, and 16 in the Show Hack with Merritt. Speaking of Merritt, he was great!! The horse with a big heart. He did well in the dressage, so pretty. And came in 8th in the show hack.
So much better than last year, and he worked so hard and really
looked good. Made me so proud of them both. Sylvia rode like the champ that she is and came in 4th in the Saddleseat Equitation Medal class, amid very tough competition. And then 6th in the UPHA. I might have that backwards, but something close to that. Very good riding, and decided that Kat will make a good Costume horse.

To make things even more fun, we were blessed with several of the Prairie Gem team who came out to cheer on the girls. Those who joined us were the Rynaski family, Grace, her brother Nate, Kelly and Todd, her parents, Kris and Tasha Arritt, Melissa and Sara Braymen,and Linda Maiefski, who intended to just “help” braid and warm up horses, but I put her really to work. There was just so much to do and we got those girls into all the classes.

In all, it was a great show. All the horses stayed healthy, traveled well,roads were wonderful and we had some sunny days and then rain, big time!