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July 26, 2009

The Parade Of Regions Shows AHYA On The Loose

The game hunter and her elephant prepare for the Parade of Regions

The first full day of classes at Youth Nationals is always Sunday. All three of the major rings at Expo New Mexico were humming by 7:30 a.m., and the aisle and street traffic, consisting of horses, kids, grooms, and golf carts was formidable. Six sections of UPHA Challenge Cup competitors crowded the warm-up area early at Tingley Coliseum. The Challenge Cup is a very prestigious competition and an important win for young equitation riders. Faces were darkly serious and mothers and trainers were everywhere touching up, polishing and earnestly coaching. Nearly as many sectionals of Showmanship crowded the Horse Arena, while the Dairy Barn hosted the Trail and the first national championship finals of this year's show.

A circus Master and her animals

AHYA On the Loose theme instigated a lot of monkeys!

Among the first rose garland recipients in the Trail was 17-year-old multi-national champion Serannada+// and Sean Robinson, winners in the JTR 14-17. A grand, old campaigner, Serannada+// nearly swept the purebred division in Youth Trail last year. This year she won three, and each with a different young man in the irons.

After a rather long afternoon of Western Pleasure in the Horse Arena and Hunter Pleasure in Tingley, the mood lightened considerably with the arrival of the priceless lead line open class (every one a winner), and following that, the Parade of Regions. Every year on Sunday, the golf carts mysteriously morph into fancy floats for the annual parade. This year's theme, On The Loose, encouraged flights of imagination that included the circus, wild animals, the jungle and exotic, far away places. Perhaps the grandest float was a life size elephant, and the Circus wagon was wonderful as well, complete with multiple animals and Ringmaster. There were clever costumes - tigers, elephants - a terrific gorilla, and yes, even a two-man horse.

Members of Region 15 enter the contest arena with smiles

Region 15

There were only a few finals on Sunday, but they were very competitive and exciting. The Half-Arabian Ladies Side Saddle English 17 & Under was particularly elegant and had a unanimous winner in Whole Lotta Love+// and Abby Meredith. Tomorrow, look for more of the same, with Dressage, reining and Native Costume added in to "kick it up" a notch.