Great American Trail Horse Festival
ACTHA Monthly | 20
"To say that being the facility for the Great American Trail Horse Festival was an extreme honor, would be one of the biggest understatements, ever. David and I had been on a super-fast paced rate of trying to get everything built and complete before the event; such as the last horse stall barn, installing the last ten electric sites, graveling roads and campsites, roofing the large barn, trimming trails, purchasing bedding, and the collection of additional panels for primitive campers. Calling almost every participant in the last two days before the event to finalize their lodging needs really helped us speed up check-ins.
with pride as people truly appreciated what we had built in a little over a year. We are so recharged and motivated to see how much more we can get built and improved upon if we are able to host the Great American Trail Horse Festival in 2016. This ranch has been in David’s family for 109 years. The overwhelming feeling that people want us to succeed was present amongst the competitors and clinicians. To see Guy McLean’s and John Lyon’s horses in a stall that we had built with the posts from our ranch was a humbling experience.
Knowing that competitors came from 20 states and clinicians came from 3 countries to our facility is still hard to believe. To not sound sappy, but this entire experience makes us believe in the American dream and the power of work ethic. So many people worked to make this event a huge success. We are extremely thankful to ACTHA, competitors, spectators, judges, volunteers, clinicians, and their trusty steads ridden at the Great American Trail Horse Festival.
David and Brandy Von Holten
Von Holten Ranch, LLC
Mora, MO
This ranch has been in David’s family for 109 years. The overwhelming feeling that people want us to succeed was present amongst the competitors and clinicians. To see Guy McLean’s and John Lyon’s horses in a stall that we had built with the posts from our ranch was a humbling experience.
Knowing that competitors came from 20 states and clinicians came from 3 countries to our facility is still hard to believe. To not sound sappy, but this entire experience makes us believe in the American dream and the power of work ethic. So many people worked to make this event a huge success. We are extremely thankful to ACTHA, competitors, spectators, judges, volunteers, clinicians, and their trusty steads ridden at the Great American Trail Horse Festival."
David & Brandy Von Holten
The Event Hosts
With Clinician Michael Lyons
Colleen Kelly, who teaches Equine Bio-Mechanics,
contributed to the festival with valuable instruction
Rein Photography