A few months back I agreed to join the fun with ACTHA's Great America Trail Horse Festival in Mora, Missouri. This being the first event of its kind promised a great occasion that I did not want to miss. With much anticipation I prepared for this event since Obstacle events are one of my specialties and I must admit, I wanted to be part of this fiesta. Since I love to create obstacles, I talked to Robin about bringing some with me all the way from Pennsylvania. We were able to incorporate the yellow brick road; vine simulator and my version of don’t feed the bears in either the AOC or my clinic. My husband was very happy we were able to sell some of the obstacles so we didn’t have to transport them back to PA.
With this event being the first of its kind no one really knew what to expect. Festival hosts Van Holten Ranch were hurriedly working to get their ranch in shape to have the biggest event of their history. Everyone at ACTHA was coordinating, emailing, bustling about to get the details in order with sponsors, vendors, clinicians, multitudes of things we can’t even begin to fathom.
Horse lovers joined with a kindred spirit came from across the USA and Canada to be part of the Festival. The special thing about this event is that people brought their own horse, no matter level of rider or discipline. Many stepped up their horsemanship and riding ability, some gained a better understanding of how to approach and conquer new obstacles. One thing for sure, if you didn’t have fun, you weren’t there!
Thursday evening the rain came and watered the arena and gave us a spectacular double rainbow that you could see from end to end. A fitting way to start an event with the theme “Wizard of Oz”, you could almost hear Dorothy singing somewhere over the rainbow.. The rest of the weekend was picture perfect, sunny but cool fall Missouri weather.
It was an amazing gathering of clinician’s teaching different riding styles and approaches to horses, the variety gave everyone a taste to sample. As an old proverb goes, “There is nothing new under the sun”. There are many methods and techniques all for the love of a horse, find one that works for YOU!
Life is an Adventure, Saddle up and Ride!By Evon Montgomery
Evon Montgomery has developed a riding system for all levels of riders called Horses 1, 2, 3 Riding System. She also gives clinics and hosts events, develops, tests and sells horse and human gear.
Learn more at www.horses-123.com
ACTHA Monthly | 42
Rein Photography