Nine riders and seven horses from the Moccasin Lake Ranch Equestrian Team traveled to Wenatchee last weekend to compete in the Appleatchee Riders Dressage Show, and brought home a host of ribbons for the effort.
Receiving high score awards were Sydney Schuler, 12, of Winthrop riding Sparks Fly, a Welsh/Welsh Cob owned by Methow Valley Riding Unlimited (MVRU); and McKenna Barnes, 17, of Twisp, riding Willy, a Haflinger owned by Cindy Mackie.
Sisters Willa and Daisy Hilton, ages 13 and 12, of Winthrop, both placed first in their dressage equitation classes.
Three riders also competed in the musical freestyle competition. In this competition, riders choose their own music, movements and choreography. Adele Hilton, 10, of Winthrop rode Sparks Fly to Star Wars themed music, while dressed as Darth Vader. Daisy Hilton, dressed as King Arthur, rode to a raucous song from Monty Python’s Spamalot on Buttons, a stout Percheron-Appaloosa cross also owned by MVRU. Jasmine Minbashian, 44, of Twisp, also rode Buttons to a “Happy” theme including songs by Pharrell Williams and Al Green.
Other competing riders included Tulie Budiselich, 19, of Twisp, on her Thoroughbred, Forest; Bob Levy, 62, of Winthrop, on his Irish Sporthorse, Paddy; and Gretta Scholz, 13, of Winthrop, on her pony, Twinkle.
“The weekend was jam packed with challenges, logistics, learning, hard work, good humor, triumphs and transformations,” said head coach Annie Budiselich. “Every rider pushed themselves and took their riding up a notch.”
The show has been an annual tradition for the team since 2001.
Dressage is a term that comes from the French word meaning “training” and its purpose is to develop the horse’s natural athletic ability and willingness to work. When the series of movements is performed well, there is an impression of the horse “dancing” with its rider.
The team will have an opportunity to hone dressage and jumping skills on Friday and Saturday (June 19 and 20) when instructor and coach Marg Clumpner of Ferndale, Washington, visits Moccasin Lake Ranch to teach a clinic. If you are interested in auditing the clinic, contact the ranch at 996-9881.
G A L L E R Y
Click any of the thumbnail sized images below to view photos in a gallery format.
Daisy Hilton, age 12, of Winthrop, had a successful weekend showing Buttons, an Appaloosa-Percheron cross owned by Methow Valley Riding Unlimited.
Daisy Hilton and Syd Schuler, both 12 of Winthrop, compete in a dressage suitability class where the horse is judged for its gaits.
Daisy Hilton, 12, Gretta Scholz, 13, and Sydney Schuler, 12, all of Winthrop, await the judge’s decision in the dressage equitation class.
McKenna Barnes, 17, of Twisp, relaxes after a successful ride on Willy, a Haflinger owned by Cindy Mackie.
Willa Hilton, 13, of Winthrop, braids the mane of Finesse, with help from coach Annie Budiselich of Twisp.
Gretta Scholz, 13, of Winthrop, braids her pony, Twinkle’s, mane for the show.
