Equestrians Jump Over Weather At Weekend Show
Close to 50 riders from all over Saskatchewan as well as four riders from Manitoba competed in the third and final stage of the Moose Jaw Spring Hunter/Jumper Show Series was held on the Moose Jaw Exhibition grounds October 20 - October 23.
Initially slated to be held outside the event was moved indoors prior to its start to the Golden Mile Arena after the weather forecast called for snow and rain on the weekend.
Heartfelt Kiss - Eleven year old Emma Winter of Weyburn, Saskatchewan gives her horse Taco 2 Go while waiting to compete - MJ Independent photo
“Overall the weekend was great. The weather held out until Sunday which caused a few people to drop out a little early (and head home). And there are a few overnighters for another night,” Marci Perrin show secretary said.
About the move from the originally planned outdoor even to an indoor event Perrin said it was OK and without the option to move the event indoors the show would not have happened.
“Inside was alright we would have preferred to be outside but we still managed to run the show with 49 horses,” she said, adding “if we couldn’t have ran the show inside this weekend there wouldn’t have been a show.”
After suffering a fall in her first run a competitor came back and performed a clean run over the cross rails - MJ Independent photo
Although she was busy in the office and could not give an exact number Perrin said she understood there were numerous spectators on hand on Saturday to catch the action which is appreciated by organizers and participants.
The event ran at the same time as the Whistlestop Craft Sale and the event likely benefitted by people stopping in to watch the horses and riders compete.
A competitor prepares her horse for competition - MJ Independent photo
This is the first year that the entire three show series was held in its entirety and Perrin said organizers are happy with the results.
“Overall the series went good. We had lots of feedback and good feedback from everyone. We did an overall high point for the show. An overall high point senior and junior hunter/jumper as well as reserves.”
A brightly polished riding boot is discoloured by a light touch of mud as wet conditions existed outside the arena - MJ Independent photo
Asked if the first year was a success and if the turnout had met organizers expectations she said it did. The question was asked in light of most horse event groups and rodeos reporting lower competitor entries largely due to high fuel prices.
“It met my expectations. It also exceeded my expectations with this weekend’s show with the number of horses we did get…we managed to do pretty well with the prices of everything inflated.”
Plans now call for the series to be reviewed and then to come back for the second season bigger and better.