Macella's Corner The North is Catching Up!!!
T
attend so many nice shows in Northern California and stay close to home. The new Sonoma Horse Park show facility, with
he changes in Northern California are happen- ing fast. This year it's been a joy to be able to
Ashley Herman as its energetic promoter and Sally Hudson on board as the seasoned show manager, is an example of what's happening. The location is not only convenient but also tradi- tionally cool during what can be the heat of summer. As is always the case with inaugural events the very first show had some glitches, but the improvements were dramatic just three weeks later when we attend- ed their second show. One of my favorite things about Ashley's approach
is her determination to involve the local community. There was a fantastic farmer's market, complete with artisans, and she procured an extensive list of spon- sorships from local businesses. That, coupled with promoting the show locally to attract spectators, and the show benefiting several charities, added a new di- mension. I have long felt that our sport desperately needs more of this type of promotion if we are to have any hope of expanding in the future, or in these current economic circumstances even surviving. Another show that was new for my barn this year
was Peggy Fackrell's Beach Party show that she moved to Brookside this year. Hard to describe the amount of effort that went into creating a beach party "ambience", from the whimsical prizes to the plentiful decorations. It was fun to show in Hawaiian shirts and I'm pretty sure everyone there had fun. We recently finished at the Woodside Summer Cir-
cuit which is always a big favorite with my barn. The actual facility is a gem. The opportunity to ride our horses out on the big cross country course is abso- lutely fantastic, and I have never been able to do any- thing like it except at the Kentucky Horse Park. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure my Grand Prix horse was just plain tuckered by the end of Saturday night's $20,000 class because I spent too much time during the week having fun galloping him around the field! We are also going to be heading up to one of
Timmy Postel's shows, relocated from the traditional Pebble Beach show grounds to Murrieta Equestrian Center. I realize I am in a very elite group (of perhaps only one?) in disliking the dreary cold grey fog of Pebble Beach, as well as the inaccessibility. But I'm super happy to be headed to Murrieta where I have many fond childhood memories of summer shows that ended with all of us in the river under the bridge right down the road from the show. I hope to get to do that again this year, and I'm looking forward to see- ing the many improvements that I hear have been made for this new summer circuit. On another note, it's a
great source of joy to me to have several months go by with-out having to traverse the state on what we have come to think of as "de- struction ally" (and for all of you who drive horses up and down pothole ridden Hwy 5 no further explanation is needed). I am content and thrilled at the same time to be able to stay close to home at this glorious time of year. So thanks to all the show
and facility managers for making it possible!
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