Mariways Stable held a fundraiser for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital on Sunday, October 30th. Seventeen Mariways riders raised funds for St. Jude's, for a total of $3,637.00!!!

I am so, so proud of the kids and all that they accomplished. Katy Lark Young won the trophy for collecting the most, $655. Other overachievers were Abby Monteil, Angela Garza, and Rachel Seaman. All of the girls did an outstanding job: Kelcey Norton, Lily Mansfield, Jerrah Biggerstaff, Stephanie Arnold, Madyson Covell, Emily Payne, Taylor Phillips, Austyn Bruening, Meghana Lakkireiddy, Sophia Wald, Cheyenne Ward, Emma Griggs, and Lynn Martin. Thank you so much! You have helped to treat critically ill children!

The girls who raised funds participated in a variety of events, including bareback classes; a command class; a pocket pattern class; a costume class complete with a unicorn, a Hogwart's horse, a cowgirl, a pirate, a Rainbow Brite, and much more; some classes for kids who had never been in a horse show; a reverse leadline class, in which the rider lead a non-rider; and a stick horse class in which the kids used every broom and pitchfork in the barn!

Some friends of St. Jude's, including Michelle and Emma Wycoff, held a bake sale and sold t-shirts from Big Frog Custom T Shirts to raise additional funds for St. Jude's. There were yummy cupcakes from ACES of Cake; cake gems from Sugar Bling!; and coffee from Barista de Casa in Liberty, and so much more.

Thank you so so much to everyone who made this day such a great time!

Two Mariways riders ventured to the competitive Mid-America Mane Event Horse Show at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois.

Grace Linville showed her beloved Frontline (aka George) and Jerrah Biggerstaff showed her mare Sultan's Savannah Anna (aka Ellie). Both girls showed well, made great adjustments between classes, and did me proud in very deep, tough competition.

Grace and George showed in the Junior Exhibitor 3-Gaited division. In her first class, George didn't feel that cantering the first direction was really that important. As he stood still in the path of the other horses, he was asked to leave for safety's sake. Grace then had to show again that very evening in order to qualify to show in her Championship class. As she had not packed her formal suit, Jerrah generously lent hers. Grace showed her rather tired horse again the same day, and avoided the same error. She had a lovely ride, getting all her gaits, and earned a sixth place ribbon in the Amateur Over 15.2 class, and had another clean, error-free ride in her Junior Exhibitor Championship class.

Jerrah had a personal best ride in her equitation age group class, placing fourth. She made several excellent adjustments and showed in the Good Hands National Finals, a class of 21 riders. Her rail work was even better, and her pattern was superb. However, first time showing in a National Finals, she did not make the cut. She did come back to earn a Reserve Championship in the Equitation Championship with an excellent Pocket Pattern.

Several Mariways riders have recently joined the ranks of Horse Owners! You may wish to offer them your condolences- er, congratulations- when you see them!

Jerrah Biggerstaff recently added to her horse collection with the young Park mare, Zulu Darlin'. "Luna" is an energizer bunny! Jerrah plans to show her at the upcoming American Royal horse show in the Junior Exhibitor Park division.

Emma Griggs selected My Coupe Deville (Cooper). He is a huge, pretty, Show Pleasure and Equitation horse. Emma showed him one mere month after purchasing him, and won two blue ribbons at the Midwest Regional Academy Finals in St. Louis. She is planning to graduate from the Academy division and show Cooper in Show Pleasure and Equitation classes in 2012.

Abby Monteil was paired with a former Mariways Stable favorite, Absolute Angel. Abby has elected to put "Ally" in the lesson program for now, and show her in Academy classes, with future plans to show in Show Pleasure and Equitation. Abby and Ally have been bonding and developing their partnership, with the December Winter Tournament as their goal.

Congratulations, girls! May the Force be with you!

Coming up Sunday, October 30th at 4:00 pm, is a fundraiser for St. Jude's Children's Hospital. It is a Fun Day, sort of a horse show, at Mariways Stable at R&R in Lee's Summit.

To participate, riders raise funds for St. Jude's to save children's lives. Whoever raises the most money will receive a big fancy trophy.

Riders who raise $150 will get to participate in three classes, and will earn prizes from St. Jude's as well. Riders who raise $75 will show twice, and win prizes. Those who raise $35 can show once, and still get prizes. Everyone who participates is helping save children's lives.

Classes to ride in include Walk Only Bareback; Walk Trot Bareback; Walk Trot Canter Bareback; Costume Class; Pocket Pattern; Command Class; Sit-A-$5; Parent's Leadline; and much more.

We will also be holding a Bake Sale to raise more money for St. Jude's- so bring some goodies and come join the fun! See Annalisa for more info on how to participate.

Mariways Stable recently travelled to St. Louis for the National Charity Horse Show and the Midwest Regional Academy Finals. It was a very successful trip!

Grace Linville showed her beloved horse Frontline, aka George, in Junior Exhibitor 3 Gaited. She was in very tough competition including a reigning World's Champion. In her Championship class, she earned an excellent third place, with one of the judges placing her SECOND, right behind the World's Champion!!!

Jerrah Biggerstaff showed her equitation horse Sultan's Savannah Anna, aka Ellie. Jerrah opened the week with a third in the Missouri Finals, behind two World's Champions! She followed that up with a BLUE in the "Good Hands" class, defeating a World's Champion!! In her third event, she was second in the USEF Saddle Seat Event, which qualified her for the National Finals held at the American Royal on Saturday, November 19th. Way to go, Jerrah!!!

Taylor Phillips showed her horse Tea and Sympathy, aka Minnie. Taylor lost both stirrups as she entered the ring for her first class, but pulled herself together and WON THE CLASS!!! Taylor followed that blue up with two more blue ribbons and a Reserve Championship after completing her first lifetime individual workout! Rock on Taylor!!

Emma Griggs showed her brand new equine partner, My Coupe Deville, aka Cooper. Emma had only owned Cooper for about one month before the competitive St. Louis show, and she brought home TWO BLUE RIBBONS in the Midwest Regional Academy Finals! Wow! Awesome, Emma!!!

Click here for the new Mariways Gazette newsletter! First edition!

We have two Summer Horse Camps in the books. Our June Camp and July Camp were really fun! This month's July Horse Camp was a blast in spite of the heat. Our campers played in the water after riding.

For August, we will expand our water games and also add popsicles and Gatorades. Maybe some slushes too! It's gonna be fun!

August Camp is Monday and Tuesday, August 15-16, from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 p.m. Come join the fun! Only $85 a day, or $160 for both days!

The Mariways Youth Club's next meeting is Saturday, August 6th from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Mark your calendar, and come join us. We are planning a Fun Show for the fall, which will be a fundraiser for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. We will have bareback classes (walk/trot/canter, walk/trot, and just walk), and costume classes, Ride A Buck, and much more. It's gonna be a blast. Come help us plan it! We need your input!

We will be offering our second Advanced Camp of the summer on Monday, August 8th. Advanced Camp is a challenging day for advanced riders who want to be pushed. Sore muscles are guaranteed! We spend the day riding without stirrups and riding in two point, as well as learning some new advanced skills like standing a beat, posting the canter, and much more.

Cost of Advanced Camp is $85 for the day. Ride and ride and ride! Push yourself! It's fun!

We are now offering Ladies' Nights at the Barn once a month. We have riders at all ability levels participating, and it is really fun. You can ride one time, or twice, and then stay for a pot luck supper.

If you have not been riding regularly, we will mount you on an easy, smooth horse and not let you get too sore. We also have helpers to teach you the basics. If you have been riding routinely, we will try to give you some new experiences on new horses, or learning new skills.

Feel free to bring a pot luck item, either home made or "home made" by someone else :-D. We have had some wonderful pot luck dishes, and have shared some new recipes.

Ladies' Nights are lots of fun. Come join us!

When the weather is ultra hot and humid, we take extra precautions with our horses and riders. We have a fridge full of cold water and Gatorade, and we encourage you to stay hydrated when you are at the barn. We may do a little extra walking and talking to help keep you and your horse from getting overheated. If you feel it is just too hot to ride, please feel free to call or text Annalisa at 913-710-1489, or email at mariways @ gmail.com to reschedule your lesson. We may occasionally reschedule your lesson to a cooler day or time. Just let us know what will work with your schedule. We very much appreciate your flexibility!

Jerrah Biggerstaff and her Equitation horse Sultan's Savannah Anna (aka Ellie) will be headed to the World's Championship Horse Show in Louisville, Kentucky in August. We will head to Kentucky on August 19th. Jerrah will show in the Equitation 15 Years Old class on Monday, August 22. If she places in the Top 6 in her age division, she will qualify to show back in the Equitation World's Championship on Thursday night.

Jerrah showed at the World's Championship several years ago on Callaway's High Expectations. She has been dreaming of returning ever since.

The World's Championship Horse Show is held at the Kentucky State Fair in Louisville on August 21-27. It is well worth the trip if you are able to come and watch the show. You can also enjoy the State Fair while you are there, including Annalisa's FAVORITE roller coaster, Thunder Run!!!

Mariways horses and riders had a great show at the Longview Horse Park near Longview Lake on June 24th and 25th. Seven horses competed.

Kelcey Norton showed in a full suit for the first time. She showed Tango and won the 10 & Under Walk and Trot UPHA Challenge Cup class, qualifying her for the Walk and Trot National Finals at the American Royal horse show in November.

Grace Linville had a personal best performance on her Junior Exhibitor Three-Gaited horse Frontline (aka George), earning an excellent 3rd place in a very competitive class. Grace is showing in her last Junior Exhibitor year, as she heads to Stephens College in the fall to study Early Childhood Education.

Katy Lark Young also had a personal best with her horse, Callaway's Northern Sensation. "Scooter" and Katy won a great third out of nine contestants in their Junior Exhibitor Pleasure class.

Jerrah Biggerstaff and Sultan's Savannah Anna competed as a team for the first time, winning the Equitation class and the Missouri Medallion class, in which they performed a flawless workout. Jerrah and Ellie are qualified for one National Final (two more to go) and the Missouri finals in Equitation.

Our Academy riders also showed very well. Julie Phillips and Tango had two challenging rides. Emma Griggs and Tango earned a second and a third. Robin and Stephanie Arnold had very good rides on Louie. Anna McKee won a first and a second with Tucker. Sean Kueny and Tucker won two great second places. Hannah Chace earned two blues on Minnie in her very first show.

If you would like to show, just let Annalisa know. You will need Kentucky jodhpurs (the riding pants that Annalisa wears) and a shirt, tie and vest, as well as ankle-high boots, gloves, and a helmet.

Our next Academy show is at the Longview Horse Park on Labor Day weekend. The cost to show at Longview is $195. This inclusive fee includes shipping your horse to the show, renting a stall, paying the entry fees, use of the horse, the grooming and coaching and supplies, shavings to bed the stall for the horse, etc.

You will show in two classes. Riders are normally nervous the first class; by the second class, you are calmer and thinking more clearly. We will be there to help you, encourage you and support you. Young riders will start on a leadline (they will walk and trot on the leadline) for safety.

Please feel free to ask all the questions you can think of! :-D

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