We were a small group this year (seems like everyone is waiting for next year’s Rare Breeds Show!) but we sure accomplished a lot. Jas and I arrived on Thursday evening and spent part of Friday talking with Pat Johnston about strategic plans, website updates and lots of other interesting stuff.
We had our Friday night Board meeting, where I found that taking meeting minutes while drinking wine doesn’t work very well. It seemed fine at the time, but when I got home and tried to figure out what I had written…well..
Saturday was our Membership Meeting, Silent Auction and Awards Banquet. Once again, we got a lot done. The Silent Auction made the ATAA $965 (thanks to all the donors and bidders!).
Saturday afternoon we had a very good talk on Equine Biomechanics by Karen Ososki. http://karenososki.com/ She used Kye, an AT gelding as her subject. By the end of the talk, she said she was in love!
I received a lovely, hand drawn picture of a horse (A Teke of course!). I did get 3 awards, but instead of giving me three awards, our committee just gave me a larger one. It really is nice!
Catrina giving me my award.
The Awards table – mine is right in the middle! I keep trying for one of the discipline awards (the plaques), but something seems to get in the way every year. Maybe next year!
Sunday, we went to Eron Owen’s Greystone Equestrian Center in Lebanon, Indiana. It is a really nice facility and it’s evident that the horses are very special to them. Eron did a musical kur on Gidasp, a 20 year old Teke stallion. They had a lot of fun and I think everyone’s toes were tapping.
I did take a video, but the computer informs me that it is too long. I might need to get a kid involved.
Kevin Wallin did a bridleless demo on Goshen, who was here at CGAT for several years before heading East. Goshen looked very happy and Kevin reports that he is very happy with him. Towards the end, I was talking to Kevin and Eron’s son Hayden came up and got to sit on Goshen while Kevin and I talked.
We got to see all the Tekes, had a lovely lunch and then it was time to head back home. All in all, it was a really fun weekend.
Now to get ready for next year’s Rare Breeds Show.