2015 Spring Fling Adaptive Riding Showcase
Our very first Spring Fling Adaptive Riding Showcase was a rousing success! The overcast sky may have been gray, but the radiance on every rider’s face lit up our outside arena and chased those clouds away.
Twenty of our AR students each had a special time to show off their riding and horsemanship skills. Some rode English or Western dressage tests, others rode Western Trail courses, and others rode 2-point over poles and weaved through cones. The students were beautifully turned out in formal riding attire, but the real beauty came from the ear-to-ear smiles of delight and accomplishment from each, as they received their ribbons and medals after each ride.
The crowd also enjoyed riding demonstrations from some special NCEFT friends. Liz Arrington, riding Ally, and Lesley Pickford, riding Kasimir, showed off a beautiful dressage pas de deux, and Kristin Lee, riding Chubby Checkers, wowed the crowd with her reining and cow cutting ride.
At the heart of the AR Showcase was Oona Ziegler, NCEFT’s Adaptive Riding Instructor. Oona’s vivaciousness and skill brought out the very best from each and every student. Her deep pride and affection for all her students made the hours of preparation well worth it.
This wonderful day was made possible by the support and assistance of literally dozens of people. On behalf of everyone at NCEFT, we want to thank the following individuals and organizations without which this day would not have been possible:
Show Sponsors: Sarah & Dan Wernikoff, Pete & Lee Caraher, Susan Lang
Guest riders: Liz Arrington, Lesley Pickford, Kristin Lee
Show judge: Beth Lytle
Photographer: Jennifer Zweben
Head Horse Wrangler: Scott Seely
Organizations/Businesses: Morales Produce – S. San Francisco, Carousel Saddlery, Sunshine Graphics, Katherine’s Cupcakes, Portola Valley Pony Club
Volunteers: Coco Anderson, Julie & Adam Bradford, Susan Bosse-Atwell, Brittinay Davidson, Scott DuBridge, Alissa Flesher, Alexa Friesel, Liam Gain, Ella Goodwin, Kris Hahn, Tom Hammer, Zack Hammer, Zoe Hammer, Micki Hippeli, Keith Kan, Stephanie Kochhar, Tara Kochhar, Anna Lee, Claire Leopold, Eric Leopold, John Little, Sarah Maroney, Anya Moturi, Samara Phillips, Ava Polioni, Lisa & Katie Sachs, Kailee Santos, Holley Spinazza, Sue Want, & Alexa Zaino
NCEFT Staff: Cherie Hammer, Gari Merendino, Bonnie Sterngold, Megan Leopold, Chris Swan, Holly Wittman, Amy auf de Springe, Darrel le Blanc, Wendy Funk, Anne Van Camp, Heather Lyon, Maggie Bedacarre & Jim Scotto