Last weekend marked the 3rd annual Donalda Light Horse Show, where riders were able to strut their stuff in over 70 different classes.
Having grown from 45 competitors of last year’s one-day show to almost 100 for the 2020 two-day event, the show committee had their work cut out for them.
Chairwoman Cheryl Malin who was in charge of entries and safety protocols couldn’t believe the response she was getting from the horse community.
Competitors from as far away as Edmonton and Strathmore were signing up to travel to small town Donalda to show off their skills.
Beth Fulton from the Donalda Ag. Society made sure there where enough stalls available for all the four-legged participants and campsites for their handlers, and she also kept competitors on track throughout both 12-hour show days.
She also made sure COVID-19 precautions were followed.
Naomi Czerniak-Reay was a huge help in the registration office and made sure every winner was given their ribbon and prize money.
Announcing and entertaining the audience and competitors was done by Andrea Muhlbach who was also in charge of designing/setting up the beautifully-decorated trail course that got a few riders humbled.
Judge April Reeves from Bowden was kept on schedule by scribe Jimmile Ayottee.
Without the help of volunteers Ron Borchuk, Becky Clement, Byron Norman, Susan Schofer, Debbie Jones, Ardith Erickson, Kara Nixon, Virginia La Forge, Grace and Laura Hebbs, Brook Wilkie, Nolyn and Kaley and Kerrie Densmore, McKenna Smith and Bill Dyck, the days would have been even longer. Volunteers make these events possible.
This was the first large event this year for the Donalda Ag. Society who had to cancel their annual Ranch Rodeo, their major fundraiser, due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Many happy faces drove home at the end after having battled through a major storm Saturday morning, a town-wide power failure that left the dressage riders in the dark in the afternoon and a hot Sunday in the outdoor arena.
-Submitted