2021 Carousel Charity Show Kicks Off Our Show Season

Rushton Stables has made it home safe and sound from our first show of 2021!

Our week started rough and Gerry made a quick trip to a very nice hospital in Scottsdale and with some pain meds and a sling, he was released to ‘take it easy’. We had some debuts, some continuing teams, and some young horses stepping into their next division to keep our week exciting.

Stacy got to drive some fun horses that are normally Gerry’s and had some great wins! Kathy Papola and Libby Utecht own the spectacular 3 year old filly Open Invitation and she won a very nice Jr. Pleasure Driving class in her only appearance of the show. Kevin and Sue Worsley own the big and bold 4 year old CTM Fast and Furious and he took on the well filled Open Breed Pleasure Driving division! What a great way to help prep him for the exciting Amatuer division with Kevin in the future, ‘Vinny’ was the division Reserve Champion!

Sue Ewens planned your share her special LC El Matador with Gerry but instead Stacy got to drive this fancy guy to the Open Pleasure Driving Championship win. What a cool horse he is! Stacy also got the privilege of showing Lucky As Me to the reserve Champion Open Western title for Ed and Shirley Henry-Biszantz. This horse, like his dad, is just special.

Sue McCullough continues to grow with her special horse BCVM Dark Star and had her best class yet to be named Reserve Champion Amateur English Pleasure. The division was strong and competitive! Libby Utecht drove her always beautiful Invitation Only to wins in the Ladies Classic Pleasure Driving qualifier and championship. This team has it all—quality, talent, and FUN! This was another very nice division at Carousel!

Lexie Ellsworth had a great time being back in the show ring with her two great geldings. She was Reserve Champion Ladies Pleasure Driving with Indian Creek Mastermind and Amateur Pleasure Driving Champion with a commanding performance by Cingate Hot Shot! Both divisions were well filled with lots of World Champions in them—there was no coasting at this show!

Nini Hodge rose her beloved Lady Antebellum in a new division and got great ribbons in the deep and numbered Junior Exhibitor Classic division. Nini also debuted in the equitation division on the lovely and game Baccarats Wild Thyme, generously leased from Kathy Papola. What a fun team they are and they ended up Reserve in the Challenge Cup and then were named Morgan Saddle Seat Equitation Champions!

Ada Olivia made her leadline debut on the wonderful PFF Francesca and was all smiles! Last, but by no means least, we had three academy riders that represented us well. Hannah Nysse made her debut and won both of her classes and had a great time showing. Alice Olivia was second in her equitation class and won her showmanship classes. Fara McFail won her equitation and got a great second in showmanship.

Great job to everyone that came and showed. It was a big, competitive show and we were extremely proud of all of our teams!