2008 Woodie Awards
Kirkwood hosts premier equestrian event
Trent Orris
Issue date: 10/27/05 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
It's not every day that prize-winning Lipizzans, Friesians and their trainers gather in Cedar Rapids to hold exhibitions and clinics on rare and exotic horse breeds. In fact, it only happens once a year in the Midwest.
Kirkwood hosted the third annual Rare Breed & Dressage Horse Expo at the Iowa Equestrian Center on Oct. 22 and 23. The expo is one of the foremost equestrian events in the Midwest.
"There's nothing else like this in the Midwest," said Rachel Wehrheim, one of the expo's chief organizers. "It was a fun event with a lot of variety. People brought their kids along and had a good time."
Gene Wehrheim, president of the Iowa Lipizzan Association, volunteered at the event and agreed.
"I thought everything went very well. There was an overflow crowd for every session and there were no hitches," Wehrheim said.
One of the highlights was a clinic hosted by Vitor Silva, a classical dressage master. Silva, originally from Portugal, runs 'Sons of the Wind," a dressage school in Massachusetts.
"Dressage is a horse training that focuses on gymnastic abilities," explained Gene. "Classical simply means it's done in a more old-school manner, where you ride more with the inside of the thighs. The trainer controls the horse without looking like they're controlling it."
Mike Davis, a noted championship reiner, also performed at the event.
"A reiner focuses on the ability to stop, spin and turn," Gene said. "It's sort of a ballet in a Western saddle. It's not the traditional English."
On the lighter side, a trick horse named Dr. Farkle showed off his skills to the crowd in one of the sessions.
Among his tricks, Dr. Farkle balanced himself on a teeter-totter, stood on a one-foot wide board with all four feet and closed his own trailer door after backing himself inside.
Rachel said Kirkwood students played a large part in the event.
"The Kirkwood drill team was excellent; they led 14 horses, which is a lot. Abi Petersen and her friend Angela performed some great tricks and Melinda Price rode her Friesian well," she said.
"There were lots of students involved. Some Kirkwood students performed and brought the house down with their daredevil stunts," added Gene. "I would like to thank Kirkwood and the sponsors, they made this all possible."
Kirkwood hosted the third annual Rare Breed & Dressage Horse Expo at the Iowa Equestrian Center on Oct. 22 and 23. The expo is one of the foremost equestrian events in the Midwest.
"There's nothing else like this in the Midwest," said Rachel Wehrheim, one of the expo's chief organizers. "It was a fun event with a lot of variety. People brought their kids along and had a good time."
Gene Wehrheim, president of the Iowa Lipizzan Association, volunteered at the event and agreed.
"I thought everything went very well. There was an overflow crowd for every session and there were no hitches," Wehrheim said.
One of the highlights was a clinic hosted by Vitor Silva, a classical dressage master. Silva, originally from Portugal, runs 'Sons of the Wind," a dressage school in Massachusetts.
"Dressage is a horse training that focuses on gymnastic abilities," explained Gene. "Classical simply means it's done in a more old-school manner, where you ride more with the inside of the thighs. The trainer controls the horse without looking like they're controlling it."
Mike Davis, a noted championship reiner, also performed at the event.
"A reiner focuses on the ability to stop, spin and turn," Gene said. "It's sort of a ballet in a Western saddle. It's not the traditional English."
On the lighter side, a trick horse named Dr. Farkle showed off his skills to the crowd in one of the sessions.
Among his tricks, Dr. Farkle balanced himself on a teeter-totter, stood on a one-foot wide board with all four feet and closed his own trailer door after backing himself inside.
Rachel said Kirkwood students played a large part in the event.
"The Kirkwood drill team was excellent; they led 14 horses, which is a lot. Abi Petersen and her friend Angela performed some great tricks and Melinda Price rode her Friesian well," she said.
"There were lots of students involved. Some Kirkwood students performed and brought the house down with their daredevil stunts," added Gene. "I would like to thank Kirkwood and the sponsors, they made this all possible."