Local Arabians Gain Regional Recognition Following Show Performances Two Memphis area riders have enjoyed a very successful show season. Jenny Lawrence and Karah Watkins have been on the road this summer with 3 show horses and their owners, picking up lots of championship ribbons along the way. Jenny teaches and trains at her farm, Sailem Stables, in Lakeland, TN. Karah is in her last year of showing as a junior rider and is from Brighton, TN. They compete Arabian and Half-Arabian horses in dressage, which is a sport normally dominated by large, European warm bloods. They warmed up early this year at the Sherry Levin Memorial Dressage Show in Hernando, MS. Jenny showed Dash Riprock+/ at 1st and 2nd levels, for his owners Barbara Henson and Norman Brinks. Dash is an Arabian/Saddlebred cross who won 1st place in 3 out of 4 classes even though it was his first time showing at 2nd level. Karah Watkins showed HA Garnys Rose+++/, a purebred Arabian mare, for her owner Barbara Henson, to 4 first place wins in training and 1st levels. This was Rose's 1st level debut. In May, Jenny and Dash Riprock+/ competed at the Memphis in Springtime dressage show in Tunica, MS. Dash again proved himself by bringing home 4 blue ribbons out of 6 classes. At the end of May, they headed off to Springfield, IL for the Arabian Horse Assoc. Region 11 Championships. Attending this show as well, were Khashflow+ and his owner Margaret Wilkinson. Khash is a purebred Arabian gelding that performed beautifully and placed 6th in the Regional Dressage Championship. He was out of the Top Five by less than 1 point. HA Garnys Rose+++/ only showed in-hand at this show, as she was still recovering from a slight hoof injury. She was Top 5 with Jenny in the Arabian Sport Horse Mares class, and Region Champion with Karah in the Amateur to Handle. The star of the show however, was Dash Riprock+/. With Karah in the amateur divisions, he was Top Five in training level dressage, Reserve Champion in Half-Arabian Sport Horse Geldings In-Hand and Reserve Champion Half-Arabian Sport Horse Under Saddle. With Jenny in the open divisions he was Reserve Champion in training level dressage, and Half-Arabian Sport Horse Under Saddle. He was Region Champion in Half-Arabian Sport Horse Geldings In-Hand and Half-Arabian Sport Horse Show Hack. This is especially amazing since tornados ripped through the city of Springfield Friday night resulting in the postponing of some classes. Competitors, spectators and officials had to seek shelter in the basement of the coliseum for about an hour. It was a little unsettling, but the horses performed wonderfully the next day. The first week of July, they all hit the road again to Lexington, KY for the Region 14 Championships. Khashflow+ earned his first Top Fives, in Arabian Sport Horse Geldings In-Hand, and 1st level dressage open with Jenny. He performed very well, and even handled flooded dressage rings with great maturity. HA Garnys Rose+++/ was Top Five in 1st level dressage ATR with Karah and Reserve Champion Arabian Sport Horse Under Saddle ATR, beating some of the east coast's best horses in a huge class that lasted almost 45 minutes. It was a test of endurance as well as obedience and athleticism. She then carried Jenny to Top Five honors in the open division of Sport Horse Under Saddle and Reserve Champion Sport Horse Show Hack, proving that she truly has the heart of a champion. Dash Riprock+/ certainly made his owners proud at the Region 14 show. He was Top Five Half-Arabian Sport Horse Gelding In-Hand ATH with Karah. With Jenny in the open divisions he was Top Five in 1st level dressage, Half-Arabian Sport Horse Gelding In-Hand, and Half-Arabian Sport Horse Under Saddle. He was Region Champion Half-Arabian Sport Horse Show Hack. The Show Hack class is a very demanding one in which collected, medium and extended versions of all 3 gaits must be shown. Now the riders and owners look forward to competing in the Arabian and Half-Arabian Sport Horse Nationals, which will be held in 2009 in Lexington, KY. Jenny and Karah would like to express their gratitude to Barbara, Norman and Margaret for the opportunity to ride and show such lovely and talented horses. Karah had this to say, This has been one of the most enjoyable years of showing for me, not only because of the wonderful horses and people, but because the joy and passion that I have for riding simply overflowed in me every time I entered the ring on one of those amazing horses! Jenny says, We look forward to finishing out this show season and setting new goals to accomplish next year. I love showing Arabian and Half-Arabians. They are sensitive, intelligent and love to please their riders. It is a great privilege to show them at the regional and national levels.