MAY 2000 BACK ISSUE

Part of Horse Previews Magazine website. Posted on 05/05/2000; 2:00:00PM.

Benefit 'Schooling' Open Ride and Mock Classes

Friends of Hailey and Eric Bartholomew will be meeting at the Spokane County Fairgrounds Indoor Arena, Tuesday Nights starting May 9th at 7-9pm. Cost is $10 per person (one horse), additional horses, $5 up to $20 maximum.

All proceeds go to the Eric Bartholomew recovery fund at Washington Mutual Bank.

If you've shown Paint or Arabian Horses at all in the last 15 plus years in the Northwest, at some time you have shown with, against or have met Hailey and Eric Bartholomew.

Known for always having a warm greeting or up-lifting comment as you leave the show ring, Eric and Hailey are some of the nicest, most sincerely caring two people most of us have ever met or could have as friends.

Hailey worked as a live-in apprentice trainer at Valhalla Arabians in the mid 80's. She then started showing Arabians when her dear friend, Carol Davidson, let her ride an Arabian mare named "Kisha." Hailey then bought her first Arabian mare, "Star." Hailey met Eric at Sunwood Farms where Eric lived and worked, and where Hailey was boarding her mare. Eric and Hailey were married January 4th, 1988. Hailey showed "Kisha" on the Open and Breed Circuit and she rode "Star" in Endurance Races until she purchased an Arabian gelding named "Blaze N Socks." She and Eric travelled from Montana to Seattle showing Blaze. She showed very successfully on the Arabian Circuit until purchasing a Paint gelding, "Arthur."

Hailey and Arthur are well known on the Paint Horse and Washington State Horse Circuit as winners of many Circuit Awards, Year End Awards as well as the perpetual Washington State High Point Trophy. Both Hailey and Eric are active members of the Inland Northwest Paint Horse Association were Eric is known as the "Best Show Husband" a girl could have! Many who stall by Eric and Hailey experience Eric's kindness.

In late March Eric was suddenly diagnosed with cancer of the mouth, much to the surprise of his doctors at the young age of 37. At the time of writing this article Eric has under gone extensive removal and reconstructive surgery at University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. He is just beginning his recovery which includes reconstruction of his mouth, healing of his face and also healing of his arm and leg from skin grafts.

The friends of Hailey and Eric Bartholomew and their club, The Inland Northwest Paint Horse Club will be holding practice rides every Tuesday night at the Spokane County Fairgrounds from 7pm-9pm. This is open to everyone who just wants to ride in a group to school your horses for show season in a group setting. We will have open warm-up/ schooling riding for the first hour and then take turns being judges for a class setting. Come ride Western, English, Hunt, Driving, whoever shows up we will try and put like disciplines together to practice.

All proceeds will go into the Eric and Hailey Bartholomew recovery/ benefit bank account at Washington Mutual, account number 198-319299-8. If you are unable to join us on Tuesday nights and would like to contribute you may do so at any Washington Mutual Bank branch.

Any questions, call Jeanine Judkins 509-922-3886 or Debi Roden 509-921-5077. God Bless You Eric and Hailey and hurry back!

From your friends in the horse community