The Ronald McDonald House Gallop is just around the corner, on Sunday, January 27, 2008. This year’s lineup is rated as one of the best in the country for stallion services at auction! You will have the opportunity to purchase services to some of the finest Halter, Western Pleasure, English, Working Cow, Cutting, and Reining stallions in the world! Stallion invitations are now closed for the 2008 lineup, and the website is complete. Research availability is accessible on the website, so take this opportunity to shop in advance for a breeding. Check out the stallions and their facilities; know where your mares will be going; what kind of offspring the stallion produces; take a good look at the stallion; and know what mare care or transported semen costs you’ll be dealing with. In addition, check on what their “Live Foal Guarantee” consists of. Can’t or don’t think you can make it to the event? Pre-bidding is currently being accepted, or you can bid live the day of the Gallop event, Sunday, January 27th with one of our Gallop telephone operators.

The Gallop would like to acknowledge another stallion in the 2008 Event that did not make it into the January print advertising. Ronald McDonald House Gallop is pleased to have in this year’s line-up AQHA/APHA Three-Time World Champion and World Champion producer, ZEZE GUNSMOKE. Highlights to this stallion’s show career include: APHA World Show ~ Senior Working Cow Horse World Champion; APHA World Show ~ Junior Working Cow Horse World Champion, NRCHA Silver Bridle Champion; 1st Year Double Registered Qualified for the AQHA World Show; SRCHA Fall Classic Open Bridle Champion; Fort Worth Stock Show Working Cow Horse Champion; SRCHA All-Around Champion & Bridle Spectacular Champion; Orange Blossom Spectacular Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Bridle Champion; Colorado Reined Cow Horse Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Bridle Champion; Ardmore Charity Open Bridle Champion; Southern States Triple Crown Open Bridle Champion; Southwest Reined Cow Horse Association Futurity Open Bridle Champion; Florida Reined Cow Horse Association Show Open Bridle Champion; Colorado Reined Cow Horse Open Hackamore Reserve Champion & Open Derby Champion; Southwest Reined Cow Horse Association Futurity 4 & 5 Year Old Open Champion and Open Hackamore Champion. For additional information on the GREAT stallion, check the Gallop Website at: www.gallopauction.com.

Event Underwriter, Rhodes River Ranch will be presenting the Gallop Event. They are located at the foothills of the Cascades, just an hour and a half north of Seattle/Tacoma International Airport in beautiful Arlington, Washington. Rhodes River Ranch is dedicated to breeding, raising and training future world champion performance horses and to providing top quality services to their clients. Currently standing stallions owned or standing at the ranch are: Shine By The Bay, Shine Like Hail, Starlights Joy, and Button Down Peppy. Their skilled stallion management, superior mare care and expert foal handling are the trademarks of their ranch. They welcome visitors to tour their site at: www.rhodesriverranch.com, or contact them for more information regarding any of their services, stallions, sales or just to visit.

As one of the Northwest’s Premier Entertainment Experiences, Northern Quest Casino joins ranks with Rhodes River Ranch in underwriting this year’s Gallop Stallion Services Auction. Located in Airway Heights, just ten minutes west of downtown Spokane, the Gallop event will take place in the Pend Oreille Family Pavilion. It has state of the art staging and audience seating, adding another level of quality to the event.

It’s going to be a solid gold thrill ride as “Smash Hit Carnival” kicks off the “Opening Ceremony” of the 25th Year Anniversary of the Gallop Stallion Services Auction! This group of highly skilled musicians, actors, comedians and performers are specialists in making an explosive thrill ride through the history of pop music gold. They are a show band collective with multiple impersonators. Adding in comedy sketches and sideshow antics, Smash Hit Carnival features impersonations of rock stars Diana Ross, Madonna, Tina Turner, Stevie Nicks, Johnny Cash, Devo, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jim Morrison, and the Rolling Stones. Smash Hit Carnival stage a top flight entertainment, dance and review show that is guaranteed to be a memorable heart pounding success. With multiple costume changes and specially designed audience participation segments covering a wide range of musical genres, they’ll be something for everyone at this year’s Gallop event with Smash Hit Carnival’s show! Their amazing showmanship and truly fantastic renditions of oldies favorites, Motown, Disco, 70’s Classics, 80’s Hits and more, are sure to create a festive vibe and bring spectators to their feet! Collectively, this group has over 100 years of professional performance and entertainment experience. Fantastic impersonations, hilarious comedy and your favorite smash hits performed to perfection will all be seen in one fabulous retro explosion! Don’t miss the kick off of the most entertaining Opening Ceremony ever to be presented. Take a thrill ride with an astounding carousel of solid gold stars! Sit back and enjoy these amazing, top notch entertainers as they perform Gallop’s Opening Ceremony. You will not want to miss this!

Gallop is after all your opportunity to breed to some of the world’s finest! Mail, phone, and pre-Internet bids will be taken until 8pm, Saturday, January 26th, the night before the sale. The event will be focusing primarily on the horse industry all around the world! On event day, “live” streaming will be broadcasted to the Internet enabling any individual the opportunity to watch and actively bid during the auction. The ability to research other stallion services will be accessible during this time, and a 1-800 number to call in their bid will be located on the bidding page. There will be twelve phones located on the stage. Telephone operators will assist incoming calls, actively bidding for those callers. With fifty-two participating stallion services, doors will open at 11:30am, ending around 4:00pm. This will allow reasonable hours for everyone across the US to participate. Those attending can enjoy the festivities while having the opportunity to bid live from the event.

NEWSFLASH! In celebration of the Gallop’s 25th anniversary great door prizes will be given to audience participants throughout the day! In addition, those in attendance are welcome and encouraged to take part in a “new” Silent Auction being offered at the event. Western Wear; Gift Certificates; Show Tack; Gift Baskets; Saddle Blanket; Southwest Art; Equine Products; New John Deere Chain Saw; and many more items, too many to list! Admission into the Gallop is free!

It’s going to be an exciting day, as the event will be offering more non-service packages on the auction block this 25th year. Are you a collector of items that are of rare opportunities, great invested assets? This year is going to be your opportunity to own a piece of Nashville while helping a worthy cause. Cat Country 94FM (a Gallop Sponsor of twenty-five years), has donated a Kaman G-series acoustic guitar that has been autographed by some of the country music’s hottest stars. Some of the autographs, both front and back of the guitar are signed by: Clay Walker; Kellie Pickler; Mark Wills; Jake Owen; Danielle Peck; Pat Green; Andy Griggs; Jason Michael Carroll; AND MANY MORE! Don’t miss out on this opportunity either!

Thinking about attending the APHA, ApHC, or AQHA World Show? What about the Arabian US Nationals, Scottsdale, or maybe a non-horsy event like Disney World in Florida? Here is your opportunity as Southwest Airlines has donated (4) positive space passes for roundtrip transportation between any two cities served by Southwest Airlines. They are good through February 1, 2009. These passes are valid only on Southwest-operated flights within the continental United States.

How about an Old West Adventure? Whether it’s a get away by yourself, a romantic long overdue second honeymoon, or even a family adventure, this vacation package is for you! K-Diamond-K Guest Ranch has donated an overnight stay (for two), which will include breakfast, lunch, dinner, and an all day variety of activities which include Hiking; Fishing; Biking; Bird Watching; Star Gazing; Snowmobiles or Snowshoes; Old-Time Campfires; yet not to be forgotten- Horseback Riding. And if that’s not enough, you can bring your own horse for no extra charge in stabling and feeding! From the comforts of a hand-crafted spacious log home bedroom, you will be made to feel at home and enjoy the warm hospitality with hearty home-cooked meals in a relaxed atmosphere.

In addition, you will see other packages offered on the auction block which include: fine jewelry; gift baskets; limited edition art work; and many more surprises! If you would like to see any of the above items up close prior to the auction ... visit the website at www.gallopauction.com. We will be updating those items periodically. Ronald McDonald House Charities of Spokane is indebted to the above donors, along with our sponsors and stallion owners. Their support will continue the mission of helping families in crises who are traveling to be near their child in a hospital.

A special “thank you” goes to Horse Previews Magazine for graciously allowing the Gallop the opportunity to better educate the public on the auction and mission. Calls come in from everywhere! Much “thanks and appreciation” goes to Horse Previews editor Helen, and staff, for the avenue they provide.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Spokane looks forward to seeing you all at the Gallop Stallion Service Auction on Sunday, January 27, 12 Noon to help support these families in a “Fun”-raising event. For more information about Gallop or the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Spokane, please contact Barbara Turner at 509/990-4167.