With temperatures soaring into the 90’s after months of Winter, and weeks of Spring rain, Ride the West opened on Friday May 16th with beautiful weather for guests, vendors, and the horses!!! There was a lot of talk about rising gas prices, hay prices rising even higher and the horse industry looking ahead with a bit of a leary eye.....but for those attending the show it was as if these things didn’t matter, at least for the weekend!! Crowds were entertainend, enlightened, and encouraged to try new products, try new teaching methods and spend some quality time with friends, family and the horses that they love!

From custom shaped hats to custom made boots, the Trade Show was brimming with merchandise, feed, clothing, home decor, trailers, barns, fencing and so much more! Charles Wilhelm and Steve Edwards headed up a stellar line up of clinicians, trainers, and teachers that discussed everything from selecting a cutting horse prospect to how to approach a cross country jump. The Spirit of the West Show on Friday night brought out some of the best performances from Reining Horses to Mule Skinners and raised some money for Toys for Tots. It began with a touching tribute to Allen & Evelyn VanDyke’s stunning Belgian Gelding “Doc Holiday” that passed away last December and will always be remembered as a mascot of Ride The West. Palisades Percherons created quite a site as they brought the VanDyke’s into the Arena, totally unaware of the presentation that was to follow. There were many tears in the audience that night.

Steve Edward’s Mule & Donkey Training Clinics were a big hit with the attendees, and Charles’ Wilhlem’s “Special Horses, Special Bonds” Evening Event on Saturday featured two of Charles’ horses... “Zone” one of his horses only has one eye. The trust and friendship between the two was evident as Charles demonstrated various techniques and training throughout the evening. The Team Roping Classic on Saturday was fast and furious and the sun and heat just about baked those Cowboys, but they put on a good show and took home some big cash money for it too! The XTreme Trail Challenge designed and produced by BCHWa, Ride The West and Doug & Kathy Vouchell was once again, one of the most popular events at the Expo. Top placings went to : 1) JoLinn Hoover 118 w/4:02:19, 2) Mitch Hoover 117 w/3:59:60, 3) Shann Webley 106 w/3:59:03, 4) Talea Morgan 105 w/4:01:47, 5) Keith Danielson 103 w/3:58:97, 6) Lori Silcher 101 w/3:32:68, 7) Bill Maher 101 w/3:35:03, 8) Ann Marie McCollum 99 w/3:37:19, 9) Kelly Ward 93 w/5:17:85, 10) Carol O’Connor 92 w/4:40:15, 11) Diane Robson 83 w/3:24:90, 12) Heather Molvik 83 w/ 4:18:90. They shared in bragging rights and over $1500 in cash and prizes.

The BLM Adoption took place on Sunday morning. Saturday was filled with gentling demos with Susan Kirk, The Border Patrol, The Mustang Makeover Presentation and a History on the Wild Mustang. Although not all Mustangs were adopted this year, the demos were terrific and the education and promotion of the Wild Mustangs was well presented by the BLM.

We want to thank all of our presenters: Ann Kirk, Doug & Kathy Vouchell, Grant Setnicka, Mike Watkins, Tara Cunningham, Julie Stephens, Aslin-Finch and Purina, Julie Parkhurst, Katherine Windfeather Thompson, Samantha Harvey, Dr. Jim Warner, Missy Wryn, IEBCH, BCHWa and The US Border Patrol.

Congratulations to our Prize Winners!!! $500 Cash - J. Woods, Corvallis, OR, $100 Free Gas - B. Patterson, Spokane, WA - Free Breeding to Gypsy Vanner Stallion “The Boomerang” from G & M Ranch - Kelly P. Rathdrum, Idaho, - Wishing Well from Big R on Trent - R. Reynolds - Tonasket, WA.

With everything that is presented at this Expo, we feel it is a tremendous venue for horsemen and women to gather, to learn and to have the Horseman’s Dream Weekend! We hope you continue to support this event because without you attending, buying the products that our Vendors bring in and sharing it all with your friends, the show couldn’t go on. Thank you to our many volunteers, our family and friends and the horse owners and exhibitors that continue to help us plan, organize and complete this weekend of events. A very special thank you goes to Helen Boyd and Staff at Horse Previews Magazine & The Exchange Newspaper, our official publications of the Expo. Their dedication and support is truly appreciated. We also want to let you know that the www.WildSpiritPhoto.com website has so many fantastic photos of the Event that are available for purchase. Please contact Wendy at (208)964-1964 to order. The photos are absolutely stunning! So......let’s do it all again next year! Dates for 2009 are May 15-16-17. Contact Susan Rae at (509)466-9639, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or online at www.ridethewest.net for information. Got a great idea, or want to become a sponsor????? Contact us now and let’s make a plan!!!! And new in ‘09 will be RANCH HORSE VERSATILITY COMPETITION!!! See the Best at Ride The West #8 in 2009! Thank you! Susan Rae