Riders, Spectators Enjoy Excitement of 35th Island Horse Show
Island Tradition Is Part of Equestrian Culture

At left: James Dunnigan participates in the trot-over-rails event. Horses were kept to a trot, and many were able to simply step over the rails.

Beth Kaake had an exciting weekend. First, she won a state lottery to receive a permit for hunting elk, her second in seven years. Then, her son-in-law won the raffle at the 35th Annual Mackinac Island Horse Show and invited his in-laws to join him for a full boxed lunch and seating atop a four-horse hitch carriage that was once used so that ladies could view hunts and races.

“I don’t typically buy tickets. I typically lose. I always lose. I’m a loser, and I didn’t want to buy a ticket. It’s a self-esteem thing, really, I don’t like to be rejected,” said her son-in-law, Philip Barker.

Lily Porter is an old hand at horse shows. She was first entered in the Mackinac Island horse show at the age of two, and still loves competing.

Raffle winners were drawn at noon and the proceeds benefited the Mackinac Horsemen’s Association. The Barkers and Kaakes had prime seating to watch the afternoon events.

Moira Martinchek was another with five-star seating, though she had to work for her position in the horse ring. Ms. Martinchek of Cheboygan was this year’s judge. She has been judging horse shows for about 30 years and already has judged 11 this summer season. Though judging is not a full-time job, she said that she greatly enjoys it.

Brian Dunnigan competes in the adult trail event, guiding his horse over a small ramp.

“I like working with the kids, seeing and trying to keep them in the horse industry,” said Ms. Martinchek. “You need to keep the kids interested or there won’t be a horse industry. I enjoy going to the different parts of the States.”

Other spectators also enjoyed the show.

“This is a wonderful Island tradition that is an important part of equestrian culture. It’s family time to get together,” said Steve Murray.

The horse show is also a favorite for those competing in it, many of whom have done so since they were very young. Lily Porter, for example, first entered the show at age two in the leadline event. She is still active today, 14 years later, and says that the jumping event is her favorite.

There were a few surprises at this year’s Horse Show, however. Four riders fell off their horses, a higher number than usual. Nobody was badly hurt, however, and after a brief break, the show was always able to go on.

This year’s horse show took place Saturday, August 14 at Great Turtle Park Horse Ring. Events began at 9 in the morning and ran all the way through the afternoon. Forty riders were entered in this year’s show in 21 events, for a total of 146 entries.

35th Annual Mackinac Island Horse Show Winners

Showmanship and Grooming

5-8 years old

1st Place - Colton Fisher

2nd Place - Mackenzie Bean

9-12 years old

1st Place - Adrienne Rilenge

2nd Place - Diana Dupre

3rd Place - Hailey Bean

4th Place - Blake Ruddle

13-18 years old

1st Place - Lily Porter

2nd Place - Allison Jones

3rd Place - Claire Dunnigan

4th Place - Gabrielle Golden

5th Place - Natalie Hribar

6th Place - Katie Dupre and Emily St. Onge

Adult

1st Place - Trish Martin

2nd Place - Brian Dunnigan

Costume Class

1st Place - Diana Dupre as Garden Girl

2nd Place - Katie Dupre as Swan Lake Ballet

3rd Place - Hailey Armstrong as Island Girl

4th Place - Colton Fisher as Jesse James

5th Place - Adrienne Rilenge as Huntress on Zebra

6th Place - Gabrielle Golden as Gymnast and Amelia Roe as Cupid on a Unicorn

Bareback Equitation

9-12 years old

1st Place - Morgan Brodeur-Bunker

2nd Place - Lukas Karhoff

13-18 years old

1st Place - Katie Dupre

2nd Place - Katie Porter

3rd Place - Christina McLean

4th Place - Allison jones

5th Place - Danielle Wightman, Claire Dunnigan, and Emily St. Onge

6th Place - Lily Porter, Gabrielle Golden, & Natalie Hribar

Adult

1st Place - Brian Dunnigan

2nd Place - Candi Dunnigan

3rd Place - Trish Martin

4th Place - Val Porter

Walk and Trot Equitation

1st - Michelle Stuck and Diana Dupre

2nd - Hailey Bean

3rd - Mackenzie Bean

4th - Anna McDonnell

5th - Kyra Kolatski

6th - Adrienne Rilenge

English Equitation

5-8 year olds

1st Place - Leah Croghan

9-12 year olds

1st Place - Morgan Brodeur-Bunker

2nd Place - Laurel Young

13-18 year olds

1st Place - Gabrielle Golden

2nd Place - James Dunnigan

3rd Place - Natalie Hribar

4th Place - Jane Finkel

5th Place - Katie Dupre, Allison Jones, and Claire Dunnigan

6th Place - Katie Porter, Danielle Wightman, and Lily Porter

Adult

1st Place - Candi Dunnigan

2nd Place - Lin Sheppard

3rd Place - Trish Martin

Western Equitation

5-8 year olds

1st Place - Colton Fisher

9-12 year olds

1st Place - Blake Ruddle

2nd Place - Lucas Karhoff

13-18 year olds

1st Place - Emily St. onge

2nd Place - Paul Fisher

3rd Place - Gabrielle Golden

4th Place - Danielle Wightman

5th Place - Christina McLean

6th Place - Patrick Schlehuber

Trail

5-8 year olds

1st Place - Mackenzie Bean

2nd Place - Colton Fisher

3rd Place - Kyra Kolatski

9-12 year olds

1st Place - Lucas Karhoff

2nd Place - Morgan Brodeur-Bunker

3rd Place - Amelia Roe

4th Place - Anna McDonnell

5th Place - Blake Ruddle, Hailey Armstrong, & Heiley Bean

6th Place - Austin Ruddle, Diana Dupre, & Adrienne Rilenge

13-18 year olds

1st Place - Gabrielle Golden

2nd Place - Lily Porter on Pasha

3rd Place - Allison Jones & Katie Porter

4th Place - Clarie Dunnigan

5th Place - Patrick Schlehuber

6th Place - James Dunnigan, Paul Fisher, Lily Porter on Oneida, Emily St. Onge, Christina McLean, Danielle Wightman, & Katie Dupre

Adult

1st Place - Trish Martin

2nd PLace - Candi Dunnigan

3rd Place - Julie Hunt

4th Place - Brian Dunnigan

5th Place - Michelle Stuck

6th Place - Billie Pellerito

Trot Over Rails

All Ages

1st Place - Julie Hunt

2nd Place - James Dunnigan

3rd Place - Katie Dupre

4th Place - Laurel Young

5th Place - Michelle stuck

6th Place - Natalie Hribar

Over Fences/Low course

13-18 year olds

1st Place - Allison Jones

2nd Place - Lily Porter

3rd Place - Katie Porter

4th Place - Claire Dunnigan

5th Place - Danielle Wightman

6th Place - Gabrielle Golden

Hope Goodwin Hunter Hack Memorial

1st Place - Candi Dunnigan

2nd Place - Trish Martin

Barrel Race

5-8 year olds

1st Place - Kyra Kolatski

9-12 year olds

1st Place - Paul Fisher

2nd Place - Morgan Brodeur-Bunker

3rd Place - Austin Ruddle

4th Place - Diana Dupre

5th Place - Amelia roe

6th Place - Hailey Armstrong, Hailey Bean, & Adrienne Rilenge

13-18 year olds

1st Place - Claire Dunnigan

2nd Place - Christina McLean

3rd Place - Allison Jones

4th Place - Katie Dupre

5th Place - Gabrielle Golden

Rusty Memorial cup

Trish Martin

Novice Championship Rider (Walk, Trot Only)

Western - Mackenzie Bean

English - Diana Dupre

5-8 Championship Rdier

Western - Colton Fisher

English - Leah Croghan

9-12 Championship Rider

Western - Lucas Karhoff

English - Morgan Brodeur-Bunker

13-18 Championship Rider

Western - Emily St. Onge

English - Gabrielle Golden

Adult English Championship Rider

Trish Martin