Island Equestrians Display Skills at 36th Annual Horse Show

Above: The Great Turtle Park Horse Ring was officially dedicated the Mary Milton Horse Ring during the 36th Annual Mackinac Island Horse Show August 13. Mrs. Milton worked for many years to establish a permanent horse ring on the Island for horseback riding, and her fundraising efforts helped create the Great Turtle Park Horse ring. Leanne Brodeur, director of the Mackinac Horsemen's Association, holds the Mary Milton plaque, a trophy held in perpetuity on the Island that is granted to the winner of the Mary Milton Memorial challenge. Astride War Xeno, Ms. Milton's last horse, is MHA President Candice Dunnigan. On the left are Mrs. Milton's daughter, Suzie Padilla, and grandchildren, Rebecca and Julie Padilla. Right: Trish Martin, astride Island's Grey Skye, holds the trophy she was awarded as the winner of the Mary Milton Memorial Challenge.

The Great Turtle Park Horse Ring was dedicated to the late Mary Milton during the 36th Annual Mackinac Island Horse Show Sunday, August 13. Mrs. Milton was one of the original organizers of the show and devoted much time and energy to provide a permanent horse ring on Mackinac Island for riding.

The show is now sponsored by the Mackinac Horsemen's Association.

This year, 42 participants made the show a bustling, exciting day of riding. There were 158 entries in all classes.

Judge Moira Martinchek of Cheboygan said that she enjoys her time on the Island.

"The people here are all so nice and friendly," she said. "It's a nice, relaxing show to come judge."

Two raffles were held at the show. A $3,000 original painting by Elizabeth Pollie of a carriage tour, entitled "On the Avenue," was won by Mary K. McIntire, and a gourmet lunch for four atop an old-fashioned carriage, provided by the Chippewa Hotel, was won by Steve Rilenge.

Classes were in Showmanship and Grooming, Leadline, Bareback, English, and Western Equitation, Trail, Jumping, and the ever-popular Costume Class, which drew several creative entries, from a Christmas Elf to Paul Revere. Barrel racing, which required riders to lead their horses around three barrels in a clover leaf pattern, and the "Rusty" Memorial Cup, a Simon-says competition on horseback, added variety and fun to the show's many events.

Winners are listed below:

Grooming and Showmanship, 9-12: 1 Laurel Young; 2 Kristi Gough; 3 Rachel Spitzer; 4 Adrienne Rilenge; 5 Colton Fisher; 6 Diana Dupre. Grooming and Showmanship, 13-18: 1 Claire Dunnigan; 2 Lily Porter; 3 Kate Dupre; 4 Natalie Hribar; 5 Sarah Spitzer; 6 Morgan Brodeur-Bunker; HM Gabrielle Salerno. Grooming and Showmanship Adult: 1 Audrey Moran; 2 Anneke Owen; 3 Candi Dunnigan; 4 Trish Martin; 5 Anne Levy; 6 Michelle Stuck. Costume Class: 1 Adrienne Rilenge "Christmas Elf"; 2 Kyra Kolatski "'50s Girl"; 3 Diana Dupre "Racecar Driver"; 4 Amelia Roe "Geisha Girl"; 5 Sarah Spitzer "Fireman"; 6 Colton Fisher "Paul Revere"; HM Mention Rachel Spitzer "Queen of Hearts"; HM Gabrielle Salerno "Prom Girl."

Bareback Equitation, 9-12: 1 Kyra Kolatski; 2 Colton Fisher Bareback. Equitation, 13-18: 1 Claire Dunnigan; 2 James Dunnigan; 3 Morgan BrodeurBunker; 4 Kate Dupre; 5 Gabrielle Salerno; 6 Lily Porter.

Bareback Equitation, Adult: 1 Anneke Owen; 2 Allison Jones; 3 Candi Dunnigan; 4 Audrey Moran; 5 Linn Sheppard; 6 Katie Porter; HM Emily St. Onge.

Walk/Trot Equitation: 1 Anne Levy; 2 Rachel Spitzer; 3 Sarah Spitzer; 4 Amelia Roe; 5 Mackenzie Bean; 6 Lucas Karhoff. English Equitation, 9- 12: 1 Laurel Young; 2 Leah Croghan; 3 Diana Dupre.

English Equitation, 13-18: 1 Claire Dunnigan; 2 Kate Dupre; 3 James Dunnigan; 4 Natalie Hribar; 5 Morgan BrodeurBunker; 6 Gabrielle Salerno.

English Equitation, Adult: 1 Anneke Owen; 2 Michelle Stuck; 3 Audrey Moran; 4 Candi Dunnigan; 5 Allison Jones; 6 Linn Sheppard. Western Equitation, 9-12: 1 Kristi Gough; 2 Colton Fisher. Western Equitation, 13-18: 1 Gabrielle Salerno; 2 Patric Schlehuber.

Western Equitation, Adult: 1 Emily St. Onge; 2 Christina McLean. Trail, 9-12: 1 Anna McDowell; 2 Rachel Spitzer; 3 Mackenzie Bean; 4 Colton Fisher; 5 Laurel Young; 6 Diana Dupre. Trail, 13-18: 1 James Dunnigan; 2 Lily Porter; 3 Claire Dunnigan; 4 Anya Anding; 5 Gabrielle Salerno; 6 Patric Schlehuber. Trail, Adult: 1 Trish Martin; 2 Candi Dunnigan; 3 Anneke Own; 4 Alicia Findora; 5 Emily St. Onge; 6 Gretchen Coleman. Mary Milton Challenge: 1 Trish Martin; 2 Allison Jones; 3 Candi Dunniagn; 4 Claire Dunnigan; 5 Lily Porter; 6 Katie Porter. Over Fences/Low Course: 1 Kate Dupre; 2 Morgan BrodeurBunker. Hope Goodwin Hunter/Hack: 1 Trish Martin; 2 Linn Sheppard; 3 Candi Dunnigan; 4 Joan Fox Goodwin; 5 Katie Porter; 6 Alicia Findora.

Barrel Race, 9-12: 1 Kristi Gough; 2 Mackenzie Bean; 3 Colton Fisher; 4 Diana Dupre; 5 Lucas Karhoff; 6 Adrienne Rilenge. Barrel Race, 13-18: 1 Gabrielle Salerno; 2 Dupre.

Barrel Race, Adult: 1 Emily St. Onge; 2 Christina McLean; 3 Allison Jones. Rusty Cup: 1 Alicia Findora; 2 Trish Martin.

2006 Championship Awards

9-12 Western: Kristi Gough. 9-12 English: Laurel Young. 13- 18 Western: Gabrielle Salerno. 13-18 English: Claire Dunnigan. Adult Western: Emily St. Onge. Adult English: Anneke Owen.