Horse owners from the Borderland area and as far south as Grand Rapids and Hibbing competed at the Northern Lights Saddle Club’s annual Western Saddle Club Association Show at the Graves ranch in Ray. The event served as a State Fair tune-up or a way to support equine events in the area, with Marilyn Graves, a judge with over 40 years of experience, hosting the show for the past five years.
The nonprofit show aimed to bring out the horse riding community, with riders and horses qualifying for the WSCA championship show at the St. Paul Fairgrounds in September 2009. Judges like Robert Purdy from Mondovi, Wis. attended the event, evaluating various classes throughout the day. The show featured a variety of competitions, including halter, showmanship, English and Western pleasure, and trail classes.
Participants like Rhonda Clark, Wendy Johnson, and Isabella Ettestad won various events, showcasing their horses’ abilities in different categories. The event also featured unique competitions like free style showmanship and the open trail class, where Kelly Krueger and her mule Penny surprised attendees by winning. Overall, the event brought together horse enthusiasts from different areas to celebrate and compete in various equine events.
