Sioux Munyon of Lakeside and friends take her team for a driving demonstration, one of many during the Valley Center Day of the Horse Feb. 13 at Star Valley Park.
VALLEY CENTER — The Valley Center Vaqueros Equine Education Foundation, along with Armstrong Feed in Valley Center, sponsored the community’s Third Annual Day of the Horse Feb. 13, putting on display the area’s vibrant, diverse equestrian world.
“We’re a group of equestrians who all have different interests and disciplines, so the Day of the Horse is a way to embrace that and share it with the general public,” said Julie Picot, a 30-year equestrianne who moved to Valley Center in 2004. “We have members who are into driving, and others are into cowboy challenges or drill team or dressage. We kind of showcase that diversity at the Day of the Horse, and its important for the community to come together.”
This year marked the Day of the Horse’s first time at Star Valley Park, which Picot said offered more space for adaditional vendors, trailer parking and exhibiting. More than 25 vendors participated in the all-volunteer event, which featured varied demonstrations as well as presentations by the club’s youth and adult drill teams and a selection of vendors. Demonstrators included local trainers such as Parelli professional, Margit Deerman; ACTHA and Ultimate Horse Challenge competitor, Jody Childs; Cowboy Challenge competitor and organizer, Chad Waldhauser; Knight School Instructor, Jeffrey Hedgecock; reining trainer, Karen Rabin; western equitation trainer, Barbara Price; and charros trainer, Javier Maldonado. Guests also enjoyed a parade of breeds.
“It’s our club’s way of giving back to the community and sharing our joy of horses with others — non-horse people, too,” Picot added. “We are seeing a cross-over. The key is getting the kids involved. If you get families coming to an event like the Day of the Horse, it can expose them to the wonderful world of horses in their community, and also to their involvement. Everybody wins!”
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