Article Submitted by: MWHA President, Ashley Frones

Planning for the Minnesota Horse Expo is never an easy task.  The planning starts months in advance, beginning with the selection of horses and riders to partake in the Parade of Breeds, the equine demonstrations, the MWHA Booth and helping hands to decorate the MWHA stalls. Approximately four weeks prior to the Expo the horse owners are faced with the wonderful job of body clipping their horses.  If you ask any horse owner who has undertaken that cloud of hair, I am sure you will hear a wonderful variety of tales!

A stream of horses, riders, grooms, stall decorators and all around helpers arrived on Thursday the day before the opening ceremony.  The weather was beautiful and that really helped us look forward to a wonderful weekend.  Little did we know what was in store for us! The stalls were decorated and the horses tucked away for the evening, awaiting the masses that would arrive the next day. Unfortunately, all awoke to the pitter patter of rain on the rooftops, a rat-tat-tat that would NOT end until four days later! To get the real affect of what this did to us just ask Tine and Caitlin Donahue who slept in the back of a horse trailer all weekend!

Thank you to the following MWHA members who helped all of the horses and riders dress, groom, tack up, harness and survive the walk to the Coliseum:

• Larry DeWald
• Angie Fredrickson
• Joanie Novotny
• Becky Hansen
• Rachael Nyenhuis
• Carol Kirchoff
• Marty Mays
• Charlene Wolter
• Keith Peterson
• Dawn Erdman
• Flo Haapanen
• Joleen Waalen (I still cannot tie my tie without her and Joanie!)

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday we rode our Walking Horses in the one minute Parade of Breeds. This is never an easy feat with horses in and out of the arena so fast you cannot even remember being in there. We had a few bumps in the road, but feel that we did an excellent job of demonstrating our breed. Many comments were heard throughout the weekend about how well turned out our group was with impeccable attire and well groomed horses.  On Friday and Saturday we were allowed a five minute demonstration which gave us more time in the ring for the horses and riders to relax and show the signature gaits of the Tennessee Walking Horse breed. Fran Kueker and Deb Knudson were brave enough to drive their horses each time we went in the arena and they did a phenomenal job!

Last but not least a HUGE thank you to the following horses and riders for participating in this long and wet but highly successful weekend!

• Jane Scharber and Keepin' It A Secret
• Tine & Caitlin Donahue and High Stepin' Lady
• Meredith Hinnenkamp and Secret's Favorite Icon
• Deb Knudson and A Midnight Masterpiece
• Mary Malone and Elijah's Miss May
• Fran Kueker and Wolf's Walkman
• Ashley Frones and Dirty Little Secret