Walking On Volume 4, Issue 8, August 2017 | Page 13

Day 6
The walking horse industry is steeped in tradition
and Wednesday evening’s show started out as a perfect
example. Mary Kepplinger sang a beautiful rendition
of our national anthem 25 years after her mother sang
the anthem at the International. Pretty special!  Re-
nee Stasiewicz and her mare I’m Demanding, claimed
5th and their last International ribbon as this former
International Champion is retiring to motherhood. I’m
Demanding has been a great show ring contender and
we look forward to seeing her foals in the ring. One
thing The International does each year is recognize our
first time at THE INTERNATIONAL exhibitors. It is
interesting to ask these first time International partic-
ipants why they came to the show. We receive varying
answers but the one that always tears me up is the
answer “It was on my bucket list.”  Another one is “Ev-
eryone says this show is just so much fun, I just had to
come see for my own self!” There were many first time
exhibitors this year and all seemed to appreciate their
1st Time Exhibitor Ribbons. As I gave Maria Redmond
from Bethel, OH her exhibitor ribbon she commented
on how much fun she was having. Moments later, she
won the Trail Pleasure Novice Horse and Novice Rider
and she was having even more fun. Winning blue
ribbons can be addicting. We hope she will be back! As
of tonight we have had 1601 entries come thru the gate
for our judges selections! I am so proud of WHOA
and all the folks who pitch in to make this show the
world’s best pleasure and colt show. Thank YOU so
very much! AND we are finished before midnight ----
look out bed------here we come!!!!! A shout out to the
many exhibitors who have texted-phoned--or made a
special effort to stop and let the staff know that they
are enjoying the International and appreciate the hard
work it takes to make this show possible.
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