Its time to get ready for the Annual Aiken Horse Show in Hitchcock Woods!  The sidesaddle classes will be held Saturday, March 31 2012. There will be Appointments, Under Saddle, Hack, and and Over Fences classes.   96th Annual Aiken Horse Show for the benefit of the Friday, Saturday & Sunday March 30, 31 and April 1 2012 Judge Susie Schoellkopf Buffalo, New York

Matt Collins Mini Clinic The mini-clinic with Matt Collins was held at Ann Lawhorne's beautiful Cold Comfort Farm on February 1st.  Matt was very helpful in teaching the ladies the basics of jumping aside. The riders who attended were Betty Alexander, Helen Dellacroce, Sarah Acord, Ann Lawhorne, and Amber Asbell. Of course the rock solid "Saint Tennessee" was there carry some of the ladies safely over a small course of fences. Great Job Tenny, participants, and thank you Matt!!

Aiken Hounds Hunter Trials and Derby Congratulations to Wyatt and Amber Asbell-Jackson for winning The Most Suitable Field Hunter of the entire Aiken Hounds Hunter Trials and Derby show on November 13, 2011.  The two competed aside in the Field Hunter Division and in the Hunter Derby (a combination of show jumps and cross country style fences--27 fences in the Derby alone!) There were two sidesaddle competitors in the Ladies Hack.  Betty Alexander rode Wyatt and Amber Asbell rode Tortuga, both took home ribbons!

Click Here to download Entry. Entry will open in a new page, right click on the page and select print picture to print entry.

The Aiken Horse Show

The th annual Aiken Horse Show was held in Hitchcock Woods on April 1,2,3.  Ladies Sidesaddle included a Appointments, Sidesaddle Under Saddle, Sidesaddle Hack, and for the first time Sidesaddle Over Fences.  The turnout was fantastic, with more ladies riding than ever before, including two junior riders and a leadliner riding aside!

Amber Asbell-Jackson on Wyatt (left) and Betty Alexander on Tennessee (right).

Dave Lamey and Ann Lawhorne (left), Amber Asbell on Wyatt (top right), Betty Alexander on Tennessee (bottom right).

Tribute to Jane

Jane Bockenek lost a ten year struggle with cancer on Wednesday December 8, 2010. She was amazing and never gave up her sidesaddle riding or showing through her ordeal.
There is a story she wrote in "Chicken Soup for the Horse Lovers Soul", about how her horse Leroy helped her through the first years of the battle.  After Leory passed
she bought a young horse and continued her riding and showing aside.  Betty rode with her this past September, while visiting Maryland, she had no hair but a big
smile on her face.
This is a picture of Jane playing the national anthem on Betty's Wyatt at USET, Jane
played the anthem at many of the big shows, Washington, Penn National and
others, always in her sidesaddle and usually in her Air Force uniform.
The sidesaddle world will miss her and she will be fondly remembered.