Greetings from the “COLD” Coast. This is definitely one of my favorite shows of the year but I think we all enjoy it a little more when the weather is warmer!  However, the heat has been on for Trainer Bowl votes! Trainer Bowl mania has hit down here big time. You should have seen people literally scrambling to and from the show pen Sunday night to cast votes for their favorites at the end of Round One.  I plan to catch up with a few of the participating trainers while we're here.

It looked like the Congress last night at the hunter under saddle show arena with everyone wrapped up like Eskimos. And the “Hot” topic – Sharnai’s positively FABULOUS Hot Ones Only jacket by Good Ride. Wow, it was amazing. Hannah, have you been holding out on me?

Christmas has come and gone in an instant, but I was so excited to see an item from my “Last Minute” shopping list turning up on the hand of Dr. Leslie Myers, who looked GREAT on her new hunter, Stroke For Stroke. Leslie’s husband, and Congress Tri Chairman, Dr. Scott Myers did a fantastic job on his sparkly pick thanks to a little help from his friends here at GHS! Happy to help Dr. Scott (now…how about getting some stalls next year in the coveted Gilligan Barn – LOL). Fresh off his wins at Select World, Scott was also the big winner on his hunter, Capture The Flag in the Select Working Hunter and Equitation Over. And BTW, the black show coolers from my Congress must have list are being put to good use by quite a few of you down here! Looking good my friends!

After one of the more complicated trades in Major League Baseball history, our favorite star, Roy Halladay has found a new home with the Philadelphia Phillies. His wife Brandy was enjoying the show last night with her handsome son who is Roy’s mini-me. Continued success both on the field, and with your horses!

A special thanks to the Maxwell family (that's Elexxah pictured left) who made sure Santa found all of us this year with their well lit and adorably decorated RV. I have pegged the celebrations in our little gypsy camp here at the Gold Coast, “Motor-Home for the Holidays”. Hope Santa was good to all of you too.

Calling all Youth here in Florida! As the current NSBA Youth President, I would like to cordially invite all the 18/under exhibitors here at the Gold Coast to attend the NSBA Youth meeting 12/29 at 10:00 a.m. to be held in the Florida Youth Tent. Parents and trainers are always welcome to sit in too! We are a really friendly group, and would like to see some new faces! Youth can have a powerful voice in the industry.

Looks like Rita Crundwell and Meri-J Ranch have done it again! I can’t begin to thank them enough for their HUGE generosity in sponsoring our NSBA youth BBQ to be held from noon to 2:00 p.m. on the 29th at the Gold Coast in the Youth Tent. ALL exhibitors are invited to attend this annual event. Lunch is $5.00 per person, and any additional donations are very much appreciated. Come and join us, and don’t forget to pick up one of our terrific T-Shirts while you are there. This is also the time of the year to be making those ever important stallion selections. Visit Rita and Jim’s fabulous line-up of stallions for the 2010 breeding season.

Where does she find the time? Over-achiever, Katie Jo Jones is off to South Africa soon on a Mission trip with her school. Props to KJ’s Mom who was seen sporting her fashionable GoHorseShow.com headband at the arena which she credited for keeping her warm.

The Piper family is growing in leaps and bounds with the recent marriage of Chad to Nicole Giumenti. Did I hear correctly that the bride ended up in the swimming pool? No one loved Christmas more than Chad’s nephew, baby Bradley Baker (son of Brian and Dawn Piper Baker) who was off on his new farm vehicle and wagon painted appropriately in GHS green! Word is that he's working on getting Mom and Dad votes for Round 2 of the Trainer Bowl!

Poor Nancy Wilkerson is sporting a limp and a foot cast! She had to confess that the injury occurred from nothing more glamorous than taking out the trash. It hasn’t kept her from working hard and looking great though. Look to see her in the western classes, and back in the hunter under saddle as soon as she can get her boot on!

Some of the high point competitions may come down to the wire. I’ll be there to bring you the reports and the winners. Now, start thinking about your News Year’s Resolutions. I’ll be stopping by for all the secrets. Got news? Drop me a note at Dakota@GoHorseShow.com and I’ll do my best to report it.

Click here for unofficial results from the Florida Gold Coast.

Stay Warm,
Koko

p.s.  Oh yeah, and thanks to all of you who sent their best wishes to my little baby Bindi-Sue who spent the night in the emergency vet hospital Christmas Eve. She had a little health scare, but is recovering nicely.