All I can say is those girls at Gordyville, USA sure do know how to take care of their exhibitors! The Hannagan sister trio of Patty, Mary and Jody were all on hand for their three day show this past weekend in Gifford, Illinois, and provided a great time to what appeared to be a sell-out event. Can I just say, “Thank you for cranking up the heat!” Although it was sooooo blustery outside, the barns were toasty warm, which Jody attributes to her daddy, Mr. Gordon Hannagan. She joked that “Dad loves to spend $$ when it comes to keeping exhibitors happy” Now that’s customer service that everyone appreciated!
If you missed the event, the points, a fun group, great circuit awards, cash paybacks, blah, blah, blah, you also missed an awesome party honoring AQHA’s new top ladies! It was seriously one of those “Be there, be square moments! I was so proud that my boss at NSBA, Ms. Dianne Eppers (left) was honored as the AQHA Professional Horsewoman of the Year, along with the amazing and energetic Johne Dobbs, who was appointed to the AQHA Executive Committee. Way to go ladies! You are a huge inspiration to me, and others in the industry.
On hand to celebrate the new “Girl Power” at AQHA was an enthusiastic and supportive crowd of exhibitors, staff and facility founder/owner, auctioneer-extraordinaire, Mr. Gordy Hannagan himself! Talk about industry royalty! And where have those Hannagan girls been hiding Mr. H’s hottie grandson, Jordan Frerichs (pictured here) who is majorly hitting the online video radar scene with Team Radical Outdoors. According to their website, the team consists of young men with ambition, enthusiasm, and the respect for the great outdoors. The group is hopeful for a TV bid in 2011 – how cool is that? Sorry readers, I just can’t blog without a hottie alert.
My favorite event of the weekend was definitely the Riders with Disabilities classes for both supported and independent exhibitors. Y’all know this is near and dear to my heart <3. As someone who donates time to EWD and RWD programming, I urge each of you to try to touch the lives of just one person who has the same dreams and aspirations that we all do when it comes to loving horses. The local media support of these awesome individuals was amazing. To all my horse show manager friends and secretaries, please follow suit if you aren’t offering these classes already. I urge all of you to contact local riding clubs or NAHRA affiliates to do what you can to help.
Before I sign off, I did stumble upon a little must have item at Pard’s that had “Dakota” written all over it. If you are brave at heart, or just an exhibitionist, you have to own the amazing gold Rios boots! A footnote to Mom, and Dad; “I promise I don’t need the Goose who laid the Golden Egg for Easter anymore; just please ask the Easter Bunny to bring me those boots – LOL! “
For any of you who haven’t been to Gordyville in 2010, be sure to mark an upcoming event on your calendar. The Hannagan’s Midwestern hospitality is hard to beat, and this was one of my favorite shows of the year to date. P.S., halter is free with a paid performance entry!
A final “Hooray” to all you GoHorseShow.com “Greenies” who were sporting your best “green” duds at Gordyville. Yes, I noticed and was so excited! If you are sporting our favorite color, you can bet I am coming for you! See you down the road!
xoxo,
Dakota
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Show judges: Rob Meneely of Georgia, Nancy Sue Ryan of Texas, and our very own GHS.com Olympic reporter, Lisa Krohn!
