“Harriet’s favorite class was the western pleasure and she loved watching and showing it,” Bonnie Sheren says about her late and beloved friend, Harriet Yakatan, who passed away from cancer last year.
Sun & Surf Circuit Show manager Clay MacLeod wanted to have a perpetual memorial trophy made in her honor.
“Harriet never missed this show and even came last year even though she wasn’t showing. Her children were asked if they’d like to present it to the winner, and they and the grandchildren came down to Del Mar for this occasion to present the trophy to the circuit champion of the Select Western Pleasure class.”
After the placings for the class were announced, Harriet’s family was brought into arena while the announcer made some comments about Harriet and this special award. The overall winner of the class receive the engraved silver bowl, and a plaque with her name will be added to the base of the bowl.
“There were a lot of people that stopped what they were doing and came over to the pleasure arena to watch this presentation,” Sheren states. “Some of Harriet’s friends who live in Southern California came to be there to honor her. It was very emotional for everyone watching and participating.”
The winner was Bobbi Shaw who trains with Tonya Brown in California. “I don’t show western pleasure but as a tribute to Harriet, I participated in the class. She always encouraged me, and I know she would have been thrilled to see me doing the pleasure,” Sheren says (pictured left with Harriet).
