THE KEYSTONE CHARITY ARABIAN HORSE EXPERIENCE
November 25th and 26th was the weekend heard about around the Arabian horse world, and it has the entire industry abuzz with inspiration and excitemtent.
What began with simply a vision, some generously offered support and roll-up-your-sleeves hard work, resulted in something far more than the incredible outreach and $160,000+ in payouts offered in six classes highlighted at the historic AHAF Holiday Festival Horse Show. What resulted was million
dollar smiles of thousands who came through the gates of the World Equestrian Center, Ocala, and when they were introduced to our beloved Arabian horses ... and it was magic!
“Crafting something new to build on something old without compromising the integrity of one, the other, or both is a very interesting undertaking,” says Mary Trowbridge. “On November 29, 2021, when six of us sat down with the World Equestrian Center (WEC) staff in Ocala following the 53rd Annual Arabian Horse Association of Florida’s AHAF Holiday Horse Show, it didn’t really occur to those at the table that we were undertaking something unusual. We just all knew it was the right time and place to try. Our idea was simple, we thought.
1. Create more excitement by incorporating either existing or new prize money horse show classes into the show, so we would attract more entries to entertain with and raise awareness of the event among our internal community; by holding those classes in the incomparable outdoor ring, in the evening, under WEC’s incomparable Holiday Lights Festival; and incorporate some different types of classes that would entertain participants, and entertainment acts that would appeal to non-horse owners. We also hoped to add in some spectator friendly “edu-tainment” with color commentary from judges as well as announcers, and a chance for the spectators to join in with the judging.
2. Build an Arabian Horse Experience during the daytime with specific Ambassador horses whose only job during the show would be to engage with new people, one or two or three at a time, and allow our horses to do what they REALLY do best, engage with us human beings, and entertain and educate them while we were at it.
3. And finally, to let the breed engage with the Ocala community by benefitting area charities that would resonate with the people we were targeting and let them see how giving both our horses and the people they own are.
Fast forward 12 months, with support of many forward thinking individuals, and a community that believed ... it happened.”
“Probably the most exciting and beautiful horse show I have ever been to. WEC is just amazing— the Christmas decorations, the atmosphere, the incredible horses, the packed grandstands … it’s hard to explain, but first class all the way. Along with all that, the very important Keystone Ambassador Horses and the Amazing Horse Woman Experience Barn introduced hundreds of families and children to the beautiful Arabian horse. This needs to happen everywhere! We sent so many people on to local barns and lesson programs. Words cannot describe it. It was an incredible Experience!!”
~ Lorie Henderson“The
It was an incredible honor to be part of this event, and to be allowed to integrate our ideas and dreams into your beautiful horse show—we are so grateful.
Ultimately, I think this is the best possible example I could imagine of how fantastically things succeed when we are all working together for the good of the whole, which should always, always be with what serves the best interest of our irreplaceable Arabian horses. Together, we win.”
~ Mary Trowbridge Keystone Experience group is deeply indebted to the Arabian Horse Association of Florida membership, board, and show manager Laurie Ann Salmi and Secretary Ryan Chambers, for their foresight and largess in allowing us to integrate this inaugural Arabian Horse Promotional Fund event with the 54th Annual Holiday Horse Show.Both nights in the Grande Arena in front of that brilliant hotel, came entertainment for thousands in the form of 10 Nationally acclaimed Arabian Stallions, Sylvia Zerbini with her beautiful Arabian Horse Liberty Act, trick rider Becca Watson on her Arabian mount Sage, song artist Maddy Winer, and world class announcers Scott Christmas and Jason Gillespie.
“I’ve never witnessed a newcomer-centric event with so many spectators filling the stands and walking the barn aisles. Singles, couples, entire families—all ages, all ethnicities, ALL of it. There was a palpable joy and warmth that permeated every presentation, every activity and every class, and it was nothing short of magical. I left completely reinvigorated and full of hope for the future of our beloved horses, because the way forward was now crystal clear.”
~ Augusta Hammock Coltrane and Lance Lewis; one of the 18 exciting stallions presented during opening ceremonies each night. LluviaThe Royal Arabians $15,000 Arabian Hunter Pleasure and the $30,000 Strawberry Banks Farm/AEPA Arabian Country English Pleasure Pro-Am Challenges saw over 30 teams of pro and amateur riders into the show ring, all smiling from entry to exit thanks to the excitement of showing as a team to a full house, under the lights in the spectacular WEC Grand Arena.
Champion Reserve
3rd Place
4th Place 5th Place
Crowd Vote
Afires Rejoice - Lori Conway & Lance Lewis
Nautique VA - Michelle Watson & Tish Kondas
Afterburner - Lauren Adamek & John Rannenberg
CP Solar Flare - Brooke Hines & Rob Bick
SA Heir Kiss - Nora Shafffer & Makenna Rooker
A Revelation BHA - Rachel Romero & Mikey Ancheta
Champion Reserve
3rd Place 4th Place 5th Place
Crowd Vote
Thunderella - Lori Eway & Mary Trowbridge
SVA My Royal Flush - Brea Kratzert & John Rannenberg
DA Accenti - Haley Hines & Dale Brown
Signifyed RR - Lane Naymola & Kelsey Flohr
DA Augustine - Jordan Cline & Lydia Wilson
Signifyed RR - Lane Naymola & Kelsey Flohr
Below: The costumes came out during the Keystone Egg & Spoon Showdown with Joe Alberti aboard Pharaoh CRF named crowd favorite.
Right: These “Littles,” Azae and Zola Johnson, went viral on social media, raising over $1,700 for the Egg & Spoon Showdown, which was added to what resulted in $4,000 in prize money split with charities and class winner Robin Ford riding Vincenzo.
The Arabian Ambassadors stole the show! There were 10 in all (six geldings, three stallions, and one mare), and they came to the party suited up and ready to love! Thousands came through the Amazing Horse Woman Experience barn, and witnessed first hand, their magnificence and kindness. The barn was filled with games, face painting, demonstrations and clinics. The public certainly showed their desire to touch our horse and the number of selfies is countless.
“Having stalled right next to the Keystone Arabian Horse Experience aisles, I witnessed firsthand what the Keystone Committee, Laurie Salmi and the AHAF Board have accomplished. This weekend at the World Equestrian Center was actual magic … the Christmas lights, the sound of Christmas music in the air, the beautiful facility, and everywhere we turned, were unicorns in the guise of beautiful Arabian horse Ambassadors.
What this small group of people created was the exact opposite of the virtual living to which so many of us have grown accustomed to over the last several years. Here, they offered the chance to feel, smell, and experience in real time, beauty, talent, and athleticism up close and personal in the form of the Arabian horse. For hundreds of children, it was a weekend they will never forget; I am sure this experience will fill their dreams with magical images for many years to come. I wish everyone could have seen the joy on the faces of almost every person at this event, coupled with wonder at the beauty around them.
Even I, who have traveled the world to watch Arabian horse events, have never seen anything quite like the Experience at WEC, starting Friday night when the facility turned on their Christmas lights, and the barns were full of people seeing our magical Arabian horses for the first time.”
~ Allison Mehta
Saturday night kicked off with a second Stallion Showcase and entertainment followed by AHAF’s Achievement Awards and In-Hand classes. It was a beautiful setting for watching HalfArabians and purebreds charge into the ring for the spectacular Native Costume class sponsored by Barta Show Horses, all vying for the win and the reward of a beautiful new costume.
“There is no doubt that the Keystone Event accomplished its mission to highlight the Arabian horse to a larger segment of the population.
Both nights the stands were full for the classes and entertainment, and Ambassador’s Row was the center of engagement for all ages and walks of life. Indeed, a very busy place with guests interacting with the horses and owners. The interest in the breed was genuine, many not familiar with the breed walking away saying they wanted to learn more. The event showcased the versatility of the breed both in and out of the arena.
My favorite was a young man with a big smile interacting with the horse and the horse’s total attention on the young man.
My warmest thanks to all who made this event a reality and a big success. Certainly, a template for future events.”
~ Nancy DeLisiChampion Reserve
3rd Place
4th Place
5th Place
Crowd Vote
Hot Rodder PF - Christy Higman-Clements
A True Temptation - Lance Lewis
Nobles Heir - Shannon Feinroth
Have You Ever - Elizabeth Pizzonia
Young Gunz - Tiffiny Barta
Vannity Fair - Jesslyn Williams
“Our hearts were full and our love and dedication for the Arabian horse grew even more after the Keystone Ambassador event. We had the beautiful, flea-bitten grey Arabian mare Mary Maya V to represent Conway Arabians. ‘Mary’ met hundreds of people over the four days she was there and every person got to feed, pet, groom, learn about her story, and some were even lucky enough to sit on her!
Everyone learned that the Arabian horse is the ‘Horse that loves you back’ and that they are ‘Bred to Move You’ with their kind attitude and beautiful spirit. They were all excited and grateful for the opportunity to meet an Arabian and very appreciative of the extra perks they received in their bags, which included magazines, coloring books and treats. We were proud to be part of this incredible experience and we are looking forward to supporting the Keystone event in the future.”
~ Peter & Lori ConwayThe novel, Anvil Arabians Best In Show award, went to the dynamic O Sherlock, the beloved stallion owned by Augusta Hammock, who just happened to be one of The Keystone’s first visionaries, her artwork creating the event’s logo. The moment was twice as nice as this winner was also the crowd favorite!
Above: Barta Show Horse’s SF The Patriot brought the crowd to their feet as they sang along with BMI recording artist and Arabian Horse lover Maddy Winer, during the opening ceremonies. Caralyn Schroter was in the irons for the goosebumps!
Suzanne
From open and junior horses, to junior, adult amateur and professional riders, the Palmetto Arabians $105,000 Purebred Western Pleasure Jackpot was a spine-tingling display of horsemanship to close out The Keystone Experience. Nine horses, saw eight of the industry’s best professional riders, and one intrepid amateur, Lindsay Adams, shine under the lights in a display equaled only by the camaraderie among the competitors as they schooled together throughout the week. The incredible display closed out the Keystone Events portion of the Holiday Festival with dignity, excellence and honor.
“Magic. That’s what the Keystone Experience was for me.
Magic in the form of beautiful Arabian Horse Ambassadors, one by one alongside their owners, showing firsthand why we are all so passionate about this breed.
Magic in the form of our incredible community raising thousands of dollars for three charities.
Magic in the presence of so many wonderful, giving Arabian horse people who sponsored a dream they hadn’t seen yet, who supported our vision and moved us forward, step by step, to produce something for a higher good.
Magic is real, and it was everywhere”
~ Jenn Trickey
Keystone Board of Directors:
Rob Bick
John Rannenberg
Laurie Salmi
Mary Trowbridge
Brea Kratzert
Mike Wilson
Becky Nash
Jaime Johnson Jenn Trickey
In the end, the magical weekend will hopefully be a new beginning.
A new beginning for those who were introduced and fell in love with an Arabian horse.
And a new beginning for the way we share our horses with the outside world.
Amazing Horse Woman LLC
Anvil Arabians
AEPA
Arabian Horse Promotional Fund
Barta Show Horses
Hagale Family Arabians
Palmetto Arabians
Royal Arabians
Strawberry Banks Farm
Alistair Arabians
Arabian Horse Times
AWPA
Augusta Hammock
Black Daniels
C. Jarvis Insurance Agency Inc.
Cedar Ridge Arabians
Cheeser’s Palace Cafe
Chestnut Hill Arabians
Chris Culbreth
Conway Arabians
Dale Brown Performance Horses
DELSAN Arabians
Desert Sky Arabians
Dolorosa Arabians
Hennessey Arabians
Elizabeth Pizzonia
Equine Athlete Veterinary Services
Friends of Vail
Jason Gillespie
Jillian Amato Whitlow
Joey Canda
Judy Kibler
Karen Adamek/KarynsArt.com
Laura Koch
Linda Reed
Linda Musso
Maddy Winer
Misty Woods Arabians
Nan Harley
Ocala Equestrian Academy
Purina Performance Horse
RBC Show Horses
Rohara Arabians
Ryan Chambers
Scott Christmas
Shannon Feinroth
Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show
Shea Stables
Signature Oak Stables
Southern California Equestrian Center
Sterling-Equine
Sydney Serrano
The MDP of AHA
The Modern Horse
Wilson Training Center & Bloodstock
WITH GREG HARRIS
Thank You to Palmetto Arabians for the generous class sponsorship that showcased such beautiful Western Pleasure Horses.
And to the Arabian Horse Promotional Fund with the Arabian Horse Association of Florida, for creating such a magical weekend that has inspired us all.