Friday — March 26, 2004

Local riders have
their day in the sun

Tucson horse show

---

Local riders packed up their horses, tack, clothes and parents for two weeks of competition at the HITS Arizona Winter Festival in Tucson. Hopefully, they had some extra room in their luggage because they were packing a few more ribbons and trophies on the return trip.

HITS is an acronym for Horses In The Sun and the "A" rated shows attract some of the most talented and elite riders in the country, March 3-14.

Katherine Demberg, Sami Taft (seated), Tori Pfaeffle, Glenn Cooper and friend enjoy a break during the Arizona Winter Festival Horse Show. Courtesy photo

The Tucson shows, held at the Pima County Fairgrounds, attracted local equestrians Sami Taft, Glenn Cooper, Tori Pfaeffle, Anja Sundali, Kat Dembergh, Karen MacMillan, Tanya Sevy and Danielle Smith and trainers Kim McDonald Koch (Cottonwood Creek Farm) and Teresa Englehart (Autumn Hills Farm).

Kat Dembergh on Macallan was named Champion of Medium Stirrup 17-Under Equitation Over Fences and Reserve Champion of both Tucson Hunter Low and Medium Stirrup 17-Under Equitation Over Fences. Dembergh garnered seven blue ribbons and three second-place reds.

Kim McDonald-Koch guided Tom Foolery, owned by Tori Pfaeffle, to a Championship in Tucson Open Hunter Low. McDonald-Koch collected seven top three placings.

Tori Pfaeffle also rode Tom Foolery to a Reserve Championship in two 12-under classes, Short Stirrup and Equitation. Pfaeffle was extremely busy competing in 22 classes and finishing in the top three nine times.

Glenn Cooper and Miss Ellie teamed to take the Championship in Junior Maiden Equitation Over Fences and the Reserve Championship in Medium Stirrup Under Saddle. The dynamic duo was very consistent finishing in the top three in 15 out of 23 classes.

Sami Taft on Yours Truly garnered a Reserve Championship in Short Stirrup 12-Under Over Fences. In 26 classes, Taft was first five times and second four times.

Anja Sundali and The Perfect Storm rode to several ribbons, including a second place in Children’s Jumper 1 Level I and fourth place three times.

Tanya Sevy and Highland Belle won a Reserve Championship and were third place or better in four out of the six classes they competed in.

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.