Meet Wranglers Sonny Dee and Jim Peters

Sonny and Jim have become a pair to contend with in a very short time. While most stories read, a life long competitor Jim took to the saddle just four years ago purchasing his first horse.  Wranglers Sonny Dee is by the Hall of Fame stallion Sir Wrangler.  Sonny was green broke and a tall 16.2 Large for a pleasure prospect. What a perfect first horse for this super team. Sonny is boarded at a training stable, but is not in training. Jim takes lessons once a week with Sydney Bard lifetime appaloosa exhibitor.

Jim also rides himself 3 times a week and credits showing and schooling year round a key to keeping his horse correct and in a good frame of mind. His shoer John D’Allasandro keeps Sonny balanced and moving in good form and the lessons with Sydney round out the package. Ask Jim about dress and he will quickly tell you a well fitting pair of chaps are the key to the riders overall picture.

Jim took his first year of showing B system with a storm, ending at the Finals with the 50 and Over All around and the coveted Jack Benny belt buckle.

Jim looks forward to many more years of showing.

(click on picture to enlarge)

Meet Christina White & Scotty

The 2005 Finals Show 

This show was the favorite of my career.  Past Finals shows had been a struggle, as I hadn’t done particularly well, so, going in, I had a thirst to prove myself.  This was especially the case since it was to be my last official show on Scotty for a while.  I had a serious case of nerves before the show jumbled with memories of showing – I thought about how much I loved it, how much I had learned, and how different a person I was now compared to when I first started riding. 

I spent a lot of time preparing for this Finals show since I planned to compete in many different disciplines – from showmanship (English and western), English equitation and pleasure, western equitation and pleasure not to mention western riding.  I had a great show – the classes were large and the competition was intense.  There were a huge number of buckle classes (I won 7!) and EXCELLENT prizes for all classes. Scotty, my athletic and talented bay Appaloosa, was an angel for me.  I finally learned to just let him go on his own – to leave him alone as Tawnya had told me to do and, for those of you who know Tawnya, she is almost always right!