News Roundup - Summer 2008
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Where There’s A Will...
To say that Will Haynes had a successful season at the Spring Steeplechase races would be an understatement. This 18-year-old star took home $15,000 for winning the Quest Race on April 19th at the Block House Steeplechase in Tryon, NC. Of course he didn’t do it alone. Will has his 5-year-old gelding, Classy Brute, to thank for his win. The two returned home to Bristol, TN, rich with both pride and – well – money.
The Southern States Bristol Co-op is proud to supply Classy Brute and all of the Haynes family horses at their Holston Hollow Farm with Southern States feed and positive encouragement. Go Will!
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Dancing With The Stars
The Spalding County 4-H Varsity Riders of Georgia are the largest drill team in the southeast and the team to beat in 2008! The team is made up of 25 riders, ages nine to nineteen, riding horses in choreographed patterns to music. It’s like a square dance on horseback!
The team traveled to the Florida State Fair in February and clenched top drill team honors. They took home the Florida State Fair Competition Overall Judges’ Cup “Top Award” of the Competition. Since then they’ve also racked up five gold medals, three silver medals, and one bronze medal at the Unadilla, Georgia Southeastern Arena. The drill team is fueled by Legends® feed from the Griffin Service store.
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On A Hot Streak
Mary Casey and Willie Be A RedHot, or “Willie” for short, of Oneonta, AL, were recently honored at the Alabama Quarter Horse Association Banquet. The Auburn University freshman and her horse racked up seven championships: All-Around Novice Youth Champions, All-Around Youth Champions, State Champion in Novice Youth Horsemanship, State Champion in Novice Youth Showmanship, State Champion in Youth Horsemanship, State Champion in Youth Showmanship, and Reserve State Champions in Youth Geldings 3 and over.
Willie, the 2007 ALQHA All-Around High Point Gelding of the Year, was born and trained at the Casey’s home in Oneonta. Willie was raised on Southern States feed, and his current feed of choice is Legends® Show and Pleasure Textured feed. Mary mentions that people are always commenting on his coat and conditioning, and we’d like to think Southern States is partially to thank. Here’s wishing Mary the best of luck as she continues competing and works toward her goal to become a large animal vet at Auburn University!
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Put Through Their Paces
Ghost, ridden by Mary Potter, and Boomer, ridden by Gene Gartner (shown left) won the Virginia Point to Point Association’s Optimum Time Pairs for the third consecutive year. This year they have won individual meets at Casanova, Blue Ridge, Warrenton (tied) and Rappahannock. This fast hunter paces pair are fed Triple Crown® Senior from the Orange-Madison Co-op in Madison, Virginia.
Outstanding Equine Employee: Ray Ramsey
Let’s hear it for Ms. Ray Ramsey, this summer’s outstanding employee. Ray has been an outstanding employee of the MidWest Hay store in Ocala, FL for the past five years. Over those years, she has called on a lifetime of horse ownership and competition to serve the area’s equestrian community. Her past experience in the hunter, jumper, pleasure and barrel racing worlds, paired with her current love of trail riding on Bucky the buckskin Quarter Horse — the favorite among her six horses — means Ray can relate to the competitive rider and the casual horse lover.
Ray is always willing to help customers find answers for their problems. She’s a true
believer in the consistency and quality of Southern States feed after raising Bucky on
Triple Crown® Complete, but she understands the stress put on horse owners who
want to feed their horses the best while struggling with a sluggish economy. That’s
why she tries her best to find economical, but sound, ways for customers to properly
care for their horses.
It’s folks like Ray that set our stores apart. As Southern States Equine Feed Rep
Mike Dameron puts it, “She knows horses. She knows people.” And Ray knows that
her store is the place where a love of people and horses can meet. Our thanks to her
for making that store a pleasurable place to be.
