Olivia Herbert Rides to Victory in ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Class at the 2008 Dallas Harvest Horse

Tyler, TX - It was another picture perfect day in Tyler, TX as the 2008 Dallas Harvest Horse Show continued today. The show, which is being held to benefit the charitable cause Habitat for Horses, will wrap up at the Texas Rose Horse Park tomorrow with the conclusion of the hunter championships and the exciting $25,000 Grand Prix of Dallas to complete the week's jumper competition.

The ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship class was held in the main hunter ring this afternoon. 13 entries competed in the over fences round and after two had refusals, the other 11 were called back to test on the flat. After both rounds of competition judges determined that it would be Olivia Herbert who would take top honors in the day's class. Herbert was victorious aboard her Junior Hunter horse Capistrano, owned by Mimi Herbert of Houston, TX.

Second place honors went to Sarah Milliren riding Everybody, owned by Donald Stewart of Ocala, FL. Milliren and Everybody were awarded second place in the afternoon's Pessoa/USEF Hunt Seat Medal class as well.

Class winner Olivia Herbert is 17 years old and is currently a junior in high school in her hometown of Houston, TX. Herbert competes in both the junior hunter and junior jumper divisions.

Herbert has been showing her horse Capistrano for about a year and a half. "He does very well and he wins a lot of championships," she said. "He was very brave today. He is very soft and when he is on his game he is very good."

Prior to the Maclay class, the Pessoa/USEF Hunt Seat Medal class was held. With 11 entries, the horses and riders competed in one round over fences, and then the top four were called back to test. The four pairs to test included Caroline Gibson and Apollo, owned by Elizabeth Tatum of Atlanta, GA to place first; Sarah Milliren and Everybody, owned by Donald Stewart of Ocala, FL to place second; Jessica Bass of Boerne, TX riding her horse El Matador to place third; and Eirin Bruheim riding Say No More, owned by Lene Bruheim of Houston, TX to place fourth.

Caroline Gibson and Apollo were the pair to execute the test most successfully, and were placed in first by the judges. Gibson, who is 15 years old from Houston, TX, really liked the first round course and the rollback turns that she and Apollo performed flawlessly. She also really liked the test. "I like when they try to challenge you with your leads, so it was really good," Gibson said.

Being from Houston, Gibson has competed at the Texas Rose Horse Park since the very first show was held here. "I really like it here I like how they are constantly improving on it because this show could be so great," she said.

The Adult Amateur Hunter division started things off in the main hunter ring this morning. The Adult Amateur Hunter 50 and Over division went first, with Emily Woodall and her horse Fun One sweeping every single class in the division's two days of competition for the championship win. Ellen Eaken was reserve champion of the division with Danka Shane, owned by Los Arboles of Oak Point, TX.

Woodall, of New Caney, TX has owned For Fun, an eight year-old Westphalian gelding, for about 18 months and the pair has been extremely successful together.

"I have been to 36 horse shows in two years and he has been champion at every show except for four," Woodall said. "He was reserve champion two of those and only two we didn't get anything. He has been a wonderful horse and he is definitely named properly. I will never have another horse that has been as consistent and wonderful as this one has been for me."

Bernadette Mulliken topped the Adult Amateur Hunter 36-49 division this morning, winning both champion and reserve champion honors. Mulliken, of Plainview, TX rode her horse Title Town to the championship win and came in reserve with Weston, owned by Yates Hunter/Jumper LLC of Alto, NM.

Mulliken's champion horse Title Town is a ten year-old Hanoverian who did the jumpers up until about a year ago. "He is a fabulous, fun ride," she said. "He is just as honest as they get. He comes out here and does his job and he is just a lot of fun."

Mulliken's reserve champion horse Weston is 11 years old and she is currently leasing him. "He is just one of those dream horses," she said. "It is so nice to get in the ring with Weston because he is so secure. He has done this for several years and has been so successful at his job."

Mulliken showed here at the Dallas Harvest Horse Show last year and decided to make it a family affair this year, coming with her mother and daughter who both ride as well. "It is so pretty here, we just love the trees," she said.

The Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 division showed next, with the championship win going to Katcha'Reminiscing and owner/rider Caroline Auclair of Dallas, Texas. Reserve champion was All In, owned and ridden by Carly Lazzari of Boerne, TX.

22 year-old Caroline Auclair trains with Katja Kellenberger and has only had her six year-old Hanoverian mare Katcha'Reminiscing for six months. "She is by far the coolest horse that I have ever ridden," Auclair stated. "She is so smart and soft. To ride her it is like butter; she will try anything and she is so brave."

Auclair has been showing at the horse park almost every show since they opened the property and she loves it. "It is so beautiful here; Kim (Brunson) did a great job," Auclair said. "This is the place to be. I love it and the horses love it. They love to be outside with the open space."

Tomorrow is the last day of competition for the 2008 Dallas Harvest Horse Show at the Texas Rose Horse Park in Tyler, TX. In the hunter rings the ponies and junior hunters will compete for championship honors. The jumpers will also conclude their week of competition with the exciting finale of the $25,000 Grand Prix of Dallas.

The horse show has teamed up with Habitat for Horses, one of the country's largest horse protection organizations, for the second year in a row. The organization provides a sanctuary and a second chance for horses in dangerous situations and is a great cause to empower. Habitat has several rescued horses on the show grounds this week that are looking for a good home and everyone who has participated in the competition and events has done a great thing to help these horses in need.

For more information please visit: www.southboundshows.com

For full results please visit: www.horseshowsonline.com

For more information and to view adoptable horses please visit: www.habitatforhorses.org

Photo Credit: Olivia Herbert Won the ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Class at the 2008 Dallas Harvest Horse Show in Tyler, TX with her horse Capistrano. Photo (C) 2008 Lauren Fisher/PMG.