by Judy Serie Nagy, ACORD Executive Director

Riders with disabilities had the time of their lives at the second annual ACORD Southeastern Nationals and Georgia Regional Horse Show for Riders with Disabilities held the week of July 21 - 26, 1998. Wills Park Equestrian Center in Alpharetta, just north of Atlanta, hosted us for the second year in fine style. Mary Frankel of SONORA FARMS was a most excellent Local Manager. The show was a qualifier for USCPAA TeamUSA to compete in Denmark next year. The "borrowed horses" were absolutely superb - I heard comments such as "This is the best horse I've ever ridden" and "This week has changed the whole focus of my riding ambitions". Mary is to be congratulated on her stupendous efforts in recruiting quality horses - the very heart of a good competition. Not only were the horses magnificent - many of the owners stayed all week coaching "their" riders.

The ACORD key staff assembled for breakfast on Tuesday at 6 AM, followed by an Organizational Meeting at Wills Park at 7. Fanning out like busy little beavers all over the property, each person had his list of responsibilities, and we were eager to get set up to welcome horses and riders at noon.

Loyal and hard-working ACORD Key Staffers at the Georgia show were Steve Frankel (GA), Char Feuerhelm (CA), MaryJo Beckman (VA), Tim Shurtleff (MO), Linda Fritsch (IN), Bob Grassmyer (CA), Julie Hall (GA), John Stevenson (England), Pam Dance (MT), Nora Grassmyer (CA), Charla Shurtleff (MO), Chuck Brannan (GA), Louie Plagge (PA), Ernie Fritsch (IN), Patrish Lawrie (CA), Karen Lang (GA), Doug Smith (England), Lynda Lane (GA), Marj Kittredge (MA), Mary Frankel (GA), Jay Johnson (CA), Clifton Sudberry (CA), Marjie Brannan (GA),

All deserve (and received) warm thanks and appreciation for their fine work making this show the best event I've ever een involved with. The weather was not to be believed - nice, warm and breezy the whole week with just a few little thunderstorms which conveniently made their appearance when we didn't mind much.

Wednesday was matching and training all day, with Pam Dance's fascinating Obstacle Clinic in the afternoon. The staff was treated to a wonderful dinner at the local Macaroni Grill Wednesday night, arranged by Mary Frankel. (I still don't know how they grill that macaroni, but it was delicious!).

Thursday we continued training and matching. A special treat Thursday night was the arrival of the production crew from National Geographic Television in Burbank, who filmed all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday for "The Horse". This show will be part of a prime-time special for Nature ... we are hoping that our riders with disabilities receive lots of air time in the finished product, due on your TV in the spring of '99.

By Friday morning everything was in high gear to get ready to greet the locals as they arrived with horses, riders and volunteers. National Geographic dove right in filming all the preparation and bustle. The General Organizational Meeting on Friday night was the usual chaos of final information, great pizza and lots of hassling poor old Nagy - Sally King made me read the whole class list to the assembled participants!

Our Opening Parade went off without a hitch, with Lynda Lane's beautiful voice and the crisp flag formation of Canton Boy Scouts. As always, an ACORD show starts on time, and we began with 4 rings at once. Saturday's Equitation and Dressage classes ran in the Covered Arena, while Obstacle and Futures rides were performed in the two outside arenas. Californians Char Feuerhelm and Bob Grassmyer outdid themselves and produced an Obstacle Course that knocked 'em dead! With Steve Frankel and Karen Lang, they brought in nearly 5 dozen huge shrubs and trees to decorate everything, and Wills Park was a sight to behold.

As everyone left to get cleaned up for the party Saturday night it started to pour, causing much concern to our Event Manager. Of course, it stopped raining and the sun came out just as the party was beginning. (Rumor was that I had a special deal with the weather person.) The Hoe-Down began with a delicious catered dinner and music, then we all gathered for the Retirement Ceremony for Midland's Carousel in the Covered Arena. Lots of excitement with National Geographic's flood lights, the ShakeRag Hounds and Carousel himself looking wonderful trotting in under Karen Lang. It was a most moving event as we presented Carol Wooley and Carousel with a beautiful 1998 ACORD cooler, red Professional's Choice Sports Boots, and a gigantic flower garland. We were assisted by John Stevenson in top hat and tails, Elaine Jeffers from EquiKids and Shawn Donaldson from Carousel Equestrian Center in Kathleen, Georgia, and Arena Manager Char Feuerhelm.

Sunday began with Musical Freestyle Dressage, followed by the hotly-contested IPEC World Championship Dressage classes to qualify for next year's trip to Denmark- 21 rides in all! Every international hopeful that I spoke with was most pleased with her borrowed horse - seems like everywhere I went in my golf cart all week I saw the beaming faces of Beth Levine and Ali Mann on their wonderful local mounts.

Pole Bending on Sunday was the usual fun and games, and we gathered eagerly for the Gala Awards Ceremony and Luncheon. SONORA FARMS Parents Group prepared a beautiful brunch for us. We presented Mary Frankel with a huge planter full of flowers, delivered on a golf cart decorated like a Rose Bowl float. The awards presentations generated much enthusiasm ... whooping, cheering, barking and tears of happiness. National Geographic crew were most impressed at the enthusiasm and joy in this collection of competitors. This year we were pleased to present beautiful silver trophies to High-Point Operating Center, and High-Point Rider in each skill division: Walk, Minimal Trot, Intermediate Trot, Advanced Trot, Canter and Advanced Canter. STAR (Shangri-La Therapeutic Academy of Riding) from Knoxville, Tennessee, won the High-Point Operating Center Award with 9 riders and 169 points. High-Point Riders were: Walk: Elaine Spallone; Minimal Trot: Taylor Thurmond; Intermediate Trot: Elaine Jeffers; Advanced Trot: Rebecca Hart; Canter: Bret Brannan and Advanced Canter: Kebbie Cannon.

This year's show was one of the nicest events I've ever been involved with - hats off to riders, volunteers and staff!

OUR 1998 GEORGIA SHOW GENEROUS SPONSORS - MANY THANKS!!

MaryJo & Bob Beckman, Falls Church VA Jeanne Blackwell, MadCap Farm, The Plains VA Robin Brueckmann & Bordeaux, Summerfield NC COCA-COLA, Atlanta GA Pam Dance, WILLS PARK, Alpharetta GA The Steve Frankel Family, Canton GA Linda & Ernie Fritsch, South Bend IN Nora & Bob Grassmyer, Pleasanton CA Hamilton Horse Cookies, TALLY OATS, Groveland MA Jay Johnson, Gilroy CA Unicorn Editions, LEATHER THERAPY, Oldwick NJ Beth Levine, Seattle WA Diane Murphy, Erdenheim PA Charissa, Amy, Tracy & Dan Nagy, SECURITIES AMERICA NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, Los Angeles CA PROFESSIONAL'S CHOICE, Spring Valley CA Louise Salter, Atlanta GA Charla & Tim Shurtleff, Villa Ridge MO TLC TACK SHOP, Erie PA Carol Wooley, CAROUSEL, Kathleen GA

1999's show is scheduled for July 13 - 18 at Wills Park in Alpharetta, Georgia. It will be a qualifier for Team USA to represent us at the 2000 Sydney Paralympics in Australia.