Pat BrooksCourtesy of Articlecity.comSpecial to the Sun

Visitors to Morven Park Saturday will take in a spectacle described by many as “ballet on horseback;” the 2009 Summer Fling Dressage Show and Canaan Ranch Pas De Deux. Award-winning breeder and trainer Melanie Pai brings some of her most outstanding mounts from Canaan Ranch in Middleburg to demonstrate this fine equestrian art, with a few fun twists.

Courtesy of Union CountyRIDING LESSONS ABOUT TO START — Registration has begun for horseback riding classes at Union County’s Watchung Stable in Mountainside. The autumn class sessions for beginners and experienced riders begin the week of September 8. Call 908-789-3665…

An 11-year-old girl from Seguin will be taking on the world. On Friday, Robin Hawkins will attend the 2009 AQHYA (American Quarter Horse Youth Association) World Championship Show in Oklahoma City, Okla. to compete in the youth cutting horse class against other riders from all over the globe.

He’s not your average “Joe” by a long shot. Joe Guy has a dream of traveling to every state in America–except he’s not doing it by car or plane. He’s doing it all on horseback.

The Tarleton Equine Assisted Therapy program will be at Butman Methodist Camp and Retreat Center near Merkel at 3 p.m. Monday to provide horseback riding and a farm animal petting zoo for approximately 130 blind children.

Teresa Green of Pacifica recently enrolled in the American Quarter Horse Association Horseback Riding Program. Jessica Allison, Neil Johnstone and Ryland King, all of Pacifica, were named to the Dean’s Honors List at University of California, Santa Barbara for the Spring Quarter.

The sun bore down on the beach, ocean waves lapped along the shoreline and a horse kicked up sand and surf. It was one of those picture postcard kind of moments.

In a state known for its place in the West, English-style horseback riding isn’t usually the most common form practiced locally. Western (riding) is definitely larger because it’s the tradition of this area, said Jodie Martin-Witt, one of this year’s horse superintendents for the Larimer County Fair. It’s just our Western heritage.

RAYMOND – Children with any type of challenges are hopping into the saddle for therapeutic horseback riding.