Dressed in a pineapple- print shirt, a cowboy hat and boots, Paige Lines, 33, rode atop her horse, Royal Bonanza, warming up for her first competition in 10 years.
She participated in this year’s Capitol Area Quarter Horse Association’s “Beach Party” show Saturday, Aug. 3.
“I’ve been doing this since I was 9 years old,” Lines said. “I stopped because I started having kids ... I’m done having kids, so it was time for me to start riding again.”
Riders of all ages showed off their horses and riding skills Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 3-4, at the Williamson County Expo Center in various types of competitions while dressed in a mix of Western and aloha attire.
“There’s a big group here from Hoofbeats For Heroes ... They were all decorated with their red leis and everything,” said Janine Hess, CAQHA board member and Taylor resident.
With riders of all ages, organization president Penny Reeves, enjoys watching young riders improve through the years.
“I love seeing people return year after year and seeing the incredible improvements that they exhibit with their horse,” Reeves said. “It is truly a process, and it takes time to become a great dance partner with your four-legged BFF.”
This year, CAQHA is celebrating 40 years of the organization, with the tagline, “Way cool since 1984.” The association was founded to support and develop the quarter horse industry in central Texas through events and educating its members.
A quarter horse refers to “any breed of compact muscular saddle horses ... and characterized by great endurance and by high speed for short distances,” according to Merriam Webster.
“Any breed of horse can show here. Even though we’re a quarter horse association, we welcome anybody,” Hess said.
Each show benefits a fellow nonprofit horse organization, such as Hoofbeats For Heroes in May. The organization utilizes horseback riding and horse therapy to provide veterans, first responders and their families, including those of deployed soldiers, with a safe, relaxing environment and improve their quality of life.
“We work on morale, so that way, they have something to look forward to. But horses provide leadership. They provide confidence, but they also provide a spiritual side that a lot of people need to be able to have hope,” Hoofbeats for Heroes founder Tiffany Zeitouni said.
This August show, CAQHA will be donating funds to Hoofpicks 4-H, a program that helps youths develop life skills through horses. The program is a project under the Williamson County chapter of 4-H, a youth development program a part of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and stands for head, heart, hands and health.
In addition to the presence of fellow organizations, the show hosted local horse-related vendors, including horse massage service Silver Spoon Horsemanship & Supportive Services and horse treats business Katy’s Horse D’oeurvres.
“The horse community is really close-knit, and we particularly pride our club on being super friendly and inviting any and all horse lovers to come participate,” Hess said.
Penny Reeves (left) and Janine Hess sports CAQHA’s 40-year anniversary T-shirts at the organization’s Saturday, Aug. 3 show. CAQHA has been supporting the central Texas quarter horse industry since 1984.
Hoofbeats for Heroes founder Tiffany Zeitouni (right) helps young organization members warm up. The nonprofit often brings members and horses to participate in CAQHA shows.
Paige Lines (left) was introduced to horseback riding by her mother, Charmon Hanacek, who also started riding at 9 years old. Lines intends to involve her three children in the activity when they get older.
