Audience, riders give support with show
Wearing dusty cowboy boots, blue jeans and a checkered shirt, 5-year-old Chad Johnson was eager to hit the saddle on Saturday, ready to begin his first horse show competition.
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Just before mounting his horse Burt, he said he was looking forward most to ''the trotting.''
''He's never been in anything like this before,'' said his dad, Darin Johnson of Augusta. ''And it's money for a good cause.''
Chad was among several children and adults who attended Saturday's eighth annual Camp Rainbow Benefit Open Horse Show - an event designed to provide riding practice for the local horse community and to raise funds for Camp Rainbow, a summer camp designed for children with cancer or blood disorders.
It was the second time the event had taken place at Canterbury Trails Equestrian Center and Riding Stables off Wrightsboro Road. The event also was special for its opening ceremony, which included riders on horseback carrying American flags in honor of those lost in the recent attacks in New York and Washington. In the background, someone sang God Bless America.
''That's perfect,'' said Peggy Lichtenberg, owner of the stables, as she watched the performance.
Chad's competition, the quarter horse division, followed the opening ceremonies and was among 37 other classes for the day. He finished with a ribbon for his efforts.
''He didn't look nervous or anything,'' his dad said afterward as Chad stood nearby with a shy grin.
The stables also offered children wagon rides. Lichtenberg said she began offering her stables for the show because she wanted to help children at the Medical College of Georgia Children's Medical Center.
''It's a way that we can give something back to the community,'' she said.
During the opening ceremony, Corey Lichtenberg joined in observing a moment of silence for victms of the Sept. 11 terrorism attacks.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
Lichtenberg and her husband often open their facility to disabled children in the area.
''We just love children, and we try to keep as many of them around us as we can,'' she said.
In past years, 100 children have been sent to Camp Rainbow from proceeds collected through the horse show. The cost of the camp is $500 per child.
Clare Poteet with MCG Health Care, said the horse show raised more than $11,000 last year to offset such costs.
''And this year, we're hoping to raise more,'' she said.
This year, the event was bigger.
''It seems like we've got a lot more spectators and a lot more horse trailers in the back,'' Lichtenberg observed.
Nicole Lambert and her husband Elmer were among the spectators; they drove from Louisville, Ga., to attend. They said their daughter, 9-year-old Heather, will be entering the sport soon and they wanted to learn a few pointers.
''We're trying to get the feel for this thing,'' Elmer said.
But Nicole said one of her children also recently stayed at the MCG children's center and that her family wanted to show their support of the facility.
''So, that's another reason why we wanted to be here,'' she said.
''It's a way that we can give something back to the community,'' she said.
Peggy Lichtenberg, owner of Canterbury Trails Equestrian Center and Riding Stables