The 15th annual Bluff Creek Stables Fall Horse Show, held Oct. 25 on Colonels Island, drew the top barns and competitors in Southeast Georgia.
The six top American Saddle Seat show barns in Southeast Georgia competed in 41 academy and performance classes. Barns represented were Liberty County’s Dixie Stables, Gravel Hill Farms and Bluff Creek Stables; Wildwood Stables from Jesup; and Pine Haven Stables and Golden Isles Riding Academy from Brunswick.
Mary Anne Jones, owner of Bluff Creek Stables, could not have been happier with the turnout.
“It really was a great day, the weather could not have been better, it was an ASHAG (American Saddlebred Horse Association of Georgia) points show and it gave the riders the feel of a big show,” she said. “The horses had to be groomed to a certain standard and the competitors had to wear the required ASHA (American Saddlebred Horse Association) riding attire. It was especially good for the riders, who attend most of the local shows and do not travel to the national horse shows.” 

Caitlin Jarriel, trainer at Dixie Stables, said she and stables owner Lynn Pace couldn’t have been more proud of their show team.
“They did a fantastic job preparing for the show and their dedication paid off,” Jarriel said.
That dedication has paid off for academy-division team members Lily Darsey, Emily Egner, Madison Burriss and Madison Chenevert.
Riding Jacque Rules, Darsey won every class entered and the W/T/C open championship. Not bad for a 12-year-old riding in the 17-and-under classes and open division.
“Riding at Bluff Creek was so much fun,” Darsey said. “Jack (Jacque Rules) was amazing and I couldn’t have asked for a better ride. When I ride Jack, I feel like I am on a cloud.”
Egner — riding Red, White and Blue — won the W/T showmanship blue ribbon and the 9-10 academy W/T championship. Burriss, riding CFS Dixie Silk, won the 11-13 W/T showmanship and equitation blue ribbons. Chenevert, riding Santa Cruz, won the 8-and-under lead-line competition. In the performance classes, Rachael Griffis, riding Santa Cruz, won the saddle-seat equitation adult championship.
Gravel Hills Farms had riders in 19 out of 41 classes.
“It was a great day for a horse show and excellent exposure for all of our riders, both adult and juniors,” said Alicia Floyd, owner of Gravel Hill Farms.
Top Gravel Hill Farms performers were Sue Plough, Cayla Faulk and Elizabeth Rogers. Sue Plough, riding Anna Belle, won the reserve championship in open pleasure W/T and took second place in open pleasure any two gaits. Cayla Faulk, also riding Anna Belle, won first in W/T equitation and took second place in showmanship in the 14-and-up division. Elizabeth Rogers, riding Supreme Property, placed third in 9-10 W/T equitation class.
Gravel Hill Farms riders not only won ribbons in all classes entered, but also had four first-time show riders at this year’s event.
Two Liberty County residents, Bunny Braun and Lindsey Dasher, riding for Pine Haven Stables, had big wins.
Braun, riding We Be Jammin’, won the 17-and-under pleasure-equitation championship and saddle-seat equitation class. Dasher, riding Glider Supreme, won the ASB country-pleasure championship and ASB country-pleasure.
Bluff Creek Stables riders made their presence known on their home turf. In academy and performance classes, all 19 Bluff Creek riders rode in an average of three classes, with five adults riding. Many rode more than two horses and in different disciplines.
“Our kids had a lot of fun. Some of them I had to push. Even though it was a home show for them, they still had show-day nerves,” Bluff Creek trainer Deanna Edgy said.
Rachael Breon, riding Stonewall’s Achiever, won first in hunt-seat W/T equitation and the hunt seat W/T Championship. Isabella Perry, riding Wookie, won the hunt-seat W/T showmanship class. Tehya Bly, riding Once Said, won first in the 14-and-up W/T showmanship class. Emily Perry, riding Maggie, won the open pleasure any two gaits and the open pleasure championship.
Riding Twist of Fate, Lori Harden won the ASB show pleasure class. Kelly McQueen, riding Lightening McQueen, won saddle-type pleasure. Debra Corson won adult hunter while riding Oliver Twist. Amanda Warden, riding Remington, won three classes — juvenile/amateur hunter pleasure, any breed, hunt seat equitation any age and the hunter pleasure championship.
Ava Edgy, 6, riding for Bluff Creek Stables, won a blue ribbon in the 6-and-under lead-line class.
“You know, I’ve been riding since I was 3, and today was one of my best shows ever,” she said.