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Extreme weather a challenge for jumping school

Extreme Stables
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It certainly wasn’t the kind of weekend anyone wanted for some show jumping action.

However, the 2020 edition of the Extreme Stables and Tack Summer Extravaganza Show held Aug. 7 to 9 got in the majority of its three-day schedule.

Extreme Stables owner Angie Golley had hoped to run a full set of events — which would have included clinics, testing, jumping and eventing shows.

Unfortunately, the weather was extremely uncooperative with rain washing out at least some of the schedule on both Friday and Saturday before the sun came out Sunday.

“The weather sure tried to test us, but we forged on and continued with the scheduled program the best we could,” Golley said.

“Some classes had to be cancelled — due to moving the competition from outside to the inside arena along with rain delays on Saturday.”

The show would not have been able to get in as many events as it did without the help of a lot of people

“A number of competitors were not local, but stepped up to provide any help possible so the show could go on,” she added.

“And our Extreme family really stepped up to get ready by painting, mowing, washing, dusting, tidying up and moving jumps without any complaints about the 30 degree temperatures. All of this made me appreciate the bond the equestrian community has as a whole.”

Golley and many of the entrants were deflated when the rain came down most of the day on Friday.

“However, almost all of the competitors carried on and rode at their respective times despite the wind and rain,” she said.

“Saturday looked promising, but around 2:30 p.m. we got a lot of rain in a short time, forcing the move inside. Sun and wind on Sunday allowed the show to finish with a team jumping competition. This is the first time in 11 years the show has had weather this drastic.

“The 2020 Summer Extravaganza was one for the record books in more ways than one.”

The weekend weather wasn’t the only challenge Golley and her family faced, as they were trying to bale their first cut hay crop and put it away at the same time as they were getting everything ready for the show.

“We were running two to three weeks later than normal on baling. That put a lot of pressure on everyone with the show days approaching quickly,” she said.

“We finally felt ready, the same day the horses began to arrive, the day before the show began.”

Next year’s show date is already set for Aug 6 to 8 and everyone is hoping for better weather.

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