Horses, Mayoral Candidates and Big Pants
The 2011 Lefty Converse Memorial Horse Show

By Melanie Scholer

Light rain dampened the ground of the Corrales Top Form Arena the evening of August 13, 2011.  The clouds cleared early the next morning leaving the sky clear and the footing perfect as the ninth annual Lefty Converse Memorial Horse Show got under way.

The show honors Landry “Lefty” Converse, long time feed manager for Los Ranchos retailer Dan’s Boots and Saddles.  Converse passed away in 2002.  He had been a graduate of New Mexico Military Institute and attended UNM.  A qualified judge for numerous horse breeds, he was known for his expertise in developing feed programs for older horses.  He was a tireless advocate for equestrian based youth activities and donated countless hours to 4-H programs in New Mexico.  Lefty’s wife Sue Converse was in attendance this year as was his daughter Denise and her husband, Jerry Roberts.

The Lefty Converse Memorial Horse Show is sponsored jointly by Dan’s Boots and Saddles and the Village of Corrales.  Organized, managed and produced by Dan’s, it is offered as a program of the Corrales Parks and Recreation Department.  The show entry fees, donations of cash or nonperishable food products, are used to benefit the Roadrunner Food Bank.

The staff of the Corrales Parks and Recreation Department finished grooming the arena as competitors arrived for registration.  Debbie Romney, Jan Henfling and Linn Vasquez assisted competitors with paperwork and assigned numbers while John McKean set up the sound system.  The sound system, now in the second year of use, was donated to the Corrales Parks and Recreation Department last August by CHAMP, the Corrales Horse and Mule People.

 
Albuquerque trainer Jere Beredino gave his day to judge the show.  Originally from the east, Beredino has a diverse background in the equestrian industry.  He was assisted in his efforts by Elaine Clanen of Corrales as Ring Steward.  Eleanor Bravo returned as announcer and Scott, Joy and Heather Roberts, representing the New Mexico Appaloosa Horse Club, assisted with ribbons, timing and gate.  Karen Evans gave her afternoon to man the gate and Pat Clauser, Corrales Village Councilor joined Bernalillo County Queen Bailey Voluck in awarding prizes.

 Ribbons were re-designed this year to reflect fall colors and showcase the Quarter Horses that Lefty Converse held in special esteem.  Championship medals were awarded to all first place winners.

The costume class got festivities underway as Nancy Freshour and her horse “Candidate” Aspen strutted in red, white and blue stars and stripes.  Aspen is an actual “candidate” in the Pet Mayor promotion put on by the Corrales Kiwanis Club.  Sponsored by local businesses (Aspen is sponsored by Dan’s Boots and Saddles) the Pet Mayor candidates solicit votes, i.e. cash, from their individual supporters.  The winning candidate will be the animal raising the most money for Kiwanis and will serve as Corrales’ official Pet Mayor for the following year.  Funds raised will be used by the Kiwanis Club to help fund various activities for two and four legged Corrales residents.  Ballot boxes are available at participating businesses throughout the Corrales and Los Ranchos areas.

The Lefty Converse Show originally showcased older equines.  Over the years, classes have been added for horses, donkeys and mules of all ages but specific classes have been retained exclusively for older animals and riders.  The Ben Gay Class is reserved for riders over the age of 45 while the Jack Benny Class requires the combined age of horse and rider to be at least 39 years.  Nellie the Mule held her own among the horsey participants this year while Emma the Donkey, another candidate for Pet Mayor, stopped by on her own campaign trail.

Equitation and pleasure classes filled the morning hours but games and gymkana events took precedence as the day wore on. The Pairs Class remained popular and participants were so well matched that for the first time ever, Judge Beredino called the class a draw and awarded first place medals to all participants.   New this year was the Pairs Race where contestants rode to a designated spot, leapt from their horse and assisted a partner into the saddle.   The partner then raced to the finish line and the fastest time won.

Voted “Most Fun” by contestants was the Gretna Green Race.  Named for a village in Scotland known for quickie marriages on the cheap, the Gretna Green required participants to mount their horse and race across the arena to a waiting bundle of clothing.  The rider then dismounted and pulled on a pair of 54” waist Wrangler jeans and an oversize button front shirt.  Riders were required to button all buttons properly, re-mount their horse while trying to keep the pants up about their waist and race back to the starting point.

Voted second “Most Fun” was the Bobbing for Apples Race.  Riders raced across the arena to a bucket of water filled with apples.  The participant was required to remove his or her helmet and secure an apple in their mouth without using their hands.  They then replaced their helmet and without biting through the apple, raced back to the start.  After a day of hot sun, the water in the bucket was a shock to most riders and the splashing added to the fun and confusion.

 Egg and Spoon traditionally ends the show and this year was no exception.  Dozens of plastic colored eggs filled with Tootsie Rolls were loaded onto spoons for one last run at the ribbons.  Then riders loaded horses and tack and headed home and out of the heat.  Volunteers struck tables and chairs, cleaned up the last evidence of the animals and headed home themselves.

You can watch a three-minute video of the 2011 Lefty Converse Show, prepared by photographer Dan Cooksey.