Rural Minds Leadership Participate in Kansas City Equine Show, Shining Spotlight on Rural Mental Health
By Sarah Motter
“My family started the organization in Nebraska before I decided to move it to Kansas City,” Hillmer said. “It’s something that’s important to me to keep it going.”
The show, which is free and began on Thursday, May 30, runs through the weekend. It is set to feature a full slate of classes for Saddlebreds, Morgans, Hackney ponys, Road Horses and Equitation riders.
The event kicked off Western and English classes on Thursday. Linden Hill started strong with a third-place ribbon for Jeff and his horse Catherine in the English-style class. In this style, judges search for horses that look more pleasurable to ride. American Saddlebred horses were originally bred for plantation riding which required much stamina and an even gait.
Modica, who also rides for Linden Hill, took home one of the team’s first blue ribbons with his Hackney pony Annie. The pair showed in the roadster cart class in which judges look for both form and speed.