By Julie Preble, Assistant Editor
After spending the whole of last Thursday at the Rocky Mountain Reining Horse Association’s Summer Slide, I was invited back for a special dinner Friday evening.
I’ve never been one to turn down a good meal or the company of horse people, so I readily agreed.
As it turns out, I’m really glad I did.
The food was delicious and the conversation good. Plus, I found out what makes the Summer Slide such a unique show.
The exhibitor’s dinner started in 2008. It’s since morphed into a way for local farriers to give back; they help get some of the food donated and do all the cooking.
“It’s our way of giving back to the people who help support us and our living all year long,” says Neil Miller, a Colorado farrier who specializes in reining horses. “It works out to a great meal. All the horseshoers, friends of mine, and friends of their friends come in and cook for everybody. It’s about 500 people.”
There’s no plans to change the dinner either.
“I’ve done this horse show for the past 26 years; I helped start it. This is a good way to keep it going. This is the only show that’ll feed all the contestants,” he says.
Have you been to a show that does something similar or does something that makes it stand out from the others?
