August 2008 " Katelyn McWhirter of Tallmadge and her Palomino Quarter Horse, Undun Pete finished their first Summit County Saddle Horse show season at the Summit County Fairgrounds.
Show days begin with English Showmanship, English Equitation, English Pleasure, English Road Hack and Down & Back. Since Katelyn and Pete are showing in both English and Western the lunch break is filled with outfit (Katelyn) and tack changes (Pete). The extremely hectic day finishes up with Western Showmanship, Western Horsemanship, Western Pleasure, Western Road Hack and Barrels.
In her first year of competition Katelyn showed in all thirty one points classes in the 11 & under walk-trot division during the show season. She was the only competitor to show in both the English and Western divisions. Katelyn and Pete brought home ribbons in thirty of the thirty one classes. She finished the year with seven blue ribbons, five seconds and eleven thirds.
At the conclusion of the show the High Point Awards for the entire season were given in both English and Western. Katelyn and Pete were presented as the Reserve High Point in the English division. This was quite an accomplishment as the pair had only begun riding English one week before the first show.
Following up their strong showing at the Summit County Fair where they finished third, the pair won four of the five Western classes at the final show. This secured their place as High Point Champions in the Western division.
Katelyn wants to thank all those who supported her in her first year of competition " Mom and Dad, Grandpa Chuck and Grandma Marie, Grandma, Grandma and Grandpa, Jacob, Aunt Christine and Aunt Lori. The biggest thanks and some special treats go to Petee, a most loyal and trusting partner.