Aug 27, 2007

Menlo Horse Show gallops into 37th year

By Janet Duca Norton / Society Columnist

Perfect weather, high-spirited horses and sold-out events made the 37th annual Menlo Charity Horse Show a blue ribbon success. This world-class equestrian event, Aug. 7 through 12, attracted more than 500 nationally ranked riders, and their horses, competing for $150,000 in prize money and points toward national championships.

The show at Atherton's Menlo Circus Club featured Olympic-style jumping on grass in three separate rings with a variety of configurations. The six-day show has received "The Nor-Cal Hunter Jumper Association Horse Show of the Year" award for more than 20 years. All 750 slots for horse stabling were taken within a few hours after the entry form had been posted online, and the waitlist had about 400 more competitors.

The show's private country club venue with grass arenas makes it a unique event. The colorful competition jumps, styled in the likeness of the sponsors' products and logos, included Tiffany & Co.'s signature blue gift boxes, Bloomingdale's brown shopping bags, a Flury/Bryant Design Group house and a black-and-white portrait of a stylish woman representing 100 years of Neiman Marcus.

Newcomers to the field included sponsors Graniterock, with their jump made of building materials (a stonewall with brick pillars), Rhys Vineyards with a pair of red wine bottles, the Maple Leaf Farm/Mendez Family Foundation with a replica of the state-of-the-art Maple Leaf Farm barn, and the horse show committee's first-time banner style jump.

This is more than a horse show. There is wine tasting every evening, 40 shopping vendors and special events, such as Saturday's "Alfred Hitchcock Day," with themed awards sponsored by Hitchcock's daughter, Pat Hitchcock O'Connell.

For the first time, the show was featured on a live television broadcast. Leigh Glaser interviewed Suzanne Rischman and well-known retired ABC Channel 7 weatherman Joel Bartlett for a segment on the Aug. 8 "View from the Bay." A longtime show supporter, Bartlett said he loves his retirement, and this year he commuted from Mill Valley to serve lunch in the sponsors' tent for three days of the event.

Each year, the show raises money for the Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Last year the show raised $440,000 for the center, aiding in the center's mission to make self-reliance possible for the 19,000 visually impaired people living in Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties. The center offers orientation, mobility and daily living skills instruction, counseling, social services, preschool education, low-vision optometry and outreach services for Spanish-speaking residents.

Each year the show salutes its sponsors with a evening benefit gala at the Menlo Circus Club. The sold-out Aug. 10 event, "The Horse in Action," featured championship jumping with the $10,000 Maple Leaf Farm Ryman Memorial Speed Jumper Classic, as well as wine tasting, a silent and live auction, dinner, and dancing to the music of Med Daugherty and Med's Mood Swings.

Founder and show coordinator Betsy Glikbarg was thrilled with the record-setting 80 sponsors, saying, "(The show) was a huge success. We made lots of money for the charity. How can it miss when you have 120 superb volunteers? It's a well-oiled machine that has been running for 37 years."

Cathy and Alex Mendez, sponsors of the Ryman competition, presented the trophy to rider Karl Cook and his horse Notories Utopia. Alex was recognized by the Vista Center for his sponsorship of a new van, which allowed the children at the center to attend the horse show.

Seen watching the colorful Hungarian Hussars display on the field were party chairwoman Nancy Collins with Wes Walters, media liason chairwoman Nan Chapman, Helen O'Connell and her daughter Terre Carrubba and granddaughter Kate Carrubba, Scott Hayes, newlyweds Naomi Chavez and Christopher Peterson, Bob and Pat Flury, auction chairwoman Ingrid Sywak, committee member Dottie Dutton and friends from new sponsor US Bank.

Portola Valley artist Joyln Montgomery - whose painting "Hunter" was featured on the invitations, horseshow book and show memorabilia - donated her original painting to the live auction. She and Mark Muntean, her husband and professional partner, attended the party and enjoyed the competitive bidding.

This year's show was dedicated to the late Bob Robinson. He was not only the first sponsor, but has been a sponsor of the Menlo Grand Prix Classic every year. He, along with his wife Nancy (an original committee member) and daughter Caerry Robinson have donated the perpetual Robert Robinson Memorial Trophy.

First time Grand Prix entrant Lauren Hester of Rancho Santa Fe, riding her horse Oxford, won the $40,000 prize and trophy on Aug. 11. "I'm still in a state of shock. It won't sink in for awhile," said the Southern Methodist University junior while posing for a photo with her mother Marsha Hester and Oxford, also known as "Charlie."

Following the competition, the World Championship Hunter Rider South West Regional Awards dinner featured a fashion show with riders and trainers modeling outfits by Ariat International. Redwood City resident John French performed modeling duties before receiving the prestigious Professional Rider of the Year award.


FIRST STANFORD FOOTBALL FAN FEST

There was something for everyone at the Aug. 18 Stanford Boot Camp fan fest held at Stanford Stadium. Boot camp took on new meaning with tricycle races, football drills and field activities in the mix with arcade games, food and autograph signing by current and former players.

Initiated by Jim Rutter and the Bootleg magazine in conjunction with the Stanford athletic department, the event attracted about 2,000 new and longtime fans who had the opportunity to meet Stanford greats Tommy Vardell, Greg Baty, Greg Clark and John Paye, as well as KNBR Stanford football announcer Bob Murphy.

While attending to last-minute details, Rutter said he had worked two days straight and could use a nap, but he was excited to see all the volunteers and their enthusiasm. Helpers included his Bootleg partner Lars Ahlstrom, along with Nancy Jamison, Stanford All-American Kailee Wong ('93-'97), Jon Haskins ('98) and young Devin Dohrmann.



Janet Duca Norton's society column appears every Sunday in the Daily News. Send event information to 324 High St., Palo Alto, CA 94301, or e-mail society@paloalto dailynews.com or call (650) 327-9090, ext. 334.