The 2008 Trail Blazer Festival took place at the Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara, CA, November 14-16, 2008. The festival had many speakers, exhibits and other events. One of the events participated in by Rocky Mountain, Paso Fino, American Saddlebred, Icelandic, Kiger Mustang, Mangalarga Marchador, Morgan, Arabian, Mustang, Quarter Horse, Peruvian, and Tennessee Walker horses was the “Battle of the Breeds,” which was a unique trail competition held between a select group of horses that were nominated by the participating breeds. The competition involved a wide array of obstacles and circumstances that would test the true trail skills and manners of a trail horse. The course was done very professionally and in a safe manner. There was a judge at each obstacle—John Lyons and Linda Tellington-Jones.

Friday evening was the adult competition, beginning at 6:00 p.m.—a group of Paso Fino owners from the Antelope Valley drove up to Santa Barbara to see the Friday night event, and to cheer on their own Jennifer Fisher. All waited eagerly for each of the 12 breed of horses to be called to the start of the competition and for the winners’ scores and time to be computerized. Alas, in third place was a Peruvian, second place a Quarter Horse and first place was a Paso Fino Grand National Champion Trail Horse, La Suena de Cardinal, owned and ridden by Jennifer Fisher of Clovis, CA. Paso Fino fans rattled the entire arena with their cheers, and were bursting with pride at the wonderful accomplishments of this pair.

On to Saturday evening, which was the youth competition. Taking part in the youth portion of the event were eight breeds: Peruvian, Quarter Horse, Mangalarga Marchador, Tennessee Walker, Arabian, Rocky Mountain, Appaloosa, and Paso Fino horses. An 11-year-old youth rider, Madeleine Fischbein of Ojai, CA, aboard a Paso Fino named Clypso, an 18-year-old gelding owned by Susan Osborn of Auberry, CA, took first place in the youth competition. Fischbein got to ride around the arena hand-in-hand with the famous John Lyons. Clypso is also the California State Horseman’s Association Trail Trials Champion for 2008.