We would like to thank Stone Horses® for sponsoring the Celebrity Horse Showcase located within the Young Rider Youth Pavilion in the Celeste Center

Horses on display at the 2008 event included:

RJ Masterbug is one of the horses that played "Hidalgo" in the movie by the same name. His home is now Windrock Farm in Amenia, NY, which is owned and operated by Cari Swanson. Rex Peterson, reknowned movie horse trainer, called RJ Masterbug “smart, powerful, and a quick learner.” For Hidalgo, Peterson was able to teach the lead actor to lay down a horse safely — a critical skill during filming when the trainer could not remain close to give cues and the action required significant trust between man and horse. He is an amazing horse in that he is highly trick trained and super intelligent. RJ Masterbug is broke to ride and also performs several tricks. He currently stands at stud at Windrock Farm.

For more information about RJ Masterbug and Windrock Farm, visit www.cariswanson.com.

Nevada Joe

Bay mustang gelding

Owned by Diane Purcelli of Shooting Star Ranch

Nevada Joe, a wild mustang that was adopted from the Federal Bureau of Land Management in 2001 in Kearney, NE. Upon his adoption, the Wild Horse Project had teamed up with Wahl Clipper Corporation. Nevada Joe was then brought to Sterling, IL and trained to become a member of equine society. Horse enthusiasts followed Joe's extraordinary progress for twelve consecutive months in the page of Horse Illustrated Magazine in the year 2002. Currently, Nevada Joe resides in Darby, MT at Shooting Star Ranch and has been trained as a therapeutic riding horse for equine assisted activities. He is the Official Horse Ambassador for the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA), and travels across the country teaching about therapeutic riding. Nevada Joe is truly an American Living Legend.

For more information about Nevada Joe, visit www.nevadajoe.net.

13-year-old black Morgan Gelding

Owned by Ellen Feld of Willow Bend Publishing

Blackjack was the inspiration for the novel by Ellen Feld titled "Blackjack: Dreaming of a Morgan Horse" and he has recently been immortalized as a Breyer Model Horse.

For more information about Blackjack, the book named for him, or author Ellen Feld, be sure to visit Willow Bend Publishing.

Get up close and personal with these horses at the Stone Horses® Celebrity Horse Showcase located in the Young Rider Youth Pavilion in the Celeste Center. Each horse had a meet and greet session - check the Clinic & Seminar Schedule for details!