Jayne Whitton is the rider of demo horse, Graces Star, and owner of Tamzin Farm in Ohio. As a "mature" rider, Jayne appreciates the rewards and challenges of working with young horses. Jayne and her husband are both British, and moved to the US in 1999. Both always had horses, and being 'Brits,' knew about the Irish Draught and Irish Draught Sport Horse breeds and the special qualities they possess. 
As a girl, Jayne rode many Irish horses from a very early age. She volunteered, rode, and worked at Mount Farm, which became Penwood, home of Penwood Forge Mill, famous showjumper who was the European Champion back in 1973. At that time, Penwood was big into buying horses from Ireland, trying them, bringing them along, maximizing their potential, and selling them. Forgie's talents immediately got him noticed, so he got to realize his full potential.
Jayne has so many happy memories of her early riding days and the horses and ponies she had the good fortune to be around. Now, as an adult, Jayne's passion remains for eventing, and she is excited to bring her homebred mare, Graces Star, up through the levels and to show her off at WEG.
Graces Star (aka "Sadie") is a 2004 Irish Draught Sport Horse mare. Sadie was homebred and born at Tamzin Farm in southwest Ohio and owned by Robin and Jayne Whitton. Sadie is out of an off the track Thoroughbred mare, Sheza Party Doll. In deciding to breed her, the Whitton's were looking for a stallion with correct conformation and proven ability. The Whitton's are both British, so the Irish Draught/Irish Draught Sport horse was a natural fit. With eventing being Jayne's passion, they found exactly the right sire in Registered Irish Draught Sport Horse stallion, Brandenburg's Windstar (http://teamwindchase.com).
Sadie began her eventing career in 2008 with a strong start at Beginner Novice level. In the middle of 2009, she was moved up to Novice level at the Greater Dayton Horse Trial. She had a very successful event, completing with an excellent dressage score to put her in 3rd place. Her most recent event was at JumpStart, and despite the rain, she had a good event and finished 7th. 
The Whitton's could not be more pleased with Sadie. She has always had personality to spare and a penchant for mischief. The Whitton's say she is possibly the most curious horse they have ever owned. Recently, Sadie went for a day of jump training, and became entranced with jump trainer, Amanda Miller's new baby, Claire, and the stroller she was in. Sadie was obviously trying to figure out what sort of fences this creature would be taking. Between fences, Sadie would scan the surroundings for the "stroller horse," waiting to see it in action. Despite the distraction, she performed beautifully over the fences, showing off her multi-tasking ability!
Sadie has qualified to perform in Dressage, Eventing, and Show Jumping demonstrations at WEG, so be sure to look for her in the ring ridden by Jayne. Sadie's Dressage trainer, Molly Xanthopoulos, and her jump trainer, Amanda Miller, will continue helping her prepare to show off her stuff in 2010!
Demo rider, Connie Arthur, is the main rider and half owner of demo horse Bridon Beale Street. Connie has been eventing for over 35 years. She owns a breeding farm and event facility, Lone Tree Farm, in Waterford, in central California. 
She and her friend Shirley Kahlert decided to look for a Registered Irish Draught stallion to stand at Connie's facility. Shirley, who owns and operates Stoneleigh Farm, had taken a short trip to Ireland and had a chance to ride Irish Draught horses and was totally sold on the breed. Connie has done all the training on Liam and is currently competing him in Eventing and Show Jumping. Connie is an active member of the USEA and a course designer as well. Read more about Connie at www.lonetreefarm.net and look for her in the demo ring at WEG aboard Liam.
Registered Irish Draught stallion, Bridon Beale Street "Liam," was born in Virginia, although both parents (Mountain Pearl RID x Graceland Pride RID) were imported. After doing very little for the first six years of his life, he came to the attention of Shirley Kahlert and Connie Arthur, who picked him out of several young stallion prospects. He was brought to California in September 2006, and thus began his event training. 
He did his first horse trials in February 2007, then proceeded to move up through the ranks, qualifying for Championships in all of the first three levels that year. He is currently competing at Training Level and just completed his 18th horse trial without a single cross country jump penalty. Liam has also been competing in Show Jumping and has foxhunted with the Los Altos Hounds. 
Liam recently prepared and participated in the Galway (Temecula, CA) 3-day event with steeplechase as the grand finale of the great year. He finished extremely strongly with no time penalties in steeplechase and no jump penalities cross country. His other fall events were Woodside Horse Trials, where he had clean cross country and stadium rounds; and Ram Tap Horse Trials, there being ridden by Yves Sauvignon as a catch ride, where he was first after dressage and again went clean cross country.
Liam is qualified to demo in Eventing, Foxhunting, and Show Jumping, and will be ridden by his co-owner, Connie Arthur. For more info on Liam, go to http://www.lonetreefarm.net/ 
Liam enjoys his turnouts next to his yearling and weanling children, and it is especially enjoyable to watch them play "lip games" with their father, who loves the social interaction and is very gently with them. Liam has been a fantastic traveler through the mountains, and doesn't shy away from active surf at the beach.
