by Mary Lou Lawless

Independence, IA — Enthusiastic members of the Iowa Harness Horsemen’s Association and Wisconsin’s American Standardbred Adoption Program teamed to showcase our horse and our sport/industry at the annual Iowa Horse Fair, held this past weekend at Iowa’s State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.

With their immediate family members also in attendance, Brad and Amy Kohlwes of Colo, Iowa, featured their pretty and accomplished Iowa bred mare Chocollicious p,4,1:55.1f ($84,255) in the Avenue of Breeds and in Saturday’s Parade of Breeds, along with Susan Wellman, Director of the ASAP, and her current intern, Ms. Jordan Harper, exhibiting the celebrated Timesareachanging p,3,1:48.4 ($1,516,563).

Mary Lou Lawless photo

Rachel and Susan Wellman with Timesareachanging at the Iowa Horse Fair.

Chocollicious is in training for 2012, and Timesareachanging is applying his regal appearance and fine temperament to promoting the American Standardbred.

Wellman presented Timesareachanging as a gaited horse, in harness, hobbles, etc., in the Nutrena Arena on Saturday afternoon to a specially prepared script provided with info from the USTA website. Escorted by Susan Wellman, with Rachel Wellman in the saddle, Timesareachanging made his third appearance on Sunday in The Parade of Breeds.

Another superstar with the ASAP, Taser Gun p,5,1:49.2 ($1,158,8903) was on exhibit in the open stall, welcoming visitors to the IaHHA-American Standardbred stall block. Statuesque in an eye catching and patriotic body suit, and well mannered as long as someone stroked and scratched his neck periodically, Taser Gun had an audience (many ladies) during all open barn hours.

Exhibiting at “Equine Mania 2012” is a bit like “preaching to the choir,” but remains a good approach, as “the faithful” are already sold on the viability of horse ownership and activity.

On behalf of the IaHHA, we thank the USTA’s TC Lane, Fair Liaison, and assistant Jessica Schroeder for providing accessories and resources to make the IaHHA booth in the trade show efficient and effective.