Editor's Note: The following speech was read by Mike Bletsoe, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2006 at the Mid America Horse Show Association Awards Banquet.
Country Meadow Farm began 30 years ago as a dream and a business starting from the ground up. It has grown into one of the finest Saddlebred horse operations in the country with several world and national champion horse and rider teams coming out of the program. All the while, this family-owned stable has maintained strong family values in addition to teamwork and a work ethic needed to be successful in the competitive business of Saddlebred show horses.
Competitive with the likes of reserve world's champion Super Rooster, World's Champion Callaway's Newscaster, World's Grand Champion CH Chandler and a remarkable group of world's and national champion performance and equitation riders including Robin Schultz, Tracey Hughes, Emily Kubowitz, Brittany Cortina, Lisa McClaren, Paula Murray and Kristen Pettry.
This success story begins as children, when at the age of nine, Mike beat up the neighbor kid to take over the paper route so that he could deliver the paper to Dale's house. It was not his only example of being a tough guy. Mike has had a range of careers from boxing to roller derby. They have walked side by side, hand in hand from day one, but as the years have gone by, Mike has mellowed a little. We have all seen him with his dog Krusty in one hand and a cigarette in the other watching horses work. His love and affection for his dogs and horses is surpassed only by his love and affection for his wife Dale, daughter Julie Anne and son-in-law Jay.
Mike, Dale and Julie have carried their family involvement to a higher level with extensive service in the industry. Dale was instrumental in the creation of the Pleasure Equitation Olympic National Finals and is still active on the Olympic board today. She also served as UPHA Chapter 10 secretary for eight years, and is currently co-chairman of the UPHA Equitation National Committee and treasurer for IASPHA. Mike served as president of IASPHA for 10 years and for the last seven years has served on the ASHA National Pleasure Horse committee.
Dedication to each other, dedication to family, dedication to the success of their horses and riders, and dedication to the industry are just a few of the reasons why Mike and Dale Arnston are so deserving of their induction into the UPHA Chapter 10 Hall Of Fame.