Officers & Directors
Cheri Clark, President
Cheri has been raising and showing Arabian horses in Montana for twenty years. The Royal Steed Arabian Farm has turned our Regional and National winners in the Endurance, Western Pleasure, English Pleasure and Halter Divisions. The farm, located west of Bozeman, stands two Bask bred Arabian stallions.
Cheri has been managing horse shows and other horse related events for over 15 years and has a wide range of expertise in shows large and small. She is on the Region 6 Arabian Horse Association board of directors as a Vice Director and has served on various local and regional equine related boards over the years. Her focus is on the growth and promotion of all breeds of horses and horse events in the state of Montana.
Deen Walsh, Vice President
Born and raised in the Yakima Valley of Central Washington State, Deen Walsh has had horses since she was 12 years old. Her Father ran a breeding farm and she grew up working with horses and showing in 4-H and open shows. Starting colts for racing farms in the area and a local Saddlebred farm as well as individual horse owners became a source of income to support her show habit which has stuck with her all her life. Showing for herself and others has left many great memories. She also has spent many wonderful hours with students sharing this endeavor, many of whom remain good friends today.
After a move to Stevensville, Montana with her husband in 1995, she made a change to concentrating on breeding, showing and campaigning her own steeds. One of note is Keys Unchained Melody [ PtHA Supreme Champion #90], a pinto saddlebred mare sired by Key West, who received this award from the Pinto horse Assn. of America by earning points from shows in Washington, Oregon and B.C. Canada while competing in Halter, Three-Gaited, English Pleasure Saddle Type, Side Saddle Pleasure Horse, Show Hack and Pleasure Driving. Melody was Canadian Pinto National Champion in Three Gaited, Halter, Driving, Sidesaddle, Show Hack and English Pleasure and, after her passing this year, will always bring great memories as a big part of her life. Another is Shaymeless, a half Arabian-half Saddlebred gelding which also competed in the Pinto circuit garnering the Canadian Pinto National Championship in Sidesaddle and English Pleasure Saddle Type and Reserves in Hunter & Jumper. Being a maternal half brother to Melody he is still a great part of the family here. Shaymeless has also competed in many open & hunter/jumper shows in Montana.
Today, along with Shaymeless, Deen has two Saddlebreds, Just Turn Back Time with whom she competes in Saddleseat Pleasure and Pleasure Driving classes and a newbie, Broadway's Last Knight who will become the 5-gaited horse. When "Logan" is trained, Deen plans to travel the Saddlebred circuit in the NW again.
While riding horses of all kinds, jumping held a special excitement and Deen spent over 30 years riding and showing hunter /jumpers along with the other diciplines. After that, I won't say she got old and stiff, she gave it up for the flat classes, Saddlebreds, saddleseat and driving classes.
It is odd what a hold the horse can get on a person, the best way to describe it may be the quote from Winston Churchill:
"There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man". ~Winston Churchill
P.S. Not just men, but women too.
Peggy Cline, Secretary/Treasurer
Growing up as a horse crazy girl, Peggy knew that one day she'd have horses of her own, but was not willing to own them if they couldn't be with her. About 15 years ago, that dream became a reality. Peggy has been involved with various horse organizations over the years but most recently, the last 3 years with MSHSA. "I have never met a nicer group of people and had so much fun at horse shows until becoming involved with MSHSA" says Peggy.
Peggy and her husband own EagleRest Morgans in Helena, Montana.
Robert Taylor, Director
Robert has been around horses all of his life, starting to train horses at the age of 14 and being a 4-H member for 18 years. While a 4-H member, Robert was a Horse Project Leader for 5 years. Robert has also been a farrier for almost 30 years, as well as a veterinarian assistant for 5 years and even spent some time doing ranch work. Robert started his show career in both Western and English disciplines at the age of 15. After many years of training horses and holding a Pro card for showing, as of September 2009, Robert dropped his Pro status and went back to Amatuer status and training only his own horses. Robert has been a member of MSHSA for 4 years and on the board for 2 of those years. Around MSHSA shows, Robert is probably best known as the wonderful host on Saturday nights. Robert hosts a barn party with big dinners and the best Margaritas this side of the border! Everyone is welcome to come and have fun!
Tawnya Dykstra, Director & Youth Liason
I have been riding and showing performance horses for over 20 years, in all disciplines form western, to hunter, saddle seat, to dressage. My parents raise Arabian and Half Arabian horses, I have been very blessed to have my choice of any horse of outstanding blood lines to pick from, from my parents breeding program at Royal Steed Arabians. I have shown in and been involved with MSHSA throughout my entire riding career. I have always enjoyed showing at Montana State Horse Show Association horse shows. It has always provided a show experience for all levels of competitors; riders and horses both. I love that MSHSA offers a family friendly atmosphere at all the shows. Something of witch is very important to me as my two children show horses as well, and as part of our Family Time in the summer is spent at various Horse Shows around the region. Some of our most favorite shows to participate in are the Montana State Horse Shows. I look forward to being apart of this organization and getting to know all the members and non -members alike in the following season.