A little bit of rain Saturday didn't wash away the healthy competition at the sixth annual Dream Equine Foal-A-Palooza.
Held Saturday at Three Runs Plantation, the annual benefit raised money to rescue some of the many nurse foals needing to find homes after they are taken away from their mothers. Nurse mare foals are born so their mothers will produce milk to nourish the more valuable foals of other mares, who are unable to care for their babies for various reasons.
During the day, riders participated in three equine competitions - a hunter pace, the Ride-a-Test dressage event and Jump-for-Fun, a jumper schooling show.
Jessica Smith, 11, participated in her very first Ride-a-Test dressage event.
"It's where you do the horse dancing, and it's what I like doing the most," Smith said. "You have to practice about probably a month to get really comfortable with it."
Smith has only been riding horses since last fall, but said she is enjoying her time and looks forward every year to the Foal-A-Palooza.
The impetus for the annual event is to benefit the Dream Equine Therapy Center in York.
Terri Stemper, the director of the Therapy Center, has been rescuing foals since 2000, but only started her nonprofit in 2008. She said for many, the cost factors and intense labor can run people away from the industry; however, she has come to enjoy it.
"Foaling season is January through June, so it's a prime time when a lot of these foal are available," Stemper said. "And most of the foals come from Lexington, Kentucky because of the race industry."
For Saturday's event, Stemper brought along two rescued foals up for adoption, both about six- to- seven weeks old. She said the best part about the event is its growth.
"There were probably only a few houses when Gina (Greer) started this event, and it's just grown to the point the whole community supports it," Stemper said. "This is our biggest fundraiser every year. Gina does a whole lot for us because I'm tied up elsewhere, she's the one putting this together."
Three Runs Plantation, which is an equestrian residential community, is located at 125 Three Runs Plantation Drive.
For more information about Three Runs Plantation, visit www.threerunsplantation.com.
For more information about Dream Equine Therapy Center, visit www.dream equinetherapycenter.org.
Maayan Schechter is the local government reporter with Aiken Standard. Follow her on Twitter @MaayanSchechter.