Paradise Horsemen’s Association holds first event of the year
PARADISE » Casey Bailey atop her brown brute of a horse, rode as fast as she could, shouting commands and doing her best not to fall off inside the Paradise Horse Arena.
The adrenaline after her run during the first gymkhana show in Paradise left Bailey shaking.
“It feels so amazing. It’s nice to be able to come out here and get some normalcy back in my life. I’ve been like a little kid all week,” Bailey said. “Even if we have to keep a little distance it’s still fun. It’s easy to stay away when you’re on a horse.”
Bailey, 29, of Oroville, was one of 40 horseback riders as the Paradise Horsemen’s Association held its first gymkhana event of the year Saturday. Gymkhana is an equestrian event that features timed races and obstacles.
The first event was originally scheduled to take place in March, but the coronavirus pandemic forced the non-profit organization to cancel it.
Saturday’s show was held with limited riders and limited fans to help enforce social distancing.
“We wanted to keep our numbers down. Normally our bleachers are full and we have a lot more riders,” said Paradise Horsemen Association President Scarlett Miller. “We’re very small but we wanted to do that because of the situation.”
It’s the second straight year where the first event has been delayed. In 2019, the first show was delayed until July after the Paradise Horse Arena suffered damage from the Camp Fire.
“It’s been very hard. Financially it’s been hard on our club. We’re a nonprofit. We’re still trying to get back on our feet,” Miller said. “It’s fatiguing to be hit twice.”
Behind the cover of tall trees, riders ranging from as young as 5 years old to 75 years old, rode their horses to the fastest of their ability.
“It’s nice to have us all back together,” Miller said. “It’s still a piece of paradise up here.”
Bailey has been riding horses her entire life. She got involved in equestrianism because of her great grandfather who was a team roper, a common rodeo event where one chases a cow on horseback.
She’s been participating in shows in Paradise since she was 12.
“I’m blessed to be out here,” Bailey said. “We’re all a big family.”