Laura McAllister Wins Inaugural Cherie Vonada Memorial Rising Star Trail Professional Trophy
Laura McAllister pictured accepting the trophy and the Blue Ribbon headstall from show producer Jan Bruner. Photo credit: The Equine Chronicle.
By Delores Kuhlwein
Laura McAllister of Kitscoty, Alberta, is the recipient of inaugural 2023 Cherie Vonada Memorial Trophy, awarded to a Rising Star Trail Professional at the Silver Dollar Circuit.
The award, named for the late Cherie Vonada, who loved Trail and supported new Trail professionals, is now awarded annually to the highest placing rising star professional Trail exhibitor at the Silver Dollar Circuit at the end of the show. 2023 was the first year for the award.
“The story behind this achievement is meaningful for so many reasons,” Laura tearfully explains, revealing that she and her husband Kent raised Touch of Machine, the horse she earned the L2 Junior Trail Circuit Champion title with at the show.
She was particularly excited to break the news about the award due to the achievements on “Cricket” to owner Holly Hales of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, a client of 10 years. “We sold her to Holly as a two-year-old,” Laura explains. “We bred Cricket, raised her and trained her from scratch.”
The story gets even better, as Laura reveals this particular award represents more than just another achievement for her. “I started showing down here in the States around 2012, but I’ve never been able to keep a horse long enough to really start to accomplish something in Trail classes. It’s like the next thing I haven’t been able to reach; whenever I get a horse to the point of being competitive in the Trail, they’ve sold.”
In addition, Laura says that since she started showing in the U.S., she’s been able to accomplish winning the Congress in Western Pleasure, earning Top 10 at the Congress in Western Pleasure, and winning L2 Senior Western Riding and a 7th in the L3 Western Riding at the World Show, but the Trail had remained out of reach. “This is the first big award I’ve won in the Trail, and I started working my way up to accomplishing accolades within the division and I’m still doing so,” she explains.
Laura humbly says she wouldn’t be where she is today without the help she’s been receiving from other trainers, and particularly at the 2023 Silver Dollar Circuit, she expresses her gratefulness to Brett Clark for spending time with her.
“I wouldn’t have accomplished what I have down here at the Congress and at the World Show without multiple trainers giving up their spare time to help me,” she says. “Hands down, there’s no way I could have done any of it without them; I’ve been so blessed to have other trainers offer their help.”
Laura emphasizes, “I’d like to thank the family for this award – I’m honored to have won it in memory of Cherie.”
Laura McAllister with Touch of Machine at the 2023 Silver Dollar Circuit. Photo credit: Shane Rux Photography.
About the Cherie Vonada Rising Star Trail Professional Trophy
The eligibility for the Cherie Vonada Rising Star Trail Professional Trophy is limited to persons who have not won a Champion, Reserve Champion or Bronze at the World Show or Congress. All Open Trail classes, including Stakes Classes, will count. Along with the Cherie Vonada Memorial Trophy, the winner will receive a Blue Ribbon Headstall, donated by Vern & Rita Habighorst.
“We are very excited to be offering this award in Cherie’s name, as it strongly reflects her love for Trail and her love for supporting Trail professionals. This is an annual award,” says Show Producer Jan Bruner.
