Throwback Thursday: Vintage Pro Stepps Campaign

By: Brittany Bevis

For today’s blast from the past, we delved deep into The Equine Chronicle archives to find a selection of images that were part of a fun promotional campaign for a company that many equestrians might remember. Originally a California-based company, Pro Stepps provided complete equine grooming essentials as well as fashionable eyewear for the discriminating horseman.

The Next Generation of Pro Stepps campaign featured youth competitors like Marissa and Brianna Dalton, Jolene Wadds, Zack and Andy McDonald, Molly Jacobs, Courtney Chown, Katie Grossnickle, and Courtney Folino sporting their signature sunglasses at major breed circuits across the country.

The Pro Stepps campaign ran for several years, took on a variety of different forms, and featured some of the top youth, amateur, and open competitors of the time. It took a group of trainers high atop the giant slide at the All American Quarter Horse Congress for an unforgettable photo-op (much to the disapproval of park management) and even featured a few equine professionals mounted aboard a different type of horsepower.

One of our favorite photo shoots took place nearly ten years ago in, what was then, an empty desert expanse located just outside the WestWorld complex in Scottsdale, Arizona. The show was the Arizona Sun Circuit, and our always-charming Gordon Downey managed to convince Mike McMillian, Cleve Wells, Guy and Kathy Stoops, and Daranne Folino to participate in a fun Horsepower of Motorcycles photo shoot.

Our featured Throwback Thursday photo for today captured the moment just before flag girl Folino dropped a gold scarf marking the start of the “race.” Of course, you can’t expect a group of cowboys to pose atop motorcycles and not take them for a ride. So, against his better judgement, Downey climbed atop a moving golf cart to snap a few shots of the motorcycles in motion.

Following the shoot, the men took the motorcycles for a ride up into the mountains of Sedona for a little R&R during the off-day of competition.

We’re still searching for that giant slide photo from the Congress, but if you have an image you think might make for a great Throwback Thursday article, send it to b.bevis@equinechronicle.com and it might be featured in an upcoming piece.