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  • Writer's pictureKathy Troxler

Returning to Central Park-Lisa and Abby


The story of “How Lisa Met Abby” is a study in the idea that sometimes you just need to let the universe have its way with you. By that I mean that when Lisa met Abby, (more formally known as PA Appalonia Dancer) she wasn’t shopping for a horse at all. She was visiting Ryan Show horses to check out a stallion for her mare, Kyrie Elleison.

PA Appalonia Dancer and Lisa Gaudio

But Abby just wouldn’t let Lisa pass her by. “Abby just kept talking to me as I walked through the barn and the fourth time, I finally asked, “Who is that black mare?” Johnny took Abby (a Sundance Kid V daughter out of the mare Acapella V) out of her stall and we fell in love. But it took 6 months before the former owner finally sold her to me.”

Abby is quite a character and knows what she likes! "Abby loves my husband so much he can’t be on the sidelines when we’re competing or she has eyes only for him! She’s also not shy about diving into trash cans or random places to see what snacks might be hiding about."Abby is quite a character and knows what she likes! "Abby loves my husband so much he can’t be on the sidelines when we’re competing or she has eyes only for him! She’s also not shy about diving into trash cans or random places to see what snacks might be hiding about." I asked Lisa about riding and competing on an Arabian mare. It’s no secret that not everyone is a fan of showing mares because, well- let’s just say- sometimes they can be opinionated. I know this because I’ve shown more mares than I have geldings. And I like riding mares!

PA Appalonia Dancer and Lisa Gaudio

Lisa says, “For me, mares have a strong sense of self and I feel they power through and protect their riders. I just started riding again at the age of 50. Although I had competed in smaller 4H shows as a teenager, and I loved Arabian horses as a child, I didn’t have any experience showing Arabian horses until 1993. Abby is my dream horse!”

PA Appalonaia Dancer and Lisa Gaudio

At Central Park last year, she LOVED the meet and greet with the public. Abby stopped dead in her tracks to let a little 2-year-old girl just touch her face.

“That’s what I love about her”, says Lisa, “She can be a family horse, a halter horse (a Halter Champion at Region 15 in 2016) and my Western mare. We’ve learned so much together and I always can count on her to give me her all!”

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