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Futurity holds annual parade
By Greg Rickabaugh
Staff Writer
Sounds of clickety-clack replaced the usual zoom-zoom Sunday as hundreds of horses took over city streets for the Augusta Futurity parade.
Spectators were scattered along a three-mile route as the line of horses and old-fashioned carriages made its way from Lake Olmstead Park to the Seventh Street side of the Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center.
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Boss Cook and his horse Red join hundreds of other horses, riders and wagons for the Augusta Futurity parade. Spectators were admitted free to Sunday's events.
MICHAEL HOLAHAN/STAFF
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Lee Dunbar, 22 months old, wore her black cowboy hat and waved as nearly 300 equestrians and 17 wagons passed her family's spot on Milledge Road. The cowgirl especially liked the miniature horses and the horses ridden by other children, said her mom, Laura.
"She really enjoyed that," Mrs. Dunbar said.
One youngster, excited by the show, begged for a ride on a carriage and found a friend.
"He said, 'I want to ride! I want to ride!' So I let him ride," said Annette Pinkard, of New Ellenton, who drove a small covered wagon drawn by a white Andalusian.
Organizers say there were twice as many wagons in the parade this year, possibly because of the sunny weather.
Riders participating in the parade included competitors and area equestrians. Georgia Agricultural Commissioner Tommy Irvin also participated, riding in a carriage.
Adam Simpson, the chairman of the Futurity Parade Committee, said the event is designed to raise interest in the competition. Parade spectators were admitted free to the Augusta Futurity cutting competition from 2 to 6 p.m. in the civic center, where they could also shop, see Longhorn cattle and listen to Western music.
The Augusta Futurity continues through Saturday.
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