Mesa Farm Horse Show

The Dale Perkins Horse Show consists of up to an hour of equine entertainment, all accompanied by music. As an equine professional, Dale wants his show to be highly entertaining as well as informative; using good sound horsemanship techniques that put the well-being of the horse first.

He interjects comedy with thrilling daredevil action reflecting a noticeable level of dignity and respect for his four-footed partners. Willing, responsive animals who enjoy the work and the relationship with their human handlers are the qualities Dale wants the general public, as well as the experienced horse personnel in the audience, to notice.

Dale believes patience, timing and deliberately looking at things from the horses’ perspective are keys to successful horsemanship. A well-trained horse is one that is responsive, comfortable in its environment, and enjoys its work. A noble performance of intelligence, natural beauty, and contentment is the goal Dale wants his horses to display to the audience and this sense of respect must permeate the training and shows, as well as be evident in all aspects of the animals’ life. Dale believes a horse can be safe and gentle and still proud to be a horse.

Dale wants each training session to be a positive experience for the animal. Trust and confidence are established through gentle, consistent handling. Elaborate moves are accomplished by breaking them down into small training steps that are increased at a level that the horse is physically and mentally prepared. As a trainer, Dale’s enjoyment is when a horse has that “ah ha” moment and eagerly anticipates and responds to the desired cue.

To facilitate their physical and mental well-being, Dale allows his horses ample time to just be horses. Access to pasture and daily routines in which the animals feel comfortable and secure are integrated with training sessions, trail rides, and other activities. Most of the horses are trained to work in harness doing routine farm work such as plowing or cultivating the garden, skidding logs, and pulling a wagon. Dale feels this is helpful to trick training as it teaches patience and dependability and improves the relationship with the handlers because of the shared time together. Trick training stimulates the curiosity of the horse and provides the animal amusement, variety, and an occasional treat reward.

Acts in the DPHS may include:

Chariot Team: Four horses demonstrating their “work horse” background with some controlled power and speed.
Vaulting: Sometimes described as gymnastics on horseback; some of Dale’s crew demonstrate their teamwork and athletic abilities.
Circus Liberty Routine: What you might see under the Big Top.
Drill Team: Horses and their riders performing synchronized moves set to music.
Trick Riding: Dale and crew take turns demonstrating tricks while galloping around the ring: Half-fenders, double vaults, and more.
Trick Roping: Dale demonstrates some of the common rope spinning moves; from the Crow Hop to the Texas Skip.
Roman Riding: Standing astride a team of horses.

About Dale and The Crew

Dale grew up on a farm in Minnesota and has been riding horses since he was six. He showed horses competitively as a hobby through the 1970s and began working with draft horses in the early 1980s. Dale served as the Farm Steward at Heifer International’s Overlook Farm in Rutland, MA from 1990 to 2008. He now works full-time managing all aspects of Mesa Farm. The show started in the mid-1980s after he taught tricks to his original pair of horses, Ginger and Gypsy, which he raised in Minnesota.

Dale’s wife, Ann Tripp, took riding lessons growing up in Pennsylvania. She has a full-time job off the farm, but helps with the shows and farm activities as available. Other family members, Elizabeth Tripp and Sam Tripp, have each contributed to the show in the past (Elizabeth as a drill team and trick rider and Sam, in spite of being allergic to horses and hay, as an enthusiastic props manager). Each are adults off on their own now but still maintain a strong connection to the farm and activities.

The rest of the horse crew consists of an evolving community of families and individuals of all ages that share an interest in horses. Many of those involved have had little experience with horses prior to joining the crew. The current youth who ride on the show crew are: Grace Fleming, Lauren Mulry, Treva Plank, Mary Robinson, Mikayla Robinson, Ella Harley, Kim Zalaimas, and Christina Edmondson.

Support crew include Ann Tripp, Todd, Jennifer, and Hadley Plank, and occasional other parents, family members, and friends who serve as show announcers, help with props, and pitch in in assorted roles as the show schedule dictates.

Several dozen other youth and adults have served on the horse show crew over the years and a number have gone on to pursue careers in equine related fields. Many of these still help out from time to time as available. Some of these past participants include Kelina Smith, Katie Wainwright, Dylan Hall, Michael Hamer, Lydia Hart, Mary Hart, Taryn McEntagart, Cam Howe, Kara Gravel, Sierra and Jasmine Sasser, Sinead O’Sullivan, Jocelyn Gramit, Margaret Herlihy, Abby and Grace Strilka, Maggie Smith, Rosalind and Miranda Waltz-Peters, Ginger and Eva Gray, Isaac Buck, Maribeth D’Aquila, Kate Calvert, Therese Spaulding, Kaitlyn Crowther, Morgan Crowther, Becky Martin, Margot Boucher; Rachael and Rebecca Dudley, Myrna Kastner, Halley and Ruth Terry, Sarah and Katie Elmes, Brett Cheney, and Jon Hillman.

The Horses

Ginger and Gypsy were the original horses in the Dale Perkins Horse Show and they are the 4th generation of horses owned by Dale’s family on the Minnesota farm in the early 1970’s.

Ginger’s three offspring became part of the show and were joined by three other horses born at Mesa Farm and an assortment of horses that were acquired by Dale and Ann through gifts, adopted from equine rescues, or purchased.

Click here to meet the DPHS horses!

Watch the DPHS Highlight Video