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"An Arabian Tale"
 Excerpt from the Walla Walla Union Bulletin
published August 15, 1999:
“The intricate workmanship of the costumes, Phlite’s graceful moves and his
rider’s skill earned them top prize last month in the Pure Bred Native Costume class
at the Arabian Horse Association Region 5 Championships and All-Arabian Horse
Show.
Ripley competed against the top riders from Washington, northern Idaho,
western Montana, and
Alaska at the show held in Puyallup, Washington.
This was the first time the pair has won such an accolade in the
Regional competition
in that class. In the past they have placed in the Top Five at Regionals and have received
numerous awards, including the Purebred Arabian Legion of Honor.
 But unlike most of the riders
and horses they compete against, Ripley and Phlite have achieved these honors
on their own, without trainers and expensive manufactured costumes. Ripley has trained the
10-year old full-blooded Arab herself, and made the costumes by hand.
Ripley, who has a 17-year-old-son, said these competitions are a different environment
from her day job in Commercial Web Development at HighSpeed.Com. ‘I think it is a gift to be able to love what you do for a living and love
what you do at home. They are both remarkably different and I feel fortunate to do both.
It gives me balance.’”
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