A trip down memory lane...

Laura's first horse, appendix QH mare, Missmo (aka "Blue") won Laura her very first, genuine trophy buckle in 1979 in Stock Seat Equitation 13 and under. (1976-1981) She also helped cultivate Laura's love for "air."

Laura's second horse, AQHA gelding Duke Parker. (1979- until deceased in 1984) won dozens of Alaska State Horsemen State Championships and took Laura to the AQHA Youth World in 1982 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Gate's Win (aka "Woofie) and Laura taking the 3-day average at the Alaska State Fair Rodeo during her Miss Rodeo Alaska year. (1986) He taught her well! Woofie was owned by Shirley Watson of Palmer.

Branch's Ellusion (campaigned for Linda Hartman after Duke's death) and Laura winning an ASQHA  Western Pleasure Maturity class beside Refer to Maker PS and Linda Hartman.  "Lucy" was undefeated in both Western and English performance events earning 8 western pleasure points in three goes her first year showing. (1985)

After a year of memorizing rodeo facts, learning how to rope and barrel race, practicing speeches and current event facts, and traveling to numerous "big" rodeos representing Alaska, Laura competes in Las Vegas at the 1987 Miss Rodeo America pageant and takes 1st Runner-up to Miss Louisiana.

Laura and Blazing Sir Prize (the only Arabian she's ever been talked into showing), owned by Margo Scalis (Byron), shows off the six Arabion Championships they won at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer. (1999)

Click magazine cover for link to article inside Alaska Horse Journal  entitled "Some Little Girls' Dreams Do Come True."

State Championships won with Laura onboard:

1991 - Gotcha in Diamonds owned by Mary Runser - Junior Western Pleasure

1991 - Call Me Mr. Steel owned by Cindy Love - Junior Hunter Under Saddle

1991 - Sterling Reference owned by Cindy Love - Hunter Hack

1992 - Caps Royal Echo owned by Dorothy Walker - Hunter Hack, Senior Hunter Under Saddle,         Working Cowhorse, Pole Bending, High Point Open Horse

1993 - Caps Royal Echo owned by Dorothy Walker - Hunter Hack, High Point Open Horse

1993 - Easy at Midnight owned by Dorothy Walker - Senior Western Pleasure

2002 - Caps Royal Echo owned by Laura Fitzgerald - ASH Res. Beginning Jumper

2003 - Docs a Dempsey Two owned by Kati Hackenberger - Junior Hunter Under Saddle

2003 - Caps Royal Echo owned by Laura Fitzgerald - ASH Res. Level 0 Jumper

2004 - A Little Bit of Glow owned by Regan Fitzgerald - Junior Western Pleasure

2004 - Caps Royal Echo owned by Laura Fitzgerald - ASH Res. Level 1 Jumper

2005 - A Little Bit of Glow owned by Regan Fitzgerald - Senior Western Pleasure

2006 - Ulookwonderfultonite owned by SanDee McQueen - Junior Hunter Under Saddle

2006 - A Little Bit of Glow owned by Valerie Nava - Senior Western Pleasure