Select Amateur Maggie Bellville of Atlanta, Georgia just returned from an amazing fundraising trip for the AQHA Foundation. Several other individuals including Lynn Palm and AQHA President Gene Graves and his wife, Barbara, attended the event at the picturesque Paws Up Ranch near Missoula, Montana.

"We had a ball and it is my one vacation for the year," Bellville told GoHorseShow. "We went fly-fishing, trail riding, tried mounted shooting which was a lot of fun, and I can see why this event is becoming so popular in our industry."

Bellville said they raised over $100,000 for the AQHA Foundation which is a philanthropic organization seeking to improve the quarter horse breed through research, education, therapeutic riding, and maintaining the legacy of the breed through funding the AQHA Hall of Fame and Museum and other related programs.

Maggie mentioned that the trip isn't just for "rich" people but for everyone who wants to be involved with bettering the breed and coming together to support the Foundation. There were over 30 people who attended the trip from beginning riders to long-time supporters of AQHA. The owners of Paws Up Ranch, David and Nadine Lipscomb, kindly donated the use of their facility where all the money for the lodging, food, and activities paid by the individuals attending went straight toward the Foundation. The Lipscomb's have been involved with the quarter horse industry for years including owning such outstanding stallions as Barpassers Image.

"It brought a mix of all types of people involved in all different aspects of the horse industry," says Bellville. "I highly recommend to anyone who has the chance to support the Foundation to please consider attending one of these trips--they are so much fun and it is for a good cause."

Click here to view a photo slide show of the trip

Click here to view the American Quarter Horse Foundation's photo album on Facebook

This is spa town- the most sumptuous tents you've ever had a massage in!

 The Blackfoot where the movie, A River Runs Through It, was filmed and we fly-fished.