30th Annual St. Louis National Charity Horse Show
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
by Margaret Cordes
LAKE ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Top horses from across the country meant a tough competition for all divisions and ages Sept. 26-29, 2007. Showing against some of the best is what brought trainers Tom Volz and Patti Wooters all the way from Colorado. New Orleans’ Barbe Smith made her yearly trek with her equitation team. Patty Milligan hauled in all the way from Texas for top competition in several divisions and trainer Nealia McCracken’s crew from New Jersey was expected for the Saddle & Bridle Western Finals. And the Missouri and surrounding barns also came to support the show, bolstering the highest entries the show has seen in years.
It’s a show that starts early with National Finals competitions and ends late with well-attended performance divisions. It’s a lot of work for the judges but worth it for exhibitors who find a variety of classes, great competition and the opinion from a three-judge panel.
Kansas City may have been the talk of St. Louis, winning the Shatner Western Pleasure World Grand Championship for the sixth year in a row and five more blues including the Hunt Seat Classic National Championship.
Pleasure equitation brought celebrations and new titles for Nick Maupin, Sarah Lawson, Kristen Gardner and Victoria McHenry, all teens on a string of fall final competitions.
The road horse division drew a blue ribbon winner straight from the rescue effort spearheaded by Pat Johnson and Nealia McCracken. Detonator, a 1998 world’s champion in the roadster to wagon division ended up years later in a lot of trouble. But thanks to Amy Pell of Boynton Beach, Fla., and the Saddlebred Rescue, he is now back on the fast track to recovery and serves as an ambassador to the rescue program.
St. Louis welcomed several exciting new combinations, first blues and even some tiny teammates, which included 10-year-old Brandi Parker who took on all the big kids and conquered the junior exhibitor country pleasure division with Undulata’s Paper Doll. Two young brothers from New Orleans, Blayken and David Doyle test-rode a big new teammate, Piatt Steele. Hunter Chancellor continued to prove her skills against the big kids in the junior exhibitor three-gaited division.
Five-Gaited
A new combination in the five-gaited division brought cheers and unanimous approval twice. The wait was over for Deborah Butler who has not shown under saddle all year. Trainer Todd Miles determined it was time and turned the reins of Junior Five-Gaited World Champion Arrowhead’s Dreamcatcher to Butler Wednesday night. First in the amateur ladies division and then in the Amateur Five-Gaited Championship, the judges all agree this team was a success!
And Speak Of The Devil, literally, another sight in the amateur five-gaited division with owner-rider Joni Underwood Friesen, finishing in top ribbons Friday night and in the qualifier. Harold Denton and his Caramac’s Bogart finished reserve to Butler in the championship.
Always a perfect ladies team, Gayle Lampe and her Callaway’s Born To Win continued to live up to their name in the ladies five-gaited division - a tough team to beat. Callaway’s Ariel and Stacey Killer and Paula Briney’s Sixes And Sevens each earned reserves.
Backing up now to one of the most exciting five-gaited moments … I’m Something Wicked who was anything and everything but wicked. Bright, powerful and never dropping an ear, you could not take your eyes off of this Five-Gaited Grand Champion and Champion. Owned by Jerome and Karen Rader, Wicked was shown by Chuck Herbert.
I’m Something Wicked and Chuck Herbert
greeted by Nancy Herbert
The results were repeated two nights in a row for the junior exhibitor five-gaited teams with Carolina Cat and Brittany McGinnis first, What’s Whoopla and Caitlin Leith second and CH Reedann’s Steppin Out and Allison Osburg with a strong third.
The novice five-gaited division brought wins that included Kelsey Herbert and Revival Fire in Open Novice Five-Gaited class and Karyn Wonderly and Longshadow Full Sails in the Amateur Novice Five-Gaited class.
While Deborah Butler took the reins on her junior five-gaited contender, she left reserve world champion junior mare for Todd Miles who earned a unanimous tie with Pour Some Sugar On Me. Gayle Lampe prepared another five-gaited winner with Callaway’s Dealbreaker finishing in reserve.
The odds were in the favor of young UPHA Five-Gaited Classic team The Daily Lottery and Mark Turner for Daniel and Dianna Martin. Another good bet in the three-year-old division were High Times High Roller and Kris Martalock picking up reserve for Dr. Patricia Nahn.
Three-Gaited
He started the season “steeling the show” in Oklahoma City, and collected more blues in St. Louis. Zach Duffy matched up with Joan Alexander’s handsome three-gaited horse Steeling The Show, earning victory passes in both the stake and Open Three-Gaited qualifier.
Zach Duffy and Steeling The Show
A first full show year continues to bring success for Lynda Norman and her teammate Enough About You. An elegant team, the two exhibited precision and power in the Amateur Three-Gaited Championship. DeLovely teammates Royal Sweet and Michelle Hartman finished in reserve. Andrea Nicole Perry celebrated another victory for the DeLovely with her new teammate Gypsy’s Say When in the Amateur Three-Gaited qualifier.
Enough About You and Lynda Norman
Leading ladies and total fashion topped the amateur ladies division with Dr. Morgan Wolin’s Audrey Hepburn with Lisa Dahleh’s Salvatore Ferragamo in reserve. A toast for Champagne Suzie and Jane Costello was given in the Novice Amateur Three-Gaited class.
Three top junior exhibitor riders and their teammates traded top ribbons in their division. Katie Moeller earned both blues with He’s my Beau in junior exhibitor three-gaited division. Brittany McGinnis and her Ostentatiously earned the reserve grand champion ribbon, not leaving out the mighty Hunter Chancellor and her Can You Hear Me Now who finished in reserve in qualifier and third in the championship.
Novice and two-year-old three-gaited divisions lured top VHF Belle Epoque and Robert Gardiner and Penny Lane Farm’s Nite Time In New York and Rachel Birgells respectively in center ring for blue ribbons.
Three-Gaited Park
He came for the competition and left with the blues. Tom Volz celebrated two exciting open park wins on Illicit for Judy Pomerantz. Pecan Andy and Brandi Foster welcomed two reserves.
Tom Volz and Illicit
The amateur division brought similar results for its two top teams with CH Shady Creek’s Genius and Harold Denton carrying out two blues. Ms. Veronica Lake and Dr. Morgan Wolin earned two reserves in a top and crowded amateur park division.
Newlywed Constance Young was still glowing for a victory pass in the Junior Park class with Reveal The Charm for DeLovely Farm.
Fine Harness
Kathy Capsuto Walker and Sister Sally were the team to beat in the fine harness division, earning blue ribbons in the open and junior class.
Charlotte Wrather warmed up for a number of victory passes with her Callaway’s Carnegie Hall in the amateur division. Zach Duffy took the reins and control of the ring with two young fine harness contenders, earning victory passes with UPHA Classic winner Father McKenzie and two-year-old champion Back On Top.
Roadsters
A consistent team in the roadster to bike division, Judy McNeish and her Invincible Summer have been hard to beat all summer. The speed, precision and sheer excitement never winds down for this team. In top gear the team dominated the championship and qualifying rounds with Karen Coup and Bristle N turning up the heat for two reserves.
The adrenalin didn’t slow down a bit for McNeish when she picked up two more victory passed with Thunderbolt in the amateur roadster to bike division. Free Agent and Alan Montgomery finished in reserve.
There’s something about St. Louis that brings out the kid in our adult exhibitors who can’t wait to show their road ponies. Jimmy Miller and High Spirit Farms took two blues with Heartland In A Minute in the open division. The championship round brought Dr. Morgan Wolin and The Wizard LF in for reserve. Kent Swalla and The Man finished in reserve in the qualifier, saving up a little power for another man. Scooter Scheurich was happy to take the reins from Swalla and earned two fast blues in the junior exhibitor and AHHS Youth Medallion divisions.
Scooter Scheurich, and Stacey
and Kent Swalla, with The Man
Amateur road pony champion and qualifying ribbons went to Toni Nastali’s Heartland Victory Maker. Charlotte Wrather finished in reserve with Wild Wind Saturday after Morgan Wolin and her The Wizard LF took the reserve ribbon in the qualifier.
Under saddle brought some gutsy youths that included Morgan Brison who got a blue ribbon ride on a “Rolls Royce” courtesy Stacy Swalla. Frances Neunuebel catch rode Little Cindy Lou Who to earn reserve for Madison Pope.
Hackney Ponies
John and Charlotte Wrather seem to dominate the ring in the harness pony division, winning a blue each time they entered the ring. Four blue ribbons in all were earned by John Wrather with Open Harness Pony Seamair Sensation and Hackney Pony Seamair Simply Awesome. Wrather did leave one blue ribbon in center ring for Stacey Swalla and her amateur hackney pony Monte Verde.
Seamair Simply Awesome, John Wrather
and trainer Janet Crampton
Anna Marie Knipp took the rest of the blues with her hackney/harness pleasure driving pony One More Time. Charlotte Wrather and Oliver Twist earned both reserves.
Show Pleasure
Always a favorite and still a favorite at St. Louis is Janet Thompson who seems to enjoy every teammate in her show life. Her smiles start long before her call to center ring for a victory pass or two. This year it was two with five-gaited show pleasure teammate Quidditch. The championship class combined junior exhibitors and adults and brought the young Callie Smith and her new teammate She’s Gone Blonde in for reserve. The third place ribbon in this combined division also went to a junior exhibitor. Trainer Barbe Smith’s son, Scooter Scheurich, took on a tough class for third place with his CN Slicker’s Society Man.
In the adult qualifier, Janet Danuser and Heir Do finished in reserve. Lori Jordan and Inphallible took the reserve in the junior exhibitor class. Novice contenders also added numbers to the championship class including novice winner Addie Miller with Raindrops And Roses.
Park pleasure offers a lot of new talent to the ring. There were seven park pleasure classes offered and each class was full. Mark Turner earned the championship ribbon for Mary Jane Fredrickson on Storm Heir and a reserve in the open class. Jamie Bridgewater finished in reserve in the championship with CH The King’s Reflection.
The amateur park pleasure division was deep and full with Sin City Lights and Melanie Stivers earning the champion ribbon and The King’s Man and Megan Dragich finishing first in the qualifier. Stephanie Ritter finished in reserve in both classes for Nancy Lassiter on Prince’s Black Tie Affair.
The young park pleasure classes weren’t limited to the trainers as the young Elena Breeden ventured out on her new Lenore’s Tornado for a victory pass in the Junior Park Pleasure class. She traded ribbons with Brooke Jacobs who moved up from reserve to the blue ribbon in the championship.
The UPHA Park Pleasure class brought several more top contenders to the ring. The judges called Tom Volz and his Callaway’s Cellular to center ring for a victory honor. In reserve was The Emmy Winner shown by Zach Duffy for Tom Galbreath.
Stephanie Ritter reeled in the final Champion points for Maguire Hall’s Catalyst Commander. The team came all the way from Plano, Texas to take on a huge pleasure division filled with the top pleasure contenders from the Midwest and Kentucky. Catalyst Commander stood out in this class with his flaxen mane and tail and flashy trot. A smart ride by Ritter kept the contender commanding attention and earning two unanimous ties.
Catalyst Commander and Stephanie Ritter
Also a standout in this division with his big march and ease in a crowd is My One Night Stand and Lisa Schlesinger who finished in reserve in the qualifier. Before heading off to South Africa with the World Cup team, Brooke Jacobs stayed legged up in and out of the ringing by bringing in several top ribbons for her family and Werk Way Stables. Two of those included the reserve in the pleasure championship with My Southern Charm and the blue ribbon in the 18-39 qualifier. Betts Coup finished in reserve in the qualifier with her Unanimous Consent.
An absolutely stunning combination is the best way to describe the performance of Abigail Mutrux and Blackboard in junior exhibitor show pleasure division. Mutrux showed this horse for the McLinney Farm and earned two more blue ribbons for the DeLovely team. Frances Neuneubel survived her road pony ride for a powerful presentation in the junior exhibitor championship, earning the reserve ribbon on her Desert’s Supreme Cowboy.
The championship combined the two junior exhibitor divisions bringing in Andy Nicole Bowers and her The Heir To Kingdom in the top three after a victory pass in her 14-17 show pleasure division. Lauren Woodruff and Four Alarm finished in reserve behind Bowers in the qualifier. CH Laguardia and Eva Heniges earned a reserve ribbon for Meridyth Munns in the 13 and under division.
A novice rider class brought several riders back to the ring and a blue ribbon for CH Highpoint’s Coming Attraction and Kaelyn Donnelly.
The walk/trot pleasure division allowed older brother Blayken Doyle to test-drive a new teammate Piatt Steele for younger brother David. With confidence and reassurance Blayken brought back two blue ribbons for David, but the questions is who get to keep the prize?
Blayken Doyle (left) enjoyed sharing his
winning tricolor with his brother David.
There is plenty of competition in the driving divisions at St. Louis. Anna Marie Knipp and her Tamarack’s Lights Out earned both blue ribbons in this division. Kathy Capsuto Walker and her Dancing Up A Storm LLC earned two reserves.
Nathan Hinds is working toward the ASHAF Youth Show Pleasure Driving Challenge with A Horse With No Name.
Country Pleasure
St. Louis is one of the rare shows that offers a five-gaited country pleasure division. It drew Gina Boelsen and her Raytown Red to center ring for two blue ribbons.
Adult Country Pleasure is stronger than ever bringing out numerous contenders including this year’s champion and qualifying winner Trefethen, owned by William Woods University and shown by Ashley George. In reserve was the top team of Elizabeth Coup and Magikal Marissa.
Ashley George and Trefethen
Cute as a button on Undulata’s Paper Doll, Brandi Parker was perfect in the junior exhibitor championship class. Taking on new teammates and catch rides is Jessica Moctezuma’s thing and she did a good thing testing a new ride in a new division, earning a qualifier blue and championship reserve with Jim and Penny Stuart’s El Patron. Show Me The Town and Megan Hulse finished in reserve in a 12-horse qualifying round.
Brandi Parker rode Undulata’s Paper Doll
for trainer Patty Wooters
Deborah Richardson brought her CH Prophet’s Fire Hazard to St. Louis for the AOT division, earning a blue to take back home to Tennessee.
Country pleasure driving brought Ollie By Golly and Rita Diekroeger in for a championship victory pass after a reserve ribbon in the qualifier. The Straight Guy and Jane Steinkamp started with the blue ribbon in the qualifier and finished with a reserve championship ribbon.
Western Pleasure
St. Louis is a hot spot for western horse exhibitors. The days start early and run late until the very last minute of stake night. This year’s Shatner Western Pleasure World’s Grand Championship kept people on edge until almost midnight Saturday night. The competition even drew contenders from California and New Jersey. But in the end, the now-six time reigning World’s Grand Champion Kansas City and Beth Oliver will hang on to the honor for one more year.
Oliver and Kansas City survived a grueling week, earning the blue in the Working Western Pleasure Finals, the Shatner Western Pleasure class, Working Western Pleasure, Hunter Seat Classic National Championship and the Hunt Seat Classic.
Kansas City and Beth Oliver
The World’s Grand Champion team did leave some blues for other teams. Pat Johnson’s CH A Magic Surprise went home with three blues including the Junior Exhibitor Country Western Pleasure class with Jessica Moctezuma as well as the Shatner Junior Exhibitor Western Pleasure Finals and the Ladies Country Western Pleasure Section Two with owner Pat Johnson.
CH A Magic Surprise and Jessica Moctezuma
with owner Pat Johnson
Harlem’s Mojo and Toni Nastali earned the top score in the Ladies Country Western Pleasure Section One. Michele Macfarlane and CH Like Thunder earned the blue in the Country Western Pleasure Championship. Miss Lotta Santana and Kevin Michael finished in first in the Gentlemen’s Country Western Pleasure. Janelle O’Bannon brought her Talmage’s Heiress for the AOT rider division. Go Global and Mary Strohfus earned blues in the Country Western Pleasure Novice Horse and Junior Country Western Pleasure classes. Jenny Paetz and A Touch Of Rhythm finished first in the Open Western Trail.
Hunter Pleasure
The hunter division saw several Saddlebred contenders. Callaway’s Scoop The News and Kristen Pettry are always a favorite and were favorites again with several blue ribbons in the Country Hunter Pleasure Championship, Country Hunter Pleasure Section One and a reserve in the Hunter Seat Classic. Stardust’s Ruby Tuesday and Donna Spears earned the top spot in the Hunter Pleasure Section Two. One blue left was for Colour Me Proud and Grace Meyer in the Hunter Over the Fences class. Meyer admitted they practiced jumping at home but did not expect the course they found at St. Louis and did not expect to do so well. “He was jamming,” said Meyer about her Saddlebred jumper. “He really enjoys it and that makes him more inclined to want to do it.” Meyer and Colour Me Proud did a little training at a hunter facility near home but she said they’re relatively new to this and love it.
Equitation
While the top junior and senior pleasure equitation contenders headed to St. Louis for the Saddle and Bridle Pleasure Equitation Medallion (see separate story), their “trimmed” saddle seat counterparts also find this show a great warm up for the finals coming up at the American Royal.
Senior saddle seat equitation divisions brought top riders, which included Ellen Medley Wright, who won the championship, Jessica Moctezuma and Faye Wuesthofen.
Ellen Medley Wright,
Kalu’s Can’t Stop The Magic,
and the Wright family
The junior division welcomed Taylor Newton, Callie Smith, Belle Owen, Katie Williams and Natalie Armstrong Grunnan in the top honors.
The walk/trot 10 and under division saw bold and eager riders including Caroline Cherry, Courtney McGinnis, Kailin Baechle, Blayken Doyle, Julie Lee, Lauren Brannon Kate Williams and Brandi Parker.
Belle Owen took home the USEF Medal from St. Louis. Katie Easton earned the UPHA 17 and Under Challenge Cup while Caroline Cherry took home the UPHA 10 & Under Challenge Cup.
Adult Saddle Seat Equitation Americas Cup this year went home with Michelle Krentz. In reserve was Brooke Jacobs who finished first in the Adult Saddle Seat Equitation class.
Michelle Krentz and CH Louisville Lass
Sally McEwen is now qualified and preparing for next year’s UPHA Challenge Cup Pleasure Equitation. Callie Smith qualified for Good Hands.
This concludes the highlights of the St. Louis National Horse Show. Complete show results can be seen and searched by clicking here.
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