Carousel Charity Kicks Off The West Coast Circuit With A Bang
Monday, April 19, 2010
by Karyn Wonderly
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - If the 2010 Carousel Show, held March 11-14, is any indicator, this year on the West Coast show circuit may be one of the best ever. After weeks of storms that seemed to be most fierce on the weekends, Scottsdale delivered what everyone has come to love about Arizona – sunshine, great horses and fun.
While several of the horses putting on top notch performances were old favorites that we all love to watch, there are several new faces on the scene that added to the competition, keeping spectators interested and giving Judges Scott Matton and Ken Swanson plenty to choose from when it came time to give out ribbons and trophies.
Teri Yount’s Desert’s Double Memories won the Open Five-Gaited qualifier for his owner/rider with second place in this thrilling class going to High On Champagne for owner Martin Cockriel. These two horses repeated their placings in the Five-Gaited Championship, but this time it was trainer Jannie Steenkamp up for the win in his final show ring appearance in North America before returning home to South Africa with his wife to raise a family.
No stranger to the winner’s circle, CH Tip Me Do took the top ribbons in the Amateur Five-Gaited qualifier and stake classes for new owner Linda Bradley. This pair rides under the direction of trainer Bill Tomin. Second place and the reserve championship in these classes went to Heir Dazzle, owned and ridden by Amy Voliva.
The junior exhibitor classes were action packed with Remington Mealy piloting Still Champagne to a strong second with the qualifying win going to Callaway’s Lord Of The Dance, owned and shown by Erin DeMarco. This team went on to take reserve champion in the stake with Superior One and Kirsti Martin bringing home the championship for Crown Valley Farm.
Julie DeVault did an incredible job with I’m High And Mighty, taking the Open Three-Gaited class for owner Jennifer Sandefur with second going to Gloria Vanderbilt and Ann Miller. Dr. Catherine Gallo swept the Three-Gaited Amateur division with her beautiful gelding, Intoxicating Heir. Marcia Sola showed the impressive Sam’s Candygram to reserves in both classes. Sam’s Candygram is jointly owned by rider Marcia and Lori Servin.
Caroline Cherry and 2008 World Champion Victoria Lynn are a breathtaking team in the junior exhibitor division and convincingly won the qualifier and stake classes, with Shelby Jackson and A Solar Flare taking second and reserve.
Tom Volz’s eye-catching four-year-old, Love Revival, promised to be one to watch this year as she picked up the junior/novice horse win. Matthew Roberts showed Royal Amour to a good second for Ann and Frank Miller.
The Amateur Park qualifier winner was the consistently exciting team of CH The Full Monty and Julie DeVault under the expert guidance of Bill Tomin for DeVault Farms. This team returned to the winner’s circle in the championship with reserve going to Peritime and owner/rider Lauren Kaplan. My Ultimatum was second in the amateur qualifier for owner Lisa Valletta after winning the open qualifier with trainer Jannie Steenkamp. The Open Park classes brought out several new faces for the West Coast. Among them was the red ribbon winner in the qualifier, Callaway’s Back At Ya’, expertly guided by Robb Wallen for owner Karyn Laurita-Wonderly. This beautiful mare came back with a strong showing to win the championship over a very impressive class. Reserve champion went to Sir Raymond Ross and Matthew Roberts for Desert Star Saddlebreds.
Martin Cockriel’s Catalytic won the Fine Harness Open qualifier and stake classes with Cockriel at the lines. This sensational gelding also won the amateur class with Teri Yount and the Open American Saddlebred In Hand class, showing off his beauty and form. Reserve in the open and amateur classes was Cazam’s Revival’s Sensation with Sam Garcia for CBA Partnership under the direction of Kelly Freeman.
CH Picante debuted in the Park Pleasure division, shown by owner Debbie Tomin, winning the six-horse qualifier. Second place went to Evangelical, owned and shown by Coenraad Doman. Unchained, shown by David Becker Jr. for Virginia Bergstrom and Janet Overstreet, took home third in the qualifier but returned to win the championship over a tough field of eight. Reserve in the championship went to Evangelical.
Tom Volz’s Autumn’s Rainmaker was impressive in his single appearance to win the Junior Park Pleasure class. Michele McVey piloted Stylish Dancer for Desert Palms Equestrian Center, LLC to second place in this nice class.
Royalee Cleveland’s eye catching bay Global Scene won the Five-Gaited Show Pleasure class and stake over Dr. Catherine Gallo’s second place and reserve champion CH Assets And Attitudes. Both horses were in excellent form, topping a class of very nice horses and making Judge Matton’s decision a difficult one.
When it comes to Three-Gaited Show Pleasure horses, West Coast horses are always top contenders. The flashy and always impressive multi-World’s Champion CH French Silk Stockings with owner Debbie Tomin took home wins in the qualifier and championship adult classes. Again, these classes were well filled with quality horses and Kendall Weber’s CH Highpoint’s Abba Zabba put on a beautiful performance to take reserve in both.
Show Pleasure Driving is another division in which West Coast horses excel. Foxy Cleopatra was driven to wins in the qualifier and stake classes by Virginia Bergstrom for owner Elfriede Munday under the direction of David Becker Jr. Reserve honors in both classes went to the versatile CH Highpoint’s Abba Zabba with owner Kendall Weber.
Carole Whitt showed her big chestnut gelding, CH Spike Leigh, to the championship win in the Three-Gaited Country Pleasure stake. Earlier in the week, Whitt was second in the qualifier behind Kool!, owned and shown by Sue Ann Brown, who also took reserve in the championship. Kool! was also shown by Brie Kolek in the junior exhibitor division to win the qualifier and championship. Reserves in these two classes went to Undulata’s Paper Doll, shown by owner Brandi Parker.
CF Prowler’s Keepsake, with owner/driver Amy Vickers-Smith, won the blue and tricolor in the qualifier and championship Country Pleasure Driving classes. Reserve honors in both classes went to Sweet Thunder Road, shown by Sam Garcia for CBA Partnership.
Once again, the Western Pleasure division was well filled with wonderful horses. Dr. Catherine Gallo showed her beautiful world’s champion gelding, Toreador, to the winner’s circle in the adult qualifier and championship under the direction of Arcuri Stables. Grace Arnold’s elegant Buttoned Down was reserve champion in the stake and All-Star Design, owned and shown by Megan Murphy, was second in the qualifier with a third place finish in the championship out of a tough field of 10. All Star Design also won the Shatner Western Pleasure and the Open Western Pleasure Championship. Second in the Shatner class went to Gold Decision, owned and shown by Brandi Parker. Allison Gann showed Kathy Dunn’s elegant mare, Spurwing’s Superfine Lady, to win the junior exhibitor class with second going to Storm Wave Ryder and Caitlin Moffett for Caitlin Moffett and Megan Murphy.
Like the Western Pleasure division, Hunter Pleasure classes for Saddlebreds are increasing in popularity and classes at Carousel were no exception. Memories’ Celebration showed his suitability for this division by carrying Sara Mayer to wins for Excel Stable in the Saddle & Bridle Hunt Seat Classic as well as the Hunter Country Pleasure championship. Desert’s Hundred Memories, with owner/rider Donna Neessen, won the Open Hunter Country Pleasure class. Annie Richardson rode A Sharp Dressed Man to reserves in the open qualifier and championship classes.
Kendall Weber drove the crowd favorite DF Tres Chic to win the Open Roadster Pony qualifier and stake. Regal’s Pandora LF and Sam Garcia took home reserve honors in both classes for owners Cathy and Sam Garcia.
Heartland King Of Kings with owner/driver Joanne Weiner trotted away with the Hackney Pleasure Driving Pony tricolor over reserve champion Seamair’s Winterfest and Janet Overstreet. The placings had been reversed in the qualifier for these two very nice ponies.
The equitation classes in all age groups were well filled with talented riders, boding well for the future of saddle seat riding in the west. Hanna Johnson, instructed at Rushton Stables, won her 14–17 age group qualifier and championship as well as the UPHA Challenge Cup and USEF Saddle Seat Medal classes. Emily Chapman, who rides with Desert Palms Equestrian Center, took second in the 14–17 qualifier and the USEF Medal classes. Remmington Mealey took home the second place honors in the UPHA Challenge Cup. Reserve in the 14–17 championship went to Gentry Beauclair. Kirwan Kennedy won the 13 and under qualifier and championship with reserve in both classes going to Remmington Mealey. Kennedy is instructed at White Star Stables. Young Cassidy Ball won the 10 and under walk-trot class, along with the UPHA Walk-Trot 10 & Under class.
Although several classes were light on entries in the Morgan division, quality was very evident and winning horses proved worthy of the honors.
SYP High Definition was driven to victory in his debut with new owner Elaine Olsen in the Amateur Park Harness and Open Park Harness Championship. This magnificent bay also won the Morgan In-Hand class. Hanna Johnson rode her elegant mount, Bad Company, to the winner’s circle in the Junior Exhibitor Park Saddle class to add to their equitation victories.
Haute Flash, an entry of Frank and Ann Miller, shown by Frank, won the Junior English Pleasure class. This is one exciting young horse, proving her ability by also winning the Open English Pleasure Stake. Reserve honors in the junior horse class went to Baccarat’s Rhythm & Blues, shown by Stacey Hennessy for Gerry Rushton. FCF Sonata, shown by Jacquelyn Kral for owner Shirley Henry-Biszantz, won the English Pleasure Open qualifier and took reserve honors in the Open English Pleasure stake. Lila Tatar had an excellent show on her QVM Rocket Man, winning the junior exhibitor qualifier and stake with outstanding performances. Reserve in both classes went to Monnington’s Titian with Hanna Johnson adding to a great show for Arcola Farm.
Lucky As Me, driven by Shirley Henry-Biszantz for Kachina Morgan Ranch, took home the blue and tricolor in the Open Pleasure Driving qualifier and stake. Stonecroft Notorious, with Elaine Olson on the lines for Ted and Elaine Olson, won the Amateur Pleasure Driving qualifier and stake. Dreammaster Rare Image, shown by owner-driver Kevin Worsley, took home the blue in the junior horse class.
Lila Tatar dominated the Classic Pleasure Saddle division with her two horses, winning the junior exhibitor qualifier and open stake with VVM Mark My Words and the open qualifier with CPM Man Oh Man in his stylish debut in this division. Glyn-Rae Stables expertly guides Tatar and her horses, as evidenced by these good ribbons. Reserve honors in the junior exhibitor and open stake classes went to McCartney, shown by Kendal Osterberger for Cathrine Cartwright and under the direction of Wallen West Farms. McCartney went on to win the Classic Pleasure Driving qualifier with Jason Williams on the lines and came back with Robert Lovo guiding him to the stake win. Reserve in the qualifier and stake Classic Pleasure Driving classes went to Charlestown Jennifer Anne, driven by Sheridan Sturm for Terri Sturm.
Roy Els Valentina proved her suitability for the Western Pleasure division by sweeping victories in the junior horse, amateur and open qualifiers and open stake classes. She was ridden to these wins by Erlene Seybold with the exception of Lindsay Naas in the amateur class. This remarkable horse is owned by Elberta Honstein. A L S Bedazzle took reserve honors in the amateur qualifier and open stake with owner Michellie Jones and Ann Wolf Miller, respectively. Roy Els Belle Of The Ball, with Lindsay Naas for owner Deborah Honstein-Seybold, was reserve in the open qualifier. LCR Melody Of Gold with owner-rider Ted Gallegos was reserve in the junior horse class.
Whispering Incognito and Jill Yerger for King Lehr Stable rose to victory in a well-filled Open Hunter Pleasure class with Festival Atomic Energy, ridden by Savannah Sturm for Terri Sturm in second place. These two went on to repeat their placings as champion and reserve in the open stake. Festival Atomic Energy also won the junior exhibitor class over A L S Bedazzle, ridden by Savanna Marie Miller. Michellie Jones again rode this lovely mount to win the amateur qualifier.
Once again, the Arizona Saddlebred Association put on a first rate show with exciting competition in all divisions. The Friday night exhibitors’ party was quite memorable, especially the hula hoop competition. Thank you, Arizona, for a wonderful weekend.
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