by Mary Daughtry
RALEIGH, N.C. - The inaugural Raleigh Invitational Horse Show was held Nov. 21-23, 2008, at the Gov. James B. Hunt Horse Show Complex. The schedule was exhibitor friendly with plenty of classes for Saddlebreds, Morgans, Friesians, Hackney and roadsters as well as several open classes for any breed. The weather was chilly with a little snow flurry early Friday morning. After this, however, the sun was bright and by Sunday the temperature was in the 50s. The weekend format seemed to be well received especially for the kids who do not want to miss school.
Show Manager Joyce Wilson assembled an excellent group of officials for this show. Bob Gatlin judged all classes including academy. Peyton Hamilton was the announcer in center ring. Jerry Cook was the ringmaster and Charlotte Cook handled all the awards. Doug Shiflet was so busy taking pictures that on Sunday afternoon he was in short sleeves. Horse Videos provided videography services. Stephen Wilson was the grounds and stable superintendent and assistant cook. Wayne Murray was on duty as farrier and luckily was never needed in center ring. Barbara Woodlief kept everything running smoothly in the office.
Due to the weather the morning, coffee and hot chocolate was replenished all day. On Saturday night after the show, there was a delicious barbecue for all the exhibitors and sponsors. Each day, the pigs flew with the winner taking half the pot. As an added incentive, an extra $25 was offered if the winner could keep the hula hoop going for one full minute. There was also a silent auction and people took advantage of the many vendors on hand to do early Christmas shopping. Before the Saturday night performance, Judge Myra Williams held court for the dog show which is always a highlight.
Seajay Lewis was bright and precise to win the Open Five-Gaited class and the open championship for owner/rider Dr. Brian Garrett. Shamrock’s Free Step and Janelle D’Amato made a pair of victory passes in the ladies qualifier and the ladies championship for Jansal Saddlebreds. Sarah Longworth finished out her illustrious junior exhibitor career with a spectacular tricolor ride on her elegant CH Diamond’s Hope in the Junior Exhibitor Five-Gaited Championship. The blue in the qualifier also belonged to this pair. Nathan Brachear presented Santana’s One Lucky Charm to the blue in the Junior/Novice Five-Gaited class for Mary Rome and Vaughn Daniel. My Stately Lady and Rick Felder claimed the blue in the three-year-old class for Dr. Brian Garrett.
In the three-gaited division, Michelle Holbrook and Say You Will made victory passes in the ladies qualifier and the amateur championship. Dr. Teresa Miller and her Periaptor’s Dancing Star were the reserve champions in the amateur championship after winning the blue in the amateur qualifier. The King’s Firestorm and Alexandra Rapadas were first in the Three-Gaited Pony class. The red ribbon was awarded to Attache’ Allure and Anna Grace Whitworth. In the championship, however, the order of finish was reversed with Attache’ Allure as the champion and The King’s Firestorm the reserve champion.
Unpretentious was anything but that as he and his owner/rider, Lynne Hege, made a pair of victory passes in the Open Three-Gaited Park qualifier and championship. The handsome chestnut Making A Move and Bredin Rush also claimed two top finishes in the Amateur Three-Gaited Park class and the championship. CH Kalarama Shiraz and Drew Taylor Hewitt made two splendid shows to win both of the junior exhibitor park classes. Irene York and Austin Hazelwood were a crowd-pleasing reserve in both classes. Tom Gentile rode High Times Northern Storm to the blue in the Junior Park class for Silver Brook Stables.
In the park pleasure division, Jeanette Winslow rode A Revolution to the winner’s circle in the open qualifier and championship for Amy Johnson. Matchplay and Ruhi Robinson were second in the qualifier. Malice In Wonderland and Trieste Felder were the reserve champions. Maggie Gardiner was justifiably proud of her horses and riders as they went one-two in the Amateur Park Pleasure Championship. Jesse Lynch rode Any Given Sunday to the tricolor for Katherine Hansil. The Perfect Sunset and Alexandria Potter were reserve for Margaret Gardiner. This pair had earlier won the amateur qualifier. Malice In Wonderland and Tiffany Pridgen were second in this class for Trieste Felder. Beth Watson rode her Worthy’s Blue Chip to the blue in the Junior Park Pleasure class.
The three-gaited show pleasure classes were quite competitive. Fire Number One scored two nice wins in the adult qualifier and the adult championship. Shannon Parham was aboard in the qualifier and Catherine Hill in the championship for owner Catherine Boles. Dicky D. and Christie Bennett were reserve in both classes. CH Future Treasure was in top form to win both classes for riders 14-17. Chandler Gray was in the irons of Myra Williams’s entry. CH Harlem’s Moon Shadow and Jesse Lynch were reserve in both classes. The Chesapeake Bay and Austin Hazelwood made smooth as silk performances to win both classes for riders 13 and under. Albelarm Anchor Man and Bronwyn Frank had their share of fans with reserve ties in both classes. Barbara Matthews rode her stylish black CH Five Minutes More to the winner’s circle in the AOT Three-Gaited Show Pleasure qualifier and championship. Second in the qualifier went to Celestial Design and Jennifer Overman. The reserve champion was A Dollar’s Worth and Meghan Combs. The blue in the Novice Rider Three-Gaited Show Pleasure went to Endolane Symphony and Tammy Whitworth. Kimberly Crist and Laugh Outloud were second in this qualifier. In the championship, Auld Lang Syne and Angela Jarman won the tricolor with the reserve to Endolane Symphony.
Ventura’s Gold Card and Judy Megalich were the top team in the Adult Five-Gaited Pleasure class with second to Red Hot And Bothered and Midge Hunt. In the championship, the top prize went to Red Hot And Bothered to the pleasure of owners Margaret Bailey and Myra Williams. Ventura’s Gold Card was reserve. CH Sunken Treasure and Drew Taylor Hewitt were the top team in the junior exhibitor qualifier and championship.
In the ASB Pleasure Walk & Trot 12 & Under class, Lady Gabriella and Emma Sanchez took the top prize. Buckwiser and Jordan Parham were second. In the championship, CH Harlem’s Black Magic and Savannah Woodruff trotted to the winner’s circle for Beth Watson. Buckwiser was the reserve champion.
Highpoint’s Fancy Cat was unbeatable in the country pleasure division, winning a total of six classes for Toree Hefner. With a letter perfect performance, this team won the adult country pleasure qualifier and the adult championship as well as both AOT classes. Master Gold Card and Kerrie Beth Fersch were reserve in both adult classes. A Promise Keeper and Pam Quick were second in the AOT qualifier. Stand And Watch and Sara Roberson were the reserve AOT champions. To round out their "six pack", Highpoint’s Fancy Cat and Hefner won both of the country pleasure driving classes.
In the Junior Exhibitor Country Pleasure class, Something For Nothing and Jesse Lynch were the winners for Margaret Gardiner. Irish Charisma and Madison Bissette were second. In the championship, Callaway’s Maelstrom and Kaitlin Wakefield took top honors for Caitlin Leith. Rock The Night and Allison Womack were the reserve champions. Callaway’s Maelstrom and Kaitlin Wakefield also took the blue in the novice rider class. Heir’s Model and Sarah Armstrong were second in the novice rider qualifier but won the championship ahead of Go For The Gold and Monique Hall. In the Country Pleasure Walk & Trot class and championship, the winner was the team of CH Hey Covington and Emily Murphy. Symbol’s Supreme Eclipse and Holly Henson made a pair of victory passes in the Hunter Country Pleasure class and championship. Mountainview’s Manhatten Viscount and Lisa Jordan Pearce were reserve in both classes.
Melanie Bennett had two nice rides to win the saddle seat equitation class for riders 17 and under and the Saddle Seat Equitation Championship. Kim Mueller won both of the pleasure equitation classes. Alexandra Rapadas was second in the qualifier while Allison Womack was the reserve champion. Ellie Kangur made two victory passes in the walk/trot saddle seat equitation for riders 10 and under. Emma Sanchez was a good reserve in both classes.
Success Soleil was a busy road horse showing for the blue in the open and open championship with Janelle D’Amato and the amateur and amateur championship with Layne Norman driving. D’Amato also rode him for the under saddle qualifier and championship.
Power Of Attorney and Drew Love had a blast winning the Road Pony Under Saddle class and championship. Cover Story and Brenda Rappaport made an elegant picture as they won both of the Hackney/harness pleasure pony driving classes. Paul Otto also enjoyed his blue ribbon drives with Heartland Invincible in the Open Hackney Pony class and championship.
In the Morgan division, Natalie Tetterton and her Claridge Freedom’s Spirit made a pair of victory passes in the Amateur English Pleasure class and championship. Battier and Anika Frank likewise made blue ribbon rides in the Junior Exhibitor Morgan English Pleasure qualifier and championship. CouLee Bend Immortality and owner/rider Margie Blaik won the Morgan Hunter Pleasure Amateur and amateur championship as well as the amateur western pleasure. DEF Queen Anne’s Revenge topped the Morgan Open Hunter Pleasure class and championship with Phil Lanier riding for June Davis.
In the open division, Endolane Supreme Admiral and Barbara Matthews won the English Pleasure Walk/Trot/Canter with second going to Heir’s Model and Sarah Armstrong. In this championship, the tricolor went to A Dollar’s Worth and Meghan Combs with Endolane Supreme Admiral in the reserve. Moonheart Fantasy, ridden by Emory Sykes for Martha Perry, made a pair of victory passes in the Open Walk & Trot English Pleasure and championship. Buckwiser and Jordan Parham were second in the qualifier. DEF Queen Anne’s Revenge and June Davis were the reserve champions. Shadow On The Sun and Stacy Hadnott won the Adult English Pleasure Walk & Trot with DEF Queen Anne’s Revenge second.
The winning academy riders were: Elaine Harrell, Heather Williams, Natalie McCue, Allison Daley, Taylor Bernstein, Kaila Webb, Trent Riley, Meg Raynor, Caroline Staples and Lauren McMurry.