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Fun, Friendship and Competition Prevail at Old Dominion



   
by Mary Daughtry  
   

This is the fourth year that the Old Dominion Morgan Horse Show and Open Carriage Show has been held at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, Va. The show is held inside the self-contained smaller arena between two barns in this spacious facility, except for dressage classes which are conducted in the dressage arena on the hill. The show committee promised fun, friendship and competition and they certainly delivered. Unseasonably cool and sometimes drizzly weather conditions certainly did not dampen anyone's fun. Indeed the overall atmosphere was laid back, easy going and entertaining.
   

Hospitality is abundant at this show which was held a week earlier this year on Aug. 26-28. On Thursday evening there was a "welcome to Lexington" pizza party.  Every morning coffee and doughnuts were available outside the horse show office. An ice cream social followed Friday evening's session and was a big hit. The exhibitors' party and live auction capped off Saturday evening's session. The sponsors for all the hospitality were Midshine Morgans, Heatherstone Morgans, Broadmoor, Windward Farm, Saturday Acres, Sweet Promise Farm, Flintlock Farm, Just-A-Wee Morgans and Tristanne W. Childress.
    

A good crew always keeps a show running smoothly and Old Dominion assembled an exceptional group. Stephen Davis judged most of the classes in the main arena while Muffy Seaton officiated in carriage and Heidi Berry in dressage. Nancy Gossage served again as USEF steward while Gary Hooghkirk handled the ringmaster duties.  Jane Frye entertained at the organ and Gene Frye announced in the main arena.  Pamela Van Brunt served as show manager and Sherri Re was the secretary. Bob Branam took the winning shots.
   

Show Highlights

 

Several nice mares strutted their stuff for Judge Davis. Whitemud Miami Blues was the winner of the class for fillies two and under led by Selvin Torrez for Curtis and Elizabeth Wyandt. The aptly named Tara's Venus was first in the class for mares three and over. Dan Pavan had this lovely mare in fine order for Jim Griffin. Tara's Venus also claimed Grand Champion Mare honors with Whitemud Miami Blues a good reserve.
   

Mtn. Run Windtalker was the single sporty entry in the class for geldings three and over as well as Grand Champion Gelding. Again Dan Pavan presented this high-headed gelding for Jim Griffin. Selvin Torrez also led the winner of the colts two and under.  This time it was Whitemud Summer Stars wearing the blue ribbon for Curtis and Elizabeth Wyandt. SME Born Again was the winner for stallions three and over led by Katrina Bonidace for Jennifer Smedley. The younger set prevailed in the championship with the title of Grand Champion Stallion going to Whitemud Summer Stars. Guha’s Dream Come True was the reserve champion.
    

Surf Point Star Struck was the sporty solo entry in the Open Park Saddle qualifier and championship. Krista Headley is the owner and rider of this animated chestnut who is shown under the direction of Broadmoor.
    

Mount N Shine Sapphire and Susan Martin claimed the blue ribbon in the Ladies English Pleasure class for Eugene and Sandra Eisner. Pat Dills had her handsome gelding Marin Five-O-One in top form to win the amateur class as well as the championship. Stonecroft Endless Love and Betsy Buchanan were the reserve champions.
    

The sharp black gelding White Christmas and owner/rider Marci Cesanek won the English Pleasure blue. In the Limit English Pleasure, Selvin Torrez rode NBN Out Of The Blue to first place and came back to earn the Open English  Pleasure Championship. HRS Mirror Image and Michelle McCleester were a much applauded reserve champion team for Howard Stump.
   

Whitemud Dixie Drummer and Dwayne Knowles garnered a pair of wins in the Junior English Pleasure qualifier and championship for an excited owner Rhoda Hoenmans.
   

Hollybrook Indian Brave and Mary Daughtry carried out the blue ribbon the Open Pleasure Driving and finished off with the reserve championship. Mtn. Run St Christopher and owner/driver Dan Pavan won the limit class and the Open Pleasure Driving Championship on Saturday night. CPMF Amber Light and Pat Dills made two victory passes in the amateur qualifier and championship. 
   

Four exceptionally nice junior driving horses vied for top honors in their classes with a pair of white trimmed bays earning the top two placings. MSV Razzle Dazzle and Selvin Torrez made a pair of victory passes for Emily and Gina Reali Torrez. Reserve in both classes was Whitemud Touch Of Blue and Mike Goebig for Rhoda Hoenmans.
   

In the Junior Exhibitor Classic Pleasure qualifier and championship Jessie Fejes and Sunny Acre Candoo made two flawless performances to win both classes under the direction of Broadmoor. KB Infinity and Beyond and owner/rider Kathleen Mullaney were a sharp team to win a competitive limit horse class under the direction of Heatherstone. Eight entries comprised the open class which was won by Miss Doubtfire ridden by Gina Reali Torrez. In the championship June Davis and Coalition Royal Billing were right every step to claim the tricolor.  Mount-N-Shine Sapphire and Sandra Eisner made the reserve victory pass in the championship. This team qualified by winning the limit rider class.
   

CBMF Touch the Stars and Kathy Pierce won a pair of blues in the nice limit horse as well as Limit Driver Classic Pleasure Driving. Coalition Royal Billing and June Davis claimed their second championship of the show by winning the Classic Pleasure Driving Championship in fine style following the qualifier victory. Roca Bob’s Legacy was reserve in the qualifying class as well as the championship with Susie Brittingham doing the honors for Catherine Jones.
   

Four nice entries showed in the junior exhibitor western classes. Winning both the qualifier and the championship was the smooth as silk team of PTR Raz Ma Taz and Stephanie Fejes. The reserve junior exhibitor champion was CJMM Just As Bold Charlie and Morgan Dodd. SME Born Again and Katrina Bonidace were the single entry in the junior horse class and championship.
   

Goldtree Menolly and Loretta Brown were pleasure perfection as they won the AOTS Western Pleasure class. The big pretty chestnut Treble's Wild Fire was truly on fire at this show as he won the ladies class, the amateur qualifier and the amateur championship with a very pleased owner Barbara Duell Hewitt in the saddle. Reserve in the amateur championship was awarded to JPL's Wild & Wonderful and Susie Brittingham.
   

Trainer Tristanne W. Childress had her turn putting Treble's Wild Fire in the winner's circle as they won both the open class and the open championship. Reserve in the championship was the lovely duo of Michelle McCleester and HKS Viking's Legacy performing for Heatherstone Morgans.
   

The hunter pleasure featured the largest division of the show and many of the classes were hotly contested. The junior exhibitor classes were split by age with a single championship. The judge's choice in the class for riders 13 and under was BL Hana Bak Ibsen and Emma Thompson under the direction of Marci Cesanek. In the class for riders 14-17 Dreammaker Mystic Moon and Alyssa  Peechotka were the winners. The junior exhibitor championship was the largest class of the show and the top prize went to Caprice's Master Ben and Elizabeth Fawcett. JW Millionaire was the reserve champion with Sara Miles.
   

The amateurs also had to ride hard for top ribbons. HKS Lord of the Dance and Lisa Mullaney made it look effortless as they won the amateur stallions and geldings class. BL Hana Bak Ibsen won another blue in the amateur mares class this time ridden by Lillian Thomas. The top prize in the AOTS class went to QM Poseidon and his owner/rider Elizabeth Abernathy. All of these amateur classes led up to a fine amateur championship. Riding away with top honors was BL Hana Bak Ibsen and Lillian Thomas. The reserve amateur champion was the team of Preservation Hall and Bethanne Ridgeway.
   

Dreammaker Mystic Moon and Amanda Dupont Pauli trotted to the winner's circle in 1st Year Green Hunter Pleasure.  MYC Christmas Serenade and Marci Cesanek make a pair of victory passes in the junior horse class and championship. In the open class Firewalker Red Flag Rising was in the winner's circle with Elizabeth Wyandt. Nine nice entries comprised the ladies class which was won in fine style by Caprice's Master Ben, this time ridden by Kara Hose for Trotwood Stable.  All of these classes led up to an exciting open championship. The tricolor was awarded to the elegant HKS Lord of the Dance and Michelle McCleester for Catherine and Howard Stump. The reserve champion was Dreammaker Mystic Moon and Amanda DuPont Pauli.
    

Elizabeth Fawcett showed her versatility by winning the Saddle Seat Equitation class, then the Hunt Seat Equitation 13 and under as well as the Hunt Seat Equitation Championship. Sara Miles topped the AMHA Hunt Seat Medal as well as the 14-17, and finished off as the Hunt Seat Equitation Reserve Champion. In the western equitation Stephanie Fejes made a pair of trips to the winner's circle winning both the qualifier and championship. Stephanie Galanie was reserve in both classes. Zoie O’Neal won the equitation class for riders 11 and under.
   

Coalition Royal Billing posed just right to win the Justin Morgan Standard class with owner/handler June Davis. Molly O’Guinn won a large fitting & showmanship class for exhibitors 13 & under. The blue in the class for exhibitors 14-17 went to Kim Fullerton.
   

In the walk-trot pleasure class, Vee Hawk's Saralaine and Zoie O'Neal got the judge's nod for first. Second went to UVM Glimmer and Taylor Altomare. This cute duo moved up in the championship to take the tricolor while the reserve champion was Brianmead Envision with Scout Ford riding. The leadliners were cute as always and included Carley Pavan, Nolan Henderson, Molly Cesanek, Rachel Wolinski and Tyler Bokunewicz. The costume class was a real crowd-pleaser. The winning group included Harry Potter, Ron, Hermione, Dumbledore, Fitch's cat, a couple of dementors, and a very patient Morgan unicorn.
    

The sport horse and show ring competition closed out with numerous High Point Awards. They included; Working Hunter Champion - Harwich Mayfly; Junior Exhibitor Champion - Elizabeth Fawcett; Sport Horse Champion – Mythic Alladin; Trail Horse Champion - Green Bay Commander; Carriage Pony Champion - FCL Just A Miracle; Carriage Horse Champion - Whippoorwill Laertes.

 

Complete results can be found by clicking on Show Results.

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