The Five and Over Stallion competition featured a tail flagging return to the show ring for Born To Boogie as he announced his own presence loud and clear for all of his adoring fans. The legendary stallion was back to reinforce to the horse show world all the qualities that are truly Morgan. It is rare for a 12-year-old stallion to still show the same smooth lines, attitude, and athleticism as he did when he won his first world championship at age two, but Born To Boogie is rare indeed. Lynn Peeples and Born To Boogie were back in the spotlight as they once again triumphed in the Senior Champion Stallion and Grand Champion Stallion competition for a delighted Bryna Watson and Honeytree Farm.
The Specialty In Hand Championship featured Equinox Aristotle and Traci Brown capturing the tricolor from the classic section directed by Vintage Valley Stables.
The All American Futurity celebrated its 26th year with the in hand entries taking center stage during Thursday’s Breeders Night. Top honors in the weanling competition went to a spectacular bay colt sired by Futurity French Command and out of AFF Beulah named MEM The Patriot. Rick Lane presented this handsome show stopper to the victory for George Schott and Maine Event Morgans.
The All American Futurity Yearling competition followed with the largest class of the evening as 16 outstanding youngsters represented numerous breeding programs and bloodlines. Rick Stevens was on the lead of the winning entry as Starboard Blitzkrieg earned his second impressive victory of the week. The bay colt sired by Favorite Son and out of Liberation Bella Donna collected top honors for Thom Ozycz.
The second presentation of the Two-Year-Old Futurity Specialty In Hand saw DRF Sea Hawk step into the winner’s circle as he had in the specialty driving with Tim Morrell presenting for Carol Ramsey-Rice.
The Two-Year-Old Futurity In Hand competition featured an outstanding seven horse field with MEM Bailamos adding to his winning driving performances by striking the winning pose. The tall and handsome son of Futurity French Command and AFF Beulah became the second winning entry of that cross on the evening for trainer Rick Lane and owner/breeder George Schott.
The newly added Three-Year-Old Futurity Specialty In Hand saw the handsome Equinox Giovanni earn the victory with Anne Benson and owner Suzanne Segal presenting for the inaugural awarding of the tricolor.
The All American Futurity Three-Year-Old In Hand Championship closed out Breeders Night’s competition with yet another son of Futurity French Command finishing off a great night for his sire. CVH Celtic Command earned the tricolor victory with Bernard Parker presenting for Catherine Haynes.
The Classic Pleasure division at Northampton enjoyed another fine year with quality and quantity continuing at high levels. The East Coast Classic Pleasure Driving Championship featured a large field of top winning entries vying for the tricolor. It was the perfectly matched new combination of Phantom Of The Opera and Donna Nolan who rose to the top of the competition to earn the tricolor honors prepared by John and Sheri Lampropoulos.
Mary McKnight Cantey enjoyed a thrilling Northampton debut paired with the elegant Gulfwind Temptress. They bested the promising field to claim the Junior Classic Pleasure Driving tricolor honors cheered on by family and friends under the Luman Wadhams Stable banner.
The new team of Jill Chiecko and her proven world champion performer Southbrook Ultimatum enjoyed a thrilling drive to earn the Junior Exhibitor Classic Pleasure Driving Championship. Cindy Mugnier prepared them for the tricolor victory over an entertaining field of eight.
The East Coast Classic Pleasure Saddle Championship rounded out the division on Saturday night with last year’s winning junior horse entry Cinemax stepping up to the open division in tricolor fashion with owner Mindy Duran. They added to the tricolor haul at Luman Wadhams Stable.
Quality and quantity were the order of business in the Junior Exhibitor Classic Pleasure Saddle division. With 28 horses qualifying for the championship in the two preliminary classes, an amazing 22 entries returned for Saturday’s championship. Following the lineup judge Speck asked 10 horses to remain in the ring for additional work. After again performing all gaits both ways of the ring, the champions were crowned. After just meeting at the horse show, Raintree Valedictorian and Serena Chaves became a team quickly as they bested the field to earn the tricolor directed by Dottie Brittingham for Max and Barb Rudicel.
Elm Rock Chilli Pepper and Alexandra Lally claimed an impressive tricolor victory in the Walk-Trot Classic Pleasure Saddle Championship directed by Jean DeGutis.
Kathy Gutting and her super sporty UVM Grandslamunition brought their winning ways to Northampton as they starred in a new division. They took on the Junior Classic Pleasure Saddle division with style to win the tricolor under the Broadmoor banner.
The Western Pleasure division was well filled with the impressive silver trimmed entries. Friday evening’s East Coast Western Pleasure Championship featured a pair of tricolor winning stallions jogging down Northampton’s victory lane. The white trimmed Equinox Sensation was in perfect synchronized motion with Dottie Brittingham as he garnered the crowd pleasing victory for John and Patricia Haviland.
Five-year-old HL My-My is enjoying a sensational season directed by Kathleen Peeples. The sleek, black HyLee The Rage daughter was the picture of elegance as she topped the Ladies Western Pleasure Championship for Holly Seavitt and Holly Lane Morgans.
World Champion Bear’s Braveheart and Joyce Thoma have formed one of the smoothest pairs to grace the winner’s circle. This team was in perfect unison for a trio of Northampton winning performances prepared by Kathleen Peeples. They closed out the week by capturing the Amateur Western Pleasure Championship.
After Erika Ramsey’s quartet of Junior Exhibitor Western Pleasure Championships, it was time for a new winning rider to take over in 2002. Stephanie Fejes was prepared for the task as she presented May Lena’s Night Rhythm in polished fashion for the tricolor victory under the Chrislar Farm banner.
The Walk and Jog Western Pleasure Championship featured an impressive repeat win for Satin’s Jenny B and Taylor Johnston. They collected the tricolor following the qualifier win directed by Tammy Levesque.
The Junior Western Pleasure Champion featured the handsome Hygreet Dashing Spirit cashing in on the top honors for Chris Gallant directed by Tammy Levesque.