Indiana Morgan Classic - Where Pigs Really Do Fly... And Squeal!
Friday, July 15, 2005
by Diana Davidson
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The Indiana Morgan Classic proved to once again be a show different from all others. It's the continuing mission of the show committee to make this horse show stand out. Their desire is to put on a show that exhibitors remember each year and don't want to miss. The enthusiastic approach taken by members of the show committee involves creative ideas, hard work and a strong desire for everyone to have fun. Competition and enjoyment are the basis of why most people go to horse shows, and this show provides both of those key ingredients. This year's Indiana Morgan Classic featured some world class performers in the show ring paired with lots of fun over the Fourth of July weekend.
The success of the Indiana Morgan Classic All Male Beauty Pageant, Fight Night and Silent Auctions over the last two years set the stage for another memorable theme for 2005, as well as a trio of jackpot classes. Prior to each evening's session one class was selected at random, and the winner of that class received a jackpot prize of $400. In addition, another exhibitor in each of the jackpot classes earned a $200 door prize in a random drawing. This certainly added to the excitement and had exhibitors eager to compete in evening classes.
The theme of this year's show was a pig hit! The pig theme included nightly pig tossing contests with a sellout response netting money for the show as well as for the winning tossers, Dan Sebastian, Bill Whitley, and Sharon Hicks. Friday night's Really Really Pig Party was an eagerly anticipated event. The fun-filled evening along with the silent auction netted the show more than $6000.
Everyone enjoyed Hoosier hospitality throughout the show starting every morning with coffee and doughnuts sponsored by Hartmeyer Saddlery and ending each evening with a party. Everyone got together following the first evening of the show with the Subway station on Thursday night hosted by Dan and Kathy Taylor. Friday night's Really Really Pig Party was sponsored by Ron and Donna Zimmerman and the National Yearling Championship. An ice cream social capped the activities on Saturday night.
Many special awards were also presented in the show ring on Saturday night. HVK Vibrance began the week as Grand Champion Stallion and closed out he show as Park Saddle Champion as he also collected the Triple Creek Farm High Point Horse Perpetual Trophy for Phil and Gloria Blevins. The name of Dragonsmeade Japengo will be added to the Wright High Point Hunter Perpetual Trophy following a winning week for Dragonsmeade Farm under the direction of Cheryl Woosley. Announcer Dennis Rumsey was delighted to announce that his daughter Alyssa Rumsey concluded her victorious show in the equitation and performance divisions by winning the Meadow Lane Youth Perpetual Trophy as high point junior exhibitor for the third year in a row. Erica Frazee took her turn in center ring as the Indiana Morgan Youth Of The Year.
The Indiana Morgan Classic was once again held for the benefit of the Indiana Equine Assisted Programs (Therapeutic Riding and Driving). During the past 10 years the show has donated more than $20,000 to this deserving program. The 2005 Indiana Morgan Classic was dedicated to the memory of two long time champions of the show, former show president Wilma White along with tireless volunteer Sylvia Happe.
This year's show was held on June 30 - July 2 in the air-conditioned Pepsi Coliseum at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Guy Brown enjoyed his second year as show manager of the Indiana Morgan Classic while Judy McManama took over the reins as the show secretary. A trio of ladies continued their hard work on behalf of the show; president Shanna Gish, vice president JoAnn Brandt and treasurer Karen Shields. Dwayne Knowles and Julie Pickering were selected to officiate in all of the show ring competition. Announcer Dennis Rumsey, ringmaster Karen Homer-Brown, photographer Doug Shiflet, organist June Brune, steward Mary Lynn Whitley, paddock master Bill Hazen and barn manager Dave Hicks rounded out the team of show officials.
The highlights of the Indiana Morgan Classic follow along with complete results which can also be viewed on our web site at www.saddlehorsereport.com.
In-Hand
Thursday morning's in hand competition got the show off to a tricolor start as Triumph Stables began by hanging up the first blue ribbon and tricolor of the show with Flintwood Starlet. John Hufferd presented Bill and Kathy Taylor's animated filly to the Two-Year-Old Mares win along with the Junior Champion Mare honors before concluding with the Reserve Grand Champion Mare title. Glenn Bouvier and owner Jane Steffenhagen have teamed up with another champion as Hylee's Seven Roses posed as the three and four-year-old winner on the way to earning the Senior and Grand Champion Mare honors.
LCS Second Time Around and Madeline Evans had the ring to themselves as they collected the three and four-year-old geldings blue along with the Grand Champion Gelding ribbon.
John Hufferd concluded a busy morning in the stallion division where he started off with Paradise Morgans' handsome Simply Maserati colt Opinionated who posed for the Yearling Colts blue along with the Junior Champion Stallion honors. Diane Conrady breezed through with SMS Independence Day to earn the two-year-old blue as well as the Reserve Junior Champion Stallion title for Dennis and Janet Mong. John Hufferd and owner Tami Johnson teamed up for a winning presentation in the Three and Four-Year-Old Stallions as Shanghai showed off his good looks for the blue ribbon.
Kohler Stables started off a great show in their return to Indiana with World Champion HVK Vibrance. Phil and Gloria Blevins' athletic performer showed off his good looks as John Warner and Steve DeBolt presented him to the Five and Over, Senior and Grand Champion Stallion awards. Margaret Van Meter cheered on her stately chestnut Minion Millennium as John Hufferd guided him to the Reserve Senior and Reserve Grand Champion Stallion honors.
Park
The Park Saddle Championship closed out the 2005 Indiana Morgan Classic with HVK Vibrance ending the show just as he started, in tricolor form. John Warner was in the irons of Phil and Gloria Blevins' brilliant performer to garner the tricolor following a blue ribbon ride in the qualifier.
The 2004 Park Harness World Champion, PineCreek's Noble Vision, gave the Indiana audience plenty to cheer about as he made his spectacular saddle debut. Steve DeBolt guided the dynamic Mike and Mary Penn entry to the Junior Park Saddle victory along with the audience's applause.
Last year's junior winner Ultra's Dark Shadow enjoyed a victorious return as Lynn Miller took over the reins of her animated four-year-old to capture the Amateur Park Saddle blue directed by Jim Lowry.
John Warner and owners Phil and Gloria Blevins teamed up for another Saturday night victory as Boxford Bulls & Bears topped the market in the Open Park Harness Stake. The Junior Park Harness victory also went back to the Kohler Stables banner as Steve DeBolt guided the sporty Paradigm Tokyo Rose to the victory for John and Judith Kemper.
John Huse has paired up with World Champion SpringMill Sequel for an outstanding amateur team for 2005. They continued to show off their winning style directed by Kurt Hufferd for the Amateur Park Harness blue for the Huse family and SpringMill Morgans. The SpringMill breeding program also produced the winner of the three entry UPHA Park Harness Classic in Reserve World Champion SpringMill Renaissance who was presented to the victory by Shanna Gish.
Judy Whitney Harris introduced a promising And The Beat Goes On daughter to the winner's circle as Dragonsmeade Wild Note performed for the Two-Year-Old Park Harness victory for the Fu family and Dragonsmeade Farm.
English Pleasure
AMHF Absolut Top Calibre was in absolute top form as Shanna Gish presented Donna Boshears' sporty chestnut to the Open English Pleasure Championship following a blue ribbon ride in the ladies class. Boxford Gambling Man made a winning transition to the pleasure division as John Warner guided the charismatic chestnut to the open qualifier blue in his only performance of the show for Kohler Stables.
The Amateur English Pleasure Championship was a Friday night highlight with six top performers vying for the Wilma White Memorial Trophy. Rebecca Sebastian and her dynamic four-year-old Sarde's Sinful put on a great show to earn the top honors. They were greeted in the winner's circle by trainer Jim Lowry as they collected the tricolor and trophy. They started off the show with a polished performance to collect the amateur stallion/gelding blue as well for Bonus Time Farm. Shelby Lamm and Key Criterion teamed up for a bold performance to earn the reserve tricolor under the Indian Creek Farm banner.
Glenn Bouvier directed the well matched team of Tara¹s Heavenly and John Stephenson to the top honors in the Amateur English Pleasure Mares qualifier. Laura Peterson and her white trimmed Hollybrook Masquerade collected the blue ribbon for their ride in the AOTS English Pleasure.
The 2004 World Champion Junior Mare Halle Berry showed off her good looks and winning style as the Junior English Pleasure Champion in her first show under saddle. Jim Lowry directed the brilliant black Priscilla Marconi entry. JNP Laredo also made his saddle debut in Indiana as John Hufferd presented the big motoring Simply Maserati son to the reserve tricolor honors for Jennifer Kuehn and Nicole Panek.
Century Mardi Gras made another crowd pleasing performance as Jim Lowry guided Midwest Charity's English Pleasure Champion to the four-year-old blue in his only performance of the week for Laine and Randall Vincent. Judy Whitney Harris gave Century Oaks Noblique the blue ribbon ride in the Three-Year-Old English Pleasure for owner/breeders Bob and Muriel Herrick.
Lauren Cook made a winning transition to the saddle seat division as she matched up with the bold performing Gable's Top Quark. They closed out the show with the Junior Exhibitor English Pleasure Championship following the youth blue for James and Stephanie Nelson under the Triumph Stables banner.
The Lowry Stables cheering section turned out in strong support of Ebby Lowry and Cabot Carte Blanche as they turned in a pair of winning performances in the 13 & under and junior exhibitor limit rider classes.
Derek Hufferd and Gradell's Wild Sunrise, also known as Spike the wonder horse, turned in a pair of winning rides to make everyone at Indian Creek Farm very proud. They earned matching blue ribbons in the Walk-Trot English Pleasure and Walk-Trot Saddle Seat Equitation.
Pleasure Driving
The Morgan Horse Farm breeding program was on center stage as Jason Wolfe guided the elegant RJMF Symphonic Music to the Open Pleasure Driving Championship with a stylish drive. They were followed in reserve by the limit winner S&R's Something Wicked with John Hufferd on the lines for James and Mary McClain. Travis Higgins warmed up Susan Knake's FCF Immortal Affair with a winning drive in the open qualifier.
Russell Quilhot and World Champion FCF Capestranno earned the gentlemen's victory for the second year in a row with another much applauded performance for Indian Creek Farm. Following a winning start to the season under saddle, SBS In The Mood took a drive down victory lane in the ladies class with Shanna Gish on the lines for SpringMill Morgans. The SpringMill breeding program added a new young star to the lineup as Shanna Gish introduced SpringMill Souvenir to the show ring in spectacular fashion to earn the two-year-old honors.
Priscilla Marconi and WSG Circumstan'l Evidence were reunited in Indiana for a pair of fabulous drives. Kurt Hufferd directed them to crowd-pleasing victories for the Amateur Pleasure Driving Stallion/Gelding blue and the Amateur Pleasure Driving Championship. Their formidable competition included the reserve tricolor team of The Last Don and Donna Zimmerman performing under the direction of Steve DeBolt.
Tyler Hufferd showed off his driving skills as he matched up with All Hail To The Chief to earn the Junior Exhibitor Pleasure Driving victory for Ralph and Julie Spanbauer.
Larry Bolen and Cedar Creek Farm were back in the winner's circle as Acheron performed with style and polish to claim top honors in the Junior Pleasure Driving Championship as well as the UPHA Pleasure Driving Classic. Shipyard Pt Vibrant Song added to a winning show for Phil and Gloria Blevins by collecting the junior blue along with the reserve tricolor with John Warner on the lines.
Classic Pleasure
Lynn Muir was all smiles as she matched up with her flaxen trimmed Merriehill Prom Night for the Classic Pleasure Saddle Championship. This followed their blue ribbon ride in the limit class under the Lowry Stables banner. Following a tricolor show at Gold Cup, JW Enjoyabelle and Marilyn Hackett added the adult blue as well as the reserve tricolor to their résumé in Indiana.
Merriehill Stonewall Will and Linda Church turned in a bold drive to capture the Classic Pleasure Driving Championship for the second year in a row after a blue ribbon win in the limit driver class under the Triumph Stables banner. RRF Grand Slam and Art Hattan teamed up for a pair of polished drives to best the open class and collect the Classic Pleasure Driving Reserve Championship.
Grand Cru Valentino and Christina Roethemeyer added another blue to the Indian Creek Farm banner as they turned a polished performance for the Junior Exhibitor Classic Pleasure Driving win.
Tyler Hufferd matched up with THB Heaven's Masterpiece to top the five-entry Junior Exhibitor Classic Pleasure Saddle for Hope Eternal Farm.
Grateful Dead and Michael Gibson added a pair of blue ribbons to the Society banner as they earned the Junior Classic Pleasure Saddle and Driving wins for Joyce Terrell.
Western Pleasure
HDD Wild Thing and Haley Coplen continued their winning ways as they jogged away with matching tricolors in the open and amateur divisions following a blue ribbon ride in the five-entry ladies class. Kathryn Schwartz guided Ultra's Untouchable to the Open Western Pleasure Reserve Championship for Kay Curtis after Susan Adkins rode the polished performer to the 14-17 blue on the way to the junior exhibitor championship. Alyssa Rumsey and Blossom Hill Aurora added the 13 and under win along with the Junior Exhibitor Western Pleasure Reserve Championship to their many visits to the winner's circle. The Rumsey family also cheered on their fancy youngster Tanzania as Belle Hufferd guided to the Junior Western Pleasure blue and tricolor.
John Huse and AMHF Bal Du Masque were quite a hit again this year. This time they added another member to their act as Guinness (the Jack Russell Terrier) helped to co-pilot on the amateur class victory pass with a little help from co-conspirator Priscilla Marconi.
Ebony Dan D San made a winning return as Cheryl Woosley guided the way for the Open Western Pleasure blue for Toni Smith. The Walk-Jog Western Pleasure blue also went back to the Rosewood banner as Rebelaire Squire and Madison Wurster collected top honors.
Hunter Pleasure
The Amateur Hunter Pleasure Championship closed out the division with the pretty pairing of Andrea's Radiance and Sara Heffernan earning the top honors. Jamie Gerardi directed them to the ladies mares blue as well under the Lowry Stables banner. Whitney Singer-Porter and Jax Noble Onyx followed as the Amateur Hunter Pleasure Reserve Champions after a blue ribbon ride in the amateur mares. Kathryn Schwartz also matched up with Jax Noble Onyx for the blue ribbon ride in the open qualifier to start the show for Meadow Lane Farm.
The Amateur Hunter Pleasure Stallion/Gelding blue also went back to Lowry Stables as Susan Brown and Crestfield Hi Command turned in a stylish ride for top honors. Lynn Miller and Granada's Infiniti were the winning team in the AOTS class.
Dragonsmeade Japengo enjoyed three winning rides on the way to high point status. Brianne Powell started things off with the 14-17 blue, while Haley Coplen was aboard the white trimmed Dragonsmeade Farm entry for the ladies geldings and limit wins performing under the direction of Cheryl Woosley.
The World Champion pairing of Merriehill The Lion King and Alyssa Rumsey were unbeatable in Indiana as they closed out a flawless show with the Junior Exhibitor Hunter Pleasure Championship following the 13 and under win. Travis Wilson gave TSF Saturday's Trouble a top ride to bring the reserve tricolor back to Rosewood Farm. The winning walk-trot team of KE Flight Of A Star and Kaitlin Emmerson also hail from Rosewood Farm.
Briar Oaks Patriot and Belle Hufferd were frequent visitors to the winner's circle as they earned the Junior Hunter Pleasure Championship following dual wins in the three-year-old and UPHA classes for Denny and Toni Maunder. Flintlocks Gidgett and Elizabeth Snow matched up for the reserve tricolor honors.
Equitation
Alyssa Rumsey showed off her equitation prowess with a winning show in both the hunt and western seat disciplines. Matched with Merriehill The Lion King, she topped the Hunt Seat Equitation Championship as well as the 13 and under class. Blossom Hill Aurora was her winning mount for the Western Seat Equitation Championship as well as the AMHA Western Seat Medal and 13 and under classes. Emily Cook and Fairchild Skyway earned both wins in the AMHA Hunt Seat Medal and the 14-17 qualifier, before finishing up with the Hunt Seat Equitation Reserve Championship under the Triumph Stables banner.
Rosewood Farm boasted a pair of winning walk-trot equitation riders. Kaitlin Emmerson and KE Flight Of A Star earned their second blue of the show in hunt seat, while Haley Knauss paired up with Genuine Jade for the western seat win. Derek Hufferd was the toast of Indian Creek Farm in his walk-trot saddle seat winning performance.
Orrin Thayer earned a pair of trips down victory lane as he earned the AMHA Saddle Seat Medal and 14-17 blue aboard HDF Omega. Marissa Hamilton matched up with Wind Blu Supreme Anthem for the winning ride in the Classic Saddle Seat Equitation.
A quartet of aspiring young riders competed for blue ribbons and the audience's applause in the Leadline class with Sydney Savage, Olivia Wendel, Rebekah McKinley and Joshua McKinley enjoying their time in the show ring.
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