Key Classic Kicks Off Pacific Northwest Morgan Competition
Saturday, June 3, 2006
by Logan Mather
MONROE, Wash.- The Key Classic Morgan Horse Show was the beginning of a brand new show season for many. The Evergreen Equestrian Park in Monroe, Wash., could not have been more beautiful by the end of the May 11-14 weekend. Thursday and Friday started out cold and gloomy with scattered showers but the weather soon cleared up for an amazing Mother’s Day weekend.
The Morgan Horse Club of Washington State put together a well-run, enjoyable competition with plenty of time to socialize as well. On Saturday, there were no evening classes scheduled, making it a perfect time to celebrate the show so far. Fire Run Farm, Windermere Real Estate and The Bainbridge Sailing Club for provided the exhibitors with great entertainment and an ideal mingling location for horse lovers.
Kurt Hufferd had the task of placing the horses and was accompanied by ringmaster David Shahon. Jay Goss was the photographer, capturing all the smiles in the victory passes.
There were several in-hand classes held at Key Classic. The Sport Horse Suitability Mare Championship was won by Iron Forge Celestial Blue. Joan Bowers led the beautiful, black Goldencrest Black Diamond to the championship for the stallions and geldings.
Affinity's Crescent Moon was the senior champion mare and Awen Lady Luverly was the junior champion filly as well at the show champion mare. BMF Zachary was titled show champion gelding and the busy OH Independence Hall was reserve. VQM Nick Of Time was the champion colt, and his sire Aspenglow's Insurrection was the senior champion stallion as well as the grand champion. In the reserve in both the senior class and the championship was Mantic Shazaam.
The riders in the walk-trot group were some of the best represented. Equitation champions of this group included Sara Rawson on Tu-Kan’s Apple Blossom, and in walk-jog Iris Rankin on Redfield Aladdin. Redfield Aladdin and Rankin also won the walk-jog pleasure class. In walk-trot pleasure Lauren Lang guided her world champion partner Rum Brook Immortal Mystic down the rail for top honors.
The hunter division this year at Key Classic was also very well-represented. Tu-Kan's Apple Blossom not only is a great walk jog horse, but a ladies champion this year as well with Catherine Cloud. Elizabeth Miller used Tu-Kan’s Apple Blossom’s versatility to win the hunt seat equitation championship. BMF William Tell and Natalie Langstaedtler won the honor of being titled the open champion. Carol Fletcher and French Touch won the amateur championship class. Joan Bowers showed a young star Goldencrest Black Diamond and won the junior horse title. Elyse Brill guided Rum Brook Cuidado through the victory pass in a very competitive junior exhibitor class and also in the challenging AMHA Hunt Seat Medal class and reserve in the equitation championship.
Many at Key Classic were contending for western titles as well. Daryl Hopson had a great show and won the open championship on Key To The Kingdom. Rock Walker had an amazing show as well and won the junior horse classes aboard the beautiful VQM Till There Was You. The sleek Sheradin's Noteworthy achieved the ladies championship directed by Carmen Hobson through the class. Commit To Memory gave Jacquie Ferguson a memorable victory pass in the amateur championship. Cheyenne Rumens guided the flashy Temptation's Answer in the 13 and under class to a victory, as well as to the reserve in the championship. CSA Approved By Command and Julianne Young won the junior exhibitor 14-17 class and championship, as well as having a beautiful, steady ride in the western equitation division and claiming that title as well.
Mother’s Day fell on the last day of the show and provided the idea for a new type of class: the mother-daughter class. Jamie Hardy and Christine Hardy showed the family skills on Cobridge Durango winning the fun mother-daughter English pleasure class. Cassie Stevenson rode the impressive Boston's Big Whammy for a great go and earned the tricolor in the amateur championship as well as the qualifier blue. The adorable B-J Grandessa was awarded the title of English pleasure champion with Stevenson in the stirrups in this class as well. Bill Grundmeyer was happy with Snap Happy’s flashy performance, winning the English Pleasure Junior Horse Championship. Logan Mather rode Commanding Knight to win the Junior Exhibitor English Pleasure classes. OH Independence Hall with Kelly Armijo claimed the reserve.
The pleasure driving division was small but sweet. Kurt Rumens drove Fire Run Farm’s handsome and talented stallion Pondview Tres Bien to win the amateur qualifier as well as the championship. Ensbrook Temptress won the gentleman’s class with Rod Fletcher. SBS In The Mood took the open championship home to Oregon with Doug Coats. Joan Bowers showed Mantic Excalibur in the junior horse division. They also won the open driving class and quickly switched tack and took him back in the saddle class and he looked brand new once again. OH Independence Hall and Kelly Armijo did well in the saddle classes, as well as winning the junior exhibitor driving. Show Me The Qua-lity and Tamara Mayo took their victory pass together in the ladies class.
The park division at Key Classic introduced a new star into the show ring. Tara’s Mojo was ridden by Forest Nealon for a snappy and athletic class to claim the Park Saddle Championship for Curnen and Mary Crisman. GVA Noble Bliss was reserve with Julianne Young.
The classic pleasure classes had a decent number of entries. Sunshade Mister had quite a show with Kimberly Forster. Together they won the classic pleasure stallions and geldings, the junior exhibitor class, the classic saddle seat equitation class, the saddle seat equitation class and the AMHA Saddle Seat Medal to top it off. BMF Xandra also had a great show with Natalie Langstaedtler, winning the ladies and novice classes as well as the open championship. Outspoken was close behind in the open, claiming the reserve title.
Rum Brook Immortal Prince was driven by Shelley Bullard to win the open classic pleasure driving qualifier as well as placing reserve in the masters. Goldencrest Northern Light and Kris Johnsen claimed the junior horse title. Cecily King successfully showed Wiz Showsonsation in the junior exhibitor class. Mantic Flairboyant with Bonnie Trimble had a great drive to win the ladies classic pleasure, with RDF Hi Voltage and Deborah Stevenson taking reserve in ladies and in the open championship as well. George Campbell drove the eye-catching Gordels Paramount Command and won the masters class as well as going home with the tricolor.
The complete Key Classic results can be seen, searched and printed by clicking on SHOW RESULTS.
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