Louisiana American Saddle Horse Association Spring Show
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
GONZALES, La. - Spring comes early in Louisiana and this year was no exception. The azaleas were starting to pop when the Louisiana American Saddle Horse Association held its spring show on March 1-2, 2008, at Lamar/Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales, La. In very mild, sunny weather, Judge John Whalen from Monroe, N.C., called the classes.
Center ring was well managed with four outstanding ladies who have been to their share of shows. Anne Dunn, Betsy Thomas, Lisa Schlesinger and Frances Rodgers very capably presented the ribbons to the winners. Steve Boyer acted as ringmaster. Janie Hamilton was announcer as well as show secretary and she trained Jean Carnal whose children ride with Cascade Stables to be an announcer too. Coco Judd served as paddock master and did a wonderful job keeping the classes on schedule. Completing the line-up of staff were Dr. Chat Kleinpeter, veterinarian, Gerald Louw, farrier, and Jim Hebert, photographer/videographer.
Here are some highlights from the spring show. Paige Pennington won the Three-Gaited English Show Pleasure Junior Exhibitor class. She continues to have success on her mare, Americana’s Wings, owned by her parents, Claude and Sharon Pennington. This was an elegant and smooth combination and many look forward to seeing Pennington in action this season. Scooter Scheurich, riding Irish’s Earth Wind And Fire, owned by Cascade Stables, was a close second.
In the Three-Gaited English Country Pleasure Novice Horse class, Cheryl Brown Tilghman, M.D. took home the blue on My First Oscar, a horse she bred and raised on her farm in Folsom, La. This team is now trained by Cascade Stables. Elisa T. Champagne and Dance Of Dreams earned the red ribbon.
In the UPHA Challenge Cup, Keelan Carnal won on Powder And Smoke. Rachelle Drygalia got the red on Optimum Black. Both horses are trained at Cascade Stables under the direction of Barbe Smith.
In Three-Gaited English Country Pleasure Adult Exhibitor, Diana Rose Satterlee triumphed in a class of five competitors. Victoria Reich McKown received the red. The championship had nine exhibitors, and Satterlee and McKown placed first and reserve in it, respectively. These riders train at Marjorie Judd Stables and embody that posture and calmness that bespeaks country pleasure.
In Three-Gaited Park Amateur, Talk Sense, ridden and owned by Peggy Callihan, and trained by Tom Benton at Maranatha Stables, took first in both the qualifier and championship.
In Saddle and Bridle’s ASB Pleasure Equitation Medallion, four exhibitors answered the class call. Rachelle Drygalia on Optimum Black, owned by Margaret Cordes, won first place. Keelan Carnal was awarded second place on Powder And Smoke, whom he owns.
In Saddle Seat Equitation Walk/Trot Rider 10 and Under, the crowd got a special treat. William Nalty, riding Vuarnet owned by Holly and James Nichols, won the blue. Bleykhn Doyle on CH Creditworthy, owned by Ann Doyle, came in second. These two fine young men are products of Barbe Smith at Cascade Stables and made a dashing pair in the show ring. Doyle has recently been matched with CH Creditworthy so watch for him to be very successful in this class. These two finished the championship in the same order. Wearing their evening attire, they got a warm salute from the crowd for a job well done.
In the Five-Gaited Junior Exhibitor class, Caroline Burglass presented her new mount My Teddy Bheir, owned by C & E Saddlebreds, LLC. This new combination is noteworthy for achieving grace and balance after only a few months together. Scooter Scheurich rode his horse CH Cash Back in a very polished performance. These two placed first and second in the qualifier and championship, respectively.
In the Three-Gaited Championship, CH Mahvalous Asset, owned by Claude and Sharon Pennington and ridden by Marjorie Judd, won the championship. Janelle Sylvester on Hokie Pokie Man earned the reserve.
The LASHA Spring Show once again provided a venue to showcase new talent. The horse and rider teams showed promising energy and control. The experienced riders looked rust-free after the winter layoff. All groups were happy to be back in the excitement of the show ring again.
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