Saturday Morning
The beginning of the end of the World’s Championship Horse Show is always slightly sad, but at the same time very exciting as it leads up to the “big dance” on Saturday night. Saturday morning was not a disappointment as several competitive divisions had their championships that morning.
The first class through the gate was the Three-Year-Old Fine Harness Mare class with 11 young entries. Simply radiant and stepping up for the blue ribbon was Radiant Renaissance and Larry Hodge for Steepleview Bloodstock LLC/Larry Hodge. Reserve honors in this competitive class went to Open Arms and Bret Day for owner Jeff and Janet Sterba.
Always a very competitive division, 23 adult country pleasure entries made the gate call for their championship. Returning to the winner’s circle for the second year in a row was the lofty CH The Shadow Knows and new rider/owner Linda Meyer for the Brown-Anderson Farms. This team is trained by Hollow Haven and won the grand championship last year with Sherri Frankel-Deal. Reserve honors belonged to the sensational League Of Nations and Dori Zandy under the direction of Cameo Stables and Steve Joyce.
One of the most anticipated classes of the morning was the Junior Equitation Championship. Thirteen young riders trotted down the chute and onto the green shavings to showcase their skills. Ten riders were asked to stay in the ring for the workout: Brittany McGinnis, Taylor Newton, Maya Manilow, Elena Breeden, Caroline Skinner, Katie Cunningham, Ellen Medley Wright, Katie Moeller, Olivia Prentiss and Elizabeth Hunziker. After each of these skilled riders completed her individual workout, they lined up and waited for the winning numbers to be called out. Instead three riders, Brittany McGinnis, Ellen Medley Wright and Taylor Newton, were called out for yet another workout. With each rider showing off her hard work in top form the crowd cheered on their favorite rider. Wiping tears of joy in the winner’s circle, making it three years in a row and retiring the Devon Garone Challenge Trophy, was the picture perfect Brittany McGinnis, under the expert direction of DeLovely. Reserve honors went to eleven-year-old Taylor Newton in her first year of walk-trot-canter competition, riding under Shelley Fisher’s instruction.
A championship for the open park horses entered the show ring next with 14 entries. Coming away with the tricolor and the unanimous vote of the judges, not to mention the support of the crowd, were Tom Thorpe and The Majestic for Bonnie Kegley. Reserve honors belonged to the Lexington Junior League winner, Lime Twisted Gin and Clark Clouse for owner Jackie Stred.
Speeding around the ring and going second way were the junior exhibitors and their roadster ponies for the 14-17 championship. With a flawless performance Rachel Machamer and Heartland Sundust drove into the winner’s circle for Priscilla Gise under the direction of Hollow Haven. Reserve honors went to Heartland Painted Creation and Jeb Boyd, trained by Debbie Foley.
Taking their turn around the show ring were the 23 adult show pleasure horses for their championship. Making it two years in a row, and back-to-back wins for Hollow Haven, were CH Ninety Eight Degrees and Alice Unger for owner Nancy Leigh Fisher. Riding away with a reserve world’s championship were CH Just Special and Carol Hillenbrand under the direction of John Conatser.
Also making their way into the ring with their show pleasure horses for their championship were the 13 and under riders. Demonstrating an uncanny likeness to her mother was a confident Maya Manilow with CH CF First Light Of Dawn, riding under Richard Obenauf’s skillful watch. Loretta Mulberry, in her first year out of academy, stepped up for the reserve tricolor with Tommy James under the direction of Scott Matton.
Seven entries took center stage for the Kentucky equitation for the riders 14 to17 years old. Looking lovely to claim the blue ribbon was fourteen-year-old Eleanor Watkins under the direction of Zubrod Stables. Demonstrating her equitation versatility for the reserve ribbon was Ali Judah, a member of the 2006 World Cup five-gaited team. She rides under the direction of Premier.
For the first time in Freedom Hall seven road ponies entered the ring harnessed to downsized versions of road wagons, and what an exciting class it was! Demonstrating the speed, strength and high head of a true wagon pony, Razz-Ma-Tazz earned the first blue ribbon in this new division with Lewis Eckard on the lines for owner Karl Bridgeman. It’s been 30 years since Bridgeman’s last world’s championship, also with a road pony, one that his son earned as a junior exhibitor. The red ribbon belonged to seventeen-year-old Tia Maria and Madrian Jenkins. Talk about toughness and durability of Hackney ponies!
Another show pleasure championship made their way to Freedom Hall this time for the 14-17 year olds. As a member of Kentucky’s Texas summer invasion, the very fancy New York Style and Maguire Hall are fresh off wins at Shelbyville and Lexington. The elegant team trotted into the winner’s circle under the direction of Patty Milligan for their second win of the week and an undefeated Kentucky season. The Scott Matton-trained duo of CH Trapp Mountain and Angela Darrow stepped up for reserve after winning the younger age group’s championship last year.
Looking as sharp as ever, CH Callaway’s Pretty Penny and Nancy Anderson stepped up out of a field of 15 entries to claim the unanimous tricolor ribbon in the Adult Country Pleasure Driving Championship. This makes four years in a row that this Hollow Haven-trained duo has dominated the country pleasure driving division at the World’s Championships. The high-headed In Due Time and Autumn Hunt drove into reserve under the direction of Melissa Moore at Sunrise Stables.
Making the cut from an initial 25 entries, twelve Three-Year-Old Three-Gaited Park Pleasure horses showed back to vie for over $12,000 in first place money in the ASR National Futurity Finals. After working on the rail and completing the mandatory conformation inspection, Stonecroft Serenghetti and Bret Day earned the unanimous vote of the judging panel for owner Mary Lee Mathy. Reserve honors belonged to Amy Dix Rock and That’s Exactly Right under the Premier banner.
Flying into the ring for their Amateur Roadster Under Saddle class, 13 lightning fast entries made the gate call. Speeding into the winner’s circle under the direction of trainer Lisa McMackin were At Full Throttle and Holli McDowell. Reserve honors belonged to the leg-pumping Where Are We Now and Melody Adler.
The Adult Amateur Hackney/Harness Pony Pleasure Driving trotted elegantly onto the green shavings to compete for their championship. Coming home with the top honors was last month’s Lexington champions, the high stepper Early Edition and driver Jane Mueller, under the direction of Gib Marcucci. Reserve honors belonged to the Hollow Haven-trained duo and last year’s world’s champion of champions Pacifico’s Standing Ovation and Bob Anderson.
Ali DeGray and Kalarama’s High Roller were in top form to claim the championship honors in the Country Pleasure 14-17 Championship, under the direction of Ruth Gimpel. Stepping up for reserve were Ooh La Latte and Sarah Lawson, trained by Shelley Fisher.
The final class of Saturday morning belonged to the Three-Year-Old Fine Harness Stallion/Gelding class. Seven entries made the gate and stepping away with the blue ribbon was Joe Friday, a gelding owned and shown by John Conatser. Marching away with the reserve championship were Kent Brockman and Martin Teater.