Milwaukee Spring Horse Show-The First Leg of the Marathon!
Wednesday, May 28, 2003
By Sally McCue Grieme
MILWAUKEE, Wisc. - The Milwaukee Spring Horse Show started off the 2003 show season for many barns in the Midwest region. Milwaukee is the first of a back-to-back pair of Wisconsin horse shows. Over 250 show horses and ponies, and a full academy division were on hand to make this event a huge success.
The four day show was judged by Edward R. Bennett. Not only was Milwaukee the first horse show for many Midwestern exhibitors, but it was also the first year for new horse show manager Cheryl Rangel. Rangel has been an asset to the horse business in several capacities, as an owner and exhibitor, as a video business owner and as a horse show secretary and manager. With her first year behind her, she was pleased with the turnout. "We added the UPHA Classics this year, and I am happy to say they filled nicely," Rangel commented after the show. "We also had a Grand National added class, and we added a walk and trot championship to our Academy Division."
Rangel took over for veteran manager Maggie Robertson. Robertson and her
husband, George, who served as ringmaster at Milwaukee and other area shows, have retired from working the horse shows, and now are going to sit back, watch, show and enjoy! Thanks the Robertsons for all of their hard work and many years of loyal service!
Although the Milwaukee Fairgrounds is currently under construction, ample stabling was available, and neither the barns nor the warm up areas were affected. To ensure trainers and vans could easily maneuver around construction zones, Rangel faxed maps to all trainers and to all of the major van lines to help with easy access. As a result, the show went off without a hitch.
Five-Gaited
In the five-gaited division, Hollow Haven Farm took home their share of trophies, winning both the Open and Amateur Five-Gaited Championships, along with several other classes. Winning both the Five-Gaited Open and Championship was Callaway's Forecaster. Owner/rider Nancy Leigh Fisher teamed her big going gelding to perfection! Been Their and Kristin Erickson for the Glapinski's were reserve to Fisher in both classes.
Not to be outdone by her mom, Alice Unger did an outstanding job on her brand new gelding, Downtown Strutter, to win the Wisconsin Owned Five-Gaited Class. Reserve in the this class was Mike Schallock for Star Hill Farm riding his popular CH Nice Doing Business.
Winning the Five-Gaited Amateur Ladies class was Ann Gallmeier on her
snappy mare LA Boca Raton. CH Lexmark and owner-rider Laurie Stollenwerk were reserve in this nice class. Taking home the prize in the very competitive amateur five-gaited qualifying class were Callaway's Miracle and Kim Bunlen for Robert Ratte. Alice Unger and Downtown Strutter earned the reserve in their show ring debut. LaFleur Stables is the owner of the Gentlemen's Amateur Five-Gaited winner,
Wonderful Touch, with Dan LaFleur riding. But it was Ann Gallmeier and LA Boca Raton who came back to rack and trot their way to the tricolor in the Amateur Five-Gaited Championship, with Executive Dunk taking home the reserve champion honors for owner-rider Karrie Graham.
Both the Junior Exhibitor Championship and qualifying class went to the ever popular gelding Chandler, who is owned and ridden by Lisa McClaren. Talon and owner/rider Sarah Thordsen made two very good shows to finish reserve both trips.
Trainer Andy Freseth had a winning ride on Priscilla Gise's lovely mare The Perfect Face in the novice class. Veteran owners Rick and Cindy Luft have an upcoming star in Oak Grove's Tom Cat. Mayo Mocteczuma was the winner of the Junior Five-Gaited class on this nice gelding, and Yale Man, shown by Julie Ann Wroble for Kathy Osmus, was the reserve.
This was the first year for the Five-Gaited UPHA Classic at the Milwaukee horse show. Winning the blue prize was Worthy's Sparkling Star with Tom Scott riding for owner Robert Ratte. Reserve in this class was Neva Van Ess on Popcorn Penny for owner Paul Polster.
Rounding out the five-gaited division was the five-gaited pleasure qualifying class and championship. The winning results were the same for both classes, with Ridgefield's Excessive and rider Mandy Martin taking the top honors for the Martin family. Finishing reserve in both the qualifying class and the championship was CH Harlem's Hot Ticket and owner/rider Natalie Udell.
Three-Gaited
Glenmore Farms and the Werry family had several stars in the three-gaited
division. Callaway's Mandate and Beth Werry were the winners of the Three-Gaited
Stake, and qualified by winning the Three-Gaited Open class earlier in the week. Reserve in the championship went to One Worthy Lady with Tom Scott up for Jeff and Roger Radunz. Star Hill Farm's The Border Star was reserve in the open class. This nice horse won the amateur qualifier with Jane Schallock riding. Dr. Scott Cairns and Simbara's Exclamation was reserve in that amateur class.
The Three-Gaited Amateur Championship went to Carolina's Top Gun and Samantha Blome. This popular duo was reserve in the ladies amateur qualifying class to My Grande and Susan Halverson. Simbara's Exclamation was reserve in the championship.
Another exciting entry from Glenmore, Nordic Prince with trainer Tom Bombolis in the irons was the Junior Three-Gaited Champion. The Khat and Marc Holm finished second in this class, as well as in the novice class, behind Ryan Rogers and Keep The Secret. Winning both the Junior Exhibitor Three-Gaited Stake and the qualifying class was Made Ya Look and Kerry Honkamp. Evening Event was reserve to this nice horse in the stake and Highpoint's Golden Angel was second in the qualifier.
Fine Harness
The Fine Harness division was a little light on horses, but certainly not on quality. The beautiful bay mare Kalarama's New Sensation, shown by Guy Smith, was the winner of both the Fine Harness Championship and the amateur qualifying class. Royal Crest Sandstone was reserve in the amateur class. Candle Dan made a blue ribbon performance to win the open class for the Werry family, with Royal Crest's Peppermint Stone taking the reserve. Another blue ribbon entry for the Werrys was
their UPHA Classic winner, Glenmore's Night Talk. Rick Wallen riding So Fortunate was reserve. In the junior division, it was Bob Griffin making the winning drive with
Gigolo Joe for Toni Nastali.
Park
Both the park and park pleasure divisions were filled and extremely competitive. Winning the Park, Full Mane & Tail Open Stake was Impressive Man from the Tillman Stables with Scott Matton. Reserve went to The Top Banana, who won the qualifying class with Lisa Strickland. Diane Nyhammer was the happy winner in the Amateur Park Stake with her black gelding My Matinee Idol. Samara Lancia and Midnight Cappo'chino were second. The amateur park class was won earlier in the week by Beth Roth and Rare Justice, with Toy Gossip and Joannie Eissfeldt as reserve.
The Grand National Park Pleasure Stake was a large class with several good
entries, but the winning title went to Heiron Spelling with Julie Wroble riding this new
entry for Dr. Mietelski. Reserve was the Orion and Tom Scott duo for Donna Williams. Those placings were reversed in the qualifying class, with Orion winning and Heiron Spelling in the reserve spot.
Among the other park pleasure classes was the Park Pleasure UPHA Classic, which was filled nicely with six entries. Cherished Charm won the blue prize for owner Joann Bernd and the Time Is Right finished second. Other winners in this division included Premier's Venus in the junior park pleasure class and Monico Belle HHS in the park harness class.
Pleasure
The Midwest region has long been known for their pleasure horses. With over 20 classes in the show pleasure division alone, it is no surprise that not only were
the classes full in numbers, but they were also filled with very nice horses. The championships were divided into junior horse, junior and senior exhibitors and driving. Ericka Nelson and CH Blackberry Delight made two flawless performances to win both the senior championship and their qualifying class (riders 30-38). Coming in reserve was Sarah Worzalla and Stolen Beauty. The champions in the junior exhibitor's stake were Shiny New Penny and Faye Wuesthofen. They were also the winners in the 10 and under qualifying class. Whitney Anderson and her handsome bay Titleist Symbol were reserve champions in the stake.
Handily winning the Show Pleasure Driving Championship was the current
World Champion CH Heir's Town, driven by Alice Unger. Unger and her gorgeous gelding also won section II of their qualifying class earlier in the week. Reserve in the championship went to Ocean Paradise with owner/driver Amy Weiler. Other winners in the pleasure driving division included CH Petra's Beyond Belief (section I), and Noah (ASHAF youth).
The Show Pleasure Junior Horse Stake was won by a Magic Spell and owner/rider Mary Jane Gralton. This colorful entry won the qualifying class earlier in the week for his happy owner. The winning entry in the Show Pleasure Driving-Junior Horse was Lady Baguette with Barbara Southgate at the lines. This pretty mare was also reserve in the under saddle class.
Wrapping up the show pleasure division were the following winners: All
Buttoned Up (novice horses, rider 18 and over), Star Studded Simbara (show pleasure, rider 18-29), Beach Bum (show pleasure, novice rider), Shadow's Make Believe (show pleasure, rider 39 & over), Sand Kalamehameha (show pleasure, rider 14-17), Eddie Attache (show pleasure/Wisconsin owned), CH Olympic Charm (show pleasure rider 11-13), and Last Word (show pleasure novice, rider 17 and under).
The country pleasure division boasted 17 classes of its own, again with each class well represented. The Country Pleasure Three-Gaited Senior Exhibitor Stake winner was Titleist Baywatch with Kurt Antonacci riding for Nancy Menom. The Shadow, who won his qualifying class earlier in the week for owner Karen Smith, was reserve in the championship.
Winning the junior exhibitor country pleasure stake was Royal Crest Foxy Roxy, with Heart O' Summer finishing reserve in both the stake and the qualifier. Rosenberg
and Kerry Honkamp were the winners of the 17 and under qualifying class earlier in the week.
The western stake winners were There Will Be Talk and Gwen Hymen. Barbara Brown was reserve on Midnight Express, both in the stake and qualifying class. Royal Crest's Black Marble took home a blue from the western pleasure, rider 30 and over class with Traci Mitchell in the saddle, and Slamtastic won the division for riders 29 and under. The Saddle & Bridle William Shatner Western Pleasure Championship was proudly won by In The Zone with new owner/rider Susan Honkamp.
Dominating the country pleasure driving division was Nancy Anderson and
Callaway's Pretty Penny. Anderson won both her qualifying class and the championship, while CH John D. Smith was reserve both trips for owner/driver Elizabeth James-Lipscomb.
Other winners to be noted in the country pleasure division include: Shamrock Magic, who won three blues including the western novice/junior horse, Saddle and Bridle's Hunt Seat Classic, and hunt seat on the flat; Undalata's Clean Sweep (rider 18-38); Patriot's Dream (novice rider); Tantara's Battle of King (novice); and Savannah's Keepsake (Wisconsin owned).
Equitation
Several equitation and pleasure equitation classes were offered at Milwaukee, as well as a strong academy division. All of these classes were well supported, and
the numbers in the academy classes were very encouraging to everyone! Sharon Worzalla, riding under the direction of Cary Volz, was the big winner in the Pleasure Equitation Championship for riders 17 and under. Worzalla also won her UPHA Challenge Cup age group and was reserve in her qualifying age group and the NHS Good Hands class.
Lisa McClaren was the winner in the NHS Good Hands division, and came back to win her 14-17 equitation age group. Mandy Martin was declared the winner in the Saddleseat Equitation Championship for riders 17 and under. Martin qualified by earning a reserve in her age group. She also won the USA Equestrian Medal class. Winning the UPHA Pleasure Challenge Cup for riders 17 and under was Kelsey Nicol Smith. She was also the winner of her age group.
Several riders earned UPHA Challenge Cups at Milwaukee, including Faye Wuesthofen (11 and under), and Megan Sandee (18 and over). Mallory Hartigan won the 10 & under UPHA Walk & Trot class as well as the Walk/Trot Equitation Championship. Hartigan rides under the direction of Country Meadow Farms.
It was a return to the winner's circle for adult equitation rider Jonelle Chovanec. Chovanec is no stranger to victory passes in this division and takes her cues from Scott and Carol Matton.
Other equitation winners included Saddle & Bridle Medallion Pleasure Equitation Champion Karn Waiter; Pleasure Equitation rider Tess Wartman (13 & under); Lisa McClaren (14-17 saddleseat equitation) and Barbara Southgate (five-gaited horsemanship).
Pony
Some of the pony classes were light, however, there were quality entries in all of the pony divisions. The road pony classes were strong with Mike Schallock and his pony Heartland Picture Perfect winning the Open Hackney Road Pony Championship
and the open qualifying class. Seamair Royale and Dan Light were reserve in both
classes. Making her debut in the amateur road pony division was Mary Gise driving her World Champion Heartland Sundust. They were successful both trips, winning the amateur championship tricolor and the amateur qualifying class. Seamir's Caprice and Maggie Robertson finished second in the championship.
In the Hackney Harness Pony Championship, Creation's Windstar and Irv Udell marched out with the blue, and K & J's Sky King finished in reserve. Creation's Windstar won the open class earlier in the week, while K & J's Sky King was the winner of the amateur division. Ally Seazie made a clean sweep in the Hackney division, winning the championship, open and amateur classes. Ally Seazie is owned and shown by Sally Blom.
World Champion Pacifico's Standing Ovation was in top form for his owner
and driver Bob Anderson. Anderson showed this high stepper to the championship in the Hackney Pleasure Driving division and a blue in the qualifying class. Reserve in the championship went to Thyen's Gem, while reserve in the qualifier went to Forrest Gump. Completing the pony division was Game Boy and Sammy Jo Galica, who won the AHHS Youth Medallion, 17& under, Hackney Pleasure Driving division.
This completes the highlights from the Milwaukee Spring Horse Show. For complete and searchable results, please visit that section of our website.
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