Chris Cassenti, Chrislar Farm, Rowley, Mass., has joined the ranks of nationally known top clinicians at the famous Equine Affaire venues at Eastern States Exposition Center in November 2008 in Massachusetts and again at Columbus, Ohio on April 3, 2009. In November 2008, Cassenti presented Morgans from her training and show string at the Massachusetts Equine Affaire event. Included in the roster of performers were Morgans HVK Hot Ember with Gaetana D’Alesio-Spina, Primera Danger-Field with Ellen Atkinson, KGA Picasso with Emily Lloyd and Friesian gelding Bouke with Brianna Conary.
The Morgans were a huge hit at both Equine Affaire locations, and in Ohio professional trainers and riders/owners were thrilled to participate. The Friday, April 3, 2009, 11 a.m. session, held in Rod’s Covered Paddock, demonstrated "Saddle Seat English Pleasure; Selecting the Right Horse & Rider Combinations and Training for Success." In spite of the weather, the session was attended by a huge, enthusiastic crowd and generated lots of audience participation. The session was exciting, educational, informative and entertaining.
The 4 p.m. session, held in the Cooper Arena, focused on "Creating the Total Picture," Saddle Seat Equitation and Why Equitation is Important in Classes at a Show." Again, clinicians fielded many great questions from the audience, (many were instructors, trainers and competitors) and were able to provide visuals of what a judge may be looking for at any show. The riders participated in fielding questions from their point of view, providing a great interactive session for everyone.
Others who participated in the Ohio event included:
Annette and Steve Smith of Ultra Morgans, Delta, Ohio were thrilled to present their tail-flagging and handsome stallion Ultra’s Special Agent. What a show they put on providing the epitome of correct conformation and attitude of a world class breeding stallion and English pleasure horse.
Tim O’Gorman of O’Gorman Stable, Perrysburg, Ohio participated with his amateur rider aboard her fancy, six-year-old park horse Watch Me Dance. Diane Garrow stepped into the irons and put on a great show.
Cape Cod Farm, Spring Valley, Ohio secured a mother/daughter Morgan team that are no strangers to the show ring. Elizabeth Thomas, aboard her fine-tuned saddle seat equitation gelding Wind Blu Locomotion was the perfect combination demonstrating their charisma and expertise in this division. Discussions ranged from proper riding apparel, to performing correct transitions and flawless equitation patterns kept the audience asking for more and generated more great questions. Mom Kim Thomas put on quite a show aboard her 17-year-old hunter pleasure gelding HB Midnight Rhapsody, providing the perfect visual of the difference between the conformation of the up-headed saddle seat horse and that of the hunter pleasure horse.