New Format Is a Welcome Change at Monterey
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
by Leeann Mione
MONTEREY, Calif. – The Monterey Springfest enjoyed a new format this year and it was a welcome change. Although several barns did not make the trip to Monterey, there were some new barns in attendance as well as those loyal ones that continue to come year after year. Their loyalty to Monterey is to be appreciated and is the reason this show continues to hang on.
Monterey in early spring provides a beautiful locale to have a horse show, but as those that have been there know, when the fog rolls in it is cold, cold, cold. Rain has so often been a factor at the show that this year the decision was made to hold classes only during the day.
That change made this year’s show especially pleasant. Most afternoon classes were over by 4:30 or 5 which allowed for free evenings. Mother Nature even cooperated by keeping the rain away and Saturday turned out to be a beautiful sunny day, just in time for the finale.
The Saddlebreds, Hackneys, roadsters and Friesians were judged by Chad Cole from Louisville, Ky. and he did a great job keeping things moving along. Manager Rae Deane Stone, along with competition manager Harriet Landrum, competition secretary Roxanne Hood and her husband, Ron Hood, who was in charge of results and data entry, kept the office in good order throughout the weekend.
Meredith Kistler served as USEF steward and Anne Blecker was the paddock steward. Jim Kurtze stepped in to serve as ringmaster when Terry Brennan was unable to attend at the last minute. Malcolm Rossoll announced the classes in his inimitable style and Jim Trader set everything to music as the official organist. Dave Fraser was the farrier and with this year’s dry weather, had few shoes to replace. Tass Jones made the trip from Santa Barbara to serve as official photographer again this year and Take One Video was selected as official videographer.
Woodhaven again sponsored Thursday afternoon which was catered by a local restaurant and drew rave reviews.
Numerous horse and rider combinations also drew rave reviews and Cole awarded winning ribbons to world’s champions and perhaps soon-to-be world’s champions to get the California show season underway.
Jeffrey Fetzer won the Five-Gaited Stake and open class with Callaway's Big And Rich. Nani Barnes showed Stonecroft Moulin Rouge to the Denver Junior/Limit Five-Gaited win for Catherine Kise.
Friday afternoon’s finale, the Five-Gaited Stake had four entries including the winner of the open class Callaway’s Big And Rich with owner and trainer Jeffrey Fetzer. Stonecroft Moulin Rouge, after earning the blue ribbon in the Denver Junior/Limit Five-Gaited class with Nani Barnes, was back in the ring in hopes of adding the tricolor to their total. Trophy Hunter and Barbara Beamer were reserve in the Denver junior/limit class before coming through the gate for the stake to represent Seaview Farm. Teddi Estes, riding Doubletrees Hearts Afire, completed the group for owner Bob Lanig and the pair had finished reserve in the open class earlier in the week.
Chad Cole worked the group both ways but when it was time to turn in his card, he selected Callaway’s Big And Rich for the title. Barnes and Moulin Rouge claimed the reserve for owner Catherine Kise. Hearts Afire and Trophy Hunter claimed the remaining ribbons in that order.
The amateur division featured a good group and all four entries from the amateur qualifier returned for the stake. Martha Keck and her Full Spectrum had earned the win in the earlier class and Cole named them to take the victory pass in the stake as well. Dick Boettcher directed the winners.
Doubletrees Bouquet Of Blue and Lisa Fulgaro finished as the reserve grand champions under the direction of Deardorff Stables. Stablemate Doubletrees That Masqued Man took the red ribbon in the qualifier with owner Leslie Pierce and they took the yellow ribbon in the stake. Goodtime Jimmy and Breen Cullen, showing from Jim Bennett Stables, completed the ribbon count in the stake.
Eduardo Castillo rode Spurwing's High 'N Mighty to the Three-Gaited Stake and qualifier wins for owner Charlene Hewitt.
Dick Boettcher Stables continued their successful weekend in Monterey with the elegant performance of Spurwing’s High ‘N Mighty in the Three-Gaited Stake. Eduardo Castillo, from Dick Boettcher Stables, rode to the win for owner Charlene Hewitt. Shari Rainwater also had a very successful show including the reserve grand championship performance of her walk-trot horse Start Something. Carlos Gonzalez was in the irons for Rainwater. Both horses finished in the same order in the open qualifier.
CH Like Sunshine and the mother/daughter team of Susan Valley Chen and Julia Chen have been strong and consistent performers in the three-gaited division for several years and they continued their streak at Monterey with both amateur wins under the direction of Jennifer Dixon. Sue showed in the qualifier and Julia showed in the stake.
Absolute Courage has also been a top campaigner in the division under the direction of Brigitte Scholl and at Monterey, claimed the reserve titles in both the amateur stake and qualifier with Cara Sivara in the irons. Sivara rode for owners King Of The Road.
Located in Fresno, Calif., at Rainwater Farms, Michael Craghead Stables was well represented in the winner’s circle in several different divisions. Craghead headed to center ring in the junior exhibitor stake when Kelly Ganci rode Raising Havoc to the tricolor for Michelle and Kelly Ganci. The championship win followed up their reserve finish in the junior exhibitor qualifier. Emily Chapman teamed Pecan Prince to the blue ribbon in the qualifier and came back to finish with second place in the stake. Chapman rode under the direction of Michelle McVey of Desert Palms Equestrian Center.
Dean Hummel watched his wife, Dr. Catherine Gallo, show Intoxicating Heir and Toreador to wins at Monterey under the direction of Tim Arcuri.
Intoxicating Heir and Dr. Catherine Gallo were the team to beat in the park division. Cole named them the Three-Gaited Park Grand Champions and open champions under the direction of Tim Arcuri. David Becker Jr. directed Mac Dixie Dell to the reserve finish in both park classes for owner Virginia Bergstrom.
Sugar Pine was the Fine Harness Stake and open champion with Grace Arnold showing for Mary Williams from Dick Boettcher Stables.
Sugar Pine was right on target in the Fine Harness Stake to follow up the blue ribbon win in the open class. Grace Arnold drove in both classes for her mother, Mary Williams, and added two more wins to the Dick Boettcher Stables’s total. CH The Savoy and Keith Roberts brought both reserve ribbons from the stake and open class back to Seaview Farm. Roberts also drove his entry Fusilier to the second place finish in the amateur class. No Jacket Required and Sally Spalding made a single appearance at Monterey and it was a winning one. They took the victory pass in the Amateur Fine Harness class to add another blue to the Michael Craghead Stables’s total.
Call Me Mahvalous won the Denver Junior/Limit Fine Harness class with Reymundo Gallegos driving. Gallegos, an assistant trainer at Boettcher Stables, brought the blue ribbon back for owner Misha Leendertsen. Derek Repp and Hollywood’s Surprise Ending made a quick trip to Monterey and picked up the red ribbon in the Denver junior/limit class for Maynard and Linda Brittan.
Jim Nottage swept the road horse division with his new horse Anastasia Legend under the Deardorff Stables banner. Sally Nottage joined them after their stake win.
Anastasia Legend and Jim Nottage are a new team in the road horse division, showing from Deardorff Stables and they were twice victorious at Monterey. Nottage won the Road Horse To Bike Stake and open class. Main Man and Fidencio Maturino were right there to take second in the stake after a strong effort for owner Bob Facciola of Woodhaven. Main Man came into the stake having earned the reserve in the open class as well.
Shari Rainwater and Kim Matoza helped Rainwater Farms and Michael Craghead Stables have a very successful show at Monterey.
Maturino headed to the winner’s circle to pick up two winning ribbons for Woodhaven, when Cole named PT Cruiser the Roadster Pony Grand Champion and open champion. Kim Matoza was asked to catch drive Heartland Handsome Heir for owner Tom Callahan and she teamed the pony to both reserve finishes under the direction of Michael Craghead.
Scott Hickey’s pony Seamair’s Dear Admiral made a single appearance in the harness pony division and took back the blue from the open class to Rancho Vista. Lance Bennett handled the winning drive.
Bobbie Anne Welch’s pony Heartland Newsmaker was the Hackney Pony Grand Champion and also won the qualifier under the direction of Dick Boettcher. Martha Keck handled the winning drives for Welch.
Owner Janet Overstreet swept the pleasure driving division with her Hackney pony Seamair's Winterfest under the direction of David Becker Jr.
David Becker headed to center ring twice more when Janet Overstreet drove her pony Seamair’s Winterfest to the Hackney Pleasure Driving Pony Stake and qualifier wins.
The pleasure division featured a great group across the board and by the time the show was over, numerous barns had winning ribbons hanging on the tack room wall.
Katie Jarve and CH Callaway's Capitol Reporter swept the five-gaited pleasure division under the direction of Jennifer Dixon.
Dixon Stables claimed the sweep in the five-gaited pleasure division. Katie Jarve and CH Callaway’s Capitol Reporter topped three other teams in both the stake and qualifier to be named the grand champions and champions. Callaway’s Shotgun moved up in the ribbons with Lauren Benecke to take the reserve tricolor streamers for Karl Benecke. Michelle McVey directed the reserve grand champions. Hella Good and Martha Keck picked up the red ribbon in the open class.
Boettcher Stables claimed the sweep in the park pleasure division when Eduardo Castillo teamed Pinnacles Midnight Event to both wins for owner Jill Anthony. Night Of Controversy TS, with Brigitte Scholl up, took the reserve ribbon in the stake for owner Sarah Wolfe. Unchained and David Becker were reserve in the open class for owner Virginia Bergstrom.
Leslie Pierce won the adult show pleasure stake and qualifier, earning CH points for Doubletrees Royal Request. Pierce showed from Deardorff Stables.
Leslie Pierce kept her good show going with her show pleasure mount Doubletrees Royal Request. They put together the win in the nine-entry adult qualifier and returned in the adult stake to top six other teams and claim that victory as well. Sierra Blue, owned by Shari Rainwater, was reserve in the adult stake with Susan Valley Chen in the irons. Sim-Sala-Bim! claimed the red ribbon in the qualifier with owner Lisa Baytos riding under the direction of Nani Barnes. Baytos then returned to take the tricolor in the limit rider stake after a move up from the limit rider qualifier.
Katie Jarve added two more wins to her total for the weekend when CH A Magic Spell swept the junior exhibitor division under the direction of Jennifer Dixon.
Ribbons And Love and Michelle Ganci turned in the winning effort in the limit rider qualifier and defeated six other teams in the process. They then returned for the reserve grand championship in the competitive limit rider stake under Michael Craghead’s direction. Imagine The Dream and owner Jan Darden took second place in the limit rider qualifier to add another top ribbon to the David Becker Stables total.
The Flame Of Highpoint and Shari Rainwater finished up at Monterey as the Show Pleasure Driving Grand Champions and champions and there were more wins to come for Rainwater Farms. A Day On The Town BH exited after both driving classes with the reserve ribbons. Nan Chapman drove for Bob Facciola.
The English pleasure division and pleasure driving division were both open to amateurs and professionals and to any breed. The Friesians put on good class after good class in their divisional classes and it was a Friesian that earned the top spot in the English Pleasure Stake and open class. Julia Goldman rode Ronald van de Zuiderwaard to the tricolor and blue ribbon for Black Sterling Friesians.
David Becker rode Janine Hill’s horse Perfect Adventure to the reserve streamers in the stake to move up in the ribbons from the qualifier. RGA Kool Kat and Nicole Schoppe were reserve in the open class for owner David Korn, and Kool Kat also swept the junior exhibitor division. Michaela Korn rode to the win in the junior exhibitor classes.
Tammy Michelle, owned by Teddi Estes, was reserve in the Junior Exhibitor English Pleasure Stake with Cooper Bartoszek riding after taking the red ribbon in the qualifier.
Jackson Cripe has an exciting season ahead of him in the 10 and under walk and trot division and he got things off to a good start at Monterey. He rode Doeke H. to the blue in the Pleasure Horse/Pony 10 and Under Walk and Trot class under the direction of Lance Bennett. Samantha Shaffer rode Attache’s Chaminade to reserve, showing from Dixon Stables.
Ron Goldman added two more wins to the Black Sterling total when Jimte fan Galinga State swept the pleasure driving division.
Su Casa and Stephanie Duck teamed up to win the Five-Gaited Country Pleasure Stake and qualifier. They brought the winning ribbons back to the Monarch Stables tack room and owner Dana Van Sistine.
The country pleasure division, with five entries in both the stake and open class, featured two very nice classes and Shari Rainwater was at the top of Chad Cole’s card in both of them. Rainwater showed Callaway’s Cassandra for owner Jan Darden under the direction of David Becker. Royal Crest’s Rock Island, the entry that Susan Valley Chen keeps at home, took both reserves with Julia Chen riding. Susan was on board for the reserve in the Denver junior/limit class.
Wizard’s Icon won the Denver Junior/Limit Country Pleasure class with Kendall Anderson in the irons for owner Alfred Heller. Jennifer Dixon made yet another trip to center ring for the presentation to the winners.
Doug Glick and CH Fiasco were the Western Country Pleasure Grand Champions from Michael Craghead Stables.
The Western Country Pleasure Stake and qualifier featured eight entries including reigning World’s Champion of Champions CH Fiasco. Doug Glick took the victory pass in the stake for Carolyn Glick and the team showed under the direction of Michael Craghead. Toreador and Dr. Catherine Gallo were the winners of the qualifier and they finished with the reserve tricolor under the direction of Tim Arcuri. Highpoint’s Born To Boogie and Michelle Ganci, also directed by Craghead, finished with the yellow streamers in both classes and they took the blue ribbon in the Saddle & Bridle Shatner Western Pleasure class. Shari Rainwater and Highpoint’s Tip Top finished with the red ribbon in the Shatner class for Rainwater Farms.
Reymundo Gallegos rode Buttoned Down to the blue ribbon in the Opportunity Western Pleasure class for Grace Arnold to add another win to her total. Gen Hess and TodaysMyLuckyDay were reserve for Pleasants Valley Stable.
Michelle McVey instructed Emily Chapman to the Saddle Seat Equitation Championship, 14 and under and UPHA Challenge Cup wins with CH Timeless Drifter. Chapman also won the junior exhibitor three-gaited class with Pecan Prince.
Jim Bennett directed Patty Ladd and Richard’s Time ERB to the wins in the Hunter Country Pleasure Stake and qualifier classes.
Emily Chapman switched gears from the three-gaited division, and with her high-powered CH Timeless Drifter won the Saddle Seat Equitation Championship, instructed by Michelle McVey. Cara Sivara, riding Dixon Stables’s Mister Snapple, was reserve. Chapman and Sivara finished in the same order in the 17 and under challenge cup and Chapman also won the 14 and under equitation class.
Kelly Ganci also took on the equitation division to add to her successes in the junior exhibitor three-gaited division. She was reserve with Raising Havoc in the 14 and under equitation qualifier which was the largest class of the equitation division.
Jackson Cripe and Doeke won the 10 and under walk and trot class from Rancho Vista/Friesian Focus. CH Java Sea, a many times equitation champion, carried Ethan Feiber to the win in the 10 and Under UPHA Walk and Trot Challenge Cup and was reserve in the walk and trot equitation class for owner Heather Buhr. Feiber was instructed by Jennifer Dixon. Fellow Dixon Stables rider Samantha Shaffer was reserve in the walk and trot challenge cup with Attache’s Chaminade.
Steven Jarrell picked up two more blue ribbons for Rancho Vista when he won the Walk and Trot Lead Line 10 and Under class with High Octane and also the lead line class for seven and under riders. Grace Bell, riding Natural Ice, and Olivia Jarrell, riding Feije fan de Slachtedyk, claimed second and third to round out the ribbons in the seven and under lead line class.
Friesian Focus, Black Sterling Friesians, Monarch Stables and Seaview Farm all ended up in the winner’s circle more than once in the Friesian division as did Jocelyn Hamann, riding for owner Jackie Basagoita.
Lance Bennett, Scott Hickey, Cathryn Hager, Joan Fernandez and Richard, Andrea, Steven and Olivia Jarrell teamed up for a great show for Rancho Vista and Friesian Focus.
Otto and Lance Bennett won the Friesian Saddle Seat Park Stake after winning the open class earlier in the week for Joan Fernandez and Friesian Focus.
Barbara Beamer drove Tjalke to both wins in the park harness division. Beamer drove on behalf of owner Carole Gatti.
Wodan was the Saddle Seat Pleasure Grand Champion with Bennett riding for Fernandez and their win followed up the blue ribbon in the open qualifier. Brigitte Scholl rode Glor van de Bist to the reserve title in the Saddle Seat Pleasure Stake for owner Dana Leavitt after taking the reserve in the open class.
Brigitte Scholl, of Monarch Stables, teamed Jelte to the Friesian Saddle Seat Pleasure Junior Horse Stake and qualifier wins for owner Cathy Anderson.
Feije and owner Andrea Jarrell won the Amateur Saddle Seat Pleasure Stake and qualifier. Cathy Anderson and Ecko Fan Great Beckum represented Monarch Stables with their amateur reserve grand championship and their reserve in the amateur qualifier. Brigitte Scholl added two more wins to Anderson’s total when Jelte won the Saddle Seat Pleasure Junior Horse Stake and junior qualifier.
Mindert S., from Black Sterling Friesians, was named the Friesian Walk and Trot Pleasure Grand Champion after a move up in the ribbons from the qualifier. Julia Goldman rode for the tricolor victory. Floris and Joan Fernandez were the reserve grand champions and came into the stake with the blue ribbon to their credit for Friesian Focus.
Floris also won the Friesian Saddle Seat Country Pleasure Stake and qualifier for Fernandez. Julia Goldman and Ate Fan Bartleheim were second in the country pleasure qualifier.
Janna Weir Goldman, riding three different Friesians, swept the western pleasure division, hunter pleasure division and also won the Dressage Suitability Stake to add five more wins to the Black Sterling total. Goldman and Ewout V.D. were the western pleasure winners, Ate Fan Barleheim was the hunter pleasure winner and Jimte fan Galinga State won the Dressage Suitability Stake with Goldman.
Harold V.R. showed seven times at Monterey and picked up blue and red ribbons for Basagoita. Dean MacCracken rode to the reserve in the Friesian Open Walk and Trot Pleasure class. Jocelyn Hamann then took over and she and Harold V.R. were reserve in the hunter pleasure stake and qualifier. They teamed up to win the dressage suitability qualifier and then took reserve in the stake. Jimte fan Galinga State was reserve in the dressage suitability qualifier.
Shanna Goodpasture showed her entry Binte to the Friesian Stallion In Hand Stake tricolor after having won the stallion in hand class earlier in the week. Hamann showed Harold V.R. to reserve in both stallion in hand classes.
Feije won the Mare/Gelding In Hand Stake for Andrea Jarrell and Otto was the reserve grand champion for Fernandez. Both horses finished in the same order in the mare/gelding in hand class.
Monterey survives because of the dedication of those barns that have been coming year after year and don’t want to see this show end. This year’s change to a daytime only schedule was a welcome one and Mother Nature kept the rain away. An easy and relaxed schedule allowed evenings free to shop, eat or sightsee and Monterey is one of California’s most desired destinations for all three.
Hopefully attendance will be back up next year, but no doubt, those that love this show will be back again to showcase their Saddlebreds, roadsters, Hackneys and Friesians at the Monterey County Fairgrounds.
This highlights the Monterey Springfest Horse Show. For complete results click here.
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