New York Morgan Celebrates Sapphire Anniversary
Thursday, September 29, 2005
by Diana Davidson
SYRACUSE, NY - This year marked the 45th anniversary of the New York Morgan Horse Show, which once again served as the AMHA Region 2 Championship. The sapphire anniversary show enjoyed strong support from stables from the eastern United States and Canada with approximately 400 horses in attendance. The show has become a final tune-up or qualification for some horses headed to Oklahoma. For many others it marks the end of show season. The show dates of Sept. 14-17 began on a warm Summer-like note and transitioned into some rain due to hurricane remnants before ending with a hint of fall in the air.
One of the continuing highlights of this show is the NYSMHS Breeders’ Sweepstakes classes where a record of over $30,000 was awarded. Offspring of the stallions whose services were auctioned off at the annual NYSMHS Stallion Service Auction were eligible to participate in the three classes. The classes for Weanlings In Hand, Four-Year-Old Western/Hunter Pleasure Saddle and Four-Year-Old Park/English Pleasure/Classic Pleasure Saddle were all well filled with some outstanding quality and entertaining competition on Friday evening.
The show also featured numerous special awards and presentations. The annual presentation of the Mike Hens Sportsmanship Award was made to Steve Herz some of the past recipients. Retiring show manager Linda Burke and trophy chair Mary Curwen were honored for their years of service to the show with a center ring presentation. The High Point Dressage Award featured the first presentation of the Joan Ide Sackett Memorial Trophy with Truman and Lynn Infanti earning the distinction. The youngest of the High Point winners were the walk-trot champions who competed on Saturday with tricolors awarded to Saddle Seat Champion Amber Brown and Reserve Champion Addison Walkowiak, Western Champion Emily Jones and Reserve Champion Danielle Strickfaden, and Hunt Seat Champion Erin Wilber and Reserve Champion Emily Vandermark.
NYSMHS has been a strong supporter of many worthwhile causes over the years. This year the show came to the aid of New York trainer Jeff Kidd who is battling cancer. A live auction was held during Thursday night's exhibitors’ party with Harold and Penny Cochran doing a great job getting top bids for the many items donated through the efforts of Patricia Casler. The top selling items included a breeding to Simply Maserati, a tack trunk made by Lynn Peeples, and a day at Broadmoor. Due to the generosity of the donors and the bidders, over $6,000 was raised to help with Kidd's medical expenses. Friends report that Kidd has received some good reports from his doctors, and he is in good spirits and working on regaining his strength.
Diane Garrow maintained the reins as New York Morgan show chair as she continued to experience the challenges involved along with a large and varied show committee while also picking a new manager for 2006. Following 25 years as show manager Linda Burke bid the show adieu as did Mary Curwen who has been a key ringside volunteer since 1982. Show secretary Pam Turner and staff once again performed miracles as they kept up with the volumes of paper work during this marathon event.
Cathy Grimes and Ann Lawter shared the judging duties in center ring with Richard Boule joining them in the Sweepstakes classes. Cindy Sydnor scored the Dressage rides, Toddy Hunter pinned the Carriage competition, and Linda Connors officiated in the hunter over fences divisions. Beverly Bedard kept everything by the rules as USEF Steward. Bob Dunham kept the music flowing as organist while Kenn Marash again served as announcer. Terry Young made his second trip to the show as official photographer. John Franzreb and Al Celecki completed the center ring officials as ringmasters.
This year’s show began as always with the in hand competition on Wednesday morning with the mares first to enter the ring with a nice group of over 20 filling the classes. EKL Review The Vision repeated her titles from Penn Ohio as Lynn Peeples presented the fancy Astronomicallee daughter. She swept the Two-Year-Old, Junior Champion and Grand Champion Mare honors for breeder/owner Eli Lapp of Colonial Stables. Gable's Northern Lights stepped up from the yearling win to be named Reserve Junior Champion Mare with Wendy Sogoloff on the lead for Mary Ellen Gray.
Cum Laude Nell kicked off another great show by posing as the Three-Year-Old winner, Senior Champion Mare and Reserve Grand Champion Mare. The UVM Tennyson daughter showed off her brilliant style with Tim O'Gorman on the lead for Diane Garrow. Dar-Vale Savannah started off a victorious week with the Five and Over Mares win and went on to be named Reserve Senior Champion Mare for Todd and Sandra Trushel.
The geldings in hand followed with Lynn Peeples and Tim O'Gorman again earning the lion's share of tricolors. It was the brilliant chestnut Red Zone who topped the division as Grand Champion Gelding following top honors in the five and over class and Senior Champion Gelding competition to start a winning day for his sire Man In Motion. Tim O'Gorman was on the lead of Man Who Would Be King to earn the Reserve Grand Champion and Junior Champion Gelding honors for Suzanne Fox. The reserve tricolors went to Bears It All and Jeff Bessey in the junior and Wintop's Prince Charles and Mark Mason in the senior competition.
The stallions were next on center stage with Lynn Peeples completing a magnificent tricolor sweep. Man In Motion provided the grand finale as the 2001 World Champion Stallion entertained the Syracuse audience as the Five and Over, Senior and Grand Champion Stallion for ADC Pro-Motion LLC. Both of the Junior Champion Stallion tricolors also went back to the Waterford Farm banner as two-year-old winner Seaway St. Lawrence was named Junior Champion Stallion for the second year in a row for Bob and Roberta Marshall, while the handsome weanling winner ESS Hot Wired was named the reserve champion for Ernestine Smith. UVM Jubilant added to his tricolor season as the Reserve Senior and Reserve Grand Champion Stallion following the four-year-old win for the UVM Morgan Horse Farm with Steve Davis on the lead.
Wednesday's tricolor competition concluded with the Specialty In Hand Championship. Treble's Double Exposure enjoyed a repeat tricolor for Gullwing Farm with Mike Kropp on the lead. The reserve tricolor was pinned on Sunny Acres Rebellion with Joseph Virgo presenting.
The tricolor presentations resumed on Friday when the Junior Classic Pleasure Driving Championship featured Ultras Now And Forever winning the first performance championship of the show with Antonia Watkins on the lines for a smooth performance. CBMF Touch The Stars and Kathy Pierce proudly displayed their reserve tricolor.
The always dazzling Delaware's Night Life was teamed with Danielle Paufve to carry the Junior Exhibitor Western Pleasure Championship back to Stephanie Shearer. Ellen McQuade and Vigilmar Thomas followed up in reserve for Sue Friday in this large and competitive division.
JRS Sheerox showed pretty is as pretty does as she turned in a stylish performance to capture the Junior Pleasure Driving Championship following the four-year-old win with Penny Cochran on the lines. The sensational three-year-old winner Wintop's Donalect and Mark Mason collected the reserve tricolor for Claire Currie Ecker.
Friday night's show ring action started off with the NYSMHS Weanling Breeders’ Sweepstakes with 15 vying for an increased purse of nearly $10,000. The entries were each presented individually in the first round, and they were brought in as a group for further inspection by judges Boule, Grimes and Lawter. The grand prize along with a check for $3,866 went to the charismatic Equinox Charlie's Angel (Equinox Challenge x Quail Run Cicada) presented by Ivan Beattie for East Of Equinox Farm. CVH Celtic Dreamweaver (Futurity French Command x Fantasia Dream Catcher) showed off his crowd-pleasing style as the reserve champion for a check of $1,933 for breeder/owner Catherine Haynes and trainer Bernard Parker.
Next on the Friday night schedule was the Amateur Western Pleasure Championship where Kathryn Daly teamed up with her copper chestnut MSV Ringo Starr to earn the top honors under the direction of Jeff and Amy Bessey. Last year's top winning team of Acadia's Odyssey and Sandra Wooding collected the reserve tricolor.
The Junior Park Harness Championship featured Bernard Parker on the lines of the champion once again. This time it was Three J's Love Note who played beautiful music for the victory for Wendy Gagliardi.
The NYSMHS Breeder's Sweepstakes Four-Year-Old Western and Hunter Pleasure featured a competitive vying for over $10,000 in prize money. As the awards were presented in reverse order, it was World Champion Let's Boogie who stood alone in the winner's circle. Kathleen Peeples was aboard Cynthia Brown-Clark's expressive Born To Boogie daughter for the victory and the winner's share of almost $4,500. Representing the western entries, Pondview Pure Elegance jogged away with the reserve title and a check for $2,244 for owner Melanie Small and trainer Judy Nason.
Cindy Stanton was aboard the Open English Pleasure Champion as she guided the sporty EB Go Lightly to the honors for Mary Meixell. CBMF Leading Man added the reserve tricolor to the Lingering Hills banner for Catherine Ehnle.
MFM In Disguise and Eleanor Hutcheson reprised their impressive win of a year ago in the Amateur Pleasure Driving Championship under the direction of Brad Scussell. Margaret Brown and Oak Creek Chief Of Staff continued a stellar first season as the reserve champions following a pair of qualifier victories.
The Classic Pleasure Saddle Championship featured another honor for the East Of Equinox breeding program as Equinox Wild Card and Susan Evans were triumphant in the 14-entry class. KSB Momentum and top riding Lindsay Perry picked up the reserve tricolor for Karen Gabriel.
The Open Hunter Pleasure Championship went north of the border as Judy Martin presented Hasty's Honor to the tricolor for Vigilmar Stables. The bold striding Sunny Acres Sneek A Peek and Will Vidler collected the reserve tricolor for Nancy Vidler.
The Open Park Harness Championship was next to entertain as Travis Neidlinger took over the lines of Queen's Protege to add to a tricolor evening for Susan and Jeffrey Evans. The crowd-pleasing Crystalhill Bonnie Lass showed off her cadence and charisma for the reserve tricolor performance for Lelita Hewitt, presented by Percy McDaniel.
The NYSMHS Breeders’ Sweepstakes Four-Year-Old Park/English/Classic closed out a strong evening of classes with eight entries competing for top honors. It was a crowning achievement for Born To Boogie as he sired his second Sweepstakes winner of the evening. This time it was Boot Scootin Boogie who picked up the nearly $4,500 check for Bob and Roberta Marshall with Jennifer Mason in the irons. This was also a stellar win for Boot Scootin Boogie's dam Seaway High Voltage who is also the dam of Grand Champion Gelding Red Zone, Junior Champion Stallion Seaway St. Lawrence, and former New York Sweepstakes winner Seaway After Shock, all by different sires. Nancy Flower gave Sontree Buckeye a bold ride to earn the reserve prize of $2,244 for Martha and Dale Livermore.
After a lengthy Sport Horse Suitability class/clinic, the final day of tricolor competition started with the New York Morgan Futurity In Hand classes. The first tricolor of the Saturday morning session was awarded in the Three-Year-Old Futurity Championship where Cum Laude Nell posed for the tricolor following the fillies win with Tim O'Gorman again on the lead for Diane Garrow. It was a sweep for the fillies as Stoneleigh Jazz Time was named reserve champion with Thomas Lawlor leading for Mary Ellen Mulligan.
Seaway St. Lawrence closed out a great show as he was named the Two-Year-Old Futurity Champion following the colts win with Lynn Peeples presenting for Bob and Roberta Marshall. Artistry's Dragonheart showed off his good looks as he stepped up for reserve honors with Will Vidler on the lead for Kristi Hamilton.
In The Yearling Futurity Championship Diane Garrow was back with another victorious entry as Cum Laude Oakleigh carried home the tricolor. Skyloft Mystique posed as the reserve champion for Mike Kropp and Gullwing Farm.
Equinox Charlie's Angel had the crowd behind her as she came back from her previous evening's win to carry home the Weanling Futurity Championship to East Of Equinox Farm. The colt winner Corinthian Lone Star had his own fan club as the reserve champion for Todd and Sandy Trushel.
Cream Hill Hollywood and Kathleen Peeples reprised their role of a year ago as they topped the Junior Hunter Pleasure Championship for proud owners Doug and Marlene Sluiter. They had some outstanding competition including reserve champion HUR's Roselle with Amanda DuPont Pauli aboard for Jane Thompson.
The Hunt Seat Equitation Championship saw Danielle Paufve demonstrate her poise on the rail and in judge Lawter's workout to capture the tricolor honors under the Sunny Acres banner. Afton Philhower used her skill's to earn the reserve tricolor following the 14-17 blue coached by Kathleen Peeples.
Nancy Herrick returned for the Road Hack Championship with a crowd-pleasing ride aboard Aquarian Aladdin. Megan Lesperence and MNM Anticipation teamed up for the reserve tricolor performance.
The Junior Exhibitor English Pleasure Championship saw JW Sensability and Julia Strier team up for an impressive tricolor victory for Mary Neidlinger. Homespun Lady Lyon and Grace Petrisin came away with the reserve tricolor for Wallace and Dorothy Holmes.
The Two-Year-Old Pleasure Driving Championship featured the culmination of a winning week for Artistry's Dragonheart with Will Vidler at the lines for Kristi Hamilton. Nancy Flower guided WLA Born To Perform to the reserve tricolor for Patricia Waliga.
The large and competitive Junior Exhibitor Hunter Pleasure Championship saw UVM Hightide and Jordyn Smith triumph for Appleridge Farm. Tierra's Centennial and Rachel Hamlin followed in reserve.
The Classic Pleasure Driving Championship saw Equinox Wild Card and Susan Evans carry home the title of champions for the fourth time to close out a great show. The ladies winning team of Tempest Abbey Road and Karla Haartz Cortelyou brought the reserve tricolor back to O'Gorman Stables.
Jocelyn Bos Fisher continued her reign as the Western Seat Equitation Champion. Annilee O'Brochta jogged up for the reserve tricolor finish.
The Saddle Seat Equitation Championship was the first tricolor competition of Saturday evening's final session as Amy Desposito turned in a fine performance on the rail and in the individual pattern to garner the top honors. Versatile Danielle Paufve was proud to receive the reserve tricolor honors.
In the Junior English Pleasure Championship Hartland Best Man proved he was the best as Alicia Fraser presented him to the top honors for Hartland Morgans. Jackie Ross rode the animated Mt. Pleasant Echo's Quality to the reserve honors for Peter Huyler.
The Roadster To Bike Championship featured a season ending tricolor drive for Arboria Victorious with Paul Calandra on the lines. The crowd-pleasing speedster Blkorchid Live From NY gave his fans one more reason to cheer as Percy McDaniel piloted him to the reserve streamers for Clint and Linda Barber.
The Junior Western Pleasure Championship featured another outstanding win for the three-year-old winner Worked In Gold with Jeff Bessey aboard for Francis Beers. Pondview Pure Elegance and Judy Nason carried another reserve tricolor to Melanie Small following the four-year-old blue.
The Junior Exhibitor Classic Pleasure Saddle Championship featured the second tricolor victory of the night for Sagamore Shenandoah and Amy Desposito. Raintree Main Attraction and Whitney Costello teamed up for the reserve championship ride for Nicole Panek and Jennifer Keuhn.
The Open Western Pleasure Championship went back to the Corinthian Stables banner as Hollybrook Star Connection and Todd Trushel made the winning ride. Delaware's Night Life was ridden to the reserve finish by Nancy Vidler for the second year in a row for owner Stephanie Shearer.
Shirley O'Gorman piloted the Junior Park Saddle Champion for the second year in a row as she was Set To Dance aboard this year's champion owned by Sally Sliman.
The Amateur English Pleasure Championship featured an impressive return to the winner's circle for the 2003 winning team of Marie Vandemark and Scarborough Fair. Sue Coleman and Fidelio finished up with the reserve tricolor with a steady performance.
Judge Grimes thought she had the right answer in the Open Pleasure Driving Championship as Spiceolife Right Answer drove away with the tricolor with Mark Mason on the lines for Katrina Wood. MEM Out On The Town showed off her style as the reserve champion with Percy McDaniel on the lines following a winning amateur performance in owner William Trump's blue ribbon return to the show ring.
Lindsay Perry teamed up with Antonia Watkins' Ultras Now And Forever to capture the Junior Classic Pleasure Saddle Championship as well as the qualifier blue under the Vintage Valley banner. Shelly White gave her fronty GDT Napoleon a polished ride for the reserve tricolor.
With a quick change, Lindsay Perry was right back in the winner's circle with Equinox Renaissance to collect the Amateur Hunter Pleasure Championship for Carol Rog. Meldon Hawk and Anne Munro teamed up for the reserve tricolor ride representing Canada with pride.
The Open Park Saddle Championship rounded out the show ring competition with Dar-Vale Savannah adding her name to the list of winners of the Deacon Doubleday Memorial Trophy with Sandy Trushel in the irons. Last year's winning combination of SDS Kinsman's Crusader and Shari Rossiter collected the reserve finish in the four-entry competition.
Complete results may be viewed, searched and printed by going to Show Results.
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