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It’s Official...The Top Ten Champions In The Morgan High Point Report



Saddle Horse Report’s comprehensive High Point program recognizes horses that show and win all season long.

This is our second year of the High Point Report and we made lots of improvements. We had a terrific response from show managers and we received many more results in a more timely fashion. We added categories and made modifications in others.

The idea for this program initially began with a belief that horses should be recognized for their performances throughout the year. Much like NASCAR or PGA golf stats, we thought people would like to know throughout the year who was winning where and how often.

It was a massive undertaking. There are so many people who have invested so much time to make sure that we have developed the most accurate, comprehensive program possible.

Results were compiled from over 120 horse shows from 30 states across the country. Most shows are single point shows and points are earned for first through third place in these shows. Regional shows are double point shows and points are awarded for first through fifth place. The Grand National and World Championship Horse Show is the only triple point show and points are awarded for all places at Oklahoma.

Besides the dedication of our staff, the reason this program is successful is the tremendous response we receive from you, our readers. We receive thousands of e-mails with compliments, suggestions and clarifications. We appreciate your overwhelming support and ask for your continued involvement.

All of our Top Ten High Point Report Champions received a frameable certificate and a logo pin to recognize their accomplishments. We hope that they will proudly wear the logo pin as a lapel pin, a back number pin, or display it in their trophy case. Only Top Ten Champions will have these pins. We also rewarded the High Point Report Grand Champions with personalized stadium chairs with their horse’s name and the category won embroidered directly on it.

We are very proud of the High Point Report and we hope you enjoy it as much as we do! Spend time reviewing who won in 2004 and how they got their points. Make plans for your show season in 2005 and as soon as show season gets going, you’ll be able to check the points which are updated daily as the shows happen.

In 2005 we are committed to bringing you the results and the High Point statistics sooner than ever. We have enlisted the help of show management and show secretaries to bring you results faster than ever before. We are also going to expand the depth of coverage of our results. Single point shows will now receive points through fifth place. Double and triple point shows will receive points for all placings.

I would like to thank some very special people who bring the High Point Report to life for you. Specifically, I want to express my appreciation to Brad Rezza, Sally Carver, Jan Ontiveros, Cindy Throneberry, Diana Davidson and Erin Thomas and the production staff of Dabora, Inc. for their hard work and dedication!

We hope you enjoy this second annual edition of the Morgan High Point Report. We dedicate this issue to the wonderful horses that are out there showing again and again to keep us entertained!

Sincerely,
Christy Howard Parsons

The 2004 Morgan High Point Report, Reading Between the Lines

BY CHRISTY HOWARD PARSONS

Now in its second year, the High Point Report recognizes the champion horses and riders that performed throughout the entire show season. There's nothing more exciting than a great show horse, you know the type with ears forward, eager to entertain, enjoying the applause of an enthusiastic audience. Some of them are World Champions, horses of the year, regional high point winners. Some are not. Our High Point Champions are show horses and riders who consistently perform and enjoy the show ring. We want to recognize them for their efforts. We want to honor their contributions. But most of all, we want to see them show more!

Let's take a look at who topped the High Point Report in 2004. How did they get their points? It's not always blue ribbons that propel these champions to the top, but the most consistent performers do always win in the end. Let's review how they did it.

Open Park Saddle

The Real Deal and Stacy Hennessey are the Real High Point Report Champions for the Open Park Saddle division in the 2004 High Point Report. The Reserve Grand National champions showed 11 times in 2004 to earn five wins and three reserves including wins a trio of Regional Park Saddle Championships at Morgan Medallion, Far West Regional and Circle J Regional. Bill and Connie Myers own The Real Deal who was also reserve in the Park Saddle Stallions at Oklahoma in his first season under saddle.

David Rand and Kristin Johnson directed Something Wicked to the Reserve High Point Report finish for owner Grace Steere. Wins at Granite State, Vermont, Mass Morgan and New England Regional set up a terrific record going into Oklahoma. Kristin Johnson then directed Something Wicked to the win at Grand National in the Park Saddle Youth Finals. They also earned two third place finishes at Oklahoma in the Ladies classes. All in all they earned 193 points from their 12 performances.

Judy Whitney Harris and Bellisimo did not show as often, but they did have excellent results. In eight performances, they earned six blue ribbons and two red. The Ladies Park Saddle World Champions also earned the Ladies Gelding Park Saddle Grand National title and wins throughout the season at Gold Cup, Jubilee and New England. Barbara and Arthur Jones own Bellisimo.

CN’s Stylish Debut earns the fourth place finish in the High Point Report earning 123 points with Mike Goebig and Allyson Nord Wandtke doing the honors for Cindy Nord. Allyson won two classes at Mid A and earned the Ladies Gelding Park Saddle reserve title at Oklahoma. Goebig picked up a win at New England and a win and reserve at Southern States to cap off a strong debut season.

Rhonda Hooper showcased her WCM Moreland Morgan to wins at Wheat State and Circle J as well as reserves at Oklahoma Centennial and Circle J before letting Ronda Collins do the honors to earn a third place finish at Grand National. In seven performances, they earned 120 points for a fifth place finish in the standings.

Rounding out the top ten open park saddle horses are Jarad Dawson and Belle Bradford, Grandemeanor and Ann Anderson, El Toro and Tim Arcuri, Man In Motion and Lynn Peeples, SDS Kinsman’s Crusader and Shari Rossiter, and Mantic Bullseye and Krista Dent.

Open Park Harness

The points race in the open park harness division was as close as it gets with only 1 point separating the champions. SpringMill Sequel and Kurt Hufferd won at Midwest, Indiana Morgan, Indianapolis Charity and New England Regional during the season and finished with a flourish at Oklahoma earning the Park Harness Mare and Gelding Grand National title. This brought them 119 points in seven performances to be named our High Point Report Champions for the SpringMill Morgans.

Sheza Bell and Judy Whitney Harris only showed five times, but did it with style to earn 118 points and the reserve finish in the points race. The Ladies Park Harness World Champions also claimed the Ladies Mare Park Harness title at Oklahoma, won two classes at Gold Cup and were reserve at New England in addition to her other titles in the junior division. Barbara and Arthur Jones are the breeders and owners of Sheza Bell.

Kathy Papola and HVK Flash Back earned a third place finish in the points. They qualified for Oklahoma with two reserves at Morgan Medallion and then trotted away from Grand National as the Ladies Gelding Park Harness Grand National Champions and finished fourth in the ladies world championship.

Cristy Coleman directed HR Perfectly Clear to two qualifying wins at Circle J which earned 40 points. Finishing up with third and fourth place performances at Grand National added another 45 more for a point total of 85, enough to earn them a fourth place finish.

Fifth place in the points goes to Queen’s Protege. Queen’s Protege is also owned by Cristy Coleman and now trained by The River's Edge. In the gelding's six performances, he earned three blue ribbons including wins at Vermont and New England with David Rand who started the year training for breeders and former owners Pete and Sandy Hendrick.

The remaining top ten champions are FZM Encore and Kylee Cochran, Crystalhill Bonnie Lass and Percy McDaniel, Minion Millenium and Brian Stewart, Cedar Creek With Bells On and Robin Rednor-Veghte, and CVH Celtic Command and Bernard Parker.

Open English Pleasure

Topping the open english pleasure division is Futurity’s Miss Munitions who earned 143 points in eight performances including three trips made by trainer Stan Bodnar and an additional with new owner Becky Krupp. Highlights of their outstanding season include Bodnar directing to the reserve finish in the English Pleasure World Championship. Bodnar also contributed two wins at New England Regional. Krupp also enjoyed a successful debut season with a win at Jubilee and strong reserves at Madison Morgan Classic and Jubilee.

An amazing three way tie for the Reserve High Point Championship netted 128 points each for three talented teams, each showing eight times this season. CPM Man O Man and Mike Carpenter enjoyed wins at Connecticut Morgan, Vermont Spring and New England Regional. They also earned second and third place finishes at Oklahoma for Dan and Leslie Kelley.

Phil Fountain and Cairnbrae Courage Forever earned wins at Circle J and netted a reserve Grand National Championship and a top ten finish in the world championship for the Cairnbrae Corporation.

Saddle Horse Report’s own Erin Thomas and her Think About It MEM earned wins at Jubilee, Gold Cup and MJMHA Morgan Showtime and third and fourth place finishes at Oklahoma.

Kiss N Tell and Stacy Hennessy showed only six times, but netted 111 points with four wins and a reserve including the Ladies English Pleasure Mare Grand National Championship and the Reserve Ladies English Pleasure World Championship for owners Bill and Connie Myers.

Heyday Molly Stark and Keely Sogoloff earned a fourth place finish with 104 points in eight performances. Highlights of their season include wins at New York Morgan Regional and reserves at Connecticut Morgan.

Silverside’s Toy Soldier finished in fifth place in the points race with 100 points earned in only four performances. Owner Mary Fisher earned the Ladies English Pleasure World Championship as well as the Ladies English Pleasure Grand National Championship. Trainer Krista Dent qualified the champion with two wins at Blue Ridge earlier in the season.

Rounding out the top ten champions are SPR Special Request and Kathy Shorten, OH Independence Hall and Serena Chaves, Mantic Top Gun and Keith Nelsen, Turning Point Simply Divine and Tara Lindeen, and HVK Steuben and Steven DeBolt.

Open Pleasure Driving

Terri Travers went to the show ring every time she got the chance with L’Cima’s Exclusive. Together they showed 11 times to earn 197 points and the High Point Report championship. Highlights of their season include wins at Gold Cup, Jubilee and Southern States as well as three ribbon-winning performances at Oklahoma!

Festival Calypso finished in second in the points with 152 points earned in eight performances. Stephanie Connor made every show count earning five blue ribbons and three reserves during the season including wins at Morgan Classic Royale, Morgan Medallion and Far West. The beautiful team also earned the Ladies Pleasure Driving Reserve World Championship and the Ladies Pleasure Driving Geldings Reserve Grand National Championship.

Percy McDaniel directed MEM Just My Style to the third place finish in the points for owner Clint and Linda Barber. Highlights of their season include wins at three Regionals - New York Morgan, Gold Cup and New England.

JP’s Living On The Edge and Caren Earehart were pressing hard in the points, only two points behind third, to finish in fourth in the points race. Wins at MJMHA Morgan Showtime, Michigan All Morgan and Gold Cup highlighted their terrific season.

Saddle Horse Report correspondent Mary Daughtry directed her own Hollybrook Indian Brave to the fifth place finish with wins at Raleigh Spring Premier, Bonnie Blue, North Carolina State Fair and North Carolina State Championships. In 12 performances, they earned five wins, four seconds and three third place finishes.

Other outstanding pleasure driving teams from 2004 are Dreammaster J'st Sharper and Gerry Rushton, Medomak French Invasion and Jeff White, Olivia GP and Sheree Elliott, Que Sera and Annalisa Hall, Thor’s Legacy and Kathryn Schwartz, Aspenglow Insurrection and Phil Fountain, and Can’t You See MEM and Phyllis Frechette.

Open Hunter Pleasure

Almost 500 different horses earned points this season in the open hunter pleasure division. What an accomplishment then for our top ten High Point Report champions who bested such an impressive field!

Leading the pack is Carmen Miranda, owned by Michael and Jamie Fiocco and shown by Tristanne Weber, Jamie Jaeger Fiocco and Larry Bonnell. An amazing 117 of their total 214 points were earned in an outstanding Morgan Grand National Horse Show. World Champion Hunter Pleasure, World Champion Ladies Hunter Pleasure, Grand National Champion Hunter Pleasure Gentlemens Finals, and Reserve Grand National Champion Ladies Hunter Pleasure Mare. Add in good shows at Gold Cup and Southern States and you have our High Point Report Champions.

Heather Luedtke and VVM Aleesa were pushing our champions hard by showing 12 times in 2004 to earn 192 points and the reserve High Point Report title. Wins at Diamond Jubilee, Morgan Classic Royale, Far West and Morgan Medallion led to a win at Oklahoma in the Ladies Hunter Pleasure Mare Class.

Third place in the point standings goes to Shaker’s Maribeles and Judy Fox. Trained by Mary Carlton, this outstanding team earned 181 points in 11 performances including winning the Hunter Pleasure Mare Grand National Championship. Other highlights include wins at MJMHA Morgan Showtime, New England Regional, Jubilee, and Indiana Morgan.

RTS Miss Belle Pepper and Kathleen Peeples earned two reserve titles at Oklahoma in addition to winning at New England Regional to earn 152 points in eight performances. This earned them the fourth place finish in the points race.

Fifth place goes to En Excess NKS owned by Julie Chan. Also a reserve winner at Oklahoma, this talented gelding earned wins this season at Morgan Classic Royale, Morgan Medallion and Far West.

Rounding out the top ten hunter pleasure champions are Liberation Daddy’s Girl and Fay Lowry, Z's Majestic Sensation and Fay Lowry, Karisman and Garn Walker, FCF Valparaiso and Mary Carlton, and LCP Stars N Stripes and Erin Thomas.

Open Western Pleasure

Over 400 horses made up the field of High Point Report contenders in the open western pleasure category. And our champion worked hard to earn his berth in the top spot in just his first season showing. Eitan Beth Halachmy and Charlestown Blue Moon hit the show ring 14 times in 2004, five more times than the nearest competitor, to earn 208 points. A reserve winner at Oklahoma, the talented team also picked up wins at Morgan Classic Royale, Santa Cruz Morgan, Mother Lode All Morgan, and Far West Regional. Hanna Welch and Alison Chickering own our High Point Report Champion.

Gulfwind Sir William and Daryl Hopson jogged into the reserve finish with 190 points earned in only nine performances. The Western Pleasure Gentlemens Finals Grand National Champions also added wins from Southern States, Citrus Cup, and New England to their impressive resume for owners Paul and Evelyn McKnight.

Cherrydale Scarlet O'Hara finished in the third slot in the point standings. Beth Wilber and Jeff and Amy Bessey did the honors in 2004. Highlights from their season include wins at Penn Ohio and New York Morgan Regional and a top three finish at Oklahoma. Daryl Hopson and Paul and Evelyn McKnight teamed up on another winning entry, Gulfwind Wild Solitaire. This is their second winning open western pleasure entry in our top ten champions. Gulfwind Wild Solitaire finishes in fourth place in the points with 180 points in 8 performances including wins at Citrus Cup, New England Regional and two big wins at Oklahoma. Margaret McKnight directed this talented entry to the Ladies Western Pleasure World Championship and to the Ladies Western Pleasure Mare Grand National Championship.

Finishing in fifth place is Grand Cru Beaujolais and Keith Nelsen. Seven blue ribbons in eight performances for an almost perfect season include winning the Western Pleasure World Championship as well as the Western Pleasure Stallion Grand National Championship. Other wins this season were earned at Morgan Medallion, Morgan Classic Royale and Far West Regional.

The remaining Top Ten High Point Report champions are Bear Brook Supreme Bar and Julie Christopher, HL My My and Kathleen Peeples, Canabar Red Line and Jordy Johns, Futurity’s Such a Twist and Kathy Papola, Kane Creek Riccochet and Virginia Adams, and Absolute Sensation and Amy Bessey.

Park Saddle Junior Horse

The park saddle junior horse competition features MEM Heart and Soul topping the charts with Tim Roesink directing for Kourt Jester Morgans. This talented youngster showed eight times in 2004 to earn 161 points including 51 from Oklahoma. They also collected wins at Gold Cup and Jubilee and two reserves at Southern States to top this talented field of entries.

Reserve in the High Point standings is Queen’s Victorian Lady and David Rand. Owned by Queens River Farm, this smart young filly earned 140 points in six performances including the Park Saddle Four-Year-Old World Championship and the Four-Year-Old Mare and Gelding Grand National title. They also won each time they entered the ring including Southern States and New England Regional for a perfect season of six blue ribbons.

Cherrydale Acappella also entered the ring six times, to earn 123 points and the third place finish in the point standings. Shirley O’Gorman directs for Cherrydale Manor. Highlights of their season include wins at Gold Cup and New York Morgan Regional as well as third and fourth place performances at Oklahoma.

Fourth in the point standings goes to Ultra’s Dark Shadow and James Lowry. Winning five of their six performances in 2004, this talented team claimed Midwest Charity, Jubilee and Indiana Morgan before going on to win the Three-Year-Old Park Saddle Mare and Gelding Grand National Championship and finishing in third in the three-year-old world championship. Jim and Lynn Miller own this talented youngster.

Debbie Uecker Keough stepped from behind the camera and into the High Point Report with her Granprix. Together they showed six times to earn four wins at Morgan Medallion and Morgan Classic Royale. In addition, they captured the reserve Grand National title in the four-year-old mares and geldings class.

Finishing up the Top Ten High Point Report are Ultra’s Dark Angel and James Lowry, GMH Flash Dance and Frank Miller, CN The Master’s Flyte and Mike Goebig, KDS Star Wars and Jim Taylor, and Lookaway’s Fortune and Linda Stewart.

Park Harness Junior Horse

The Three-Year-Old Park Harness World Champion, Evolution and Jim Lowry, top the High Point Report in the junior category. Together they showed six times to five wins for owner Donna Zimmerman. In addition to a sensational finish in Oklahoma, the combination topped classes at Southern States, Jubilee and New England Regional this season.

A perfect five blue ribbons in five performances led Spiceolife Present Tense and Diane Conrady to the reserve finish in the High Point Report. Two-Year-Old Park Harness World Champions and Futurity World Champions, this talented team also picked up the Grand National Two-Year-Old Stallion title as well as wins at Indiana Morgan and Jubilee. David James Walker owns this outstanding two-year-old stallion.

Queen’s Guardian and Mike Carpenter are our third place team. The highlight of their season was winning the Four-Year-Old Park Harness World Championship but they also earned a reserve in the stallion Grand National class and won two classes at Connecticut Morgan.

Diane Conrady directed our second and fourth place finishers in the High Point Report. BJL Courageous, owned by Barry Laub, finished in fourth with 100 points earned in seven performances. Wins at Midwest Charity, Jubilee and Indiana Morgan highlighted their outstanding season.

Mike Carpenter also had two top five finishers in the High Point Report. In addition to Queen’s Guardian, he directed Stardavari to the Three-Year-Old Mare and Gelding Park Harness Grand National Championship at Oklahoma, which in addition to wins at Vermont and reserves at Connecticut and New England, gave her enough points to earn the fifth place spot.

Rounding out the top ten junior park harness champions are MEM No Inhibitions and Shanna Gish, GMH Gladiator and Frank Miller, Patchwork Simply Amazin and Jim Taylor, SpringMill Renaissance and Kurt Hufferd, and Jacqui O and Mary Brannon.

Continued

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