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Old Dominion Morgan Horse Show



 

by Mary Daughtry

LEXINGTON, Va.- The show committee for the Old Dominion Morgan Horse Show touted their “fun family atmosphere” in the prize list and certainly delivered just that in 2006. Once again it was held at the super Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, Va., on Sept. 8-10. This is a little later than the show is usually held and led to some conflicts with other shows resulting in a slight decline in numbers. However, for next year the contract has already been signed for two weeks earlier in August with the show to be held in the main arena. Even so, there were many well-filled classes and very few cancelled classes.

John McDonald signed the cards in most of the classes while Brigitte Simmons judged in the dressage arena. Lisa Rogers served as the USEF steward while Gary Hooghkirk handled the ringmaster duties. Bob Kleinfelter was the announcer in the main arena. Frank Carley thoroughly enjoyed his first outing as the organist with a variety of keyboards that could produce virtually any organ sound. Bob Branam was the photographer and again new technology abounded. An exhibitor could go into his trailer minutes after a class, enter a back number into one of several monitors and instantly view the photos.

Hospitality is paramount at this show. Thursday night there was a “Welcome to Lexington” pizza party. Pastries and coffee were available each morning outside the show office. After the last class Friday night, everyone enjoyed an ice cream social and the first-ever fun dog show at Old Dominion. The exhibitors’ party was held Saturday night and featured a very entertaining live auction. Before the Friday and Saturday evening performances the “Celebrate the Morgan Versatility Parade” spotlighted local horses in the various disciplines. Also new in 2006 were the drawings for a $100 door prize. All the champions and reserve champions in hand, amateur and open championships were eligible for these jackpots.

Dan Pavan and Jim Griffin team up every year to present many in hand winners. They led off the show with the Grand Champion Mare Mtn. Run Love Song, who also won the class for fillies two years and under. The winner of the class for mares three years and older, Antietam Absolutely Not, was also declared the reserve grand champion mare with Michael Butts on the lead for Antietam Equestrian Center. Dan Pavan also had the Grand Champion Gelding Mt. Run St. Christopher. This sporty gelding took the blue in the class for geldings three years and over, while reserve grand champion honors were awarded to LMMF Heart’s Alliance led by Susan Martin for Karen Sansom. Jim McCleester presented MCC Lady’s First Dance to top honors in the stallions three years and over class as well as the grand champion stallion title. ML’s Shock’n Y’all was the reserve grand champion and the winner of the class for colts two years and under with Dan Pavan leading for Tom Molin.

JW Unforgettabelle was the single entry in the Open Park Saddle class and championship with Melinda Warden in the irons.

In the English Pleasure division, Susan Martin rode Whitemud Jet Blue to the blue in the junior class for Elias Beiler. Lauren Hogge and her Unfaithful teamed up for a pair of blues in the ladies and amateur qualifying classes. NBN Iron Will and Kara Hose were second in the ladies class but came on strong to win the amateur championship with Unfaithful. Unfaithful also won the junior exhibitor qualifying class. In the junior exhibitor championship, however, Justin Mullaney was all smiles as he enjoyed a tricolor performance with HRS Mirror Image. Unfaithful and Lauren Hogge were the reserve junior exhibitor champions. MCC Lady’s First Dance and Michelle McCleester were awarded the blue in the limit class and the tricolor in the Open English Pleasure Championship for owner David Glick. NBN Iron Will and Kara Hose were the reserve champions.

ML’s Shock’n Y’all made two victory passes in the Two-Year-Old Pleasure Driving qualifier and championship with Alexis Armour driving for Tom Molin. GVMF Crown Royal and Jim McCleester were reserve in both classes. The two-year-old colt ML’s Shock’n Y’all also claimed the junior horse championship. Red Alert and owner/driver Sharon Owens won the blue in the amateur class, with High And Mighty and Kathleen Wesley in second place. The order of finish was reversed in the amateur championship. Hollybrook Indian Brave and owner/driver Mary Daughtry had two smooth trips to win the open qualifier and the open championship. HRS Mirror Image and Justin Mullaney were the winners of the junior exhibitor class.

Kathy Mullaney made two picture perfect rides on her KB Infinity And Beyond to win both the limit class and the Classic Saddle Championship. Coalition Royal Billing and June Davis were a very nice reserve in the championship after a second place tie in the open qualifier. MSM Mason Dixon Classic and Kristina Baldwin were the blue ribbon winners in the open under saddle class. In the junior exhibitor classes Dragonsmeade Accolade and Rosie Seitz made a pair of victory passes just ahead of Windward’s Cassiopeia and Carley Pavan for Marci Cesanek.

Coalition Royal Billing and June Davis collected the blue ribbon in the Open Classic Pleasure Driving class. James Griffin and Mt. Run St. Christopher made a pair of victory passes in the limit qualifier as well as the Classic Pleasure Driving Championship. The reserve championship tricolor went to Dragonsmeade Accolade.

All of the classes in the hunter division were large and quality-filled. Heatherstone was justifiably proud of HKS Lord Of The Dance as he carried his two lady riders to a total of four first place finishes. Lisa Mullaney-Brown was in the irons in the amateur qualifier and championship while trainer Michelle McCleester had the honor in the ladies class and the Open Hunter Championship. Coni Hose and TW Raven picked up the red ribbons in the amateur and ladies qualifying classes and the reserve tricolor in the amateur championship. Trillium’s Chantilly Lace and Mary Jane Kamps were the reserve champions in the open championship. The blue in the open qualifying class went to another smooth performer, B-L Hana Bak Ibsen, and trainer Marci Cesanek for Emma Thomson.

 

Emma Thomson also had a winning ride with her B-L Hana Bak Ibsen in a large class for riders 13 and under. In the older age group, the blue ribbon winner was TW Raven and Elizabeth Fawcett. Twelve junior exhibitors vied for top honors in the championship. WOF April’s Wyndsong and Molly O’Guinn made this coveted trip to the winner’s circle. The reserve championship went to UVM Glimmer and Brittain Altomare. WOF April’s Wyndsong garnered two more top finishes. Molly O’Guinn rode her to the blue in the youth class while trainer Susan Martin had the pleasure in the limit class. MPC Christmas Legacy and Lillian Thomas claimed the junior horse championship, with reserve going to Antietam Mystical Illusion and Maggie Gillan. These ties were reversed from the junior qualifier.

The big winner in this quality-filled western pleasure division was The Dream Machine expertly ridden by Silver Sparks for Melinda Sorenson. This gelding was letter perfect to win the ladies class, the amateur qualifier, the open championship and both the junior exhibitor classes. DAF Amazing Grace and owner/rider Carlette Hunt were also strong contenders as they won the AOT class, the amateur championship, a good second in the ladies class and the reserve in the open championship. CJMM Just As Bold Charlie and Morgan Dodd had two reserves in the junior exhibitor classes. Jim McCleester rode to the winner’s circle in the open class on Flairely Apparent for Lisa Mullaney-Brown. Briarmead Lady’s Pearl and Susan Martin made a pair of victory passes in the junior horse qualifier and championship for Karen Sansom. The Spirit Of St. George and Susie Brittingham were reserve in both classes.

Two of the most crowd-pleasing classes of the show were the ones for the walk-trot riders 11 and under. H-Vee Hawk’s Saralaine and Zoie O’Neal trotted to the winner’s circle in the qualifier, with UVM Glimmer and Taylor Altomare in second. This team moved up to claim the championship honors with Everlasting Love and Julia Harsh in reserve.

Smooth-riding Lauren Hogge made two trips to the winner’s circle in the Saddle Seat Equitation class and championship. Carley Pavan was reserve in both classes. Silver Sparks won both the Western Equitation qualifier and championship just ahead of Morgan Dodd. Elizabeth Fawcett had three blue ribbon rides in the Hunt Seat Equitation class for riders 14-17, the AMHA Hunt Seat on the Flat Medal, as well as the Hunt Seat Equitation Championship. Emma Thomson won the class for riders 13 and under and was the reserve champion. Seven showed in the 11 and Under Walk/Trot Equitation and championship. Taylor Altomare won the qualifier with Zoie O’Neal in second place. This order was reversed in the championship.

Old Dominion offered several High Point Awards: Carriage—FCL Just A Miracle—Rebecca Jones, Trail—Green Bay Commander—Karen Sansom, Junior Exhibitor—Silver Sparks, Vigil Boy (for horses 16 years old and older)—The Dream Machine, and Working Hunter—Statesmans Encore—Alison Fry.

This concludes the highlights from Old Dominion Morgan. Complete results can be found by clicking here.

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