Old Dominion Stages A Popular Move
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
by Mary Daughtry
LEXINGTON, Va. - This year the Old Dominion show moved to the Anderson Coliseum of the Virginia Horse Center for the performance classes and the Wiley and Fletcher arenas for the sport horse competition. Exhibitors enjoyed competing in the Lexington, Va. facility on Aug. 24-26, in front of judges Terry Brennan, Judy Spitzer, Carter Bass and Mary Alice Matheson.
Judges Terry Jones Brennan and Carter Bass
with USEF Steward Stacey Wright (center)
They expanded the classes by offering more working hunter classes, AOTS classes and a reining section. The trail, carriage and dressage sections were open to all breeds with AMHA Open Competition awards for Morgans. Everyone liked the move to the big arena and grandstand venues as well as the changes in scheduling. The hot weather that has blanketed the Southeast continued and there was one fairly brief thunderstorm that rolled through on Friday night with only minor inconvenience. On Saturday night, however, a massive thunderstorm came in and lingered for hours. This caused a delay first, then a change in schedule. The Saturday night classes ran beginning at 8:00 Sunday morning. The Sunday classes ran after these classes. This is an extremely exhibitor-friendly show with something for everyone as a showcase of Morgan versatility. The committee even offered TBA classes which were designated as the need and interest arose.
Hospitality is paramount at this show starting with coffee and pastries each morning. On Thursday night there was a “welcome to Old Dominion” pizza party. One area of the main concourse was set aside and decorated for all the parties. Friday night the ice cream social was a delightful antidote to the heat of the day. This was followed by a fun dog show. A barbecue and live auction followed the Saturday night session. There was also a silent auction during the show with many very nice items.
The team of Jim Griffin and Dan Pavan scored two top prizes in the in hand division—Mountain Run Love Song, a lovely three-year-old bred and owned by Griffin and presented by Pavan, was named grand champion mare. Her full brother Mountain Run Windtalker claimed grand champion gelding honors. MCC Lady’s First Dance was the grand champion stallion. Jim McCleester led this handsome black stud for owner David Glick.
Dan Pavan showed Mtn. Run Windtalker
to the Grand Champion Gelding honors.
The homebred mare Flintlock’s Testarosa and Christy Jaeger Clark won both the qualifier and the Amateur English Pleasure Championship. Justin Mullaney made two letter-perfect shows on HRS Mirror Image to win both the junior exhibitor class and championship for Howard Stump. Betsy Buchanan had a terrific show making three victory passes on BW Shrek in the limit, ladies’ and the open championship. This cute chestnut gelding is owned by Pinnacle Holdings and trained by Rob Marsh.
Betsy Buchanan with BW Shrek
Alphastar Wiburforce and Jim McCleester won both two-year-old pleasure classes for Allan Fisher. The Dan Pavan-Jim Griffin team won all the rest of the classes in this division. Mountain Run Love Song won both of the junior classes in fine fashion. Mountain Run Windtalker won the open qualifier and championship with Pavan driving as well as the amateur qualifier and championship with Girffin on the lines. Voodoo Vixen and Dan Pavan were the single entry in the limit class.
Coalition Party Line and owner/rider Sue Stroud made a pair of victory passes in the junior classic class and championship under the direction of Tristanne Weber Childress. Windward’s Cassiopeia and Carly Pavan won both of the junior exhibitor classes. The blue in the limit class was awarded to Total Recall and Kristin King, who came back as reserve champions. The big going bay gelding K’s Nobl Vision and owner/rider Barbaar Risser won three classes in this division—the AOTS, open and the open championship
Sue Stroud and Coalition Party Line
In the classic driving, Total Recall and Kristin King made two victory passes in the class for limit driver/junior exhibitor and the championship. KB Infinity and Beyondand Kathleen Mullaney were in top form to win both the open class and the championship.
The largest class of the show was the amateur western pleasure qualifying class and the competition was fierce. The judge’s top pick was the smooth performer UVM Windfall and Lora Dunlop. In the open championship it was again UVM Windfall making the victory pass with DVF Heart Lite as the reserve champion.
Lora Dunlap and UVM Windfall
The winner of the amateur championship was the consistent DVF Heart Light and Amy Sargent, who won a really nice seven-entry AOTS class. The elegant black gelding Salem Total Eclipse and Elizabeth Abernathy jogged to the winner’s circle in both the open class and the ladies’ class.
Elizabeth Abernathy and Salem Total Eclipse
Dragonsmeade Taylor Made and Michelle McCleester made two trips to the winner’s circle in the western pleasure junior horse class and championship for Anne Byrd Donaldson. Guha’s Dream Come True ridden by Amanda Dupont for Sid and Sharon Guha was reserve in both of the junior classes and the blue ribbon winner in the novice class. The top team in both the junior exhibitor classes was CJMM Just As Bold Charlie and Morgan Dodd.
Old Dominion offers a full slate of classes for the hunters with an emphasis on the amateur and junior exhibitor riders. There were two nice, large classes for riders 13 and under. In the first class UVM Glimmer and Taylor Altomare were the winning team for Liz and Tom Molin. Victoria Station and Kendra Page were second in this class, but stepped up a notch to win the tricolor in the championship. The reserve champion was Bulgari ridden by Alexandria Palmore.
The older age group was also very competitive. WOF April’s Wyndsong and Molly O’Guinn were the blue ribbon winners in the qualifying class for riders 14-17. The red ribbon went to Antietam Mystical Illusion and Morgan Dodd. In the championship, however, Meghan Pierce rode Sacred Paths Rayne to the winner’s circle. The reserve tricolor was awarded to SRS Sports Catalina and Alley Mandley. The many times champion The Dream Machine topped the field in the youth class ridden by Krista Sweet for Melinda Sorenson. The white trimmed chestnut Rambling Brook Fantasia got it all together to win the AOTS championship for Merri Lee. Lisa Brown and HKS Lord Of The Dance were a lovely team to win the amateur qualifying class. In the amateur championship The Dream Machine claimed yet another championship tricolor with reserve honors to HKS Lord Of The Dance.
The palomino Goldtree Locomotion and Amanda Dupont made three trips to the winner’s circle in the junior horse classes and the novice class. Bob and Loretta Brown were very pleased with these performances. Antietam Mystical Illusion and Morgan Dodd were second in the junior qualifier, while Severn Hill Exotic Dancer and Michelle McCleester claimed reserve honors in the junior championship. Ryan’s Starbeam made two victory passes in the open qualifier and the open championship. Owner Kristin King had the honors in the open while trainer Ann Marsh presented him in the open championship. This versatile horse also shows western and the two open championships were back to back at Old Dominion. The fastest pit crew in the horse world—Flintlock—changed him from western to hunter (complete with braids) at the out gate while a few announcements were made. The result was another tricolor! In the open championship the reserve champions were SRS Sports Catalina and Tish Butts.
The Flintlock crew performed a quick
change with Ryan’s Starbeam’s tack.
Morgan Dodd was the blue ribbon winner in the western equitation qualifier just ahead of Hailey Garbee. In the western championship Katlin Wolinski was the judge’s choice with Morgan Dodd the reserve champion. Carly Pavan was the top saddle seat rider making two trips to the winner’s circle. The patterns were challenging in this division. Taylor Altomare won the hunt seat class for riders 13 and under with Kendra Page second. These ties were revised in the championship with Kendra Page the winner. Kristin King carried out the AMHA Medal and the blue in the hunt seat equitation. Alley Mandley won the class for riders 14-17 with Molly O’Guinn second. These ties were reversed in the 14-17 championship. Krista Sweet was the winner of the collegiate class for riders 18-22. Justine Nolt won both of the walk-trot equitation classes for riders 11 and under.
Kendra Page was the Hunt Seat
Equitation 13 & Under Champion.
Complete Old Dominion results can be found by clicking here.
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