by Julie Schmidt
MEADVILLE, Pa.- Great weather and great horses always make for a winning combination at a horse show. This year was no exception. The 34th edition of the Penn Ohio Morgan Horse Show saw the return of many old friends as well as the addition of lots of new faces.
Held June 30- July 2, the show boasted over 200 entries which was up more than 50 horses from last year. The special amateur package deal was a big success in its first year. Prize money was added in five amateur championships as well as an added $500 in each of the AMHA Medal classes.
Part of the prize money in the AMHA medal classes was funded by a 50/50 raffle with $1,000 prize which was drawn Saturday night. Winner of the money? Mimi Horne of Horne Farms in Atlantic, Pa., was happy to claim the prize money and on the other side, the Medal class riders were very happy to receive their share as well.
Exhibitors had a chance to relax and visit at the welcome pizza party on Thursday evening and all were invited to the exhibitors’ party Saturday night by Gary and Lee Sutherland as they had worked hard preparing for the pig roast.
Show Manager Julie Schmidt was very happy with the number of exhibitors as well as the number of people that came to watch the classes as it was hard to find a seat for the evening sessions. John McDonald officiated the show while Marilyn Ackerman kept things running smoothly in the office.
IN HAND
Friday morning started with a very nice in hand division. With well over 50 horses showing, many classes had a full complement of entries. Furious Love made her debut in hand for owners Dale and Jeanne Fuelling by being named Grand Champion Mare. Nancy Flower led this pretty mare through the two-year-old and Junior Champion Mare class on their way to the top spot. The reserve champion mare, UVM Merriment, also came from the junior ranks with Shirley O’Gorman leading the two-year-old for Dr. Robin Herrick.
Slam Dunk did just that as he marched through the large field of geldings to claim the Grand Champion title. The big bay two-year-old modeled like a seasoned veteran for owners Doug and Marlene Sluiter with Lynn Peeples at the lead. John Warner had a great show in his Penn Ohio return starting off with reserve champion gelding with Pine Creek Grand Illusion, owned by Mike and Mary Penn.
The Grand Champion Stallion was a familiar name that has been making a re-appearance on the show circuit. The 1992 and 1993 World Champion Stallion Hillock Showson put on a grand show to claim the top honors for owners Mike and Mary Penn. John Warner expertly presented the beautiful stallion who never missed an opportunity to show the crowd his “here I am” attitude. The reserve champion stallion was also no stranger as Town Assets marched down the rail for Waterford Farm.
The Penn Ohio Breeders Yearling Sweepstakes was won by the fancy Lookaway’s On The Mark led by Brian Stewart for Jim and Linda Stewart. His presence and attitude paid off for his stellar performance.
The Justin Morgan Standard class with 14 entries was won by Hakuna Matata, presented by Mike Flower for Margaret Nyweide, and the Fitting and Showmanship class also boasted 14 entries to be claimed by Jocelyn Bos-Fisher.
PARK SADDLE/ PARK HARNESS
John Warner found his way to the winner’s circle once again, this time for the Park Saddle Championship with the world-titled Pine Creek Noble Vision for owners Mike and Mary Penn. This grand five-year-old stallion meant business as he trotted through the stallion class with the blue and moved right on to the championship. The reserve park saddle champion was the winner from the mare and gelding class. Boasting his own world championship resumé, On Eagles Wings and Melinda Hyde made a great team for owner Gillian Nelson to capture the win. The Penn Ohio Breeders’ Sweepstakes Park Saddle class saw Hyde making another great pass, this time with her own Lookaway’s Emperor taking home the prize money.
The park harness division saw a fresh new face in the two-year-old class with Gamepiece driven by Lynn Peeples to the victory for Waterford Farm. Roy Harris also made a big splash with the big chestnut horse HFF Tomcat Victory in the junior class for Horne Farms. When it came to the championship, it was Dan Williams with the open class winner, WTS Simply Outrageous, taking the tricolor. Roy Harris was reserve with HFF Tomcat Victory.
ENGLISH PLEASURE
The junior exhibitors were well represented with their championship. JLH Valerian with Caitlyn Scholl won the tricolor. Stoneleigh Flaire For Life and Elsa Wright were in the reserve spot for Mary Ellen Mulligan. They both placed in the same order in their qualifier earlier in the week.
The junior English pleasure division saw Motivated Ms. and Kathleen Peeples winning not only the mare class but also the junior championship for Deborah and Alex Cojocar. Brian Stewart and Lookaway’s Black Light claimed the reserve champion honors for owners Jim and Linda Stewart. Black Light also won the Three-Year-Old Mare In Hand class.
When it came to the amateurs, the quality ran high. After a win in the youth class, it was Lauren Cojocar and King Lehr’s Bob A Loo coming back to win the amateur championship. Jeanne Fuelling, who is also familiar with the winner’s circle, rode Hall’s Meltdown for Howard Hall and claimed victory in the amateur stallion and geldings and the reserve in the amateur championship. Fuelling was also the winner of the $100 cash prize in the championship class.
Kathy Peeples was busy as usual as she won the English Pleasure Championship with Hawthorn Mercury Rev for owner Paul Calandra. This pair won the junior stallion and gelding class before returning in the open championship. John Warner was aboard LaLoma Wing Command for owner Judy Cramer for the reserve championship ribbon.
The Penn Ohio Breeders’ Sweepstakes class saw Marilyn Rutledge aboard SPA Delicately Daring, winning the money for proud owner Ginger Stang.
PLEASURE DRIVING
Furious Love proved that the Grand Champion Mare honors was not the only thing she came to the horse show for as she won the Two-Year-Old Pleasure Driving class for owners Dale and Jeanne Fuelling with Nancy Flower presenting. The three-year-olds had a very pretty winner with UVM Liberty For All and Shirley O’Gorman driving for Dr. Robin Herrick. They moved on to win the junior championship with Praise Him Victory Song and Dan Williams filling the reserve spot for proud owner Gail Amy.
Joe Gemmel had a successful trip as he won the amateur mare class and the amateur championship with the fine MSV Razzle Dazzle for Gina and Emily Torrez. Judy Cramer and LaLoma Wing Command also proved their versatility by being reserve in the amateur championship. Cramer was also one of the $100 cash winners drawn during the class.
John Warner was glad to be back in Meadville and Hillock Showson was glad to be back in the show ring as the pair won the stallion and gelding qualifier and trotted away with the open championship with great style. Reserve in the class went to Horne’s Thrill Of Victory and Roy Harris for owner Horne Farms.
CLASSIC PLEASURE
The classic pleasure division was brimming with entries. The junior exhibitor class saw Miss Doubtfire and Amanda Skrinjoeich taking the blue, while the junior horse class was a great one for WLA Born To Perform and Jeanne Fuelling for owner Pat Waliga. Then there was also the novice rider class of 13 entries where NBN Out Of The Blue and Elizabeth Wyandt were the winners. But then, one couldn’t forget the ladies class of 11 that had Royal C Shadow Dancer and Kayla Rorabaugh making the victory pass. Add to those wins the winner of the mare class, Coventry Isabella, and Gina Torrez and the stallion and gelding class winner, Tempest Abbey Road and Kay Cortelyou, and Judge McDonald had plenty to choose from in the championship. With 17 entries returning for the classic saddle championship, there were many anxious spectators on the rail coaching and cheering on their favorite. When the card was turned in, it was the team of Tempest Abbey Road and Kay Cortelyou who earned the top spot, followed by the elegant pairing of Coventry Isabella and Gina Torrez adding the reserve tricolor.
The classic driving division proved to be just as full with many selections for Judge McDonald for the championship class. It was the beautiful mare winner of Ernestine Smith’s ESS Fleur De Lis trotting down victory lane like she has so many times before. The reserve championship ribbon belonged to Horne’s Fortune and Jim Stewart making a great debut in the classic division to also win the stallion/gelding class.
WESTERN
When the western horses jogged into the ring, numbers and quality had not changed. Jeff and Amy Bessey continue to have some of the best western horses in the business as they won the amateur and open championships with Terry King and her horse Ultra’s Special Force; the junior championship with Grand Cru Hollywood’s Wish for Karen Saville; the reserve junior championship with Artistry’s Dragonheart for Kristine Hamilton; and reserve in the open championship with Cabot French Cuffs for Terry King. All were impeccably turned out as is the custom with their horses.
Tom Arnowitz and Seaway Aftershock made their presence known as the claimed the amateur mare class and the reserve amateur championship spot. This Waterford Farm duo is always a pleasure to watch. Ron Gramse was the winner of the $100 in the amateur western championship.
HUNTER
The junior exhibitor hunters worked hard for their ribbons as classes were full. When the junior exhibitor championship trotted out of the ring, it was Willowhaven Irish Mist and Afton Philhower riding under the direction of Kathy Peeples with the win. Reserve in the class were Final Analysis and Sarah Jaromin riding for Christine Clay.
When the amateurs took their turn, Equinox Roberta ridden by Roberta Bartlett for Jon Sweet made their trip from Michigan and right to the winner’s circle in the amateur mare class and the amateur championship. Roberta Bartlett was also the $100 random winner in the amateur championship. Pat Walter was very pleased with the reserve champion amateur hunter, NSM Armageddon, with Morgan Manfreda riding. Amy Bessey looked great as she rode JW I’m Outrajus Too to win the junior class and moved right on to win the open hunter championship. Reserve in the open championship went to BL Midnight Majesty and Jackie Rodosalewicz for Sarah Jaromin. They came fresh off their win from the stallion and gelding qualifier.
EQUITATION
With all three AMHA Medal classes full, Brittany Clark claimed her spot with the western section, only to do double duty by also claiming the Saddle Seat class. For the hunt seat medal, there were 12 entries riding for the blue but it was Afton Philhower who won the class. In all of the medal classes, the first five places each received $100 stipend for their education and/or expenses to the Grand National. The equitation championships saw Sarah Jaromin on BL Midnight Majesty winning the hunt seat and Elizabeth Thomas and The Bodyguard being named champions of the Saddle Seat class.
MISCELLANEOUS
The carriage division at Penn Ohio has been going strong since its inception just three years ago. This year with seven entries, the high point carriage champion went to Al Celecki with his matched pair Cum Laude Juhl and Cum Laude Kapsreiter. They won the Turnout class, the Reinsmanship, and the Pick Your Own Route obstacle course class. Reserve champion high point carriage horse was claimed by Tried N Tru BJS Bonnet and Albert Zinz. These two raced through the obstacles to claim the blue in the Fault and Out class and the Gambler’s Choice.
When it was the roadsters’ turn, Trija’s Peter Pepper and Alyssa Williams easily raced to the finish line in the saddle class while Arboria Perfection and Dan Williams claimed the bike class for owner Roseanne Staab. This father/daughter team was a tough combination in this division.
What a great way to begin the Fourth of July holiday! Exhibitors and spectators alike were treated to some great performances by many new upcoming faces as well as by seasoned veterans. This long running horse show always provides great hospitality and lots of fun. Plans are already under way for the 35th edition so mark your calendar for July 6-8, 2007, to attend the Penn Ohio Morgan Horse Show.
Complete results can be seen and searched by clicking on SHOW RESULTS.