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Reading Between The Lines Part One
Monday, April 5, 2004
by Christy Howard Parsons
The purpose of the High Point Report was not to recognize world champions, horses of the year, readers' popular choices or any other person's selection of the "best" the breed has to offer. Rather we wanted to develop a program that recognized those horses that are out there showing - every weekend - day in and day out. Some of them are world champions, horses of the year and more. Some of them are not. But they are all champions - whose consistent ability to perform are what make us all come back for more. It's the reason we go to horse show after horse show - because sometimes the most memorable performances come when you least expect them.
How did they become champions? How many shows must you show at? How many shows must you win to be a High Point Report Top 10 Champion? It depends on the number of horses competing in your category. But the most interesting part of the High Point Report is often found between the lines.
OPEN PARK SADDLE
Barbara and Arthur Jones and Judy Whitney Harris teamed up with another grand park saddle performer in 2003 named Bellisima. The 2003 Four-Year-Old Park Saddle World Champion is the son of two top stars in this division, HVK Bell Flaire and Schiaparelli, and has carried on their winning tradition in earning top honors in this competitive division.
Only two points behind the winner was the Ladies Park Saddle World Champion Belle Escada. Debi Jeppesen pilots this beautiful entry to winner's circles for owners Tracy Fietz and James Hangley. Co-trainer Robert Hughes started the season with a Park harness win at the June Classic, but then Debi Jeppesen stepped into the saddle and the rest is history. They won classes at Far West and Morgan Medallion before winning both ladies classes at Oklahoma.
Missy Hanover helped Erotic Dancer clinch the third place finish in the High Point Report. Trainer Phil Fountain actually did most of the winning aboard Erotic Dancer with wins at Oklahoma Centennial, Midwest Charity and Jubilee. The other top 10 champions in this division include Tomeri Bella Riviera, HVK Madonna, Cherrydale
Elizabeth, Flintlocks That Girl, AMHF Double Miss C, HVK Beau Flaire and Queen's Victorian Lady.
AMATEUR PARK SADDLE
Earning 135 points in any park saddle division is an impressive feat. Kristi Buehrle and Mantic Bullseye certainly showed more often than most in their division showing in two classes at three shows with outstanding results. A pair of wins at Citrus Cup, a first and second at Southern States, and they were ready for Oklahoma. There they earned a Grand National title in the amateur mare and gelding class and followed it up with a reserve world champion title in the division. Trainer Richard Boule excellently prepares this exciting team for owner William Bandy.
The Grand National Amateur Stallion winners, Liberation First Star and Mary Gaziano earned reserve honors in the High Point Report. While they were selective about showing, the winning team showed twice at New England to top honors before coming to Oklahoma and winning the Grand National title.
HyLee’s Dann Right and Anne Morgan enjoyed a stellar season that ended with a bang. After a unanimously victorious run in the park saddle division (in both open and amateur classes) Morgan and Dann Right had a third place finish in the amateur park saddle Grand National class. Together with trainers at Cape Cod Farm, the team made a few adjustments and were loaded for bear in the world championship. Everyone in the family was happy to celebrate the world championship title in the explosive class. Congratulations on adding another honor with the High Point Report Top 10 finish to this incredible season!
Rounding out the park saddle stars are About Last Night, HVK Flash Back, SpringMill Sequel, Chintimini Heart and Soul, Olivia GP, Raehurst BonnieLass and NAS Simpatico.
JUNIOR EXHIBITOR PARK SADDLE
Showing more times at more shows than any other of the division's competitors, Shelley Stevenson and Marathon's Electrafire earned the top spot in the High Point Report. Top three finishes at Vermont, Connecticut, New England, Mass Morgan and Grand National helped to amass the 142 points needed to win the category.
Lauren Cojocar and King Lehr's Bob A Loo weren't far behind with 140 points. Add that to the 89 points earned in harness, and you've got one impressive show team. Cojocar made two top shows at Southern States and then swept the park saddle division at Penn Ohio and New England before earning the Grand National title for the 16 and 17-year-old riders and finishing in third in the world championship.
Blanche Bauer and HVK Noble Flame won their classes at Southern States and Mid A in addition to earning a reserve grand championship title at New England and making two ribbon-winning performances at Oklahoma to earn 125 points and the third place finish in the High Point Report.
Moreover, Tug Hill Gunns and Roses, En Possession NKS, WSG Mystique
Ovation, Something Wicked, Born Yesterday and Syndicat Tiger Eye also earned
Top 10 High Point Report titles. Congratulations to all of our winners!
OPEN PARK HARNESS
The outstanding two-year-old What's My Line tops our High Point Report in
the open park harness category. Stan Bodnar prepared this incredible entry for Cristy Rafn in 2003. Winning the two-year-old World Futurity Championship at Oklahoma as well as the Grand National title for two-year-old stallions, this exciting youngster also made good shows at New England and won two classes at Jubilee to earn 153 points.
Finishing only four points behind our winner, HVK Constantinoble and Stephanie Connor earned the Reserve High Point Report Championship. Beginning
the season with two wins at Morgan Classic Royale and finishing up with two top shows at Far West and Morgan Medallion, this beautiful team was crowned Grand National Ladies Gelding winners and earned the reserve world championship in ladies park harness.
Judy Whitney Harris pilots Sheza Bell to winner circle's for Barbara and Arthur Jones. Wins at Gold Cup and Jubilee plus reserve finishes at New England and Oklahoma put this three-year-old in our third place finish in the High Point Report. Following Sheza Bell in the standings are The Real Deal, HVK Ancient Cry, Man In Motion, Grandemeanor, Comoshun's Cruella De Vil, Unfaithful, and Stand and Deliver.
AMATEUR PARK HARNESS
Obviously park harness horses are shown much less frequently than horses in some of the other divisions in the High Point Report, but AMHF Mr. Courageous made every time count. After starting out the season with Alison Bendele in the irons in the park saddle division, Ray Bendele took over and showcased the handsome stallion in the park harness division under Mary Cockriel and Bob Kellert’s instruction. Kellert also showed a few times in the open division with success, but it was Ray Bendele’s outstanding performances at Circle J, Morgan Medallion and Oklahoma that won the division of the High Point Report. Our congratulations.
Amanda Poirier and JW Raire Review earned reserve in the High Point Report in this division, only one point shy of the winner. Wins at New England and Mid Atlantic and a second and third place finish at Oklahoma pushed the team to the top of the high points. Additional points were earned in the open division at Vermont and Connecticut, but of course, these points were not counted in the amateur division.
Joe Gemmel and JW Sporting Victory were expertly guided by Judy Whitney Harris to the third place finish in the High Point Report. Only a four-year-old, JW Sporting Victory escorted Gemmel on victory passes at Gold Cup and Jubilee in addition to two top ribbons at Oklahoma. Expect more great things from this young, exciting team in 2004.
JUNIOR EXHIBITOR PARK HARNESS
Of course, park harness and park saddle horses are shown fewer times as the High Point Report easily demonstrates, but WSG Mystique Ovation competes in both divisions and earned a top 10 finish in park saddle to accompany his High Point Report Championship in the park harness category. Vince LeMaster and Ovation won park harness classes at Diamond Jubilee, Circle J, Morgan Medallion and capped off the year by winning a Grand National Championship and World Championship! Congratulations to this exciting young team on their wins in this division for owner Cristy Coleman.
Lauren Cojocar and King Lehr's Bob A Loo also participate in both park saddle and park harness classes successfully. Top performances at Southern States, New England and a reserve grand national title in the division earned the Waterford trained team 89 points to earn a reserve finish in the High Point Report.
Bill and Sammi Hazen's French Intuition has been great fun for their girls Jennifer and Whitney. Whitney enjoyed winning a Grand National title aboard Intuition in the 15-year-old and under class and Jennifer earned a reserve Grand National finish in the Park Harness Youth finals.
Top 10 winners in the division also include Springmill Navigator, WJJ Espirit's Reverie, Meet The Press, FZM Encore, Comoshun's Avante, Kingsgrove Copyright and Ensbrook Vision. Congratulations to all of the horses and drivers who earned points in this division, and let's hope that the High Point Report can further encourage more teams to participate in this underutilized category.
OPEN ENGLISH PLEASURE
HVK Drive Em Crazy edged out AKM Manhattan for the High Point Report Championship with 162 points. Gerald Hutson and Kimberly Caisse each showed HVK Drive Em Crazy four times with top three performances every time for Kohler Stables. Wins at Southern States, New England and Jubilee promise lots of good things to come for this charismatic gelding.
Owner Sally Lawing and trainer Krista Dent shared ring time on the handsome AKM Manhattan in 2003. They enjoyed outstanding finishes at Citrus Cup, Southern States, Old Dominion and the North Carolina State Fair that earned this reserve Grand National Championship team their reserve title in the High Point Report in this category.
Mary Carlton pilots Erin Thomas's entry Think About It MEM to the winner's circle regularly. They made victory passes at Indianapolis Charity, Gold Cup and Indiana Morgan (with Erin in the irons) and had top three finishes at Jubilee and Oklahoma.
Sarde's Manistique, Futurity's Miss Munitions, Dreammaster Rare Affaire,
Stonecroft Wish Me Well, UVM Farrah, MLF Storm Warning and HVK Acclamation
also earned enough points to be considered the best of the best in the High Point Report.
AMATEUR ENGLISH PLEASURE
It was a tight race for the top as Brenda Varney and Kevin Schengrund both showed eight times at four shows to top the High Point Report. Only one point separates the two but it is Brenda Varney and her Aspenglow Genesis who claim the top honors and the High Point Report Champion title for their outstanding performances at UPHA Chapter 14 Spring Premiere, Connecticut Morgan, New England and the Grand National. They earned reserve Grand National honors in the ladies amateur gelding class as well as two top ribbons in the Grand National amateur gelding class and the ladies amateur world championship.
The two top horses met up at Connecticut and New England, but other than that they made their top performances in different classes. Kevin Schengrund and HVK Man About Town made their victory passes at Vermont Spring, Connecticut Morgan and Mid Atlantic Morgan and showed twice at the Grand National to earn the reserve Grand National title in the amateur English pleasure stallions division.
English pleasure favorite Silversides Toy Soldier is competitive in both open and amateur classes. Trainer Krista Dent prepares owner Mary Fisher to present the many times champion with winning results. Wins at Citrus Cup, Southern States and New England led to their third place finish in the amateur ranks. Of course, points earned in the open ranks at Carolina Classic and at the Grand National didn't count in this division, but congratulations just the same to the Open English Pleasure World Champions.
Liberation Instant Replay, Ready to Rumble, FCF Coeur De Lion, FCF Tatiana, On Target, Whispering Whammunition and Roadshow Steppin’ Out finish out the High Point Report Top 10 Champions where 189 horses earned points.
JUNIOR EXHIBITOR ENGLISH PLEASURE
Kristi Evans and HyLee's Dann Osgood are consistent winners in the New
England area in the English pleasure division. Their wins at Vermont, Connecticut, Granite State, New England and Mass Morgan put them over the top in the High Point Report. Still showing in the 14-15 year-old age group in 2003, expect more great things to come from this outstanding young team.
Only four points behind the winner, world champion Hyland Acres Command
and Adriana Liberty earned the reserve finish in the High Point Report. This new team pulled it together beautifully in 2003 with wins virtually everywhere they went. Vermont, Connecticut, Granite State and New England saw them make exciting victory passes. Then after earning third in the 12-13 year-old age group at Oklahoma, the young rider pulled out all the stops to earn the 13 and under world championship.
Another exciting young rider in this age group, Sarah Lee earned the reserve finish, just ahead of Hyland Acres Command in the Grand National class for 12 and 13-year-old riders. They also won titles at Morgan Classic Royale, Far West and Morgan Medallion. Finishing with a fourth place in the world championship, Lee and Versace third place in the High Point Report with 146 points.
Rounding out the top 10 winners are True Gold, Kiss N Tell, Merriehill Hooligan, Tamarisk Grand Finale, Minion Mademoiselle, Park Place Pledge and KHF Nikko Blue.
OPEN PLEASURE DRIVING
Stephanie Connor is the winning driver in the High Point Report, this time claiming the top spot with her Festival Calypso. They won world and national titles in ladies classes at Oklahoma as well as winning classes at Morgan Classic Royale, Far West and Morgan Medallion. Congratulations to this Arcuri trained team on adding this title to their sensational season.
Another talented ladies entry, L'Cimas Exclusive and Terri Travers earned the reserve finish in the High Point Report. Larry Bolen trains this talented team who won at Southern States and Jubilee in addition to making good shows at New England and Oklahoma including a reserve world championship (with Bolen at the lines).
Mary Daughtry enjoys showing her Hollybrook Indian Brave in amateur and open classes across the country. They made top shows in open competition at Carolina Classic, Delmarva, Blue Ridge Classic, Old Dominion, North Carolina State Fair and North Carolina Championships for the third place finish.
Other outstanding pleasure driving horses in the top 10 are FRF Exodus, KB Precious Gem, Winterset Thyme N Agin, Dreammaster J'st Sharper, IGF Coeur Et Ame, Rum Brook Immortal Bliss and GLB Belle of the Ball.
AMATEUR PLEASURE DRIVING
Entering the gate 11 times at five shows, Black Tie Optional and Janet Morgan claim the High Point Report championship. Wins at Southern States, Delmarva and Mid Atlantic added to a second and third place finish at New England and three ribbons earned at Oklahoma added up to 171 points, a definitive win in a division where 124 horses earned points.
Jack Gatewood did his best keeping up with daughter Amy in earning High Point Report titles. Gatewood and his talented Tolstoy earned reserve honors in the division with a strong 2003 debut season. Wins at Southern States, Gold Cup and Jubilee made for a terrific entrance to Oklahoma where the team was crowned Grand National and reserve world champions. This team competes under the Cedar Creek Farm banner.
Lisa Howa and her Aristocraticallee enjoyed another outstanding season and earned third place in the High Point Report. Trainer Tim Arcuri’s absence due to an accident didn't stop the talented team from amassing two more titles, World Champions Amateur Pleasure Driving and Grand National Champions Amateur Gelding. Other points were earned with wins at Morgan Classic Royale and Far West.
Congratulations to the other Top 10 High Point Report Champions as well including Fleeting Heart, Cabot French Pepper, Hollybrook Indian Brave, MLF Sharper Image, Contagious, Oak Creek Chief of Staff and On Target.
JUNIOR EXHIBITOR PLEASURE DRIVING
Paparazzi won this division by 66 points by showing 16 times at six shows. Not an easy thing to do with only one driver, but add two drivers in Stephanie and Jeremy Marcelonis and you definitely increase your opportunities. Stephanie did the lion's share of the showing including earning a Grand National title for 12 and 13-year-old riders. Strong shows at Vermont, Connecticut, Granite State, New England and Mass Morgan in addition to Oklahoma put the Tony Marcelonis owned entry over the top in the High Point Report.
The world champion 13 and under driver Carl Johnson and HVK Primary Light earned the reserve finish with their world championship title, a Grand National title in 11 and under competition and with wins and reserves at Raleigh Spring, Southern States, Carolina Classic and North Carolina (where they earned amateur points). Frances Pugh and Holly Johnson own this standout star.
CBMF Simple Pleasures, Cedar Creek Ungaro, Baccarat's Noble Cause, Total
Recall, PT Stormin Norman, Key West, Nemours Courageous and Xena round out
the top 10 champions.
IN HAND STALLION
The 2003 World Champion Stallion LPS The Boogie Man tops our High Point
Report after outstanding performances with David Rand at Vermont, New England and Grand National. Mitch and Nancy Ramsey own this outstanding three-year-old stallion.
The champions stayed in the family as The Boogie Man's full brother Town Assets claimed the High Point Reserve Championship. The Grand National Two-Year-Old Stallion Champion and breeder, owner, trainer Lynn Peeples also earned wins at Connecticut, Penn Ohio and New England.
Keith Nelsen presented Carlyle Upper Caisse a total of seven times at three shows to earn 145 points and third place in our High Point Report. Far West Grand Champion Stallion and Morgan Medallion Reserve Grand Champion Stallion, Carlyle Upper Caisse also earned the reserve Grand National title in the five and over stallions. Nelsen presents Carlyle Upper Caisse for owner Jan VanDusen.
Continental Vision, TRE Master of Disguise, PWF Good Will Hunting, MSV Shooting Star, Hylee's Goldsmith, Pocketful of Gold and AMHF Absolut Grandeur are the other top stallions earning top 10 status in the High Point Report.
IN HAND MARE
Lynn Peeples showcased City Limits to top honors in model competition nine times in 2003 for the Brown/Klein family. Sweeping the mare competition at Southern States and New York Morgan, the talented four-year-old also won Reserve Senior Champion Mare at New England and Reserve Four-Year-Old Mare at Oklahoma.
Bob Hughes and Long Acres Broadway made a clean sweep at Oklahoma for
owners Robert and Jeanine Armada. World Champion Mare, Senior Mare and Four-Year-Old Mare, this talented filly also won the Four-Year-Old Park Harness World Championship. They also swept in hand competition at Morgan Medallion to earn 150 points and a reserve finish in the High Point Report.
Tim Roesink presented Dreammaster Anjelica to the Grand National Two-Year-Old Mare title as well as the World Futurity Champion Two-Year-Old Mare and the Reserve World Champion Junior Mare title at Oklahoma. These world and national titles as well as sweeping their in hand classes at Southern States and Buckeye earned them enough points to earn the third place finish in the in hand mare category.
Other outstanding in hand mares in 2003 included top 10 finishers Queen's Victorian Lady, Pearl Of Wisdom, HDP Warrior Princess, Arboria Anastasia, Aljaks Miss Ladeeda, RJMF Symphonic Music and Whispering Material Girl.
IN HAND GELDING
Our Grand National Two-Year-Old Gelding, RJMF Fortune Teller, tops the High Point Report. After going all the way at New England and being named Grand Champion Gelding, this outstanding youngster earned reserve world champion honors as a junior gelding. He earned the championship points under Mark Wahl’s instruction for breeders and owners Robert and Jean Morgan.
SMS Imagine That and his owner Jessica Smeed compete in the pleasure driving division, earning a Grand National Championship in 2003. Trainer Mike Goebig also showcased the beautiful gelding in the model classes at New England and Mid Atlantic to earn enough points to be named reserve High Point Report champion.
The outstanding yearling Arboria Gold Coast earned a third place finish in the High Point Report with Tom Johnson doing the honors for the Arboria Morgan Farm. The World Champion Junior Gelding made top shows at Citrus Cup, Gold Cup and Summers End prior to Oklahoma where he also earned a reserve finish in the futurity.
HVK Flash Back, Raintree Picasso, Whispering Suite Image, CPM Man O Man, Orwoods The Guardian, Dragonsmeade Virtuoso and Rae of Light were other outstanding geldings representing the best of the Morgan breed.
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