Reading Between The Lines Part Two
Monday, March 15, 2004
by Christy Howard Parsons
Adult Three-Gaited Show Pleasure
The team of CH Blackberry Delight and Ericka Nelson enjoyed an almost undefeated season in 2003 in one of the most competitive divisions. With the preparation of Andy and Lynda Freseth, this elegant team won every time they entered the show ring with only one reserve finish, their last performance in the American Royal Championship. The blue and tricolor ribbons were earned at Illinois Springfest, Milwaukee Spring, Midwest, Blue Ridge, All American and the American Royal. Not to mention the world's grand championship and world's championship titles they earned. Ericka's parents Robert and Marilyn Gaiswinkler own the talented Blackberry Delight.
Carol Hillenbrand is close on the heels of the world's grand champion in every way. Finishing with a reserve in the world's grand championship class to Ericka Nelson, Carol and The Bess Yet won virtually every other time they entered the ring. Kentucky Spring Premier, Rock Creek (they did earn reserve honors in the championship), Shelbyville, Kentucky Fall Classic and the American Royal all featured victories by this beautiful team. With 11 trips to the winner's circle including the world's championship in the 41 and over division, this Biggins Stables-coached team earns the Reserve High Point Report Championship.
Diane Lawing also did her fair share of winning aboard CH Absolutely A Lady. Even without a trip to Louisville, this team earned 188 points to earn third place in the High Point Report for this division. Wins or reserves at Raleigh Spring, J.D. Massey, Roanoke, Lexington Junior League, North Carolina State Championship and North Carolina State Fair highlighted their 2003 season.
Finishing out the top 10 champions are Fame's Preferential Treatment, Absolutely Exquisite, Broadway Tune, CH Heirreverent, New York's Best M & N, She's Exquisite, and A Magic Spell.
Junior Exhibitor 17 & Under Three-Gaited Show Pleasure
Another resounding winner, Sydney Carter and CH It’s Yabba Dabba Doo Time earned most of their 160 points in the Carolinas. Wins at Raleigh Spring, J.D. Massey, Carolina Classic, North Carolina State Championship and North Carolina State Fair were among the points earned at the 11 classes at six different horse shows where they competed.
Callaway’s Newscaster and Brittany Cortina earned the title of Reserve High Point Report Champions with 136 points from the 10 classes they entered at seven horse shows.
Undulata’s Jimmy Hollywood and Careen Dubuc earned third in the point total under the direction of Kevin Tomasko. Wins at Syracuse, Lexington Junior League and the Children’s Benefit led up to world’s grand championship and world’s championship victory passes. Together they earned 133 points from their eight classes together in this division.
Rounding out the top 10 were Callaway’s Sportscaster, Callaway’s All That Jazz, Mixed Signals, Outrigger, Lookin Yonder, The Bachelor Prince and So Much To Say.
Junior Exhibitor 14 & Under Three-Gaited Show Pleasure
More young riders show in this division than in the other 14 and under divisions. We had 115 horses earning points in the division and the winners, Caitlin Leith and Future Treasure earned 188 points. Showing 12 times at seven shows, this young team didn’t have the problem of having to show against the older riders in order to participate. The team started out together in 2003 with top ribbons until Blue Ridge earned them their first victory pass. After an eighth place ribbon at Louisville, the team hit their stride with wins at North Carolina State Championship, ASHAV and the North Carolina State Fair. Look for more exciting things from this team in 2004!
Ali Judah is fortunate enough to have three outstanding show horses. CH Riva Diva took her to the top of the High Point Report. Under the direction of Jo Cornell, Ali earned 156 points from the eight classes which counted in this division. This included wins at Kentucky Spring Premier, Rock Creek, Kentucky Fall Classic and two wins at Louisville! She also made victory passes in 17 & under classes at Asheville, Rock Creek and the American Royal.
Laura Finley and Strider’s Modern Bay earned third place in the High Point Report with 141 points. Two wins at J.D. Massey were followed by good shows at Blue Ridge, Blowing Rock, North Carolina State Championships and North Carolina State Fair to make for a successful season!
Other top 10 awards are given to CH Sweet Virginia, Shiny New Penny, Man Of The House, CH Uncle Abe, CH Laguardia, CH Born To Be Blue and All’s Clear.
Adult Country Pleasure
Karen Smith and CH The Shadow Knows top the country pleasure division after dominating the division at shows across the Midwest. At 10 different shows, this beautiful combination lit up the winner's circle much to the delight of Karen's husband Guy, and trainers Andy and Lynda Freseth. World's champions in the 31-45 age group, this talented team also won at Illinois Springfest, Milwaukee Spring, Madison Classic, Midwest Charity, Tanbark, Blue Ridge, Wisconsin Futurity, Mane Event Horse Show and the American Royal to earn 325 points. This is one of the highest point totals in the High Point Report, and is a tribute to the many miles traveled by Hollow Haven Farm.
Another well-known Midwest country pleasure team is actually a trio. Mother and daughter Kitty and Kelly Theis each take turns in separate qualifiers at most Midwest shows and then split the championship opportunities. At 12 different horse shows, Well Spoken earned titles or reserve titles an amazing 25 times. It wasn't the World's Championship Horse Show that gave this team their 259 points, it was their commitment to showing and consistently topping their division. In a division with 249 horses competing, this is quite impressive indeed.
World's Grand Champions Adult Country Pleasure and world's champions in the 18-30 age group, CH Bi Mi Add Lib and Kendra Fisher did not show as often during 2003, but with outstanding performances by riders Kendra Fisher and Meagan O'Connell-Carney at Louisville, the team earned 192 points in the High Point Report to receive the third spot. In addition, wins at River Ridge, Lexington Junior League and the All American Classic contributed to the point total.
The remaining Top 10 High Point Report Champions who topped the populated division reads like a who's who. Callaway's Blue Agate and Carol Hillenbrand, For Reference Only and Tracy Garcia, Callaway's Scoop The News and Kristen Pettry, CH Mr. Gary Cooper and Melissa Scrushy, Lady Mysterious and Marion Bryan, Titleist Bay Watch and Nancy Rothe, and Bonnie Santana and Debbie Palmer complete the illustrious top 10.
Junior Exhibitor Country Pleasure
In a very competitive division with 215 horses earning points, Rebekah Cloninger and Attache’s Irish Wine made their mark on the High Point Report. Without any points from Louisville, this team earned 196 points from 14 classes at nine shows. Wins at J.D. Massey, Tar Heel, North Carolina State Championship, Morristown and North Carolina State Fair put the Lewis Eckard-directed team in the top spot. With a chance to compete at Louisville in 2004 - look out!
Lindsay Taylor and Spice Queen earned the Reserve High Point Report Championship with 193 points, only three points behind the champion. Two third place finishes at Louisville combined with top showings at Rock Creek and Chattanooga, and wins at Lexington, Harrodsburg, Southeastern Charity and Alabama Charity put this youngster right at the top of the charts.
Sierra Moon and Brooklyn Beau were shooting for the stars themselves with 181 points earned in 12 classes at seven shows including Raleigh Spring, J.D. Massey, Asheville, Roanoke, ASHAV, North Carolina State Fair and Louisville.
Other top riding top 10 stars are I’m Good To Go, Midtown Man, Itchy Foot Moe, CH Belle Of The Abbey, Callaway’s Seven Come Eleven, Cloverleaf’s Pocketful of Miracles and Pheiress Wheel.
Adult Five-Gaited Show Pleasure
New to the Saddlebred business, Theresa Vonderschmidtt quickly learned her way around with the help of friend Bob Ruxer and the capable crew at DeLovely. It isn't surprising then that their 2003 season earned them the High Point Report Championship. Wins at Asheville, Indianapolis Charity, All American Horse Classic and St. Louis National plus two reserves at Harrodsburg and a reserve world's championship earned them 176 points to top the division where 188 horses competed.
Luanne Kilday traversed the Carolinas and even without a trip to the World's Championship Horse Show, she earned reserve High Point Report honors for a great season. Showing at nine different horse shows during the 2003 season, she and Callaway's Crown Jewel made trips to the winner's circle at Raleigh Spring, J.D. Massey, Tar Heel and Blowing Rock. Under the direction of Steve Hanks, this hard-working team certainly earned this special honor.
Abby Reising and High Point's Mahogany Prince also worked hard to earn their third place finish in the High Point Report. Under the tutelage of Royal Scot Stables, they traveled to shows in Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Kentucky, Illinois and Missouri. Wins at Des Moines, Madison and Tanbark led up to trips to Kentucky for Lexington Junior League and the World's Championship Horse Show. A yellow ribbon in Louisville certainly made the trip worthwhile and earned them the right to compete in the championship where they earned an eighth place finish. They also finished the season with two wins at the new Mane Event Horse Show in Springfield, Ill., and earned two top ribbons at the American Royal. What a great season!
In one of the most competitive divisions in the industry, the remaining top 10 champions deserve special acclaim. They are CH Mariachi, Allied Heir Strike, Bongo, Hear The Music, High In The Sky, CH Stonewall's Blazing Blueprint and Callaway's Rockaway.
Junior Exhibitor Five-Gaited Show Pleasure
Once again, a smaller division with only 38 horses earning points, the Junior Exhibitor Five-Gaited Show Pleasure division is offered frequently in the Carolinas. Victoria Woodruff dominated the classes there with CH My Korbel winning virtually everywhere she went including a world’s championship and reserve world’s grand championship. They made victory passes at Raleigh Spring, J.D. Massey, Bonnie Blue, Carolina Classic, Blue Ridge, North Carolina State Championships, ASHAV, North Carolina State Fair and of course, Louisville. Congratulations to this incredible team!
The next closest horse comes in at 120 points almost 100 points behind the champion. This horse changed hands in the middle of the year and moved from the Midwest to the Carolinas, so watch out in 2004! Ashley Alden began the year with wins at Des Moines, Madison and Rock Creek. Sarah Sessoms acquired the bright star in the middle of the summer and made top rides at Blue Ridge and ASHAV. Don’t miss this class in 2004 if you find yourself at any of the Carolina shows!
Jennifer Short and The Special Heir earned the third place finish in this division with 56 points earned from the five classes they entered at three shows. Top ribbons at Roanoke, Blue Ridge and North Carolina State Fair earned them their point total.
Other Top 10 High Point Report Champions include Collector of Blues, CH Grady Lane, Callaway’s Exempt, Berry Garcia, Admiral’s Gifted Miss, CH Atlantache and Pepper Man.
Adult Show Pleasure Driving
Lois Vartanian and her CH Callaway's True Grit are hard to beat in the show pleasure driving division. Even without a trip to Louisville, True Grit earned 214 points to top the High Point Report. Wins at Gasparilla and Tampa, Pro Am, Asheville, Blue Ridge, North Carolina State Championships and Dixie Jubilee earned this talented team the top honors in the division. Thirteen blue ribbons certainly proved to be the lucky number for this team trained by Judd Stables. The 2003 season brought this team lots of trophies and honors, but the beaming smile on Lois' face as she left the winner's circle was certainly the biggest reward of all for David Vartanian and trainer Don Judd. Congratulations to this terrific team on this recognition of their 2003 season!
Terri Dolan and CH Harlem's Strong Will earned reserve honors in the High Point Report in this division. Under the direction of DeLovely, stablemate Randy Felkey started the season out right for this beautiful bay. Two wins at the Oklahoma Centennial and Felkey returned the lines to Dolan who then earned top honors at Asheville and Midwest. A third place finish in the qualifier at Louisville had Dolan primed and ready for the championship. One excellent drive later, this team was crowned reserve world's grand champions. Finishing up with two strong performances at the Royal, this team earned 183 points to earn the title Reserve High Point Report Champion.
After competing in the fine harness division, Misdee Wrigley made the decision to show her Harlem's Proud Mary in show pleasure driving. Two debut wins at Devon led to a third and fifth place tie at Lexington. Then it was all she wrote with a win at Harrodsburg and two fabulous performances at Louisville. The team was crowned world's grand champions and world's champions under the direction of Kalarama Farm. Their season finished with great shows at Kentucky Fall and the American Royal to earn this talented team 172 points in a very competitive division.
Rounding out the top 10 champions are Irish Tribute, Harlem's Babe Ruth, Ro Day O, CH Heir's Town, CH Queensbury Coquette, Kool Tyme BH and CH Harlem Heat.
Junior Exhibitor Show Pleasure Driving
Rebecca Salley will travel almost any distance to get to show her horses. Living in Louisiana and showing in Kentucky isn’t always easy, but Rebecca and Foxy’s Delight earned a High Point Report Championship for their efforts. Strong shows at Kentucky Spring Premier, Rock Creek, Midwest, Lawrenceburg, Lexington Junior League, Louisville and the Kentucky Fall Classic burned up the miles on the highway and earned the talented McConnell trained team 128 points to win the award. Congratulations Rebecca and thanks mom and dad for driving all that way!
Aliyah Asch and CH Advantage Me are quite the force in this small but popular division. The world’s grand champions and world’s champions earned 110 points from their outstanding shows at Del Mar, Lexington Junior League (where she also won against the adults, which she also did at Shelbyville), Blue Ridge and of course, Louisville. Congratulations on a great season!
Holly Wilson and Callaway’s North Wind showed three times at Louisville, earning ribbons each time. They also won at Bonnie Blue and Roanoke and were second at Rock Creek to earn their 86 points.
Other top 10 champions in this division of 47 horses include Kalarama’s High Roller, I’m the Real Deal, In Your Dreams, New York Rebel, Lady Poinsettia, Threepeat and Lakeview’s Yes I Am.
Country Pleasure Driving
Our only husband-wife team topping the High Point Report are Nancy and Bob Anderson of Brown Anderson Farms Ltd. Nancy Anderson and her perennial country pleasure driving favorite Callaway's Pretty Penny earned an undefeated season including being named Country Pleasure Driving World's Grand Champions and World's Champions. And boy did they show! Nineteen wins in 19 classes at 10 shows! They won Milwaukee, Madison, Midwest, Tanbark, Blue Ridge, All American, Wisconsin Futurity, Mane Event and the American Royal, not to mention Louisville. It was a season dreams are made of and they earned 330 points for their efforts. Congratulations Nancy Anderson and Hollow Haven Farm on your recognition as 2003 High Point Report Champions.
Ron Cook and He's Real Bad also love to show, and show they did. With 20 shows at 10 different horse shows, you had to expect Cook and He's Real Bad at the top of the High Point Report. A third and fourth place finish at Louisville plus wins at Raleigh, J.D. Massey, Asheville, Blowing Rock, North Carolina State Championship, ASHAV and North Carolina State Fair earned them 301 points to finish in the reserve spot. Rounding out the top 10 were CH Asa's Wild Card, High Point's Supreme Thunder, May Day Masquerade, Sweet Intention, High Point's High Adventure, Callaway's Wish Me Blue, Glitter N Glitz and SS Success.
Hackney Pony
Leading the High Point Report in the Hackney Pony division is Fancy Ribbons, the Reserve World’s Grand Champion and World’s Champion Hackney Pony Mare. Kenny Wheeler drove the incredible pony under John Shea’s direction to the Louisville titles as well as two wins each at Germantown and Lexington Junior League. Following Louisville, the pony was sold to Randi Wightman and trainer Marilyn Macfarlane drove the pony in two more victory passes at ASHAV. Expect more great things from this new combination in 2004!
Gib Marcucci trained the four-year-old pony Austin Powers to outstanding results in the 2003 show season. Whether Marcucci or his daughter Cindy Ireland did the honors, the results were good wherever they went. Strong shows at Illinois Springfest, Des Moines, Midwest, Illinois State Fair and All American all added points to the 150 point total in the High Point Report. A Reserve World’s Championship Junior Hackney Pony title and a third place finish in the junior qualifier completed the point total which was only seven points behind the winner.
Another Midwestern pony, The Final Contender and Ruth Sprenger earned 142 points to earn the third place in the High Point Report. Wins at the competitive Illinois State Fair plus good shows at Midwest, All American and Wisconsin Futurity earned the team their standing.
Other outstanding ponies in 2003 include Heartland Ooh La La, Kingsley Acclaim, Heartland Triumphant King, Late Nite’s Blank Check, Man On The Town, Oliver Twist and Cadet’s Excellent Charm.
Amateur/Ladies Hackney Pony
Royal Canadian and Muffy Ernster are being crowned the High Point Report Amateur/Ladies Hackney Pony Champions. After a terrific season of 19 classes at nine shows, Royal Canadian and Ernster earned 280 points to top the 42 ponies in this division. Wins at Illinois Springfest, Des Moines, UPHA Chapter 5, Midwest, Illinois State Fair, All American, Wisconsin Futurity and the American Royal in addition to two reserves at Lexington made for a stellar season in 2003.
Jackie Stred and Heartland Rain Song didn't show often in 2003 with only seven classes at four shows, but with an undefeated season, the 2003 world's grand champion and world's champion earned the reserve High Point Report title to go with all of that blue!
Another pony shown sparingly but successfully was Heartland Twice As Nice. Karen Frickey made top shows at Indianapolis Charity, Lexington, All American and the American Royal in addition to earning third at the World's Championship Horse Show.
Rounding out the top 10 were Mr. Hawkeye, Tommy Hilfiger, Newsflash LF, Totally Excellent, Fire Devil, Classical Dancer and Heartland Ringmaster.
|