Santa Barbara National Horse Show - Still going Strong In Its 83rd Year!
Wednesday, July 17, 2002

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., - For 83 years, the Santa Barbara National Horse show has been a grand tradition in the gorgeous, picturesque city of Santa Barbara, Calif. Saddlebreds, Hackneys, roadsters, Paso Finos, Tennessee Walking Horses and Welsh Ponies and cobs gathered at the Earl Warren Showgrounds for the 2002 show, July 3-6. What better way to celebrate the July 4th holiday?

Manager Rae Deane Stone worked hard to make the show a good one and she succeeded. Harriet Landrum served as show secretary, assisted by Marjorie Hill. Diane Novak was the data entry secretary. Adele Mauer was the USAE Steward and Malcom Rossell, Don Irons, and Andrew Ellis shared the announcing duties. Photographer Rick Osteen worked hard all weekend to capture the action and Shaye Torrent was the organist.

Lewis Eckard handled the judging duties and kept things moving quickly all weekend. He had plenty of quality entries to choose from especially in the pleasure divisions. Several young horses emerged as true standouts and numbers in the open, amateur and juvenile divisions were strong for the most part.

Highlights of the show were numerous including great stake classes and an equitation championship that featured all seven entries being asked to perform the workout which they did with poise and grace. Not to mention great babies across the board.

The West Coast sometimes gets a bad rap and perhaps not the credit that it is often due from the industry. Judging from the competition so far this season, there will be plenty of great ribbons returning home to the West Coast from the green shavings of Freedom Hall.

Friday evening’s Five-Gaited Stake put the finishing touches on a great night of competition. Michele Macfarlane, Helen Cherry, and Barbara Beamer all returned with their open contenders and Anne Jaeger with her junior entry completed the field.

After a pause for a thrown shoe all four entries put on a great show before lining up to await Lewis Eckard’s decision. When Eckard turned in his card it was open champion Callaway’s Regatta and Macfarlane taking the victory pass for Scripps Miramar. Flora McCleod was the reserve grand champion, with Helen Cherry, for Zazen Ranch. What A Caper and Barbara Beamer and Screamin’ Deamon with Anne Jaeger finished out the ribbon count.

After a five-entry qualifier, four horses returned for the amateur stake on Saturday evening. Once again, Macfarlane’s entry went to the top. Sprinkles successfully defended the recent divisional sweep at Del Mar to claim both the amateur tricolor and amateur/ladies blue ribbon. Doug Marsceill turned in a strong effort with CH A Champagne Affair for the reserve tricolor under the direction of Rockridge Farm.

The junior exhibitors had two really great classes and six teams came through the gate in the stake and qualifier to vy for the titles. The top two awards in the stake were reversed from the qualifier. The Irish Ember and Meghan Hill were named the grand champions followed by qualifier winner Callaway’s Cover Page. Cassie McEuen was in the irons for Jill Bachman from Dixon Stables.

The youngest equine entries in the gaited division did more than their share of entertaining the crowd at Santa Barbara. Gene van der Walt, who recently relocated to the U.S. from South Africa to take on head training duties at Singing Hills for Bill and Barbara Blacklaw, rode their junior entry We’re Having Fun Now to the blue ribbon in the three-entry class. The junior horse turned in a powerful performance on the way to the winner’s circle.

Callaway’s Kit Carson had heads turning as Liz Bolton teamed the three-year-old to the blue ribbon effort for Andrew Nadder. Nadder’s entry definitely had a fan club by the end of the class.

Michele Macfarlane was back in the ring with her two-year-old Miramax and what a show they put on. The spotted youngster was the Two-Year-Old Three-Gaited Champion at Del Mar and his debut in the gaited division had the crowd oohing and ahhing. Every time the game entry slow-gaited and racked, the crowd’s applause showed their appreciation.

The gorgeous two-, three-, and four-year-olds in the gaited division at Santa Barbara all showed tremendous promise for a strong field of contenders in the division for many years to come.

After putting together a solid effort in the amateur class with owner Jennifer Sefton, Callaway’s One In A Million turned in another strong performance to capture the Three-Gaited Stake win with Rancho Del Mar trainer Anne Speck. Periempress, with more than one open stake win already this season, claimed the reserve title and open blue ribbon with Marie Peyman for Bob Facciola. Gypsy's Santana Lady and Jennifer Dixon scored the third and final ribbon in the stake for Patty Martin.

Four very nice amateur entries graced the ring for their stake class but The Babe made it a clean sweep when Eckard named her the winner with Sally Nottage up from Don Deardorff Stables. The wins were even more special because the mare fulfilled the points requirement to be designated champion status. Michael Craghead directed Susan Valley Chen and Like Sunshine to the reserve grand championship title.

Allison Bell Cherry and CH X’s And O’s put two more winning ribbons on the Zazen Ranch tack room wall when they swept the junior exhibitor division with two solid performances. Callaway’s Oh Boy and Sarah Rainwater were right there for the reserve tricolor for Rainwater Saddlebreds. Jennifer Dixon rode Gypsy’s Santana Lady to the blue ribbon in the junior class for Patty Martin in the first showcase of the elegant young walk-trot entries at Santa Barbara. Anne Speck put Perismatic in the winner’s circle in the three-year-old class for Dian and Ronnie McNab, and Dillinger took the two-year-old title with owner Susan Gianella.

Worth A Scene and Jim Cherry have consistently been at the top of the cards in the park division this season and they added two more wins to their list with the Three-Gaited Park Stake and open class titles. Star Shimmer and Carol McDaniels were able to claim the reserve grand championship in the deep eight-entry stake.

The junior/limit class was also quite deep with six strong entries. Don Deardorff rode the winner, Doubletrees Well Kept Secret, for Don Deardorff Stables.

The Fine Harness Stake was a great class. None in the quality-filled class however, could top Jack Reich's newest partner Carmelita Santana. Reich turned the lines over to trainer Bill Tomin after a strong effort in the amateur class. Tomin teamed the mare to the title followed by the big, bold-moving winner of the open class, Fair Hill's Sky High, for the reserve grand championship. CH Royal Winter and Barbara Beamer, French Memories and Helene Aumont and CH Reedann's High Noon with Dan Krier completed the ribbon count in the stake.

No Jacket Required and Sally Spalding continued the great season they've got going by winning both the amateur stake and qualifier from Diamond Hills. CH Moving Violation was the Amateur Fine Harness Reserve Grand Champion with Katie Richardson driving for Ann Farrah.

French Memories and Helene Aumont claimed the blue ribbon in the junior/limit class under the Seamair Farm banner. Paladin's Potentate, El Camino's successful three-year-old, added another winning ribbon to his total this season by taking the three-year-old class. Scripps Miramar trainer Joel Aguilar put another fine two-year-old in the ring for Michele Macfarlane and drove Maranello to the win in the two-year-old class.

Batman and Bob Facciola were facing a great group of contenders when they hit the gate for the Roadster To Bike Stake. The impressive field included another Facciola-owned entry, Batgirl, driven by Fidencio Maturino, Jack Rabbit and Jim Nottage, Miss Daisy and William Blacklaw, and TNT with Barry Blacklaw. Batman made it two for two when Lewis Eckard named the open champion the Roadster To Bike Grand Champion for Facciola. Miss Daisy claimed the reserve tricolor for Singing Hills.

P.T. Cruiser and What Luck have been battling all season and have traded the top two slots on more than one occasion. At Santa Barbara, it was P. T. Cruiser and trainer Marie Peyman taking the victory pass in the Roadster Pony Stake after having won the open class for Bob Facciola. What Luck and Sandra Surber pressed the winners hard but had to settle for the reserve title.

Sandra Surber certainly wasn't done yet and she had several more opportunities to grace the winner's circle with two well-known multi-titled ponies. Heartland Candidate and Surber were the Hackney Pony Grand Champions and open winners and Surber drove Yvette Scandling's Heartland Entitled to both pleasure driving pony wins. Patricia DeVault took the reserve tricolor back to the Seamair Farm tack room after a solid drive with First Choice. Thor Engelsen took his turns with another Scandling owned pony and went to the winner's circle in both the Harness Pony Championship and open class with Senor. Robert Lewis and Reedann's Aloha Lady were the Harness Pony Reserve Grand Champions.

Aliyah Asch won two AHHS Youth Medallion classes under the direction of Joy Lazarus. Great Day took the winning ribbon in the Hackney Pleasure Pony Under Saddle class and Buffalo Bill won the roadster pony under saddle class. Greg Carstens met Katie Richardson in the winner's circle after she drove Smart Charlie to the title in the roadster pony medallion class.

The pleasure division was full of nice competitive classes and the western division was absolutely huge, as it was a few weeks ago at Del Mar. The Five-Gaited Pleasure Stake, with nine entries had the crowd cheering their favorites and all nine riders turned in strong efforts with their mounts but when Eckard turned in his card, it was Jeffrey Fetzer and Sweetest Odds claiming the tricolor ribbon. Royalee Cleveland and Super Radiant came into the stake as the winners of the qualifier but left as the reserve grand champions in the deep class. Jennifer Blackburn was thrilled when CH Mac The Knife scored the top three finish from Dixon Stables.

Susan Gianella returned to the winner's circle, this time in the park pleasure division. She rode Heirilee to the nine-entry Park Pleasure Championship and open wins. Gotta Lotta Fizz took the second place tie in the park pleasure stake with owner Sandra Doyle and Altadena Starlight was third with Jaime Lewis.

CH Superfine's Hobo, Mr. and Mrs. M.L.Spalding's entry, scored the impressive win in the adult pleasure stake to top four other teams. Kevin Michael was up for the victory from Diamond Hills and also rode to the title in the junior/limit pleasure class. Some Kind Of Guy took the blue ribbon in the adult qualifier and returned to earn the reserve tricolor in the stake with Julie Cabana up for Missy Bennett.

Buck's Triplethreat moved up in the ribbons to win the tough eight-entry juvenile stake with Alex Macauley riding. Mister Snapple and Jessica Laurie put together the reserve grand championship effort for owner Debra Vallner and qualifier winner Smoke And Mirrors was third with Dana Geatty up for Barbara Ady under the direction of David Becker, Jr.

Samantha Lyttle rode Jennifer Green's multi-titled Morgan, Park Place Pledge, to the win in the nine-entry walk and trot pleasure class directed by Anne Speck. Patrick Weber and Hot, Hot, Hot earned the red ribbon.

Sweet Intention, driven by Don Trunk, added another tricolor to the Scripps Miramar total after Eckard gave the nod for the Show Pleasure Driving Stake. Fair Hill's Mountain Man and Linda Brittan won the qualifier and took the reserve tricolor under the direction of Derek Repp. Kendall Weber drove Chris Wyman's CH Special Attraction to the blue ribbon in the ASHAF Show Pleasure Youth Driving Challenge class.

Saki, owned by Mary Teter, swept the five-gaited country pleasure division with Sarah Hudson riding. Undulata's Tinsel Time was the reserve winnner in the stake with Missy Bennett up. Doug Cason and Decorated Lady also put together a divisional sweep. They won the Country Pleasure Stake and qualifier and topped four other teams both times. Missy Bennett was back in the ring and scored the reserve tricolor with Lady Sophisticate.

Jack Reich added the tricolor and the blue ribbon to his winning total when he drove CH Triumphant to the wins in the Country Pleasure Driving Stake and qualifier. Shari Rainwater drove to the reserve tricolor with Sugar Smacks for Rainwater Saddlebreds.

The western pleasure division was huge with 13 entries in the stake and 14 entries in the qualifier. James Knapp and Zuit Suit jogged to the winner's circle to score the impressive wins in the two largest classes of the show. Meghan Hill teamed Perfect Adventure to the reserve tricolor for Doug and Janine Hill and Presley finished in the third slot with Catherine Gallo for Carousel Farms. Braveheart Of Silver Oaks was the red ribbon recipient in the qualifier with Lynn Robertson.

William Shatner won the class named after him, the Saddle & Bridle Shatner Western Pleasure class. Riding Revelwood's Jacks Are Wild, Shatner topped nine other teams. Blue Is My Color and Toni Nickell were reserve in the Shatner class and also won the trail class. Winsdown King Of Diamonds won the Trail Stake with Kathleen March, followed by Richard's Time ERB and Missy Bennett. Bennett was also up for the victory pass in the section two trail class.

Zane Grey won the Hunter Country Pleasure class with Julie Streitfeld up for Shari Rainwater. Altadena's Steppin' Out and Charles Baggott took the title in the Saddle & Bridle Hunter Classic.

The Saddle Seat Equitation Championship was a very competitive class. Seven talented riders came through the gate and turned in solid rides. Lewis Eckard and the crowd wanted to see more. Eckard called for all seven teams to perform the workout.

After nailing the workout, Meghan Hill was declared the winner. Hill rode Callaway's Publicist owned by Susan Valley Chen. Lara Pockros turned in a strong ride for the reserve grand championship with The Jolie Blonde under the direction of Anne Speck. Pockros also took the title in the Good Hands class. The girls finished in the same order in the 14-17 equitation qualifier. Jared Hill, winner of the 13 and under class, finished in third in the championship with Call My Agent. Mackenzie Lyttle was reserve in the 13 and under class with Mountainview's Wild Reviews and claimed the win in the 17 and under challenge cup and also won the USAE Medal. She was reserve in the Good Hands class.

Julia Chen won both the 10 and under walk and trot class and the walk and trot challenge cup with Callaway's Publicist. Samantha Lyttle and Park Place Pledge were reserve in the 10 and under class and Lyttle rode Mountainview's Wild Reviews to the reserve in the walk and trot challenge cup. Julie DeVault rode Marilyn McCoo to reserve in the 17 and under challenge cup from Rockridge Farm. Kendall Weber was reserve in the medal class with Casino Lites.

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