Season Ends with TASHA Holiday Show
Thursday, December 13, 2007
by Ann Bullard
KATY, Texas – Texas and Louisiana exhibitors capped off their 2007 season at the TASHA Holiday Horse Show. A year ago, everyone shivered in the wet cold that felt like sub-zero to South Texans. The ‘weather gods’ reversed that trend Dec. 1 and 2, with early fall-like days, and, as they would say on the Louisiana bayous, ‘the good times definitely rolled.’
As with many season-ending and club shows, the show offered a little bit of everything. Certainly, it was a showcase and learning experience for the academy and lesser-experienced riders.
But several barns slipped in some young horses, teams new to the 2007 season and a few other headliners to show the up and coming riders and their families what this sport is all about.
A. J. Bruwer, who was snowed in for the 2006 show, has since moved to Kentucky and came south to mark the cards for all events. Janie Hamilton, a mainstay of southwest horse show management for many years, brought her dad with her from near Chattanooga, Tenn., where she recently located. As always, her end of the year event ran smoothly. Melissa Cole added her knowledge of the local exhibitors to her
announcing of the show, doing her usual good job. Gail Frasier kept the show moving
with her organ music, while Jim Wright and Horse Flix handled the photography and videography respectively.
Marjorie Judd Stables, Tommy Benton’s Maranatha Stables and Morris and Adin Caffery’s Wedgewood Farm took a number of top ribbons back to Louisiana. Caroline Burglass and My Teddy Bheir still are learning about one another, although one might wonder how much further they have to go after their top five-gaited competition.
Judd put this team together during the summer. They followed their winning debut at the Louisiana Fall Festival with a pair of victories at Alabama Charity and two more at TASHA. Marci Richard and CH Trapp Mountain earned another show pleasure title and Judd’s academy riders earned a pair of wins.
Benton headed Patrice Watson O’Brien and You’ve Got Mail for their Adult Show
Pleasure victory pass. His ride on the three year-old Revival’s Raphael had spectators talking about another good youngster coming out of the Bayou state.
Patty Milligan’s assistant trainer, Jenn Holdren, and Noksus Devosia had everyone talking. They showed only once, winning the Park Open title in a stellar performance.
Rachel Shupp and Attaché’s Heart Of Gold took home both five-gaited amateur
titles. On the equitation side, Alexa Morton added four more blues to her pleasure
and saddle seat equitation resume.
When Corrine Stith elected to move to another country pleasure driving horse, she and the Lone Star Saddlebreds picked a good one. Screen Idol and Stith made their debut with two wins at the NATASHA show in the fall. A trip to the Arizona Futurity
netted the same results, as did their performances at TASHA. Trainer Milo Jones and the exciting Evil Cat topped the Park Pleasure qualifier and championship for Hannah Houske and Cindy Shelby.
Sherry Frankel and The King’s Champagne have been perennial Adult Country Pleasure winners. They led the SGF Winning Ways Farm blue ribbon parade with wins in the qualifier and championship. May and Steve Chadick coached Tristin Ramirez and Sofie Rasmussen to qualifying and championship rides in Walk and Trot Equitation for Riders 10 and Under and Walk and Trot Lead Line 8 and Under respectively.
Sofie Rasmussen
getting ready to ride.
Ed and Ada Perwien’s generosity put Ed Perwien and son-in-law Phillip Berman
in the stands watching this writer show Xuxa to win the Show Pleasure Driving qualifier and championship.
A holiday and birthday surprise for
Ann Bullard who enjoyed a catch-drive
with Bluebonnet Farm’s Xuxa.
The next generation of Perwiens made her leadline debut as tiny Sophie Perwien, her pink hat, clothes and boots and smile won.
Sophie Perwien
Dan Flowers introduced three-year-old It’s East Wing to the Texas Saddle Horse community. Nancy Moreno owns this youngster as well as her consistent winner, Jigsaw Johnny, who topped the Amateur Park qualifier. Flowers added the Five-Gaited Junior blue while Chris Tresten and Life’s A Dance ERB added to their five-gaited show pleasure blue-ribbon resume.
Bill Marple had a good weekend showing under Philip DeBruyn’s direction. He numbered the Five-Gaited Show Pleasure blue and Park Amateur Championship
aboard Colonel Clarence and Texas Sky respectively.
Paul Cates’s winners included The Red Rocket, winner of the Five-Gaited Open, and Kaci Roberts on My Little Beauty in Junior Exhibitor Country Pleasure. Top ribbons went home with Victory Lane Farm, Wedgewood Farm and a number of amateur-owner-trainers.
Complete results can be seen and searched by clicking here.
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