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Show Horse Industry Loses Three World’s Champions



The deaths of three current show ring greats have just been reported, ironically, a Hackney, a Saddlebred and a Morgan.

Last week, Golden Creek Farms lost the current three-time World’s Grand Champion Road Pony Beaulah Jean. Teamed with Jeff McClean, Beaulah Jean has also been named the UPHA Open Road Pony Of The Year for the past few seasons in addition to winning titles at Lexington Junior League, Rock Creek, Shelbyville and others. A mare with a personality all her own, Beaulah was a favorite of McClean, wife Mary and Jeff McClean Stables trainer, Tom Lowry.

Just this weekend, news came from Lynn and Kathy Peeples’ Waterford Farm of the sudden loss of World Champion Uppercase Innovation, owned by Cindy Fawcett. Kathy rode Uppercase Innovation to the Ladies English Pleasure World Championship in 2009 and then shared the spotlight in 2010, winning the Grand National Champion Ladies English Pleasure title, while Cindy brought home the Amateur Masters Grand National blue. Another of their highlights came in 2009, winning the highly competitive New England Regional English Pleasure Amateur Championship.

Also unexpected, the death of one of the most celebrated harness horses in recent years, It’s Dan The Man, hit the industry hard, especially owner Anna Marie Knipp and trainer Nicole Harrison. The 2010 Amateur Ladies Fine Harness World’s Champion, Amateur Reserve World’s Champion Of Champions and Amateur Fine Harness National Champion was also named the UPHA Overall Fine Harness Horse Of The Year. Just the year before he was debuted by Dr. Alan Raun and purchased by Knipp’s High Spirits Farm before going on to win the Junior Fine Harness World’s Champion Of Champions title with Dr. Raun.

Tributes to these stars will be featured in an upcoming issue of Saddle Horse Report. Our thoughts are with all those who were close to these great individuals.

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