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Southern Charm Meets Sophisticated Style In Blowing Rock



by Lauren DeHaan

 

BLOWING ROCK, N.C. - The charming mountain town of Blowing Rock welcomed exhibitors and trainers alike with its casually sophisticated resort atmosphere.  The town boasts fabulous fine dining such as The Best Cellar and Twigs, but also wonderful local eateries like Sonny’s Grill and the Six Pence Pub.  The show grounds are a tribute to the old sophistication of traditional shows sporting white-fenced boxes and grandstands.  While Blowing Rock is known for its charms it is also known for the unpredictability of its weather.  A common mountain saying is “if you don’t like the weather, wait fifteen minutes.”  This year the show was blessed with bright sunny skies and not a rain cloud in sight. 

         

Now in its 84th year the show boasted a dramatic increase in numbers this year that was mainly attributed to moving the date up two months. The show sold out of its 400 plus stalls. Originally held the weekend before Louisville, the show committee decided to move the horse show to June which also boasts cooler weather than August.

         

With daily hospitality and a Sunday brunch, first-year manager Ray Cloninger and the show staff extended a warm welcome to everyone on the show grounds.  Bill Cannon, who has served as ringmaster for 10 years, shared the duties with Maurice Ewing who has 35 years of experience as the Blowing Rock ringmaster.

 

The absence of an evening session allowed everyone to enjoy the quaint downtown atmosphere, and the quality competition made Blowing Rock a terrific success.

         

Closing the show with an exciting performance in the Five-Gaited Championship was CH Dusty Beau with Lewis Eckard in the irons for owner Rebekah Cloninger.  Eckard also showed Cloninger’s trusty mount to the blue streamers in the Open Five-Gaited class.  Reserve ribbons belonged to French Resistance and Steve Gassen for excited owner Casey Surface. This pair also claimed reserve in the open five-gaited qualifier. 

         


CH Dusty Beau and Lewis Eckard

 

The sharp pair of Our Silver Charm and George Anne Nash were simply striking to claim the blue in the Ladies Five-Gaited class. This pair also claimed the honors in the amateur championship.  The ladies reserve belonged to Classic Native Dancer and Kathy Cook.  Reserve honors in the Amateur Five-Gaited Championship went to Shamrock’s Free Step and Janelle D’Amato.  Amateur Five-Gaited qualifier went to the up-headed I’m Good and rider Imogene Lusk.  Reserve honors in that competitive class were captured by the Boone’s Farm trained entry of Pick Me First and Donna Lockett

         

Bree Zandy and The Apprentice went two for two in the Junior Exhibitor Five-Gaited Championship and qualifier under the expert direction of Steve Joyce.  Cara Wolf guided Bluebonnet’s Wild Thing into the reserve spot in both classes.

 


Bree Zandy and The Apprentice


Rick Felder racked into the winner’s circle in the Novice Five-Gaited class aboard The Witness for owner Jennifer Garison.  Riva’s Periaptor and Steve Hanks grabbed the red streamers for owner Morgan Feimster.

         

Junior Five-Gaited honors went home with Callaway’s Credence and Greg O’Kelley for owner Dr. Brian Garrett.  Reserve ribbons went to Lady Drifter and Randy Cole for the All Well Farm. Answering the gate call next was the Three-Year-Old Five-Gaited class with Pimp My Ride taking home the blue ribbon for owner/rider James Lawrence.

         

Sarah Martin and I Believe I Can Fly were in top form to claim the blue ribbons in the Five-Gaited Pony Championship and qualifier.

         

The elegant three-gaited horses took center stage for their open championship class with Lunenburg’s Irish Storm and rider Haley Covert for owner Dwight Jenkins making the victory pass.  Catherine Jenkins stepped in the irons in the qualifier on this mount claiming the blue ribbon as well.

         

The amateurs entered the ring with their for their championship class.  Taking the top honors were Diamond Merchant and rider Allison Boozer. Reserve championship ribbons belonged to Periaptor’s Dancing Star and Dr. Teresa Miller. These two pairs finished the same in their qualifier as well.

         

The junior exhibitors entered the ring with their elegant mounts and trotting away with the blue ribbon in the championship and qualifier were the Cash Lovell trained pair of CH The Showstopper and Margaret Morrison.  Reserve honors in both classes belonged to Caitlin Leith and Mahvalous Asset under the direction of Heather Boodey.        

 

The Junior Three-Gaited class was simply magical with Let The Magic Begin and Megan Whitby for owner Jeanne Frazer.

         

Taking top honors in the Three-Gaited Pony Championship were Royalty In Black with Allie Wellington in the irons under the direction of Drowning Creek. This pair claimed the blue ribbon in the qualifier as well.  Reserve honors belonged to Cameo’s Carte Blanche with Caroline Anderson. Taking home the red streamers in the qualifier were Attaché Allure and Meghan Toms.

 

Open Park Horse Championship honors went home with Caramaya and Nancy Troutman after taking reserve in the qualifier.  Top honors in the qualifier belonged to the very up-headed Catalytic and Evan Orr for a thrilled owner Susan Hollowell.  Reserve championship honors belonged Jewels To Go and Greg O’Kelley for owner Dr. Brian Garrett.

 

Bongo and Ginger Reagan trotted away with the top honors in the Amateur Park Championship and qualifier for owner Amy Roberts.  Reserve belonged to CH Callaway’s B Gratz Brown and Karin Banks, who also took reserve in the qualifier.

 

The junior exhibitors and their park horses answered the gate call next with My Mountain Heirs and Rebekah Cloninger taking top honors in both the championship  and the qualifier for owner Dr. and Mrs. Brian Outen.  Absolute Proof and Dabney Hoffman were reserve in both the championship and qualifier.

 

Junior Three-Gaited Park Horse honors belonged to Miss Kit Cat and Erin Bolster.  Reserve ribbons went to Petal N Lace and Vicki Casenburg.

 

Open Fine Harness Championship honors belonged to Finally Arrived and Neil Scruggs for owner Hannah Johnston.  Reserve honors in the championship belonged to Steve Joyce and Part Of My Charm for owner Marion Hunt Bramlett.  Flip-flopping in the qualifier Joyce and Part Of My Charm took home the blues with Finally Arrived in reserve.

 

The Amateur Fine Harness qualifying ribbon belonged to A True Gentleman and Philip Casenburg. Last Gift and Carol Addison were on top of their game in the Junior Fine Harness class, taking home the blue ribbon.  Reserve belonged to Heir To The Moon and Suzy Shiflet for the Lineshare Farm.

 

Roadster To Bike Championship honors were captured by Eclipse and Steve Deutsch, who was thrilled to earn the perpetual trophy honoring his late friend Johnny Wellington.  This pair also sped away with the blue in the amateur qualifying class.  The Dreamer and Sean Lassett drove away with the reserve championship ribbons, as well as the red ribbon in the amateur qualifier under the direction of Steve Hanks for a proud owner/grandmother Jean Meyers. Blue Sky and Rick Harris were hard to catch in the Open Road Horse class for owner/trainer Steve Hanks. 

         


Eclipse and Steve Deutsch

 

Diamond Hustler was too hot to trot in the Roadster Under Saddle Championship, taking home the blue ribbon under the direction of Drowning Creek.  P.J. Shawnee and Greg O’Kelley were reserve to take home the red ribbon to Dr. Brian Garrett.

 

The roadsters returned to the ring in the Open Roadster Under Saddle class and speeding away with the blue were The Dreamer and Sean Lassett.  Reserve belonged to Dr. Brian Garrett and PJ Shawnee.

         

The speedy little pony Razz-Ma-Tazz and Lewis Eckard took home the championship ribbons in the Road Pony Championship and qualifier for owner Karl Bridgeman.  Reserve honors in both classes belonged to the perky Ferocia and Quintus Vander Spuy for owner Jeoff Bodenhorst.

 

The high stepping Cappuccino and Brenda Kelly were thrilled with their victories in the Amateur Road Pony Championship and qualifier.  Reserve championship streamers went home with Rant N Rave KV and owner/driver Karen Voerg. This pair also took home the red in the qualifier.

         

The youngsters sped into the ring with Zildjian and Caitlin Leith trotting to the winner’s circle in their championship class under the direction of Heather Boodey. This pair also claimed the blue in their qualifier. Reserve championship honors belonged to Lone Star and Lindsay Jones. Qualifying red streamers belonged to Perfect Offering and Jake Butts.   

 

AHHS Youth Medallion Road Pony honors were captured by Doing Time and Dustin Lassett.  Riding into victory with Perfect Offering was Jake Butts in the Road Pony Under Saddle Championship.  Reserve honors belonged to John Glenn and Nikki Lawing.  AHHS Youth Medallion Road Pony Under Saddle honors belonged to the speedy Perfect Offering and Jake Butts returning to the winner’s circle with Sugar Daddy and Crystal Case in the reserve honors.

         


Perfect Offering and Jake Butts

 

Stepping into the ring in high style with the elegant pony Fitz’s Mademoiselle, Mrs. Landon Eckard was the Harness Pony Champion while Rebekah Cloninger took over in the viceroy for the Open Harness Pony win.  Reserve honors in the qualifier belonged to Pocket Rocket and Randy Cole for owner Steve Crabtree.

         

Willowood Balladeer and Charles Leonard stepped into the winner’s circle in the Hackney Pony Championship and qualifier for owner Bill Weavil. Reserve streamers in both classes belonged to Gary Garrison and Heartland Bandelero.

         

The Cash Lovell trained entry of Alex Foster and Wait & Sees Postmaster were a cute pair to claim the championship streamers, as well as the qualifying blue in the Hackney pony pleasure driving division.  Taking home the reserve honors in both classes were Believe It and Susan Whittington.

         

Seajay Lewis and Dr. Brian Garrett racked away with the championship honors in the Amateur Five-Gaited Show Pleasure class under the direction of Greg O’Kelley.  This pair claimed the red ribbon in the qualifying class behind CH Social Worth and Pam Austin, switching places in the championship.

 

The junior exhibitors and their five-gaited pleasure horses entered the ring next and taking top honors in both the championship and qualifier was the Cash Lovell trained entry of Sunken Treasure and Drew Taylor Hewitt.  Reserve ribbons in both classes belonged to Dustin Lassett and CH Callaway’s No Problem.

 

CF Not Tonight Chief and Erica Savary captured the championship ribbons in the Park Pleasure Championship as well as in the qualifier.  Reserve championship honors belonged to Showboat’s Casablanca and Steve Joyce for owner Marion Hunt Bramlett.  The Boone’s Farm trained team of Andrea Everett and My Tee Time were reserve in the qualifier.   
      


CF Not Tonight Chief and Erica Savary

 

Junior Park Pleasure champions were Belle Splendor and Cheryl Baird for Mary Goforth.  Reserve honors were captured by Just Like That and Midge Hunt for owner Dr. Kim Blackwell.

         

With 18 horses in the adult qualifier, and several other qualifying classes, the decision was made to split the Adult Championship into two sections. Section A of the Adult Show Pleasure Championship was topped off by Woulda Coulda Shoulda and Aimee Austin.  She’s Extra Charming and Carol Love stepped up for the reserve honors. The second split of the show pleasure class was won by Reedann’s Phine By Me and Marion Bryan trained by Cash Lovell.  Capturing the reserve ribbons were Endolane Symphony and Ginger Roseman.  The top ribbons in the huge show pleasure qualifier belonged to Reedann’s Phine By Me and Marion Bryan.  Stepping up for reserve were Mountainview’s Truly Amazing and Dr. Kim Blackwell.     

 

The Junior Exhibitor Three-Gaited Show Pleasure 14-17 Championship entered the gate next.  Garnering the top honors were Americana’s Wings and Paige Pennington.  Reserve streamers belonged to The Cash Connection and rider Ciara Horton.  In the qualifying class Irene’s Good Night Kiss and Georgia Rea Gurney stepped up for the blue.  Taking home the red were Americana’s Wings and Paige Pennington.

         


Irene’s Good Night Kiss and Georgia Rea Gurney

with trainer Suzy Shiflet

 

The younger division of the show pleasure riders entered the ring with CH It’s Yabba Dabba Doo Time and Allie Wellington taking home the championship ribbon as well as the qualifier under the direction of Drowning Creek. Reserve championship honors belonged to Marcelle Richard and CH Trapp Mountain.  Taking home the red ribbon in the qualifier was Callaway’s Letter To The Editor with Erin Ohning.

 


CH It’s Yabba Dabba Doo Time and Allie Wellington

 

The little walk and trotters took center stage in their championship class with CH Empress In Black and Allie Poovey in the irons to capture the tricolor for Cash Lovell.  Deep Velvet Aire and Nina Rivera grabbed the reserve championship.  Top honors in the qualifier belonged to It’s The Rage and Megan Crider.  The red ribbon in the qualifier belonged to Susie Serenade and Madison McCall. 

 

Walk-Trot Pleasure Champion in the 55 & Over class was Gwen Frangias and Inne. The novice riders and their show pleasure horses answered the gate call with Mojave and Rachel Pahnke taking the top honors.  Emanating and Dr. Melinda Snyder were reserve.

 

Limit Three-Gaited Show Pleasure honors belonged to Heavy Hitter and Mary Dunker.  Reserve honors belonged to the Boone’s Farm trained entry of Miraculous Odds and Lauren De Haan.

 

The elegant show pleasure driving horses answered the gate call for their championship with I’m An Early Riser and Mary Lynn McMains taking the championship ribbons home, as well as in the qualifier.  Reserve in both classes belonged to Stevie Nicks and Pat Yeatts taking home the red ribbon.

 

I’m An Early Riser and Mary Lynn McMains

headed by Marjorie Judd

 

ASHAF Youth Show Pleasure Driving champions were Caitlin Leith and Callaway’s Maelstrom.

 

The adults and their country pleasure horses took center stage with CH Riva Diva and Donna Finch earning both the championship and qualifying honors for new owner Terri Longworth.  Reserve honors in both classes belonged to the new team of Pam Quick and A Promise Keeper under the direction of Boone’s Farm.

 

Callaway’s Blue Agate and Emily Burglass stepped up to capture the top honors in the Junior Exhibitor Country Pleasure Championship and qualifier for the 14-17 year olds.  Strike Up The Lights and Caitlin Hucker were on top of their game to claim the reserve in the championship.  Reserve qualifying honors belonged to CH Wing’s Main Attraction and Adrienne Fitch.

 

The younger division of the junior exhibitors and their country pleasure horses entered the ring with Callaway’s Passport and Allie Smith taking home the tricolor honors.  Reserve championship honors and qualifying blues belonged Undulata’s Man Of Hour Dreams and Hanna Norwood.

 

Amateur Owner/Trainer Country Pleasure honors went home with Harlem’s Knight At The Apollo and Luanne Kilday.  Reserve belonged to Highpoint’s Fancy Cat and Toree Hefner.

         

Taking top honors in the novice rider country pleasure class were Strike Up The Lights and Caitlin Hucker.  Reserve ribbons went home with Commet’s Second Chance and rider Ashlin Bryan.

         

Driving into the winner’s circle in the country pleasure championship and qualifier were CH Dr. Decker and Susan Hollowell for the Poovey family.  Reserve championship and qualifying honors belonged to Highpoint’s Fancy Cat and Toree Hefner.

         

Country Western Pleasure Championship, as well as both qualifiers, were O Ain’t I Somethin and Luanne Kilday.  Reserve in all of the classes were Heir Cooled and Sallie Turner. Country Hunter Pleasure Champions were I Walk Alone and Janelle D’Amato.

         

Saddle Seat Equitation Champion as well as the UPHA Challenge Cup 17 & Under Champion was Rachel Rafolski. Jennifer Roberts took home the 14-17 Saddle Seat Equitation blue and also the USEF Medal class blue under the direction of Chestnut Lane.  Reserve honors in the Medal class went home with Callie Culbertson.

         

Walk-Trot Saddle Seat Equitation 10 & Under honors belonged to Stephanie Brackett with Cagle James taking home reserve.  UPHA Walk-Trot Challenge Cup 10 & Under Champion was Cagle James.  Taking home the red ribbon in that class was Stephanie Brackett.      


Cagle James and LA Blues

 

Jennifer Roberts took home another winning ribbon in the NHS Saddle Seat Event as well as in the Pleasure Equitation class.  Sally McEwen stepping into reserve in the Saddle Seat Event and Rachel Rafolski in reserve in the pleasure equitation.

         

Always a laugh the Trainer’s Equitation class was hysterical to watch.  Jon Walker dressed up in shorts and a buck-toothed mask tried to bribe Judge Nancy Becker with a questionable beverage with Midge Hunt and mother Jo Cornell cantered side by side holding hands.  Putting them all to shame and taking the top honors was Lewis Eckard.  Reserve belonged to Jo Cornell and Midge Hunt finishing in a tie. (See separate article for more on this class)

         

The beautiful Friesians are always a sight to behold and taking top honors in their under saddle classes as well as the driving class were Tessa Van Der Zuiderwaa and Ashley Walker for Pam Jackson.  Reserve belonged to Kelsey Baird and Hoera Bozoerg II.  Walk/Trot Pleasure winner was Inne and Cheryl Baird for owner Kim Davidson. 

         

Academy winners included: Hannah Johnson, Denese Patch, Melinda Tedder, Jenny Feller, Stephanie Weinburg, Riley Grace Didier, Lauren Henderson, Katelyn Skardzinski, Alex Gerber, Jodee Greenway, Monica Walsh, Jessica Jones, Olivia Beatty Knox, Jasmine Jones, Samantha Stratton, Tiffany Know, Amy Cedrone, Alex Cedrone, Haley Griffin, Madison Hunt, Tatum Tucker, MeMe Paige, Anna Grace Whitworth, Audrey Sigmon and Cashlyn Lovell.

 

This concludes the highlights of the 84th Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show. Complete results can be seen and searched by clicking here.

 

Also seen at Blowing Rock:

 

 

Ingleside Farm


Boone’s Farm and Stables


Blowing Rock was Midge Hunt’s last show as a trainer.

back row (l to r):  Dr. Roger Lever, Amy Norwood, Michelle Holbrook

front row (l to r): Cara Wolf, Midge Hunt, Hanna Norwood

 

 

           

 

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