ST. PAUL, Minn. - The 2009 Tanbark Cavalcade of Roses Horse Show opened up on Wednesday with temperatures in the high 70s and a little rain, but everyone was excited to get started. As usual the hospitality was phenomenal with parties and events every day. Thursday night, Cary Bartz hosted her famous spaghetti dinner. Everyone anticipates and appreciates this fine event every year. Friday night, a wonderful exhibitors’ party was sponsored by Bob Jensen Stables, the clients of Centre Pointe and Cornerstone Stables. Then to round out the show, Tanbark put on a delicious breakfast for all the exhibitors on Saturday morning. You won’t go away hungry from this fabulous show. The presentation of sale horses on Thursday was a huge success and allowed any interested sellers a great opportunity to see what everyone had to sell.
Show Managers Sally Snyder Tesch and Doug Lindstrom had all their ducks in a row and they were ready to roll. Cheryl Rangel had the office well in hand and everything was well organized. Pam Keeler was the USEF steward and Leigh Anderson played the role of EMT. John Frye kept the ring in good order and Doug Shane was the announcer. Randy Roberts provided the best music and Weezie kept all the ribbons and trophies in good order. Nancy Becker, Kelly Hulse and Rob Turner were the esteemed judges for this exciting show and they had a big job in some deep classes.
The Open Five-Gaited Champion was Todd Perkins aboard Roja Rosa, a gorgeous bay mare who won the Junior/Novice Five-Gaited class. Owner Diane Balanga was thrilled with the performance from this pair. Treasure The Warmth with Louis Louw for Reedannland Farms was reserve after winning the Five-Gaited Open class earlier in the week.
An exciting trio of ladies dueled it out in the Five-Gaited Ladies class. Que Pasa and Cory Eickholt were tough to beat as that horse can set up a wear the bridle like nobody’s business. This pair also closed out their undefeated show buy winning the Pink Ribbon Five-Gaited Ladies Stake in fine fashion. Another lovely chestnut, CH Night So Rare took home second in the exciting ladies qualifier class.
The Five-Gaited Amateur class closed out the Thursday night show and what a class. No one would have been surprised to see a workout, but in the end Doug Lindstrom was called out for the blue aboard his beautiful CH Roseridge’s Gold. Fight Night with Abbey Gessman took home the red. The stage was set for the championship with this pair and the class didn’t disappoint. Fight Night fought hard and came out ahead as he and Gessman racked their way to the Amateur Five-Gaited Championship. Lindstrom and CH Roseridge’s Gold were reserve.
A nice class of three exceptional ladies horses started out the three-gaited division on Wednesday morning. Promised Love was the most exceptional, and the gorgeous bay mare was bright and square to take home the blue ribbon with Sondra Kipper in the irons for Stacey Kipper. Second in the ladies class was Jennifer Elnicky on her gorgeous CH Callaway’s Sunday Edit. The beautiful Callaway’s Campaign Manager and Kate Bauman closed out their show undefeated with a win in the Amateur Three-Gaited with the reserve going to the adorable CH Tip O’ The Hat for owner/rider Brittany Balagna.
The gorgeous Royal Crest’s Rockin’ The Town was spectacular in the exciting Amateur Park class. Alyssa Wick, home for the summer from Williams Woods University, took home the red ribbon to Hardwood Creek Farm aboard the adorable Our Prince Charming for William Woods University. The Junior Exhibitor Park class was also a high quality duel. Breanna Lukan continued her winning ways with a spectacular ride aboard The Paper Princess JJW for Jay and Jean Wood. The mare is so feminine and beautiful it’s hard to take your eyes off her. Hot on her heels was another world champion, CH First Class Heir, with Brianna Meyer riding for the Brown-Anderson Farm and trained by Hollow Haven. This big, bold moving horse is beautiful as well and this pair will be another one to watch.
The Paper Princess was also called out as the unanimous champion of the Amateur Park Championship, after yet another flawless ride by Breanna Lukan. This mare has been undefeated since she was paired with Lukan. Reserve in the stake was Demi’s Dark Design with Jean Ann Gunderson in the irons for Ingrid Klongland.
Cary Bartz had a phenomenal drive with My Bling to take home the blue for Maple Hill Stables in the Junior/Novice Fine Harness class. Dede Brisbow had another solid drive with her Heir To Millions to win the Amateur Fine Harness class. These two beautiful chestnuts met again in the Fine Harness Stake and My Bling came out ahead, this time with owner Chryse Veit in the lines to take the victory pass. Dede Brisbow and Heir To Millions took home the reserve.
The Amateur Road Pony class was one of the most exciting of the show. Seamair Strutter and Mike Shallock raced to the victory with Zeus and Cindy Cram hot on their heels. Shallock was back in the ring with Nightheir in the Open Road Pony Stake with a solo, but none-the-less exciting performance.
A spectacular class of six pleasure driving ponies entered the ring on Wednesday morning. Bob Anderson had a flawless drive with Pacifico’s Standing Ovation to take home the blue. Donna Beck with Wait & See’s Raspberry had a remarkable drive to take the red ribbon. Beck and Raspberry stepped it up a notch and were able to take their turn in the winner’s circle on Saturday night in the championship much to the delight of trainer Jared Ratzloff.
The five-gaited pleasure division featured some new faces as well as some well known contenders. Jessica Timmington and CH Will’s No Doubt had an undefeated show winning the qualifier and the stake. This pair always has so much energy and they looked like they could rack on for days with out getting tired. A new face to the Minnesota circuit is Across The Sky, purchased by Jean Wood last fall, and they had a spectacular ride to win the junior/novice horse class, and took home the reserve in the stake.
In the open park pleasure division, Rick Wallen cleaned up with Glinda The Good. What a square trotting mare this is. She is owned by Janene Steggeman. CH Reedann’s Sniper was reserve with Dorian Anderson in the irons.
In the Three-Gaited Pleasure Junior Horse class, the audience was treated to a beautiful ride by Kristen Olson aboard the gorgeous Redesigned. This horse has a beautiful face, and this win promises to be just the beginning of great things to come. They were the unanimous winners in this nice class. The Hollow Haven-trained pair of Brianna Meyer and Shamrock’s Asagi were the blue ribbon winners in the 13 and under class and they had a flawless ride to win the championship. The beautiful CH The Mystery Machine was second in the qualifier and the 13 and under stake with Devon Von Ess riding for Nick Neviaser.
David Matta and Seven were the Three-Gaited Show Pleasure 18 & Over Champions, and Kristen Olson and her beautiful Redesigned were reserve in this strong class.
Eight gorgeous horses answered the call in the Show Pleasure Driving qualifier on Wednesday morning. It was a fight to the finish but the unanimous choice of the judges was CH Titlest Symbol with Rachel Machamer in the buggy for the Sweet Pea Farm. Trainer Andy Freseth was all smiles as he left the ring. The beautiful Callaway’s Cumulus took home a great red ribbon in this outstanding class. Machamer and CH Titlest Symbol were also called out as the champions in the Show Pleasure Driving Stake. Callaway’s Cumulus and Susan Aschenbrenner were the reserve.
Breanna Luken started the show off with a bang aboard The Party Planner in the 14-17 Country Pleasure class for trainer Jay Wood. This team was also in top shape to win the 17 and under stake. Home Town Luck was a close second with Hannah Turpin in the irons for Centre Pointe in the qualifier, and CH Shiny New Penny was reserve in the 17 and under stake.
Carissimo, with Paula Beck, had a wonderful ride to win the Country Pleasure 39 & Over class, and a very excited Katy Holden and Rare One took the red ribbon. Jessie Cole and Amanda Dellinger took home the tricolor in the 18 and over stake with a beautiful ride. Reserve in the championship was Kalisbell and Shari Hamer.
Six horses jogged into the ring Wednesday morning for the Open Western Pleasure class. As has been par for the course this year, Kim Gallenberg had a flawless ride for the unanimous blue aboard Braveheart Of Silver Oaks. They also took home the championship ribbon in the Saturday night Country Pleasure Western Stake. Mary Strofus was hot on her heels with a second place ribbon aboard Royal Crest’s Howley Boulder in the qualifier. Well Spoken and Kitty Theis took home the reserve in the championship.