UPHA 5 Puts On A Shiny, New Face
Monday, May 17, 2010
by Bob Funkhouser
Hats off to the men and women of UPHA Chapter 5 as they have resurrected their horse show in a big way. Last year the show moved from the longtime Columbia, Mo., facility to Hale Arena at the American Royal in Kansas City. While that move turned out to be better than the facility at Columbia, which had run down over the years, the ring and a few things still weren’t up to par. Chapter 5 members rallied and along with show manager Chuck Walker and show chairperson Jan Burden, they made great improvements for this the 24th annual show.
A solid ring with a couple of top rails was put up and light colored shavings filled the ring to give the show ring a nice, bright look and the feel of a top horse show. You can have the facility but without the horses it’s hard to have a top show, and the trainers and owners responded positively in that manner also. Besides the local Missouri and Kansas barns attending, UPHA 5 also hosted Randy Cates’ Cross Creek Stables along with Cottonwood Creek from Oklahoma, Lowry Stables from Illinois, Milo Jones along with Ten Star Ranch from Texas, and Stacey Kipper from Colorado.
"We were very happy with the turnout this year," said chapter chairperson Nikki Harrison. "We had some new barns this year and we also had great support with sponsorship money from our local members as the chapter was broke. People were very generous and got us back on our feet."
Other officials for the 2010 edition included judges Mitchell Clark and John Whalen in the Saddlebred and Morgans, respectively. Sandy Backer always had a smile on her face as the show secretary and Scarlett Mattson was on hand as the USEF Steward. Don Baker was in center ring as the ringmaster as was photographer Howie Schatzberg. Dick and Mary Lou Brown were the voices of the show as announcers while Elmer Fields kept the traffic flowing as paddock master.
There was great enthusiasm from the exhibitors and a good job done by the officials but ultimately it was the horses that made this a show to remember and there were plenty of memorable performances. Like many UPHA shows, the all-breed format made for a good flow of classes and a large audience to cheer them on. The Saddlebred division had a large contingent of world-class performers while ponies and Morgans also had their share of stars from the big stage.
The 24th annual show ended with the Five-Gaited Championship and what a finale it was for Ever Glades Farm as Missy Hughes rode Ylang Ylang to the winner’s circle just as she did in the qualifier. Riding hard and covering a lot of ground, Milo Jones and Charmed By Chance were reserve grand champions in the Five-Gaited Jackpot.
From the Mike Roberts Stables, Mosette and Katie Coup swept the Ladies Five-Gaited Championship and qualifier, besting Sterling Price and Janet Danuser, among others, in the championship round. Fairview Farm bested both the Amateur Five-Gaited Championship and the amateur stallion/gelding qualifier but with two different horses. Theresa Vonderschmitt and I’m Something Wicked scored the blue in the qualifier, their only appearance of the week. In the championship, stablemates Jessica Curl and Undulata’s Health Nutt made the last pass on a wonderful Pink Ribbon night. Also in the amateur division, Heir’s Sugar N Spice WRF was the mare winner with Rachel Kufeldt.
Randy Cates greeted Katie Cunningham and the bold moving Catalyst’s Blonde Ambition in the winner’s circle twice. The second time was the Junior Exhibitor Five-Gaited Championship where Sara Bratcher and Madeira’s Taste of Reality were reserve grand champions from Lone Star Saddlebreds.
Virgil Helm consistently puts gaited horses in the winner’s circle at Chapter 5. This year Positive Proof was his novice winner and Grand Master Flash was a most impressive junior champion. From Reedannland, Amberwood’s Risky Business was the Three-Year-Old Five-Gaited winner for Nancy Schned. On of the stars of the entire show, He’s Here For The Party was sensational as the UPHA Three-Year-Old Five-Gaited Classic Champion for B & T Vonderschmitt LLC and trainer Bob Brison. This colt has a big career ahead of him.
Taking the title as the most gifted horse of the week was Three-Gaited Jackpot Grand Champion and open class winner The Road Less Traveled. Riding for Thomas Brock, Jim Lowry had this star marching like there was no tomorrow. Lowry’s wife Fay had the same type of ride with Ladies Three-Gaited Champion Stonecroft Nightlight, owned by Dwayne Kinderknecht and Karrie Graham.
Making her trip from Colorado worthwhile, Stacey Kipper and Promised Love triumphed in the Amateur Three-Gaited Championship where Diana Ennis and Uncle Charlie were reserve grand champions. Theresa Vonderschmitt and Mr. Center Stage were victors in the qualifier, their only performance of the week.
Missy Hughes had the Ever Glades stock in top order all week along and topping the list was multi-titled world’s grand champion CH An Heir About Her. The Supreme Heir daughter looked like a three-year-old again and Marjorie Townsend rode her to both juvenile wins like a pro. Samantha Baker rode out with the reserve grand champion Hot Couture.
Jim Lowry was back on top with The Black Horse, winning the Novice Three-Gaited class in his trimmed debut for Bonus Time Farm LLC. Virgil Helm emerged from the Junior Three-Gaited class with a blue while riding last year’s UPHA Classic Grand Champion Re Energized. Always having a top young horse, Tom Scott presented Just Surprize Me to win the UPHA Classic.
Riding for Priscilla Marconi, Jim Lowry swept the open park division with Designed For Blue with Cross Creek’s assistant trainer, Hannah Teutsch taking reserve grand champion honors with Katie Cunningham’s That’s Chicago. Mark and Kelly Hulse put Brooke Bowen in the winner’s circle twice with amateur champion Guevarra. Kara Germana rode Callaway’s Right Triumphs Might. Also in the park division, Bob Brison piloted Theresa Vonderschmitt’s Soquili’s Cavalier to the winner’s circle in the Junior Three-Gaited Park class.
Last year Dr. Alan Raun and It’s Dan The Man swept the UPHA 5 crowd off its feet before going on to win the Junior Fine Harness World’s Championship for then new owner Anna Marie Knipp. Despite still recovering from a horse related injury, Knipp was in the buggy at Chapter 5 and what a show the It’s Hammertime son put on. With chin on his chest and marching off both ends, It’s Dan the Man was the Fine Harness Jackpot Grand Champion and amateur winner. Open winner I’m A Lucky Charm was reserve grand champion with Mike Roberts. Stablemate Lady Vol paraded to the blue in the ladies class with owner Chris Kaplan at the whip. Ann Curl added to her Des Moines successes with another victory pass behind Arc’s I Can Teach You To Tango.
Young harness winners included Silver Trinket with Jan Burden in the Three-Year-Old class and Heir Color with Louis Louw in the UPHA Classic.
Someone asked the question, "How many miles do you think Dr. Raun has been in a harness buggy and viceroy?" and the answer from Doc is too many to count. He applied his knowledge to the explosive Twin Willow’s McDreamy to put it all together for the bright young star over the winter. Last year he caught people’s attention with his presence and athletic ability but consistency was not a part of their game. After a winter’s worth of homework, McDreamy appears to be firing on all cylinders as this year’s Road Pony Grand Champion and open class winner. Marcia Hollands and Not My Pony drove off with the reserve grand championship.
Another pony with world-class credentials, Buckwheat was a standout in the Amateur Road Pony Championship with Nicole Lawrence driving the Stephens College entry to the tricolor ahead of the highly decorated Zeus, driven by Cindy Cram. Buckwheat also made the victory pass in the qualifier. Max Kaplan gave Late Nite’s Basic Impact a blue ribbon drive in the AHHS Youth Medallion Road Pony class, while Megan Nicole Harrison drove Forever And Ever to the UPHA Road Pony Classic blue.
Reedannland ruled most of the pony division with Dr. Raun driving conqueror’s Colleen LF to the Harness Pony Championship and qualifying blue; daughter Kate Frieberg drove Heartland Undeniable to the Hackney Pony Championship and qualifying blue, and Peg Johnston drove Velvet King to the Hackney Pleasure Driving Pony Championship and blue. High Spirits Farm had the reserve grand champions in Estoban and One More Time. Under the direction of Kent Swalla, Stacey Swalla drove Mastercraft’s Sandman LF to the Limit Hackney Pleasure Driving Pony title.
World titleholder CH Callaway’s Kit Carson has changed divisions and with Maguire Hall in the irons under the direction of Randy Cates, Kit Carson sailed past the competition as the Five-Gaited Show Pleasure Grand Champion and qualifying winner. Always pushing the competition, CH Callaway’s Dealbreaker was twice reserve with Betts Coup. Adding two more winning ribbons to the Ever Glades tack room, Cara Clara was the Junior Exhibitor Five-Gaited Show Pleasure Grand Champion and qualifying winner with Marjorie Townsend. Their closest competition was Got It Made with Nicole Tucker.
Moving up two places from the qualifier, Star Sighting was the Park Pleasure Grand Champion with Jim Lowry riding for Priscilla Marconi. Coming from the junior class, Odeon and Nikki Harrison were the reserve grand champions. Robert Stezovsky and Mozzarella had won the open class.
The best of the Amateur Park Pleasure horses turned out to be Tell More, an entry owned and ridden by Heather Hanson. They won both classes with Hayden Hisey and Cassini as the reserve grand champion. Virgil Helm rode Birkett to the Junior Park Pleasure blue and Louis Louw guided Reedannland’s Reedann’s Designed To Dance to the UPHA Park Pleasure Classic.
Bringing an absolutely great week for Lowry Stables to a close, Sir Richard Dale and Priscilla Marconi were judge Clark’s top choice for the Adult Show Pleasure Championship just as they had been in the qualifier. World’s champion CH Catalyst Commander made it a deep class with two reserves for Maguire Hall.
Morgan Brison also added to her family’s success with two winning rides aboard Soquili’s Sir Galahad in the juvenile show pleasure ranks. Her impressive rides were followed by Jennifer Van Horn and Vegas Dreams in the championship and The Majestic Lady and Avis Van Zomeren in the qualifier. Sara Baker and Talladega Red picked up a novice rider blue.
What a beautiful team Karrie Graham and A Cinderella Story make. They were twice champions in the Show Pleasure Driving action where Salty Santana and Anne Rea had to settle for the reserve championship.
Mike Roberts greeted Betts Coup and Unanimous Consent as they were called out the champions of the Adult Country Pleasure division. Nicole Lawrence’s Absolute On The Rocks finished as reserve grand champion while qualifying winners Kalarama’s Mesmerized and Lynn Brown were third in the deep championship.
It was a battle of World’s Champion Of Champions in the Junior Exhibitor Country Pleasure Championship. New to the division, CH Teuschers paraded as the grand champion with Audrey Lowry catch riding for Rebecca Boorstein. Current world’s champion of champions, Callaway’s Winning Number and Alice Rowland had topped the qualifier before finishing as reserve grand champions.
Also in the country section, Highpoint’s Prince and Katrina Fox won the novice rider class; Callaway’s Cumulus and Susan Aschenbrenner both driving classes and Whiskey Tango the Western Pleasure Championship and qualifier.
Trimmed equitation was extremely light in numbers outside of the walk and trot division. Betsy Bartle was the 13 & under winner and Alice Rowland was the USEF Medal winner, while Katie Williams was awarded the UPHA 13 & Under Challenge Cup.
A sport every step of the way, Harriet Townsend rode to the Walk and Trot Saddle Seat Equitation Championship with Peyton Bartley as the reserve grand champion. Cross Creek’s Emma Wood was triumphant in the UPHA Walk and Trot Challenge Cup.
Under the direction of her mom, Renae, Nadine Van Zomeren rode as the Pleasure Equitation Grand Champion and MSHA Medallion winner. Her top challengers in the championship included the top Morgan rider, Mattie Willard who was reserve to Morgan Brison in the Pleasure Equitation qualifier. A Five-Gaited Horsemanship blue went to Natalie Stezovsky.
The Morgan owners and trainers also brought their share of show ring stars to Kansas City. Peeper Ranch maintained their strong support of UPHA Chapter 5 with a large string of their top champions along with several promising new teams competing. Dawn Fire and Graycliff Tony began their 2010 campaign earning the Amateur English Pleasure blue and tricolor. The four-year-old Optimus Prime drew rave reviews in his winning performances in the Open English Pleasure division with Kristen Tramposh in the irons. Dawn Fire enjoyed her debut with Bear’s Covergirl to jog away with top honors in the amateur western pleasure division, while daughter Jaden Fire matched up with PTR Raz Ma Taz to win the Walk-Jog Western Pleasure blue.
The clients of Peeper Ranch enjoyed a great show as well with trainer Phil Fountain directing Lake Holiday Magic and Bailey Bartley to a memorable victory pass in the Park Saddle Stake for John and Claudette McCoy. Fountain debuted Sally Lyle’s dynamic chestnut Set The Stage for the UPHA Pleasure Driving Classic victory. Kay Schroeder teamed up with Hello Kitty to carry home the Ladies English Pleasure Championship. The Grand National Championship team of RWF Walk In The Park and Jennifer Lorenz started off the season with a pair of victories in the Junior Exhibitor English Pleasure division. World Champion Toast Of Broadway and new rider Jessica Butler matched up for a pair of victories in the Junior Exhibitor Hunter Pleasure, while Kristen Tramposh introduced Lake Holiday Angelia to the winner’s circle in the Junior English Pleasure for owner Brian Butler. PSC Nicolle debuted as the winner in the Junior Hunter Pleasure division with Kristen Tramposh aboard for Pamela Curry Siemers.
The Green family of Ten Star Ranch continued their winning season with a trip to Kansas City. John Green handled the lines of Roadshow Pop Rocks for the Classic Pleasure Driving blue and reserve tricolor. Jamie Willard matched up with Roadshow Steppin Out for the Amateur English Pleasure Reserve Championship, while daughter Mattie showed Abracabam to the Classic Pleasure Saddle Championship along with blue ribbon wins in performance and equitation. Gina Pruetz cheered on daughters Sarah and Molly who earned blue ribbons in the hunt seat and leadline divisions respectively.
The Bartley family enjoyed a great show as Brett Bartley teamed up with Fight Song to make the Classic Pleasure Driving Championship victory pass, in addition to cheering on daughters Bailey and Peyton to their tricolor rides.
Lowry Stables brought home tricolors from the Morgan as well as the Saddlebred divisions including Flintwood Cracker Jack, the winner of the Ladies and Open Western Pleasure Championships with Fay Lowry directing for TVT Morgans.
Kelly Kraegel Varner and her clients continued a successful season with AMHF Spirited Heiress, EV Santa Fe Special, and Jean Louise Finch all earning blues and or tricolors in the western pleasure division, while Castleridge Cambio Corda earned a trio of victory passes in the hunter pleasure division. The new team of Hailey Bolton and KJM Moulin Rouge earned the AMHA Hunt Seat Medal and Hunt Seat Equitation Championship, while stablemates Brianna Berg, Abby McCalmont and Ryne Swope also enjoyed top ribbons in the western seat equitation division.
SPR Patriot and Jenny Chiddix swept top honors in the Amateur Hunter Pleasure with the ladies champion Roadshow Jesse James and Britni Olsen in reserve.
Shaughnessy Morris and her riders earned several top ribbons including the Open Western Pleasure blue with Menomin Major Issue, who also earned top honors in the junior exhibitor division with Danielle Stuerman with Merriehill Rythem Nation and Ryenn Nicole Johns in reserve.
Another UPHA Chapter 5 Horse Show came to a close with great hospitality, great show ring battles and an ongoing great cause raising money for the Pink Ribbon program with Chuck A Duck, t-shirt sales and Rick Curl donating proceeds from the sale of his book Like Two Peas.
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