UPHA/AHHS Convention Continues Informative, Well Received New Format
Friday, January 18, 2008

by Leeann Mione

ROANOKE, Va. - This year’s combined convention for the UPHA and AHHS memberships began just after the new year arrived and once again banked on the success of last year’s new format to provide lots of information and entertaining awards banquets to those who attended.

Numerous roundtable discussions on a variety of subjects filled most of the day Friday and Saturday and like last year, seemed to be well attended and well received. Wednesday, prior to the start of the convention, the UPHA and AHHA Board of Directors held their respective meetings.

Safety both in and out of the show ring was a big focus of the weekend and a CPR/Basic First Aid class was held Wednesday afternoon.

The Virginia Horse Center, arguably one of the country’s best horse show facilities, was the site for Thursday’s live clinics featuring a great group of trainers and guest speakers. Transportation was provided from the Hotel Roanoke to the horse center, located in Lexington, Va.

Smith Lilly was the first clinician and he gave a live demonstration on horseback while talking to the crowd about gaiting a young horse. After showing some of his techniques, Lilly then dismounted and answered questions from the crowd.

Smith Lilly demonstrated gaiting a

young horse at Thursday morning’s

seminar at the Virginia Horse Center.

James Nichols and Bret Day were next in the ring. They invited the crowd to move down into the ring to get a closer look as they discussed care and maintenance of tails. As the crowd gathered round, Nichols and Day demonstrated applying tailsets and braces and gave tips on what had worked well for them.

James Nichols and Bret Day invited

the crowd down into the ring when they

demonstrated care and maintenance of tails.

Gary Altizer assisted their presentation.

Upstairs in the conference room Dr. Wendy Murdoch gave an interesting and informative presentation about bending and flexing through dressage. What makes good movement? According to Murdoch, breeding, conformation, reflexes and training combine to achieve good movement. She also asked, “How great could the modern show horse be if – 1. We took away any pain and 2. We educated the horse to their full potential?”

Lunch was provided and afterwards the presentations continued. Dr. Martha Moses discussed acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine, which has been increasing in popularity to treat horses.

Dr. Scott Bennett took the floor to discuss numerous veterinary issues including pre-purchase exams and the important new breakthroughs in equine veterinary medicine. Bennett discussed the options available when requesting pre-purchase exams. The exams can be relatively basic or as in depth as necessary including nuclear scintigraphy, digital radiology, ultrasound, endoscopy and magnetic resonance imaging.

The group moved back downstairs where Ruth Gimpel, Ronnie Graham and Bill Waller demonstrated and discussed harnessing the right way. Their informative talk was followed by a demonstration of how teaching patterns can benefit both horse and rider, not only in the equitation division but in the performance ranks as well. Sarah Byers and Alexandra Lilly both spoke about why they incorporate pattern work into their training and instruction and the benefits of doing so.

Gary Altizer, Danny and Nancy Troutman assisted by providing horses used in the demonstrations and by holding horses for the speakers when required. A wine tasting, featuring several popular Virginia wines, both red and white, drew lots of praise from the crowd and the day’s activities seemed to be extremely popular and a hit with those who attended.

The evening was dedicated to the AHHS and their national award presentations and auction. Cocktails began at 6 p.m., followed by dinner, auction and the presentation of the 2007 National Award winners. The live auction featured numerous items including two RaDon bar height director’s chairs in color of choice. The chairs were sold separately and brought total bids of $220. Beth Jones donated a week at her beach house in Clearwater, Fla. The house can accommodate six people and was sold for $1,300. The Freedman cash-filled briefcase, donated by David Freedman, brought $1,100. Sandra Surber, on the mend after recent knee replacement surgery, donated a beautiful book titled “The Hackney – Sketches and Reflections”. It was sold for $600. The live auction raised nearly $5,000 total to benefit the AHHS. The silent auction also drew lots of interest with nearly 40 items available.

After the auction, the awards were presented. Christy Gantley presented the USEF Hackney regional awards (see list below). Then Amber Estis took the stage to present the national awards. Ed and Jean Wilson were named the Mr. and Mrs. John Costello Breeders Of The Year. Vern Houston was unable to attend to pick up his 2007 Lydia Luhman Pederson Distinguished Service Award. Christy Gantley was named the Anna Lee Spires Judd Amateur Exhibitor Of The Year. Lauren Mathewson was unable to attend, so Randy and Denessa Harper and Mathewson’s uncle, David Swezey, accepted the “Spirit Of The Medallion” award on her behalf. Shannon Ella was named the Junior Exhibitor/Youth Of The Year and Larry Bacon received the Bill G. Robinson Trainer Of The Year Award.

David Swezy, Denessa Harper and Randy Harper

accept Lauren Mathewson’s award from Amber Estis.

Friday morning began with the UPHA Active Membership Meeting, which included the election of officers. Chuck Herbert, UPHA President; Jim Taylor, UPHA First Vice President; James Nichols, UPHA Second Vice President; Bret Day and Larry Bacon took their place at the front of the room to serve as the panel.

Nominations and seconds were made from the floor and all the officers were reelected. Day replaces John T. Jones who resigned in 2007.

The Associate Membership Meeting took place Friday morning as well, and new officers were elected. Owen Weaver was elected president and Lynn Gutches Snowden was elected vice president.

The associate membership has spent the last two years in various committee work and plans to implement projects focusing on promoting Saddlebreds and Hackneys to various non-industry magazines and develop a media kit that horse shows and individuals can use in their areas to let the general public know about horse shows and horse related events.

The associate membership is also developing a riding lesson support system to aid in the development of new riding programs on a national level and is working in conjunction with the equitation committee.

Friday’s roundtable sessions addressed a variety of topics. Those in attendance were free to listen to the presentations in any order they wanted and for as long as they wanted.

Scott Matton, Patty Milligan and Nancy Troutman spoke about how to move lesson clients to the show ring. Despite the fact that all three trainers have very different circumstances and their businesses are very different, all three agreed that having the involvement and support of the parents was key in the successfully moving riders into the show ring.

David Freedman discussed cleaning and preserving leather. He stressed that if you want your leather to shine, you cannot oil it. He spoke of particular products he preferred, natural products versus synthetic, and also how to clean and restore tack if it is soaked by rain. “It’s easier to start the year with a perfectly prepared harness and brass. It makes it much easier to maintain,” said Freedman. He also spoke of the difference between harness leather and bridle leather, which has a drier tannage and does not have tallows and black dye.

David Freedman of Freedman Harness

Chris Gantley and Tom Lowry presented information about training the pony from pasture to show ring. Both trainers have different philosophies and methods but both have trained numerous world’s champions. Lowry showed a video demonstrating how he uses a bullpen when working with a young pony. He also uses “shaft trainers” which are metal poles covered with pvc pipe and help get a pony used to turning and pulling. Gantley prefers to use the biggest field he can find when hooking a young pony for the first time.

Chris Gantley and Tom Lowry

at their round table discussion.

Kayce Bell, Ann Wilkinson and Owen Weaver discussed how to promote our horses to different markets. Bell stole the show with her presentation “Ten Marketing Ideas in 10 Minutes”. She stressed that marketing in this day and age has to go multimedia. The local Chamber Of Commerce is a valuable resource. Videotaping a rider or horse once a month and posting on your barn’s website is a great way to increase traffic as word of mouth travels from family and friends. Yet another idea suggested was to “discard your traditional expectations and follow the entertainment market leaders.”

Kayce Bell, Ann Wilkinson and Owen Weaver

discussed “Promoting Our Horse to Different

Markets” in a round table discussion Friday morning.

Wilkinson spoke of the difficulty finding American Saddlebred barns and horse shows when she relocated to Washington, D.C. and the work involved in getting shows started in unfamiliar markets. She stressed the point that you’ll never know until you ask. Asking is the first step and often the hardest. You may get a “no” but you won’t get any answer if you don’t ask.

Owen Weaver, newly elected president of the associate membership, spoke about promoting Saddlebreds to other breed publications. She also recommended taking equine publications that may be at home or the barn to doctor’s offices and hospitals in the community to serve as reading material in waiting rooms. Youth groups are also a great asset for marketing.

Paul Boone, Rob Byers and Lynn Peeples addressed barn management. One of the tips from Byers was to have a great relationship with your local banker and a good investment counselor. He also suggested utilizing employees’ other skills such as carpentry, painting, etc. Boone said time management was one of the biggest keys to his success. With a very large group of customers and horses, Boone said any and every measure that can be taken to save time helps get the work done each day. Peeples discussed how to keep employees organized and consistent. His grooms are in charge of not only caring for the horses they are responsible for all of the tack and equipment for those horses as well.

Paul Boone, Rob Byers and Lynn Peeples

discussed barn management for

their round table discussion.

The roundtable format has proven to be a great way to present information to convention attendees. Rather than going from meeting room to meeting room or having to pick and choose when presentations overlap, the new format lets people listen and learn about only what they are interested in. They can choose to rotate around the room or stay at a presentation more than once.

The Horse/Pony Of The Year luncheon drew a big crowd and only those in attendance could vote for the winners. Ballots were handed out and then collected at the door when the luncheon ended. (See separate edit for a list of the winners.)

After the luncheon, William Whitley III, Peter Fenton, Kent Moeller, Jimmy Robertson, Betsy Boone, Kayce Bell, LeeAnn Altizer and Dr. Scott Bennett led a discussion entitled “Safety In The Show Ring – Do’s and Don’ts In An Emergency.

2007 was a terrible year for accidents in the show ring, and this seminar was one of the best of the weekend. Presenting much needed information from a variety of perspectives: manager, announcer, ringmaster, veterinarian, USEF Safety Committee, CPR instructor/police officer and parent was a great idea and drew lots of questions from the audience.

Scott Bennett discussed the protocol for emergency care. Step 1: triage to assess and secure the human being(s). Step 2: Secure and control the other horses in the ring. Step 3: Call EMTs if people are injured. Step 4: Veterinarian and/or other professional horsemen triage and treat the horse(s). Step 5: The ringmasters and announcers must also control the crowd.

Altizer pointed out that the effects of an accident aren’t always immediately felt and while it is often human nature to jump right up and get back on, the rider/driver should be encouraged to slow down and take their time in deciding whether or not they can remount.

Fenton stressed that the Saddlebred industry is the leader and our industry is very much admired by other breeds. “Together” is the key word and he urged everyone to take the information they learned in the seminar home to their local horse shows and communities.

Kent Moeller spoke of the importance of an emergency plan. There should be a meeting before the horse show starts so that everyone can be apprised of the plan and just exactly what the procedures are if there is an accident. So often at smaller shows around the country, volunteers make up the largest part of the staff handling various duties. They may or may not have much horse experience. Smaller shows may not have an ambulance on the grounds.

Bill Whitley urged exhibitors to always go to the middle instead of stopping on the rail if there is an emergency. He added that each show must have a contingency plan such as is typical at the larger horse shows. He asked the question, “What if the lights go out and you’re suddenly in the dark?” Emergency lighting may not be bright enough to be able to truly assess the situation.

Bell urged everyone to be willing to just say “no”. No matter how much time, money, effort and energy have gone into getting to a show and getting into the ring, if that inner voice is sending warning bells and something just doesn’t feel right, just say “no”. There will always be another show, another class, another day.

Friday afternoon’s discussion about safety

in the show ring prompted much discussion

from attendees including Dr. Gene Ress

who said, “Do no harm.”

This forum was informative and long overdue and could have gone on even longer. It didn’t come across as all “doom and gloom”, rather as a varied group of professionals addressing a topic of concern to everyone in the show horse industry.

The equitation forum featured guest speaker Betty Baird-Kregor, formerly a nationally ranked golfer and current LPGA Class A Teaching Professional.

Baird-Kregor discussed the DiSC program she uses to evaluate students in order to better relate to them as a teacher. The program divides behavioral style into one of four categories: dominant, influencing, steady or conscientious. The program outlines strengths and limitations of each style which provides useful tips on how to better relate to people. The program is ideal for trainers/instructors and students. Everyone that attended the forum answered a questionnaire that Baird-Kregor had adapted for the horse industry to determine their behavioral style. Baird-Kregor made the forum fun, informative and entertaining and it was a big hit.

Friday night’s dinner, auction and awards gala was well attended and the auction raised more than $20,000 for the UPHA. Live auction items included a package for the All American Classic Horse Show and All American Cup. Two stalls, six box seats, a three night stay at the Indianapolis Sheraton, $100 food certificate and two dinner tickets for the All American Cup Stallion Service Auction brought $650.

Freedman Harness donated three beautiful carry-on bags. Highest bidder could have their choice of one of the three and the luggage sold for $1,500. The “Horseman’s Dream” muck basket filled with assorted items including a work bridle from Shelby Horse Supply, clippers and cash sold for $1,500. The six box seats on the front row of the grandstand side, along with four VIP parking passes at Lexington Junior League Horse Show sold for $600. RaDon donated a deluxe two- or three-color tack room and the highest bid was $1,200. An in-hand pony show harness, donated by Walsh Harness, brought $350.

The World’s Championship Horse Show package, which included one room at the Executive West for the week, two lower level box seats and one “official” parking pass went for $1,600 and was donated by the horse show and the Executive West Hotel.

Don Moore donated a full fly spray system with a 50-gallon drum with motor. The item was valued at $2,000 and sold for $600.

Solid brass harness brasses mounted on custom chocolate bridle leather, donated by Kennedy Harness Company, sold for $300.

The Royal Treatment at the UPHA American Royal National Championship Horse Show included three stalls, three programs, three badges and three parking passes. Tickets and use of a suite for 14 people Saturday night during the show, 11 additional programs and two VIP parking passes were also included. The package sold for $750.

Southern Venture donated one trip for one horse to Kansas City for the UPHA American Royal and it sold for $400.

A custom riding suit by Le Cheval, Ltd, was valued at $2,000 and sold for $2,100.        

An original bronze sculpture by Alexa King titled “Two-Year-Old Fine Harness” was valued at $3,500 and sold for $2,500. The bronze is the first in the edition Champions of the Saddlebred Show Ring Series.

Box seats for six and six tickets to the Horseman’s Club for the four nights of the Shelbyville Horse Show brought $600 and was donated by the horse show.

A $1,000 gift certificate to Jerald Sulky Company sold for $1,300.

The highest priced item up for bid was a weeklong stay (summer or winter) at a condo in Sun Valley, Idaho. The winning bid was $3,000.

Peter Fenton served as emcee for the awards presentations. History was made Friday night when it was announced that Peter and Lynn Via had been selected to receive both the Sallie B. Wheeler Distinguished Service Award and the Associate Members Of The Year Award. Both award committees nominated the Vias without any knowledge that the other committee had selected them as well. Never before has the same person(s) won two different awards from the UPHA in the same year. Nancy Trent presented the associate award and Sally Jackson presented the Sallie Wheeler award.

Jane Bennett and Gayle Lampe presented the Helen Crabtree Instructor Of The Year Award to Renee Biggins. Ray Cloninger received the Herman Miles Horse Show Manager Of The Year Award for the second time in his career. William Whitley III presented the award.

Joan Lurie presented the UPHA Shirley Parkinson Professional Achievement Award to Fran Crumpler.

Midwest Charity was named the National Honor Show. Paul Briney and Margaret Strano accepted the award. Show manager Fred Nava headed to the front of the room to pick up the New England Morgan Regional National Honor Show Award.

Midwest Charity was named the 2007 UPHA Saddlebred
National Honor Show. Paul Briney and Margaret Strano (photo on
left) accepted from Bret Day. Manager Fred Nava (photo on right)
accepted the award for 2007 UPHA Morgan National Honor Show
from Bret Day on  behalf of New England Morgan Regional.
Photos by Jacobs.

The UPHA General Membership meeting kicked things off Saturday morning. The rule change forum had a lot of proposed rule changes to review but many were just a change in the language and considered to be just a “housekeeping” issue as the rulebook is being rewritten and language of many rules was changed in an effort to make it more standardized and make rules easier to find. Carrie Mortensen from USEF led the rule change discussion.

Some proposed rule changes prompted a straw vote by the UPHA membership and results of those votes were to be taken to the USEF Convention to be held in Louisville, Ky. Kim Crumpler proposed a rule to allow registered Standardbreds and non-registered horses to compete in the roadster horse division. The straw poll overwhelmingly approved the rule change.

One of the biggest topics of conversation came from rule SB105.6 The American Saddlebred Registry proposed the rule change regarding how judges are to interpret “severely penalized”. The rule change specified that in a class where more horses than the number of ribbon winners complete all required gaits in each direction, in the case of a low back which is to be “severely penalized” the horse can be placed no higher than behind 50 percent of available ribbons. For example in a class with eight ribbons, a severely penalized horse can place no higher than fifth.

The straw poll overwhelmingly disapproved the rule change and the Saddlebred committee at the USEF Convention will discuss the results of the poll.

Another proposed rule change that prompted a lot of conversation was one that dealt with the issue of stripping classes. The straw poll overwhelmingly disapproved the rule change as written because it included verbiage that required horses to be lined up head to tail for stripping. Most members in the room felt that lining up head to tail was a safety issue. In addition, most members wanted horse shows to be able to decide if their Five-Gaited and Three-Gaited Championships should strip or not. Rather than having to call those classes “stakes” in order to avoid stripping, most members present felt they could be called championships and not be stripped if the horse show decided not to.

The proposed rule change regarding undisclosed dual agents had already been disapproved by the USEF Equitation, Saddlebred and roadster committees and was overwhelmingly disapproved in the straw poll because the majority of people voting felt that the rule fell outside the USEF’s governance.

In addition to rule changes there was general business to discuss at the general membership meeting. The ballot distributed at Friday afternoon’s horse/pony of the year luncheon had prompted a lot of conversation because several horses that many felt were deserving were left off the ballot. UPHA has relied on the US postal system to deliver the nomination forms and many trainers claimed they never received them. Jim Taylor told the group that committees have now been established and will be charged with following up and making sure a required number of horses is nominated in each class.

The board also approved the pink ribbon class as a national championship undertaking. Ann Rowland spoke of the success of the first pink ribbon class, the Ladies Five-Gaited Championship at the UPHA American Royal. UPHA will supply the pink ribbons and trophy for each class and Kayce Bell has created a “tool kit” to help horse shows add it to their schedule.

Scarlett Mattson spoke about the new rules for qualifying pleasure horses for the World’s Championship Horse Show. The qualifying period began July 1, 2007, and will end June 30, 2008. USEF non-rated shows will be included for horses to earn points but only if results, date held, where held and contact information are provided to ASHA by the deadline. Horses can also earn points to qualify in both junior exhibitor and adult classes with the exception of open pleasure, park pleasure and walk and trot pleasure. Horses must show at three shows in six classes to qualify and no points are awarded if there is only one horse in the class.

Mattson also said that last year there were 535 pleasure horses entered at Louisville. This qualification system allows for 515 entries. Show and qualification records won’t be checked until the number exceeds 515. Horses who are starting the 2008 show season with zero points or who changed divisions early in the year, may be hard pressed to be able to get enough points to qualify.

It was obvious by the end of the discussion that the qualification system is going to have some wrinkles to iron out in its first year, but Jim Taylor made the point that this has not been an overnight decision or recent development. UPHA has been the biggest proponent of the qualification system as a way to help horse shows at the grass roots level. All the boards agreed 12 years ago to work on and submit a proposal for qualification.

Fred Sarver led a somewhat heated discussion about the Two-Year-Old Three-Gaited Unset Tail class which he says has been approved by the Saddlebred committee to be added permanently to the World’s Championship Horse Show schedule and renamed the Castleman Stake.

The Kentucky State Fair board ultimately decides if it goes in or stays out now that the official two-year review period is up. Five UPHA and five ASHA members are advisors to the Kentucky State Fair board. The discussion about the class could have and probably would have gone on all morning if there had been no time constraints. A straw poll was taken and the vote was 63 against, four in favor of the class and nine people abstained from the vote.

Chapter horsemen and women of the year were honored, as were the chapter honor shows. James Nichols and Bret Day presented those awards. (See separate article for the winners).

The AHHS general membership meeting and elections were also held Saturday morning. Judy Lowry was reelected president. Sandra Surber was elected vice president, Kathy Barlow is AHHS secretary and Lambert “Junior” Schut is treasurer. Lowry also introduced the five new board members: David Estis, Randy Harper, Pat Kennedy, Maureen Lydon and Jim Spurrier. Lpwry then gave a brief overview of the board meeting.

Judy Lowry was reelected as AHHS president

in the AHHS general membership meeting.

The AHHS raised some fees for 2008 and beyond in their board meeting Wednesday afternoon. Lowry also said that financial statements showed a very strong base for the year.

The studbook is scheduled to go to the printer by April 1, 2008, and the board voted to take the necessary steps to put the Hackney registry online.

In the Hackney rule change forum, most of the proposed rule changes were “housekeeping issues” to change the verbiage and numbers for consistency. Like the UPHA Saddlebred, roadster and equitation rule changes, the Hackney rule change regarding undisclosed dual agents was disapproved. Most felt that the issue fell outside the USEF’s governance.

On behalf of the AHHS, Lowry thanked Brent Jacobs for chairing the auction and raffle as well as Jane and Brooke Jacobs for their hard work and assistance. She also thanked Chris Gantley, chair of the Limited Breeders’ Stakes committee, and Christy Gantley for their work on the stallion service auction.

Photo by Jacobs.
         

Due to the hard work and efforts of board members, Lowry summed up her thanks by acknowledging their efforts in finishing 2007 strong and being in great shape for the start of 2008.

The group then moved to the AHHS luncheon and stallion service auction. The traditional reverse 50/50 raffle which raises money by selling tickets for $100 each drew names in reverse order throughout the luncheon. Names number 25, 50 and 75 each received $100. Name number 100 received their choice of a Freedman pony harness, Grand National horse harness or Freedman Saddle. Barbara Fitzpatrick not only received her $100 back as ticket number 50 but also had ticket number 100. Mary Wahl and Katherine Boyd also won their $100 back.

The stallion service auction offered 49 stallions and the high seller was featured stallion Dun-Haven Phenomenal. Sired by Dun-Haven Center Attraction and out of Dun-Haven So Lovely, the service sold for $3,500. The stallion fee goes towards the three-year-old class.

Twentieth Century also brought a high fee and was the second highest selling stallion.  Jeff and Mary McClean bought the service they had donated for $3,250.

Services that did not sell the first time were auctioned off again and the total amount raised was nearly $20,000.

The Morgan group had their luncheon Saturday afternoon and nearly 30 people attended. Carrie Mortensen went over current rule change proposals. The group voted unanimously to support the proposed rule change to allow added hair. Most of the other rule change proposals were verbiage and number changes as housekeeping issues.

Dr. Owen Weaver addressed the group about some of the marketing ideas being discussed by the associate membership. Fred Nava reported to the group about the Grand National and World Championship Morgan Horse Show. He encouraged everyone to do their part by making themselves available whenever possible to judge the show. The small size of the judging pool is one of the most difficult dilemmas faced by the show.

Nava also informed the group that the issue with the fire retardant versus flammable ceiling has been taken care of and the prize list will specifically state what is acceptable.

Dr. Kathy Egly was the guest speaker at the Associates Forum Saturday afternoon. Egly is an emergency room physician from Roanoke who is a three-day event rider and recently adopted three Saddlebreds as part of a Saddlebred rescue.

Egly’s presentation continued the weekend’s theme of discussing and promoting safety in the show ring. She addressed the group about what to do in case of an accident before professional help arrives. Head injuries, victims who are breathing or not breathing, broken bones and sprains. Especially interesting was her demonstration of how to use common items found around the barn such as leg wraps, shipping boots, ladders, etc, to stabilize a victim until emergency personnel can take over. Her presentation was very well received and very hands-on which made it easy to understand and remember.

Saturday night was dedicated to glamour and the awards gala, which included dinner and dancing, wrapped up a successful weekend in style.

Jim Taylor took the podium to thank the UPHA and AHHS members who attended and Shirley Parkinson received a standing ovation when she was paid special thanks for her role in the convention’s success. Fox Grape Farm, Ceil and Kenny Wheeler, Hillcroft Farm, Independent Equine Agents, The Big Lonely, Leatherwood Farm, Bent Tree Farm, Plamp-Keen Agency, Fish N Fun Farm, Dr. T. J and Georgia Blevins, Friends of the Hackney and the Southeastern Hackney Association, as sponsors of the convention were also acknowledged and thanked by Taylor. Winners of the UPHA Classics and UPHA Challenge Cups were recognized as well. (See separate article for the winners).

Matt Shiflet then headed up front to present the Young Trainer Of The Year Award to Clark Clouse. An emotional Clouse paid tribute to his family for his successes.

The 11 overall winners of the Horse/Pony Of The Year Awards, as tabulated from the ballots turned in from Friday’s luncheon were announced.

According To Lynn was named the overall five-gaited winner for the second year in a row.

Mary Gaylord McClean was joined by UPHA

Horsepersons Of The Year Rob and Sarah Byers

when she accepted the UPHA Overall Five-Gaited

Horse Of The Year Award from Jim Taylor

on Saturday night. Photo by Jacobs.

Rounding out an undefeated season, Our Charming Lady was named the overall three-gaited winner, topping the seven-entry field.

Joe Friday was the overall fine harness champion, and CH French Silk Stockings was named the overall pleasure horse of the year. The eight-horse field of pleasure horses was the largest. Big Red was again named overall road horse of the year. Fancy Ribbons won the overall Hackney Pony award and Vindicator was the overall harness pony winner.

The Rosburg/Gimpel team picked up five horse of
the year awards including Joe Friday’s overall fine harness
and open wins. Helen Rosburg and Ruth Gimpel accepted
from Jim Taylor. Photo by Jacobs.

Free Willy, in contention for a USEF Pony Of The Year award, was the winner of the overall roadster pony of the year. Early Edition won the overall award for the Hackney Pleasure Driving category for the second year in a row.

Bellerophon was the overall Morgan Park Horse and Boogie Nights was the overall Morgan Pleasure Horse.