Winter In New England . . . Morgan Style!
Monday, February 7, 2005
The New England Morgan Horse Association (NEMHA) has hosted a weekend get-together annually for the past several years. It gives club members the chance to catch up on the happenings since show season, enjoy clinics and seminars, celebrate the previous season's circuit champions, and have club and show meetings and elect directors for the new year. This year's NEMHA Weekend held on January 21-23 also served as the grand opening of New England's newest state of the art facility Taylor River Farm.
The Gove family of Taylor River Farm extended an open invitation to the Morgan community for an Open House on Friday evening. The Goves along with trainer Richard Boulé greeted approximately 100 guest to show off the heated facility and its equine occupants. Taylor River Farm is proud to offer a wide variety of services in training, sales and lessons to horse enthusiasts of all ability levels. The farm's innovative business plan features two entities, the training and lesson programs which are run independently of each other, yet under the same blanket of excellence.
Taylor River Farm is located on 25 beautiful acres in the heart of New Hampshire's seacoast in Hampton Falls, just minutes from I-95, Route 1 and Route 101. The barn expertly created by Morton Buildings and Tony Fallon Architecture is two-stories featuring 30 stalls with an attached 81' by 202' heated indoor arena, and a heated and air-conditioned viewing room along with many other amenities.
While Taylor River Farm was the center of all of the equine plans for the NEMHA Weekend. The Sheraton Portsmouth served as the gathering point for the meetings and banquet. The weekend began with temperatures hovering around zero with wind chills well below zero. With a forecast of a yet-undetermined amount of snow for the later part of the weekend, Saturday's clinic at Taylor River Farm featured an ever-changing schedule. In spite of the weather forecast, about 100 people enjoyed watching some outstanding Morgans and learning from some noted professionals.
Richard Boulé and Sarah Gove and their team did a great job filling in for some of the clinicians unable to make it in due to the weather. They gave demonstrations on many of the show ring disciplines with such grand show ring performers as Cartier, FRF Seattle Reign, Graywood's Arthur, Dorneywood's Stars N Stripes, The Lion King and Equinox Giovanni. Noted dressage judge and trainer Dee Loveless discussed and exhibited the attributes of a Morgan dressage horse with Meadowmere Courelation. Renowned western trainer Judy Nason brought a trio of horses; Pondview Picante, Swanbrook Sam I Am and Movado; in different stages of training to demonstrate and discuss bits and bitting of the western horse.
Roger Lanze of the MSPCA at Nevins Farm in Methuen, Mass. gave an informative demonstration on trailer safety and emergency rescue. Local photojournalist L.A. Pomeroy shared some of her insights and tips of the trade. The day also featured a fashion show on the latest in show ring attire for saddle seat, hunt seat, western and driving by Marsha Shepard of Marsha D'Arriaga along with hunt and dressage attire by Cactus City during lunch in the indoor arena. There were also numerous other vendors on hand at Taylor River. As the snow began to fly outside, attendees thanked the Goves for their hospitality and headed back to Portsmouth for the evening's festivities.
As the snow turned into a full fledged blizzard, nearly three-quarters of the 200 scheduled to attend the awards banquet braved the elements to attend. New Englanders are hale and hearty as they proved showing up in their finest to mingle, accept awards and support the Morgan breed.
NEMHA President Helen Herold welcomed everyone and gave out numerous plaques to those who have ensured a great year for NEMHA, NEMHS and a great weekend in New Hampshire. The final award prior to the circuit champions award was that of NEMHA Person of the Year. A very surprised Debra Lane accepted the award and the just praise from Herold and gave a lovely acceptance speech. It was then time for AMHA Director At Large and New England's own Harry Sebring to take over the podium to introduce the 2004 NEMHA Circuit Champions listed below with his own inimitable style.
For some, the NEMHA Weekend ended on Sunday with a breakfast which included a discussion along with questions and answers with Harry Sebring about AMHA and the all important upcoming election. The official business concluded with the NEMHA Annual Meeting and election of officers while the blizzard began to slow and the New England Patriots prepared to defend their AFC Championship. The Morgan horses, the Morgan people, the Patriots. . .it was a championship weekend in New England.
2004 Circuit Champions Final Point Standings
Classic Pleasure Driving - -1 Answer The Call -2 Equinox Giovanni
Classic Pleasure Saddle- -1 Rumor Has It -2 Penncrest Mira S
Amateur English Pleasure- -1 Rare Obsession
Amateur Western Pleasure- -1 Arcadia's Odyssey -2 Equinox Romeo
Amateur Hunter Pleasure- -1 Howe I Command -2 Graywood's Maeric
Amateur Park Saddle- -1 Mikaela's The Overcomer -2 Townshend Rise And Rule
Amateur Pleasure Driving- -1 Hillock Rienzi -2 Politically Correct
Beginners Pleasure -- Hunt / Western- -1 Marin Royal Command -2 Orwood Madison Bay
Beginners Pleasure -- Saddle Seat- -1 Successive Endeavors -2 Merriehill Wish Me Well
Carriage Pleasure Driving- -1 UC Rianna -2 Green Vale Dokota Dancer
Carriage Obstacles- -1 UC Rianna -2 Green Vale Dokota Dancer
Carriage Dressage -1 UC Rianna -2 Green Vale Dokota Dancer
Dressage -- Young Rider -1 Taproot Old Glory -2 Hartland Intrepid
Dressage -- Training Level -- Sr. Rider -1 Bittersweet Beaujangles -2 FHF Caleb
Dressage -- First Level & Above -1 Taproot Flagship -2 Stormhaven Hopscotch
Western Equitation -1 Danielle Vigneault -2 Michael Malinowski
Hunt Seat Equitation -1 Stevie Meder -2 Nicole Morrison
Saddle Seat Equitation -- Under 14 -1 Katie Coney -2 Stephanie Marcelonis
Senior Saddle Seat Equitation -1 Elizabeth Stockwell -2 Samantha Sargent
Classic Equitation -1 Tricia Morrison
Walk-Trot Equitation -- Hunter / Western -1 Miller Young Fina -2 Samantha Franks
Walk-Trot Equitation -- Saddle Seat -1 Gaetana D'alesio-Spina
Weanling In Hand -1 DRF Immortal Masterpiece
Yearling In Hand -1 DRF French Reflection
Mares In Hand -1 Pearl Of Wisdom
Stallions In Hand -1 UVM Jubilant
Junior Exhibitor English Pleasure -1 Riverdance -2 SpringMill Independence
Junior Exhibitor Western Pleasure -1 DFM Poetic Justice -2 NKS So Fine
Junior Exhibitor Hunter Pleasure -1 Raintree Val Jean -2 Meadowair Yomen
Junior Exhibitor Pleasure Driving -1 Paparazzi -2 Absolute Appeal
Junior Exhibitor Park Harness -1 Com-O-Shun Avante
Junior Exhibitor Classic Pleasure (Saddle / Driving) -1 Hermitage Avatar -2 UVM Uptown
Junior Horse -- English Pleasure -1 Gotti -2 Sarde's Sinful
Junior Horse -- Hunter Pleasure -1 Raintree Resurrection
Junior Horse -- Western Pleasure -1 FIF Celtic's Star -2 Lady's Mystic Angel
Junior Horse -- 3 Year Old Pleasure Driving -1 CBMF Strike Zone
Junior Horse -- 4 Year Old Pleasure Driving -1 CBMF Ruling Class
Ladies English Pleasure -1 Festival Flamenco -2 Rare Obsession
Ladies Western Pleasure -1 Acadia's Odyssey -2 Equinox Romeo
Ladies Hunter Pleasure -1 Meadowair Yomen -2 Meadowair Deal Me Aces
Ladies Classic Pleasure -- Saddle / Driving -1 Rumor Has It -2 Hillwood Irish Belle
Ladies Pleasure Driving -1 Politically Correct
Open Park Saddle -1 Something Wicked
Open Western Pleasure -1 Bogalusa 2 Treldes Tanqueray
Open Hunter Pleasure -1 Meadowair Yomen -2 Stella Blue
Open English Pleasure -1 Heyday Molly Stark -2 Queens Protocol
Roadster -1 HVK Stradavarius
Hunter / Jumper -1 Three D Renegade -2 Kings Thunder Alley -3 Mtn Laurel Misty Moonlight
Open Road Hack -1 Whispering On The Rocks -1 Irish Justinian
Youth Pleasure Driving -1 Politically Correct
Youth English Pleasure -1 OH Independence Hall -2 Roselyn Superman
Youth Hunter Pleasure -1 Meadowair Corporate Image -2 Mtn Run Noble Contender
Trail Ride -1 LWF Paljoe Promise -2 LBF Hickory Smoke
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