The following is the press release regarding the Gold Cup Regional Show’s participation in the UPHA Pink Ribbon Class Program.  For more information about the program or the show go to the Gold Cup Regional Show website.

Press Release:
 
The 2008 Morgan Gold Cup is proud to announce they will be supporting the United Horsemen’s Association Pink Ribbon Class program.  This unique competition will showcase our beautiful Morgan horses at the same time raising awareness and donations for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure©. 
 
We have selected the Friday evening class:153 $200 Ladies English Pleasure Championship class; as our Pink Ribbon event we encourage everyone attending the Gold Cup to show that evening to show their support by “the wearing of the pink’!
 
The ladies will be competing that evening for not only the prestigious Gold Cup, but in addition the winner will be awarded a UPHA Pink Ribbon Trophy, a UPHA Associate membership ($50 value), an Ad on the online weblog, AboveLevel.com, and special Pink Ribbon Challenge ribbon to the first eight places. 
 
Please join us in this very special night as we celebrate the courageous women who battle breast cancer, honor the network of caring friends who support one another against this disease and enjoy the wonderful Morgan horse.
 
Thank you
 The Gold Cup Directors

Even if you don’t ride dressage, one can’t help but appreciate the beauty of this video!

I couldn’t get it to upload directly to the blog post so click Sensational Dancing Horse to see it.

I had posted earlier about Florida possibly passing a horse “Lemon Law” and what repercussions such a law could have on horse marketing (see “The Florida Equine Lemon Law“).  I recently found the article “New Florida Horse Sale Rules Published” by Ryan Conley on Horse.com which discusses the formation of new rules that will soon govern equine sales in this state. 

The article stated:

The rules, which were developed over several months of public meetings and private negotiations between sometimes warring horsemen interests in the state, were published online on the Florida Administrative Weekly Web site. Included in the latest version are expanded rules for writing bills of sale and disclosure, as well as the reporting of medical history, including some mandatory requirements for disclosing certain procedures.

Some of the specifics of the rules include the availability of medical records at horse auctions, the disclosure of certain medical treatments performed within seven days prior to the private sale of the horse, and the public disclosure by auction companies of horses “listed as sold that were determined to be not sold”.

Be sure to read the full article on Horse.com for the rules specifics.  I thought it was very interesting, and I did notice that the “behavioral” aspect was not included (yet?).   I do wonder how well such rules can be enforced, as well as, if this is a trend that will be seen in other states in the future.

Hi everyone.

I am working like a crazy woman all the time. Farming time. Here is a group up date.

To night the river came up so fast that the man who has my hay field must bring another man and we (all in the huge rain storm with tractor lights and the rushing river climbing up at our heels) pulled the huge water pump out of the river. The men are very strong and still young. I am old and know what to do while I am waiting. I dig sterps in the river bank so we do not slip. I turn off all the power . I chain the pump and pipes to trees so they cannot float away  if the men do not come in time. I haul all the heavy five inch hoses up to the top of the river bank. I bring the flash  light so they can work in the dark. I may be old, but I can still be useful. Now the hay field is very wet from Mother Nature. We saved the pump so the water on the field is free. If the river had downed the pump all would be lost. We had a grand time in the dark, the rain and the mud and the danger of the river. I love this job when I have help. I would have lost the pump by myself. I should have had ten strong sons…lucky for me I have children all over the world that I love as dearly as my own. Much love,Carole.

This is a video of Merlin with Julia Strier, a young lady who had not EVER sat on this horse prior to this day’s video. He can bridle up a bit more, but this gives you a good idea of just how point and shoot he is. He is easy, just stay out of his way and let him carry you! The video starts out with about 15 seconds of clutter, but then cleans up a bit. I left the entire workout on the video, making it a bit long, but if you are interested, be sure to watch to the finish, as you will see he gets better as he goes. I started filing after about a 2 minute warm up with the team (Julia got right on). This is a happy, game horse. A touch hot, but sensible. He is videoed with 4 3/4″ toe and a 16 oz toe weighted show and a flat pad. Very close to how you would shoe him to go to the classic division, and he still goes level. Great Equitation or Ladies horse! $8,500. [kml_flashembed movie="http://youtube.com/v/qJUiXtFvFQc" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

The following are the results for the MJMHA Morgan Showtime (MSU Pavilion, East Lansing, MI) as reported on the AMHA website.  Listed is the horse owner, but I am working on getting the rider information to add later.

Judge: Gerry Rushton

For pictures from the show go to Photos By Debbie.

Carriage Driving
CARR OBSTACLE DRIV FAULT & OUT
1. AR REVELATION APRIL LOVE, Karen Hinkle
2. NOBILITYS GRAND ALLEGRO, Edward & Margaret McMahon

CARR WORKING
1. NOBILITYS GRAND ALLEGRO, Edward & Margaret McMahon
2. AR REVELATION APRIL LOVE, Karen Hinkle

CARR REINSMANSHIP
1. NOBILITYS GRAND ALLEGRO, Edward & Margaret McMahon
2. AR REVELATION APRIL LOVE, Karen Hinkle

Classic Pleasure Driving
CL PL DRIV
1. WHISPERING OBSESSION, DeeAnn Feick
2. SHAKER’S SHARPES, Karen Randall-Kristal
3. BREGO OF SHILSTONE, Catherine & James Martin

CL PL DRIV JR EXH
1. SUNFOREST LOADED, Jayne E & Tod G Cook

Read the rest of this entry

The following are the results from the Morgan Sport Horse Classic held May 16-18, 2008 in Woodland, CA.  These were taken from the AMHA website so only the owner of the horse is listed. 

Judges: Creeky Routson, Julie Addante

Carriage Driving
OPPORTUNITY TURN OUT
1. NON-MORGAN
2. L H ANCHO, Shelley Chavoor

OPPORTUNITY CARR WORKING
1. L H ANCHO, Shelley Chavoor
2. NON-MORGAN
3. TRITON OSAGE, Susan Jane Hassett/Saragail Standish
4. BON ATTICUS, Bonnie Sublett

OPPORTUNITY CARR WORKING MORGAN
1. TRITON OSAGE, Susan Jane Hassett/Saragail Standish
2. L H ANCHO, Shelley Chavoor
3. WINTERGREEN ENCHANTRESS, Ann L Taylor
4. BON ATTICUS, Bonnie Sublett

OPPORTUNITY CARR REINSMANSHIP
1. NON-MORGAN
2. TRITON OSAGE, Susan Jane Hassett/Saragail Standish
3. L H ANCHO, Shelley Chavoor
4. WINTERGREEN ELLSWORTH, Rosemary Montgomery

Read the rest of this entry

Here are the results from the Western New York Show held at the Chemung County Fairgrounds in Horseheads, NY. 

To see the picture of the show go to Show Proofs.

Judges: Mr. Daryl Hopson, Ms. Missy Hanover, Mr. Larry Thurber, Ms. Valerie Knight

Amateur Mares
1 Parkside Premier (Priscilla Inglis, rider; Priscilla Inglis, owner)
 
Amateur Geldings
1 Merriehill Local Talent (Holly Bedient, rider; Holly Bedient, owner)
2 Seaway Sailor (Morgan Manfreda, rider; Barbara Wade, owner)
 
Grand Champions & Reserve Amateur in Hand
1 Merriehill Local Talent (Holly Bedient, rider; Holly Bedient, owner)
2 Parkside Premier (Priscilla Inglis, rider; Priscilla Inglis, owner)
 
Mares 1 & Under
1 CBMF Luminous (Gina Torrez, rider; Gina & Selvin Torrez, owner)
2 Sunny Acres Miss Scarlet (William Vidler, rider; Kathyrn Gallant, owner)
3 Seaway Elegant Image (Bob & Roberta Marshall, rider; Bob & Roberta Marshall, owner)
4 RDMF Tres Jolie (Michaele Ganz, rider; Michaele Ganz, owner)
5 Stoneleigh Time To Boogie (Mary Ellen Mulligan, rider; Mary Ellen Mulligan, owner)
 
Mares 2 yr Old
1 VKF Ringside Whisper (Travis Neidlinger, rider; Susan & Jeffrey Evans, owner)
2 LFS Special Delivery (Sarah Ruby, rider; William Haines, Ledyard Farms, owner)
3 StoneleighDouble Time (Mary Ellen Mulligan, rider; Mary Ellen Mulligan, owner)
 
Read the rest of this entry

We took 3 horses to Southern States and had a pretty good show.

Our 3yr old filly Sevati made her pleasure driving debut and we were tickled pink with her. She earned a solid 2nd in a really nice class. She’s by Stand and Deliver and out of our I Will Command/Superman/Funquest mare. She didn’t show back as our trainer had a 4yr old in the Championship already (and earned the Reserve title!!) but she should be headed for New England next. [kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/6f69kQsa1XQ" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

Our really good friend Brittany Young is leasing my mom’s classic pleasure horse Wintop’s Prince Charles and has been doing great with him since last year when she earned a Res. GN title. They won the Jr. Exhibitor Classic Saddle class, and opted out of the Championship to go for the big money in the Open Classic Saddle Championship and earned a great 3rd. We are so proud of her! Not bad for a 15 yr old going against the big girls & boys. 

Then I showed my English Pleasure Gelding in the Amateur class. It was um…..fun lol. The qualifier was really good we worked worked through a lot of things that we had troubles with last year, but he got a little jumpy of course in front of the judge so we got 5th. Then the championship was amazing until we got into the ring, hehe. He was wayyyy on edge and when he saw the ingate he decided he wanted to canter around the ring the whole first way lol, then bounced around, then 2 people would bang on the rail once we finally started trotting so he’d scoot out from under me and start cantering again. lol it was a crazy 13 horse class. He was a bit of a turd, but eh it happens, that’s why I love him

Next stop…….Mid-A

This is sort of a silly question but I need to know what the blog users like and don’t like.  I posted a few videos today and left the sound on them even though they had some of our commentary on them.  I thought it was sort of fun to listen to what is going on (even though I sound sort of stupid on them).

Do you like the informal aspect or would you rather have me edit out the sound?  Just let me know what you like and feel free to comment here.