If any of the Above Level readers have been inpatiently waiting for this, as I have, I am announcing that the Signature Sale catalog is now available online.  I found it on the Signature Sale website:  http://www.signatureequinesales.com/catalog.html which took me to the Morgan Connection website:  http://www.morganconnection.net  It looks like there are some nice horses listed.

Does anyone know where I can find/if I can find equitation patterns from previous Grand Nationals? I’m starting a binder to practice with during the off season. So far I can only find the ones from this year and last year. Any help is GREATLY appreciated!!!

THIS JUST IN!  Maretta Kennedy has donated a custom bronze, 1/6 scale of a horse standing or moving.  The value is $5500.  It will be in the Live Auction Thursday night.  email MochaMon228@gmail.com to get a phone bidder’s number and call back on Thursday.

There will be a concurrent Silent Auction during the show, Thursday through Saturday.  Once I have a list of everything brought to the show, the list will be posted here, and on Facebook, on the wall of the “Friends of Tim O’Gorman” group.  Bids on the Silent Auction items will be accepted by email at MochaMon228@gmail.com.

I am so proud to be a part of the Morgan community!!

UPDATE

There will be a live auction on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009 during the NY Morgan Regional in Syracuse, NY to benefit Tim O’Gorman.  Tim was recently diagnosed with lung cancer and has no health insurance.  Several valuable items have been donated to the auction so far and we will be accepting phone bids during the auction.  Items to be auctioned include:
1. Custom saddle suit by Marsha Shepard made with the fabric of your choice.
2. Hand-made harness trunk that holds 4 harnesses, from Lynn Peeples.
3. Breeding to Ultra’s Special Agent.
4. Full day clinic at your location with Barbara Irvine.
5. Full-page, 4-color ad in the Saddle Horse Report.
6. Breeding to UVM (Tim’s Alma Mater) Stallion of Choice
7.Danny Williams wire sculpture.
8. Both a 16×20 and a 20×30 photo by Terry Young.
9. Training bridle from LaSalle.
10. Jeanne Herrick print.
11. Gift certificate from Rhode Island tack.
12. 20×20 photo collage from Shane Shiflet.
13. Deb Richter print.
14. Gift certificate from Steed Whips.
15. Freedman glazed, black leather portfolio.
16. Day at Taylor River Farm that includes either a ride or a drive.
17. Full-page, B&W ad in The Morgan Horse magazine; buyer may upgrade to color.
18. Horsehair bracelet donated by Amanda DuPont.
19. Catered lunch for 6 at the 2010 NEMHS donated by Cindy Mugnier and Earleen Kenyon.
20. Free stalls at the Mid-A, the Penn-Ohio, the Jubilee, and the NY Morgan shows for 2010.
21. Bobby’s Hunt Bridle (new)
22. Shoeing by Sean Travers.
23. Day at Broadmoor.
24. Golf Cart for the 2010 New England Morgan Horse Show
25. 4days and 3 nights in the Sebring’s vacation home on Cape Cod.
26. Full-page 4-color ad in the Connection that may be used at any time.
27. A day at Peeper Ranch.
28. Four Corcel sheets – 3-72 in. sheets and 1-74 in. sheet.
29. Breeding to MLF Sharper Image, a horse bred by Tim & Shirley while at Meadowland Farms.
30. One pair of Hot Jods.
31. One breeding to Benediction (Shanghai, by Forevermore X HVK Noble Melody, by Noble Flaire)
32. A ride or drive with Simply Maserati.
33.            Limited Edition “UVM Valcour” model, signed, numbered, and signed by EVERYONE!!!  (Peter Stone, Chris McDermott (owner), Chris Cassenti (trainer), Jeanne Mellin Herrick (designer), Steve Davis (Breeder).  It comes with a certificate showing its significance.  These cannot be purchased.

As more items are donated, the information on this site will be updated.

To everyone who has already made a donation, please search for the group “Friends of Tim O’Gorman” on Facebook and, if at all possible, post a picture and description of the item that you have donated.  Those who have donated a day at your facility may want to include a picture of the farm or your logo.

The auction will take place in a site yet to be determined, after the last class of the evening session, or at about 9:30 pm.  Phones will open at 9 pm.  If you cannot attend the auction in person, please call at 9 pm to let us know which item(s) you would like to bid on.  Or, you may email us at MochaMon228@gmail.com to let us know what you are interested in bidding on and a phone number where you can be reached when your item comes up.  The numbers to call are:
419-261-8341, 315-420-0480, or 724-301-1409.

Everyone who will be attending the show is encouraged to bring items to donate to the auction and to bid often and bid high during the auction.

 
This update was made at 2:30 pm on Saturday, Sept 12.

Just a shout out to anyone who will be at Jubilee. I’m going to be there with my baby girl (equine baby of course). She’s going to be showing in the weanling in-hand and futurity classes. I’ll probably be hanging around Brian Hadley’s stalls whenever I’m not ringside. Feel free to stop by and say hi!

-Erin

So I know it’s rather early to start talking about grand nationals, but I just found out the other day that I’m going, and I’m, well, …REALLY EXCITED!!! I haven’t gone since 2005? That seems like such a long time ago. I was a mere walk-trotter, and I can’t seem to remember too much. All I can remember is the feeling I had when I walked into the Coliseum. I don’t think you ever forget that feeling. I wasn’t quite sure whether to cry, laugh, jump up and down, or cower in fear! I’m pretty sure I decided on just standing there in awe, mouth agape, until my mom got concerned. I recall reading about some changes made to the show grounds? ……I CAN’T WAIT! (Enough rambling, back to the point). Alright, so what are you guys’ favorite things about the GNWCMHS?

anyone have any opinions on advertising in the magazines?  i find it so misleading to advertise a horse as champion/winner of a class when there is only one or two in the class.  i understand the point of the advertisment is to sell but for the newcomer this is very misleading. 

Just wanted to c what anyone elses thought were…..hope i didn’t offend anyone.

Hi,

I am a sociology graduate student who is interested in studying the subjective differences among the various riding disciplines and breeds.   More specifically, I am interested in what professional show members who are not part of a certain riding style think of that style.   For instance, what do dressage participants think of saddle seat?  What do Western people think of dressage?  Or, for example, what do dressage folks think of breeds associated with saddle seat (Morgans, saddlebreds, Arabians, even Tennessee walkers) and vice versa (warmbloods).  I am interested in moral issues (i.e. people of specific disciplines treat their horses poorly) and aesthetics (i.e. horses of certain riding styles move artificially or the questioning of the objectives of a riding style in general).   And, of course, I am interested in counterclaims (i.e. we do not treat horses as poorly as they think we do).   I am not very interested in the differences within certain riding styles (i.e. saddle seat distinctions between saddlebred people and Morgan people), unless you all think I should be.

I grew up on a horse stable,  went to quite a few shows as a spectator (actually, I was in a lead line class or two), and have worked at the Umass Amherst Equine Barn.  I have sensed that there is some tension among the different disciplines and the associated breeds based on what I’ve heard from various people.  So my question is: are my senses correct?  Do you believe that there is tension among the different riding disciplines?   What exactly?  Do you think people would be willing to talk to me about this?  I am mostly interested in talking to professional riders and trainers because they are probably more immersed in the show world to have a sense of the differences.

Thanks to all,

Ryan

We all know that the hunter pleasure divison has seen a huge boom in entries and has become very popular among exhibitors and spectators.  Today we see a lot of saddle seat horses switch disciplines and go into the hunter pleasure division.  A lot of them do so very successfully.

I was wondering what trainers out there look for in a horse when they’re considering changing a horse to a hunter. What are conformation/movement/training,etc aspects that tell you that the horse is a good candidate for hunter pleasure.  When you see english/classic pleasure horses out there, what are some signs that tell you that the horse would be better suited as a hunter or would just make a killer hunter pleasure mount. 

Also, when you do decide to convert a saddleseat horse to a hunter; what are some of the aspects of training that have to go into that? What needs to be done in order for the horse to successfully transition?

I’m just very interested in this subject.  I ride in the hunter pleasure division and absolutely love it.  And I always find myself thinking, “I wonder how that horse would look as a hunter…”

I’ve got a boarder who has a very difficult mouth.  When wearing her full bridle, she braces hard against the bit if the curb chain is loose, but when it’s tightened, she becomes too sensitive to the point that any contact with the reins and she pops her head.  It would be one thing if she held her head in frame and became light, but she carries her head much too high (she’s a hunter) but any attempts to bring her down and she pops her head or breaks to the canter. 

I’ve been trying to find a happy medium with the curb chain with no success, as well as trying out some different bits, also with no luck.  I wanted to know if anyone has ever encountered a similar problem and if so, how was it dealt with.  She can be an outstanding individual when she does it right.  Any suggestions would be appreciated, especially if someone has a favorite bit that maybe I could look into! 

Also, the mare has no medical problems and her teeth are floated regularly so there’s no problem there.