I know that there was just a post a while ago about horse shows/the industry and the economy, but I would really like to bring this up again.  I just recently spectated at the Maine Morgan show in NH, and saw the same thing I’ve been seeing all season- LOW NUMBERS.  I know that when Maine Morgan was located in Maine it was very small show with low numbers and lower caliber entries, which is why it was moved to NH I believe.  Since the move, the show has seen an increase in participation and quality, but it seems with the economy it’s almost back to the level it was at when it was in Maine.  What I saw at Maine was more 1 and 2 horse classes than at any other show I’ve been to, I think.  There were many canceled classes due to no entries as well.  The quality of entries was overall lower than I am used to at Morgan circuit shows too.  It sometimes seemed that there would be a class with one horse whose quality was up to par, and then maybe 3 horses who were significantly lower in quality and turnout, so that one horse would dominate the class by default because its quality was so above and beyond the others- it wasn’t fair competition.

Normally when I go to a Morgan show to either ride or watch, ALL of the entries are like that one horse that dominated the class, or at least almost all.  So I’m not just talking about numbers, I’m talking about quality as well.  At some of these shows I’m seeing entries that are of the quality we’re used to, and then some that you might expect to see at the county fair.  Do not get me wrong, I’m not trying to belittle those entries- all I’m saying is that when they are showing at a breed show with a horse like that against one that has the quality to pin well at a regional competition, it’s not even fair, everything gets out of balance.  We’re getting entries with quality that is kind of uneven and across the board.  It also makes the whole show atmosphere feel different.  It does not feel exciting and competitive when we have more 1 horse classes than not, and horses that are better suited for fairs and open competition.  It’s not the turnout we’re all used to and it’s not the turnout that always had us coming back for more.

I’ve been keeping up with most of the results from Morgan shows not just in my area, but around the country as well, and the trend is the same- numbers are way down, scary down.  I showed at Connecticut Morgan and noticed that the jr. ex. hunter classes which we all know are normally HUGE, only consisted of something like 6 horses.  Interestingly, it seems that western classes are seeing an increase in numbers, or at least are holding steady. Anyone have an explanation for that??

Has anyone else noticed how skimpy the Morgan Connections have been? And there was a long period of time where there were no new issues.  It used to be that it came every single month- Winter or Summer.  And during show season there were sometimes 2 issues in a month.  Now we’re in the middle of show season and the issues are barely making 100 pages.  Why is this happening?  I’m guessing that there has been a major decrease in the number of people advertising and this is the reason.

Last year the numbers took a bit of a hit, although at some of the regional shows, especially New England, the numbers were still very strong.  But this year things seem to have taken a real nose dive and I just don’t know why exactly.  I’m interested to hear what you all think.  Is the economy solely responsible?  Can some of you share how it has changed your own life with Morgans?  I, personally, am still doing the same number of shows that I always have (about 4).  It is distressing and alarming to me that this has happened a bit suddenly.  It upsets me a lot because it really makes show season a lot less fun.  It’s actually kind of depressing.  So I want to hear everyone’s thoughts on this. Is anyone else worried like me? When do you think this is going to stop? Why do you think our industry is so down this year in particular??  I want my Morgan world back!! 

I’m starting out day 2 here enjoying a lovely morning chilling with the Champion Hill crew.  The Carriage classes are going right now in the main ring and I can see them from where I sit in the shade.  Trainer Olivia Doutt and I discovered an unknown connection yesterday.  She grew up showing Saddlebreds in this area.  You remember those Saddlebreds I was trying to turn into western horses?  Well, there was one I remember in particular named Meghan.  She had “ballet feet” up front (in other words, was about as turned out as they come) but she was a sweet horse and I worked with her all summer long one year as often as I could get to the barn.  I didn’t actually expect to have a chance to show her, but enjoyed the opportunity to ride.  Well, Warren County Fair comes along and they decide to haul Meghan up there so I could show her.  I was thrilled.  But as I begin getting ready for my class, my cousin all the sudden decides she wants to show western too and since Meghan is her horse she’s going to ride her.  Bound and determined to get in the ring anyway I get put on Rainbow who hadn’t seen a western saddle in years.  Of course Meghan beat Rainbow and I, which, while still disappointing, had some degree of vindication for me.  Well, turns out Olivia was Meghan’s next owner and proceeded to clean up in western classes in the area.   She had her the rest of her life to the ripe old age of 22.  It’s good to know she went to a good home!

But, back to business at hand.  There were some particularly nice horses to show last night.  My favorites may have been Essex Playtime and City Kitty.  But the highlight of the evening had to be the last class of the night, Morgan Open Park Harness.  I had noticed in the program a horse owned and to be showen by Gary Horne.  When I first saw the name, before my mind even had a chance to complete the thought it was dismissed.  Surely this wasn’t Horne of Horne Farms.  Come to find out surely it was!  Apparently it was a last minute decision for him to show.  The horse had been in the ring here once back in 2006, but they had only just put shoes on him a few days ago for this year’s appearance.

As Gary came into the warm-up ring before his class the horse was a lit firecracker!  A grandson of San-Kay’s All A-Glow, he was big and bold you were never quite sure what he was going to do next, but he was beautiful.  Lynn Peeples and Nancy Flower were out there with him, helping to get him set up to go.  It was a beautiful picture of Morgan camaraderie and community to see them giving him a hand.  But as we were standing there looking, all of the sudden it went dark behind us and the music stopped!  The power had gone out in the show ring in the middle of a victory pass.  After a few minutes of darkness, the power was still on in the warm-up ring and there were only 2 classes left so they moved the officials over there to continue.  As they led the harness horses for the last class out of the ring so the next class could go, Lynn was at the head of our fire-breathing dragon and summed up the sentiment of the whole crowd as he yelled back “Hurry up, please!”

After a quick one-horse class, Gary and Brian Stewart (with Bri-B XTC) came back in with their prancing steeds.  Brian and his horse were beautiful, but it was hard to take my eyes off Gary and HFF Tomcat Victory.  He was in and out of form, and often on the verge of being out of control, but when he set up and got going he was beautiful.  Brian and XTC won, of course, but I felt privileged to have seen one of the Horne Morgans driven by his breeder.

If there’s anything in particular you’d like to know about what’s going on at Penn-Ohio shout it out here. I do plan to do a more complete write-up, but probably not until I get home on Monday.

I’m having a great time so far and have met or re-met a lot of people I’ve had some sort of association with along the way. Above Level’s own Beth Wilber had an excellent Classic Pleasure class today, taking the blue in a field of 5.

I don’t know what the total horse count is, but I heard someone down the aisle talking about it once when I was meandering, apparently they hit 130 last year and without an official count are estimating a similar number for this year. No classes are packed to overflowing, but there have only been a few 1 or 2 horse classes and competition is strong.

Well, yesterday I made the first leg of my trip to Penn-Ohio. I won’t be going as an exhibitor, just a spectator. But this is a special show for me.

Growing up the only opportunities I had to show would be when my cousins would let me play with one of their ASBs (turning their saddle seat horses into western mounts, I’m sure they appreciated it) and then tag along to the local, Warren County, PA fair.

The horse I had of my own from the time I was about 13-16 was a 3/4 Morgan and forever changed the trajectory of my horse ownership experience. He was an “it” horse for me, although I’m not sure I appreciated that at the time (some cold winter day you might hear more about him). Unfortunately one night when I was a Junior (I think) in High School, he played the escape artist and ran down the high to the high way and get hit by a car and killed. Thus ended my horse ownership experience until after college, but I was hooked on Morgans.

The summer after my senior year my mom, who is NOT a horse person and is in fact allergic, took me to the Penn-Ohio show as one of my “last hurrah’s” before college. It was another defining moment for me. I was so thrilled to be there. I’m not sure how many classes I actually watched. I was more interested in walking through the stalls and seeing them up close and personal. From that time on there would be no other breed for me, Morgans were it.

Well, this weekend I get to go back, and I can’t wait.

Additional classes have been announced for the Blue Ridge Classic Horse Show.  Classes added include; Open Western Pleasure-Any Breed, All Ages, Morgan Park Saddle-Ladies & Amateur (this looks like a combined class… interesting that we were just discussing that there should be a distinct difference between these 2 divisions), Morgan Park Harness – Amateur/Jr. Exhibitor, and Morgan Pleasure Driving-Ladies.

I showed at Wheat State my first time this year! I thought it was an awsome show ( I’m sad it is over). My mom showed at wheat state when she was a kid. She did good and her hopes for our first show alone was that we might get a ribbon or 2. we got more than 2 ribbons we got 3 1st, 1 2nd, 2 3rd, 1 4th, 1 fith and 2 6th!!!!! I realy want to thank Cathy Grimes for judging.

See you next year wheat state!

I noticed that last year’s results aren’t listed…will we have Gold Cup results here this year?  Proofs are at Howard Schatzberg.

Has anyone been to this show? I think the idea of an all amateur show is really interesting. Could be a good change of pace for everyone. A chance for small timers to come out and participate. A change for trainers to bring some ammies from their barn and just kick back and cheer them on. Doesn’t hit any weekdays, so it’s easy to go. Has anyone been? How is this show different from others? Doesn’t look like there were a ton of people this year…

Also, does anyone happen to know if there was a photographer? I didn’t find that info on the prize list.

Classes have been added to the schedule at Mid-A (wait, I thought we wanted to eliminate classes!) including walk/trot pleasure classes for all seats, Ladies Classic Pleasure Saddle, and Jr Exhibitor English Pleasure 13 & under.  They’ve also announced a Youth-of-the-Year contest.  Click here for more details.

I’m not going to copy these into an Above Level page, but if you’re interested in the Prairie State results, you can find them here: http://www.midstatesmorgan.org/PSC%20RESULTS%202010.htm