The View from Center Ring: 2019 U.S. Nationals Performance

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U.S. Nationals P E R F O R M A N C E

Tulsa Expo Center · Tulsa, OK October 17-26, 2019

The View from Center Ring

by Gary Dearth photos by Rob Hess and Howard Schatzberg

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s in years past, the quality of the main ring performance horses at the U.S. Nationals this year in Tulsa was extraordinary, and there were many outstanding individual performances. A couple were historic. For the first time a western pleasure horse was U.S. National Champion unanimously for the third year in a row when Monaco Jullyen V (*Jullyen El Jamaal x Misti Morn V) owned by Shamrock Farms, LLC, was announced as the 2019 U.S. National Champion. “For me it was a goosebump ride.

It was just about perfect,” said judge Jill Lochner. “Everytime that horse went past me, I never saw Joe Reser move his hand or raise his hand to slow the horse down.

For more results go to: www.arabianhorseworld.com

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PERFORMANCE

left:

Champion Western Pleasure MONACO JULLYEN V (*Jullyen El Jamaal x Misti Morn V), with Joe Reser (pictured), and Champion Western Pleasure AAOTR with Leslie Sommer, owned by Shamrock Farms LLC, Mansfield, Texas. top right:

Champion Half-Arabian English Pleasure Maturity AAOTR, Champion Half-Arabian Pleasure Driving, Champion HalfArabian Pleasure Driving AAOTD The WARHORSE (Black Daniels x Aurora’s Annie), owned by 6d Ranch Ltd., Austin, Texas, and shown by Juliette Dell (pictured) and Jim Stachowski.

bottom right:

Champion English Pleasure Junior Horse REVELRYZ (Afires Heir x Zootopia), with Stanley White Jr., owned by White Rock Farms Inc., Argyle, Texas.

He was just sitting there still, and it didn’t matter whether it was the jog, the hand gallop or any other gait. He was so steady and broke that it was amazing. And he is quite beautiful to look at.” Monaco also won the Western Pleasure AAOTR 3654 for the third year in a row. “Winning the open three years in a row unanimously has never been done. Also winning the amateur western 36-54 three years in a row has never been done,” said owner and rider Leslie Sommer. “We are going to do it one more year. Our goal this year was to win the “Triple Crown” of Scottsdale, Canadian Nationals and U.S. Nationals. But because of the vesicular stomatitis outbreak we couldn’t attend the Canadian Nationals. So we will go for it next year.

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2019 U.S. NATIONALS

top left:

Champion English Pleasure HEIRS NOBLE LOVE (Afires Heir x Noble Aphroditie), owned by Karlton Jackson, Atlanta, Georgia, shown by Joel Kiesner.

top right:

Reserve Champion English Pleasure LIFE INTHE FAZT LANE (Vegaz x River Dance NA), owned

by Amazing Horse Woman LLC, Montecito, California, and shown by Jim Lowe.

bottom left:

Champion Park INCEPTION (IXL Noble Express x Bonita Afire), owned by Maroon Fire Arabians Inc., Castle Rock, Colorado, and shown by Joel Kiesner. bottom right:

Champion Country English Pleasure AAOTR 55 and Over SA GISELE (IXL Noble Express x Rumina Afire), owned

by Starline Arabians LLC, Rancho Santa Fe, California, and shown by Lori Lawrence.

“Gisele is a once in a lifetime mare, and truly my heart horse,” says Lori Lawrence. “This was our sixth consecutive National Championship in the country division! And, for the second year in a row she produced a unanimous National Champion in the AEPA!”

After that we will find something else for Monaco to do. Maybe I will keep showing him amateur, or maybe will find a new class for him to compete in.”

When we asked trainer Joe Reser what made Monaco so special he said, “His attitude and his heart is what makes him different. His attitude has been great from day one. Every day he is the same. That’s what makes him special.” When we posed the same question to Leslie Sommer she said, “I think Monaco is different because he is so bright and happy and loves his job. It helps that he only went to two shows this year. Other people might have shown the shoes off of him. And we keep teaching him new things so he doesn’t get bored.” Joe Reser said it best,

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PERFORMANCE

top left:

Champion Country English Pleasure Maturity AAOTR NORMAN ROCKWELL (Baske Afire x My Norma Jean EA), owned and shown

by Lori R. Foster, Kankakee, Illinois.

“This was Norman’s second National Championship in the CEP Maturity,” says Lori Foster. “ I bought him as a two-year-old prospect, and he has exceeded my expectations. Not only is he a great show horse, but he’s a total goof, his favorite snack is a donut!”

top right:

Champion Country English Pleasure Junior Horse KISS ME CAYTE (CSP Grand Caymon x Templeton Rye), owned by Anna Dimarco, Russell, Pennsylvania, and shown by Jon Ramsay.

“I’m very lucky to have had the opportunity to show Kiss Me Cayte this year for Anna,” says Jon Ramsay. “Cayte was purchased last year from Stachowski right after Nationals, and it was extremely fun to be able to catch ride her for her owners. Getting back on her felt like I had just ridden Cayte yesterday. She is a very special horse, and I want to wish the best of luck to Cayte and her owner next show season.”

bottom left:

Champion Pleasure Driving SAXTON DGL (Afires Heir x Sweet Summer Fire), owned by Russ and Sheri Lindmark, Overland Park, Kansas, shown by Joel Kiesner.

bottom right:

Champion Western Pleasure Select Rider AATR ENZPERATION XX (Enzo x Olivia D), owned by Shamrock Farms LLC, Mansfield, Texas, and shown by Carrie Fritz.

“He’s a once in a lifetime horse.”

Rarely do amateurs show in the open classes at the U.S. Nationals, so when one wins, it is notable. Juliette Dell beat the professionals with The War Horse (Black Daniels x Auroras Annie), owned by the 6D Ranch, winning the HalfArabian Pleasure Driving Open class. In fact, that was one of three National Championships won by the pair this year in Tulsa. They also prevailed in the Half-Arabian Pleasure Driving AAOTD and the Half-Arabian English Pleasure Maturity. “The most exciting horse I saw this year in Tulsa was The War Horse that Juliette Dell showed,” said Judge Richard Petty. “He was breathtaking and

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2019 U.S. NATIONALS

top right:

Champion Arabian Horse World AWPA $100,000 Western Pleasure Futurity and Champion Western Pleasure Maturity AAOTR HENDRIXX WB (Monticello V x Pia WB), owned by Richard and Andrea Martoglio, Auburn, California, shown

by Stanley White III and Andrea Martoglio.

top left:

Reserve Champion Arabian Horse World AWPA $100,000 Western Pleasure Futurity and Reserve Champion Western Pleasure Junior Horse JAWEESH ALJASSIMYA (WH Justice x *LR Valita), owned by Aljassimya Farm, Santa Ynez, California, and shown by Tommy Garland.

Champion Trail ZEE FIRE BALL (Hesa Zee x Fire Musc), owned

by Sharon Connelly, Somis, California, and shown by Michael Damianos.

Pictured with Sharon Connelly, Judy North, Nancy Harvey (AHA President), and Andrea Sommers.

bottom left:

bottom right:

Champion Trail AAOTR and Reserve Champion English Trail AAOTR LEGACY FIRE DAMMAGE (Flame Ison x CSP Mamazing), Kathie Williams, Terrell, Texas, and shown by Lindsay Harrison.

quite an athlete. Impressive that he and Juliette Dell won both the open and amateur driving.”

Stanley White, Jr., known for his enormous success in the western pleasure division and seemingly retired, showed Revelryz (Afires Heir x Zootopia) for owner White Rock Farms, Inc., to the win in English Pleasure Junior Horse. “That was one of my favorite classes,” said Judge Lisa Jo White. “That was pretty cool. The horse looked pleasant, and he rode it quietly and presented it very nicely. It wasn’t rammed and jammed and shoved down our throats.” Judge Jill Lochner agreed, “It was fun to watch Stanley White, Jr., show in an English Pleasure class after

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PERFORMANCE

top left:

Champion Trail Junior Horse and Reserve Champion Trail Futurity LEGACY GOT YOUR BLACK (Midnte Pleasure L x Lilith D), Kathie Williams, Terrell, Texas, and shown by Dale Sullens and Kathie Williams.

top center:

Champion Reining Junior Horse SPINNIN ALL MY MONEY (Elijah Bey x Art By Hesa), owned

by Colby Powell and Julie Velasco, Scottsdale, Arizona, and shown by Colby Powell.

top right:

Champion Ranch Horse Riding, Champion Reining Horse Primetime Non-Pro AAOTR, Reserve Champion Ranch Horse Riding AATR 55 and Over NSPIRING FORTHE TOP (Nobles Top Gun x Nspiring Jazz), owned by Ingrid Bentzen, Auburn, Washington, and shown by LaRae Fletcher Powell (pictured) and Ingrid Bentzen.

bottom left:

Champion Herd Work BSJ GOOD AS GOLD (AM Good Oldboy x Gai Patina), owned by Barbara Steinberg and Stacy Turner and Jill Hancock, Norco, California.

bottom right:

Champion Native Costume, Champion Native Costume AAOTR BEG FOR MERCY (Baske Afire x Mattamercie), owned by Stacy Plonte and Grace Raleigh, Belleville, Michigan, and shown by Julie Daniel (pictured) and Stacy Plonte.

he had retired. He didn’t override the horse, and the horse went around with his ears up, with beautiful motion. I didn’t judge the class, I watched it from center ring. From where I was sitting, I could see a whole group of exhibitors in their show clothes at the outgate encouraging him to take another victory pass. Because of the sportsmanship and camaraderie, I thought it was a really cool moment.”

As Stan says, “We purchased Revelryz for my wife, Kathy. She was supposed to show him in the Arabian English Pleasure Maturity at Nationals. Unfortunately, he couldn’t show early in the week. We decided not to tell anyone that I was going to show him. I hadn’t shown a horse since 2010. As soon as we went through the gate

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2019 U.S. NATIONALS

top left:

Champion Half-Arabian Country English Pleasure Junior Horse and Champion Half-Arabian Country English Pleasure Maturity AAOTR MONEY TALKS BF (GSF Rizing Son x Callaway’s In The Money), owned by Shamrock Farms LLC, Mansfield, Texas, and shown by Carrie Fritz and Joel Gangi.

top right:

Champion Half-Arabian Show Hack, Reserve Champion HalfArabian Country Pleasure Driving AAOTD PHI BETA KAPPAH (Phi Slama Jama x BRA Quintessence), owned by Amazing Horse Woman LLC, Montecito, California, and shown by Jim Lowe (pictured) and Dr. Nancy O’Reilly.

bottom left:

Champion Half-Arabian Country English Pleasure, Champion Half-Arabian Country English Pleasure AAOTR 19-35, Champion Breeders Sweepstakes Half-Arabian Country English Pleasure AAOTR SAL MINEO BF (Mamage x Clover Hill’s Blazing Luck), owned by Boisvert Farms LLC, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and shown by Amanda Purdin Standish (pictured) and Joel Gangi.

bottom right:

Champion Half-Arabian Park GSF ALEJANDRO (VCP Magnifire x Ginger’s Dance), Bill Castro, Kettering, Ohio, and shown

by Matt Siemon. “This beautiful horse is a 16-time National and Reserve Champion in U.S. and Canadian National shows. This win of 2019 is five times in a row winning the United States National Championship,” says Bill Castro. “No other horse in this division has reached this goal.

So proud.”

I thought to myself, ‘I remember this.’ I smacked him on the butt and said, ‘let’s go, we’ve got some work to do.’ I had the time of my life. I was content with the Top Ten because I knew he was good and I’d had a lot of fun doing it. When they called him out as National Champion, it was pretty overwhelming.”

A significant change to this year’s National show was ten horses going forward to the semi-final/final from sections “A” and “B” rather than the eight in years past. So instead of sixteen horse semi-final/final classes, there were twenty horses in the ring. And while the argument can be made that the Ford Truck Arena is large enough to accommodate twenty horses, exhibitors were even more

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PERFORMANCE

top left:

Champion AHPA Fan Stable Inc. $75,000 Half-Arabian Hunter Pleasure Futurity, Reserve Champion Half-Arabian Hunter Pleasure Select Rider AATR, and Reserve Champion Half-Arabian Hunter Pleasure Maturity AAOTR DUCHESS OF BAYRIDGE (SF Aftershoc x My New Year’s Eve), owned by Shannon Murphy, Gilbert, Arizona, and shown

by Ali Brady. Pictured with Shannon Murphy, Kitt Stranberg, Michael Carpio, Ally Nelson, Ashley Reimer, Janice Murphy, Matt Winberry, and Samantha Hilliard. “It really is quite an amazing honor to be able to share such a special moment with my absolute best friend, Shannon Murphy, and her incredible horse!

I love absolutely everyone in this photo, such a special moment. I am truly blessed and can’t wait for the future with this team!” — Ali Brady

top right:

Champion AWPA Equine Athlete $50,000 Half-Arabian Western Pleasure Futurity IM THE TRU DIVA, Karen, Brooke and Nicole Pitassi, West Linn, Oregon, and shown by Abe Cotton. “The Pitassis were honored and blessed on such a good year.” — Karen Pitassi

bottom left:

Champion Half-Arabian Trail Junior Horse and Champion Trail Futurity KMA HERMANO (Los Angeles x Prescription Creme), Legion of Supreme Honor, owned and bred by Karma Arabians, Texas, and trained and shown by Sterling Bradley.

bottom right:

Champion Half-Arabian Reining Horse AAOTR, Champion Breeders Sweepstakes Half-Arabian Reining AAOTR, Reserve Champion Half-Arabian Reining Derby, and Reserve Champion Showmanship AATH 19-49 SS A NOBLE STAR (Starlights Starbrite x Al Aleen), owned and shown by Michelle Pease-Paulsen, Tacoma, Washington.

“Sansa is probably one of the most friendly mares I’ve ever owned,” says Michelle. “She is very sweet, loving and always gives 110%. What I also love is I know exactly the horse I’m going to get every time I step foot in the arena. She is definitely a oncein-a-lifetime horse, and what we’ve achieved over the last two years is more than I could have dreamed of.”

reluctant to ride on the rail for fear of not being seen. Consequently, the fifteen to twenty feet out at the rail went unused. “When you ride ten feet from me, I can’t see you,” said Judge Lisa Jo White. “The challenge we did have was encouraging exhibitors to use the entire arena when there were twenty horses in the ring,” said Judge Van Jacobsen.

All of the judges we spoke with said that the quality of the horses at this year’s U.S. National Championships was extraordinary. Clearly that just keeps improving.

It is fun to watch so many horses so expertly trained and presented. Here’s looking forward to next year.

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2019 U.S. NATIONALS

Maddi Larkin on Success in the Working Divisions.

“2019 Nationals was quite a success for us,” says Maddi Larkin.

“All our horses earned a National Championship or a Reserve Championship! SH Electric Gun (Nobles Top Gun x Khaarmin Electra) earned his second consecutive championship in Herd Work AATR. We drew last in a large class, so I knew we had to have a great run to win the class. VG Pyzzazz (Broadway Tstar x Ysabeau) went Reserve Champion in Herd Work with my husband Wes in her second appearance at Nationals. Sin Derella WP (Trick R Treat x Rockys Filly) and I were champion in Half-Arabian Herd Work AATR and went Top Ten in Half-Arabian Working Cow AAOTR. We bought ‘Ella’ earlier this year from my brother, Andy Camacho, who had won the working cow horse futurity and junior horse on her years ago. We had owned but sadly lost her sire, Trick R Treat, to colic. He was a great cutting horse with a ton of cow and he passed that on to Ella.

The wins on her are pretty special.

Wes and VG Tsatine (Broadway Tstar x Lads Amelia) won their fourth consecutive National Championship in Cutting. ‘Sassy’ is an incredible mare. She is all business in the show pen and always has her game face on! She and I went Reserve in the Non-Pro class. Finally, Coco Polene (Shahcolate Bey MA x Hema) and I won our sixth National Championship in Half-Arabian Working Cow AAOTR. Showing ‘Po’ is almost surreal. He has so much cow and is so strong and fast that I get the biggest rush when we show!”

Horses owned and shown by Wesley Larkin and Maddi Camacho-Larkin, Nipomo, California, were stellar in the working divisions. top right:

Champion Cutting, Reserve Champion Cutting Non-Pro VG TSATINE (Broadway Tstar x Lads Amelia); ridden by Wesley Larkin.

middle:

Champion Half-Arabian Working Cow Horse AAOTR COCO POLENE (Shahcolate Bey MA x Hema); ridden by Maddi Larkin.

bottom left:

Champion Half-Arabian Herd Work AATR and Reserve Champion HalfArabian Working Cow Horse AAOTR SIN DERELLA WP (Trick R Treat x Rockys Filly); ridden by Maddi Larkin.

bottom right:

Champion Herd Work AATR SH ELECTRIC GUN (Nobles Top Gun x Khaarmin Electra); ridden by Maddi Larkin.

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