Court cases showing importance of hiring qualified witnesses when involved in litigation

Have you ever considered yourself an equine expert? Unless you are a professional, you may just consider yourself to be a horse owner and lover. Nevertheless, everyone knows that there are certain things that you do (or don’t do) with horses that are just common sense… right? Wrong – at least according to a panel of Appellate Judges in New Jersey.

In a recent decision, the New Jersey Appellate Division ruled that expert testimony was required to explain how to handle a horse. Specifically, the Court ruled that an expert was required to inform a jury whether it was reasonable for a handler to shank a horse from an elevated position and while allowing the horse to stand on pavers. In the New Jersey case, the handler was seated on the top fence rail near the show pen and was shanking the horse’s lead rope because the horse was “fidgety.” The horse was also standing with its front feet on pavers. As the handler shanked the horse, the horse pulled its head back and forth and began scrambling on the pavers. The horse was unable to regain its footing and fell. As the horse fell, it struck a nearby individual causing personal injuries. The injured party brought a lawsuit for negligence against the handler and the owner of the horse.

any formalized education on equine studies may still be considered an expert. If the proposed expert is deemed qualified by the court, then he or she will be able to provide opinion testimony about issues in the case.

Why would I need an equine expert?

In equine-related lawsuits, parties often hire expert witnesses to testify at trial. As outlined in the case above, the role of an expert will be to assist the jury (and judge) in understanding key issues in the case. This may include the standard of care for safety related cases in the event of personal injury to you or another, but can also touch upon other issues. For example, say your horse is injured or killed in a trailering accident and the insurance company wants to pay you far less than what you believe the horse is worth. In this case, it would be wise to retain an expert to provide an appraisal of the horse.

The courts will look at not only a proposed expert’s credentials such as training and education, but also his or her experience and knowledge.

At the trial level, the injured party’s case was dismissed. The Appeal Court upheld the dismissal and stated that expert testimony was required. Specifically, the Court found that jurors would not be familiar with whether it was reasonable to shank the horse from an elevated position and allow it to stand with its front hooves on pavers. The Court concluded that handling of horses requires “specialized knowledge.” Accordingly, expert testimony was necessary to explain the “standard of care” and how, if at all, the handler deviated from the standard when shanking the horse.

This case illustrates the importance of hiring an appropriate equine expert should you become involved in litigation.

Who is qualified as an equine expert?

Who is an expert? Does simply owning a horse qualify you as an expert? Of course, it depends. The Federal Rules of Evidence define an expert witness as someone who is qualified “by knowledge, skill, experience, training or education.” Fed. R.E. 702. Every State has some version of this rule as well. The courts will look at not only a proposed expert’s credentials such as training and education, but also his or her experience and knowledge. Experience and knowledge may be just as important as a formal education in determining whether an expert’s opinion will be admissible. For example, someone who has been training horses for 30 years, but who did not complete

Essentially, you should consider hiring an expert any time you are faced with equine related litigation. Most equine issues are not common sense in the eyes of the law.

So I want to hire an expert – what exactly will the expert do for me?

Typically, experts will provide a written report. The report should outline the expert’s background and qualifications, discuss the facts of the case, cite to any relevant industry standards and explain any breach of those standards. If an expert is providing an appraisal report, it should include information on the value of other similar horses. Think of it way you would have a home or property appraised. Your expert should give a good explanation for any opinions that are offered. You should also expect an expert to testify at a deposition or trial, if necessary.

Katherine Jarve is a partner at the Marlton, New Jersey law firm of Jarve Kaplan Granato Starr, LLC. She is licensed in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and maintains a practice in personal injury and civil litigation, including equine related issues. Katherine spent her childhood competing on the national AQHA show circuit. This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be legal advice. If you have a specific legal question or problem, consult with an experienced equine law attorney. Questions, comments or suggestions can be e-mailed to kjarve@nj-triallawyers.com.

American Quarter Horse Association exhibitors flocked to Tampa, Florida to bid farewell to 2022 and usher in the new year as the Florida Quarter Horse Association presented the Gold and Gulf Coast circuits.

A total of 12 AQHA shows and one Level 1 Show, plus National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA) classes were featured Dec. 27 to Jan. 6, at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center.

The Gold Coast celebrated another record-breaking season, according to Kathy Avolt, of An Equine Production, which manages both circuits.

“Numbers for AQHA topped almost 27,000 alone,” she said. “The number of showing horses was also up. When you add in NSBA - wow!”

Professionals, amateur and youth have been competing at the Gold and Gulf Coast circuits for decades because of big classes, great prizes and, of course, the weather. This year’s event served up a mixed bag of weather from sunny skies to sudden storms, but there were plenty of smiles and very few complaints even when competition lasted well into the evening hours.

Florida Gold Coast Circuit & High Point Winners include:

Showmanship

Level 1 Youth ShowmanshipGood Miss Cadillac & Emily Craft; Youth Showmanship 13 & UnderAll But Sudden & Shayne Gilliam; Level 2 Youth Showmanship 14-18Immortalised & Jenna Berghorst; Level 3 Youth Showmanship 14-18Almost Invited & Sydney Swallom; Level 1 Amateur ShowmanshipLaidback N Lazy & Nicole Williams; L2 Amateur Select Showmanship -

Old Fashiond & Gretchen Backer; L3 Amateur Select Showmanship - Only One Request & Scott Reinartz; L2 Amateur

Showmanship - Likely Machine Made & John Whitney; L3 Amateur Showmanship - Defnitely A First & Kaleena Weakly. Over Fences

Green Working Hunter - That Is That & Chuck Briggs; Junior Working Hunter - Good Lookin Mechanic & Robert Stucky; Senior Working Hunter - Strutin To The Blues & Chuck Briggs; Green Hunter Hack - One Al Of An Amen & Jessica Johnson; Junior Hunter Hack - Good Lookin Mechanic & Robert Stuckey; Level 1 Amateur Hunter Hack - Invest My Way & Taylor Dahl; Level 1 Youth Hunter Hack - These Irons

R Famous & Madelyn G Lanz; Amateur Select Hunter HackGood By Me & Gretchen Ingersoll; Amateur Hunter HackUn Forgettab Lee & Sara Ashley Poppleton; Youth Hunter

Hack - Natural Mover & Cameryn Kolinoski; Senior Hunter

Hack: Truly Natural & Linda Crothers; Youth Jumping - Natu- ral Mover & Cameryn Kolinoski; JumpingWhat We Do By Blue & Corinne Kolinoski; Amateur Working Hunter

Under Saddle - One Al Of An Amen & Stephanie Smith; Youth

Working Hunter Under Saddle - Truly Natural & Elle Bassion; Level 1 Youth

Working Hunter - Truly Natural & Elle Bassion; Level 1 Youth Equitation Over Fences - Just Call Willy & Elle Bassion; Level 1 Amateur Working Hunter - So Priceless & Amy Avalos; Level 1 Amateur Equitation Over Fences - So Priceless & Amy Avalos; Select Working HunterGood By Me & Gretchen Ingersoll

Select Equitation Over Fences - Real Good Reason & Jo Ann Niflenegger; Amateur Working Hunter - So Priceless & Amy Avolos; Amateur Equitation Over Fences - Un Forgettable Lee & Sara Poppleton; Youth Working Hunter - Pretty Good Payback & Addison Harr; Youth Equitation Over Fences - Natural Mover & Cameryn Kolinoski.

Western Riding

Level 1 Junior Western Riding - Call Her Daddy & Jesse Jones; Level 1 Senior Western Riding - Shes One Na Million & Will Knabenshue; Junior Western Riding - Heza Flatliner & Anthony Montes; Level 1 Amateur Western Riding - Zippin Some Jack & Lisa Williams; Amateur Western Riding - KM Best Of Goodbar & Kimberly Adams; Level 1 Youth Western Riding - Immortalised & Jenna Berghorst; Youth Western Riding - Hand Made Machine & Grant Mastin; Level 2 Senior Western Riding - Justa Machine & Jesse Jones; Level 3 Senior Western Riding - Whose Your Bay Bae & Chad Evans. Ranch

Junior Ranch Trail - Custom Buddy owned by Maranda Rickman, shown by Andrey Ferreir; Amateur Ranch TrailHava Cocktail On Me & Deborah Deschamps-Baker; Youth Ranch Trail - Mr Great Red & Quincy Clagg; Senior Ranch Trail - Fancy Blue Roo & Courtney Clagg; Amateur Working Western Rail - Iscream For Icecreme & Karen Johnson; Youth Working Western Rail - Whizenboonsmal & Madison Rafacz; Open Working Western Rail - LC Trinity Glo & Perry Corder; VRH Amateur Ranch Horse Trail - Magnums Hangin Ten & Carol Dewrell; VRH Youth Ranch Horse Trail - Wimpys Littlediamond & Trent Ferreir; VRH Ranch Horse Trail - Shine Mega Shine & Kathryne Zachrich; VRH Amateur Ranch

Horse Reining - Spot On My Jersey & Brandi McGonagill; VRH Youth Ranch Horse Reining - TRR Rockin Cat & Trent Ferreir; VRH Ranch Horse Reining - Shine Mega Shine & Kathryne Zachrich; VRH Amateur Ranch Horse Riding - Iscream for Icecreme & Karen Johnson; VRH Youth Ranch

Horse Riding - Wimpys Littlediamond & Trent Ferrier; VRH Ranch Horse Riding - Shine Mega Shine & Steve Meadows; s

Green Ranch Riding - Git Ur Shine On & Shannon Hill; Junior Ranch Riding - Git Ur Shine On & Shannon Hill; Level 1

Amateur Ranch Riding: Shine Mega Shine & Kathryne

Zachrich; Amateur Ranch Riding - Shine Mega Shine & Kathryne Zachrich; Level 1 Youth Ranch Riding - SDP Got Fancy Genes & Tiana Cooper; Youth Ranch Horse RidingWimpys Littlediamond & Trent Ferreir; Senior Ranch Horse Riding - Whizenboonsmal & Madison Rafacz.

Level 1 Youth Horsemanship - Big Country Kruzer & Ellie Royal; Youth Horsemanship 13 & Under - Shes Rockin

My Dream & Isabella Buckley; Level 2 Youth Horsemanship

14-18 - So Darn Lazy & Ava Newsom; Level 3 Youth Horsemanship 14-18 - Almost Invited & Sydney Swallom; Level 1

Amateur Horsemanship - Mo Money & Sabrina Janis; Level 2 Amateur Horsemanship - Likely Machine Made & John Whitney; Level 3 Amateur Horsemanship - Im Extremelyschmancy & Katie Jo Jones; Level 2 Amateur Select

Horsemanship - Just the Rite Stryde & Thad O’Boyle; Level 3 Amateur Select Horsemanship - Only One Request & Scott Reinartz.

Level 1 Amateur Equitation - GoodGirlsFinishLast & Ashley Enoch-Scott; Amateur Select Equitation - Real Good Reason & Jo Ann Niflenegger; Amateur Equtation - One Hot Big Leaguer & Jillian Stopperich; Level 1 Youth Equitation - SlamIAm&JadynSwaldi; Youth Equitation 13 & UnderShes Rockin My Dream & Isabella Buckley; Youth Equitation 14-18 - Too Blazin

Cool & Alexia Tordoff. Trail

Green Senior Trail Sexy Suggestions & Ashley Zimlich; Green Junior Trail -

Creepin At The Bar; Level 2 Junior TrailHP Sleepy For Sure & Carly Parks; Level 3

Junior Trail - Wine After Whiskey & Bruce

Vickery; Small Fry Trail - AreUAHotCharlie&LucyMoore; Level 1 Amateur WalkTrot Trail - Sexy Suggestions & Ashley

Zimlich; Level 1 Youth Walk-Trot TrailSuggest The Best & Irelyn Herrick; Level 1

Amateur Trail - Made To Sizzle & Sarah

Black; Level 1 Youth Trail - Ima Southern

Loper & Abigail Roos; Youth Trail 13 & Under - Cooler In Blue & Emma Gore; Level 2 Youth Trail 14-18 - Im Chasing My Dreams & Hailey Schmidt; Level 3 Youth Trail 14-18 - Hand Made Machine & Grant

Mastin; Level 2 Amateur Trail: The Donny

Difference & Katie Jo Jones; Level 3 Amateur Trail: Zippin Some Jack & Lisa

Williams; Level 2 Amateur Select Trail: I’m Pretty Lazy & Doreen Moore; Level 3

Amateur Select Trail: Eye On The Ball & Laina Banks; Level 2 Senior Trail: Im Chasing My Dreams; Level 3 Senior Trail: Cruise & Jennifer Paul.

Small Fry

Small Fry Showmanship - Earn An Invitation & Addison Gray; Small Fry Western Pleasure - Sittin On My Lazyboy & Hayden Knowles; Small Fry Horsemanship - Dangerously Famous & Alyvia Kladny; Small Fry Hunter Under SaddleHBF Silver N Chrome & Elizabeth Lacy; Small Fry Equitation - Dangerously Famous & Alyvia Kladny.

Walk-Trot

Level 1 Amateur Walk-Trot Western Pleasure - Speak Softlee & Connie Nanney; Level 1 Amateur Walk-Trot

Horsemanship: Heavensent Hotrod & Amanda Jacobson

Level 1 Youth Walk-Trot Horsemanship: Dangerously Famous & Alyvia Kladny; Level 1 Youth Walk-Trot Western Pleasure - Glad Im Lopin & Ainsleigh Stephens; Level 1 Amateur Walk-Trot Hunter Under Saddle - The Call Gurl & Katie Shiver; Level 1 Amateur Walk-Trot Equitation - The Call Gurl & Katie Shiver; Level 1 Youth Walk-Trot Hunter

Under Saddle - Cruzen Real Good & Karly Lewis; Level 1 Youth Walk-Trot Equitation - Dangerously Famous & Alyvia

Kladny

Hunter Under Saddle

Level 2 Junior Hunter Under Saddle - The Luxury Line & Dawn Baker; Level 1 Amateur Hunter Under SaddleOnly Time Will Tail & Kimber Mitchell; Level 3 Junior Hunter Under Saddle - Only Ride The Best & Dawn Baker; Amateur Hunter Under Saddle - Al Be Seeing Ya & Ashley Berghorst; Amateur Select Hunter Under Saddle - Worth The Waite & Kelley Christy; Green Hunter Under Saddle - Betcha Im A Natural & Keith Miller; Level 1 Youth Hunter Under Saddle - Big Irons & Myah Yeomans; Youth Hunter Under Saddle 13 & Under - Whoz N Trouble & Elizabeth Laney; Level 2 Senior Hunter Under Saddle - Betcha Im A Natural & Keith Miller; Level 3 Senior Hunter Under Saddle - Without Permission & Dawn Baker;

Pleasure Driving

Junior Pleasure Driving - That Is That & Nikki Schultz; Amateur Pleasure Driving - Un Forgettab Lee & Sara Poppleton; Senior Pleasure Driving - Struttin To The Blues & Brian Holmes.

Western Pleasure

Level 2 Junior Western Pleasure: The Whos Who & Taft Dickerson; Level 1 Amateur Western Pleasure - HP Sleepy For Sure & Nicole Heron; Level 3 Junior Western PleasureGone Commando & Taft Dickerson; Amateur Western Pleasure - FlatLinesSweetKatieB & Kerk Sanders; Amateur Select Western Pleasure: The Whoo & Linda Ball Sargent; Green Western Pleasure - Gone Commando & Taft Dickerson; Level 1 Youth Western Pleasure - Best Be In Line & Kennedy Dorsey; Youth Western Pleasure 13 & Under - The Next Drew Berry & Dana Moody; Level 2 Senior Western Pleas- ure - Moonlite Imagination & Chad Piper; Youth Western Pleasure 14-18 - ItsOnlyRockAndRoll & Caroline Fredenburgh; Level 3 Senior Western Pleasure - No Doubting Me & Chad Piper. ***

Florida Gulf Coast Circuit Champions include: Small Fry

Small Fry Showmanship - Cruizen Real Good & Karly Lewis; Small Fry Trail - Cruzen Real Good & Karly Lewis; Small Fry Western PleasureRoses Only & Marlee Tincher; Small Fry Horsemanship - Roses Only & Marlee Tincher; Small Fry Hunter Under SaddleCruzen Real Good & Karly Johnston; Small Fry EquitationKM Boalicious & Anna Johnston.

Walk-Trot

Level 1 Amateur Walk-Trot Trail - Sexy Suggestions & Ashley Zimlich; Level 1 Youth Walk-Trot Trail - Are U A Hot Charlie & Lucy Moore; Level 1 Amateur Walk-Trot Western Pleasure - Speak Softly & Connie Nanney; Level 1 Amateur Walk-Trot Horsemanship - Sexy Suggestions & Ashley Zimlich; Level 1 Youth Walk-Trot Western Pleasure - RBB

Classy Code Blue & Olivia Stein; Level 1 Youth Walk-Trot

Horsemanship - Are U A Hot Charlie & Lucy Moore; Level 1 Amateur Walk-Trot Hunter Under Saddle - Too Sleepy To Look & Morgan Shue; Level 1 Amateur Walk-Trot Equitation - Too Sleepy To Look & Morgan Shue; Level 1 Youth WalkTrot Hunter Under Saddle - Cruzen Real Good & Karly Lewis; Level 1 Youth Walk-Trot Equitation - Cool Lopin Lady & Charlotte Sherman.

Western Pleasure

Level 2 Junior Western Pleasure - Well ThereYouGo & Stephanie Armellini; Level 1 Amateur Western PleasureMakingem Great Again & Daniel Carlson; Level 3 Junior Western Pleasure - Lopin Like No Other & Wade Parks; Amateur Western Pleasure - Willys Goodride & Sarah Lebsock; Amateur Select Western Pleasure - The Whoo & Linda Ball

Sargent; Green Western Pleasure - Made In Style & Nick Mayabb; Level 1 Youth Western Pleasure - On Red Alert & Addison Meilleur; Youth Western Pleasure 13 & UnderJusta Machine & Emme Graves; Level 2 Senior Western Pleasure - Heza Flatliner & Amanda Jackson; Youth Western Pleasure 14-18 - Itsonlyrockandroll & Caroline Fredenburg; Level 3 Senior Western Pleasure - The Whoo & Shane Dowdy. s

Hunter Under Saddle

Level 2 Junior Hunter Under Saddle - The Luxury Line & Dawn Baker; Level 1 Amateur Hunter Under Saddle - Well Al Be & Ivanny Franklin; Level 3 Junior Hunter Under Saddle - The Irons Hit & Amber Hanson Pickard; Amateur Hunter Under Saddle - Jack And Koa & Shelly Boyle; Amateur Select Hunter Under Saddle - Worth The Waite & Kelley

Christy; Green Hunter Under Saddle - Boys Are Better & Keith Miller; Level 1 Youth Hunter Under Saddle - Body

Like A Back Rd & Julia Lee; Youth Hunter Under Saddle 13 & Under - Certenly A Good Time & Eva Johnston; Level 2

Senior Hunter Under Saddle - Cool Made Machine & Shannon Walker; Youth Hunter Under Saddle 14-18 - If Im Honest & Evie Doles; Level 3 Senior Hunter Under SaddleBetcha Im A Natural & Keith Miller. Trail

Green Senior Trail - VS Cruisin Blue & Bruce Vickery; Green Junior Trail - Hot Impulses & Becky George; Level 2

Junior Trail - Call Her Daddy & Jesse Jones; Level 3 Junior TrailWine After Whiskey & Bruce Vickery; Level 1 Amateur Trail - GoodGirlsFinishLast & Ashley

Enoch-Scott; Level 1 Youth TrailA Moonlit Sudden & Stella Dorsey; Youth Trail 13 & Under - Chilln

Ona Dirt Road & Lilly Jones; Level 2 Youth Trail 14-18 - Amarillo By Moonlite & Estelle Mcparlan; Level 3 Youth Trail 14-18 - Im

Chasing My Dreams & Hailey

Schmidt; Level 2 Amateur TrailMommaDidNRaiseNoFool & Heather Duer; Level 3 Amateur

Trail - Definitely A First & Kalenna Weakly; Level 2 Amateur Select Trail - Lets Ride & Janet Egolf; Level 3 Amateur Select Trail - PF Put It N Park & Carla Townsley; Level 2 Senior Trail - Perfectly Made & Kyle Dougherty;

Level 3 Senior Trail - I Am The Party & Jonathan Meuilleur;.

Western Riding

Level 1 Junior Western Riding - The Donny Difference & Carmen Mayabb; Level 1 Senior Western Riding - The Best Of All & Anthony Montes; Junior Western Riding - Best By Design & Carly Parks; Level 1 Amateur Western RidingMade To Sizzle & Sarah Black; Amateur Western RidingWhose Your Bay Bae & Kelly Birkenholtz; Level 1 Youth Western Riding - All But Sudden & Shayne Gilliam; Youth Western Riding - Hand Made Machine & Grant Mastin; Level 2 Senior Western Riding - If You Say So & Brad Jewett; Level 3 Senior Western Riding - Snap It Send It & Charlie Cole.

Over Fences

Green Working Hunter - Without Permission & Jessica Johnson; Progressive Working Hunter - Al Be Hot For You & Lanie Deboer; Junior Working Hunter - Who Is Next & Robert Stuckey; Senior Working Hunter - Strutin To The Blues & Chuck Briggs; Green Hunter Hack - These Irons R Famous & Tammy Huber; Junior Hunter Hack - That Is That & Chuck Briggs; Senior Hunter Hack - Strutin To The Blues & Chuck Briggs; Level 1 Amateur Hunter Hack - Unforgettably His & Elexxah Maxwell; Level 1 Youth Hunter HackTwo Lucky Minutes & Isabella Agliano; Amateur Select Hunter Hack - Al Be Hot For You & Carey Knapper; Amateur Hunter Hack - Natural Ride & Isabella Erwin; Youth Hunter Hack - Not So Badd & Finley Scheffel; Amateur Jumping - Do You Have A Winner & Kim Burritt; Amateur Working Hunter Under Saddle - Al Be Hot For You & Carey Knapper; Youth Working Hunter Under Saddle - Not So Badd & Finley Scheffel; Working Hunter Under Saddle - Al Be Hot For You & Lanie DeBoer; Level 1 Youth Working Hunter - Pretty Good Payback & Addison Harr; Level 1

Youth Equitation Over Fences - Pretty Good Payback & Ad- dison Harr; Level 1 Amateur Working Hunter - ATM & Lindsey Gerbick; Level 1 Amateur Equitation Over Fences - ATM & Lindsey Gerbick; Amateur Select Working Hunter - Do You Have A Winner & Kimberly Burritt; Amateur Select Equitation Over Fences - Real Good Reason & Jo Ann NIffenegger; Amateur Working Hunter - And Then They Danced & Megan Miller; Amateur Equitation Over Fences - And Then They Danced & Megan Miller; Youth Working HunterLuvin N Leavin & Madison Furlong; Youth Equitation Over Fences - The One You Love & Victoria Raleigh.

Pleasure Driving

Open Pleasure Driving - Strutin To The Blues & Chuck Briggs; Amateur Pleasure Driving - Skye Miles & Cindy Schrader.

Ranch

Junior Ranch Trail - West Side Code & Matt Gouthro; Amateur Ranch Trail - See The Magic In Me & Ken Banks; Youth Ranch Trail - Wimpys Littlediamond & Trent Ferreir; Senior Ranch Trail - Git Ur Shine On & Shannon Quinlan Hill; Amateur Working Western Rail - See The Magic In Me

& Kenneth Banks; Youth Working Western Rail - Wimpys Littlediamond & Trent Ferrier; Open Working Western RailShine Mega Shine & Kathryne Zachrich; VRH Amateur Ranch Horse Trail: See The Magic In Me & Kenneth Banks; VRH

Youth Ranch Horse Trail - Trr Rockin Cat & Trent Ferreir; VRH Ranch Horse Trail - The Half Time Show & Steve Meadows; VRH Amateur Ranch Reining - RR ColonelSteadyStar & Hanna Haynes; VRH Youth Ranch ReiningRebelVintage & Cole Gouthro; VRH Open Ranch ReiningShine Mega Shine & Kathryn Zachrich; VRH Amateur Ranch Horse Riding - See The Magic In Me & Kenneth Banks; VRH Youth Ranch Horse Riding - Trr Rockin Cat & Trent Ferreir; VRH Open Ranch Horse Riding - Whiz Chic Grace & Pam Troutman; Green Ranch Riding - Wimpys

Color Code & Courtney Clagg; Junior Ranch Riding - West Side Code & Matt Gouthro; Level 1 Amateur Ranch RidingSDP Got Fancy Genes & Suzanne Cooper; Amateur Ranch Riding - See The Magic In Me & Ken Banks; Level 1 Youth Ranch Riding - Custom Buddy & Maranda Rickman; Youth Ranch Horse Riding- Wimpys LittleDiamond & Trent Ferreir; Senior Ranch Horse Riding - Shine Mega Shine & Steve Meadows.

Level 1 Youth Showmnship - Venture Assets & Grace Saater; Youth Showmanship 13 & Under - All But Sudden & Shayne Gilliam; Level 2 Youth Showmanship 14-18 - Big Country Kruzer & Ellie Royal; Level 3 Youth Showmanship

14-18 - Good Evanescence & Lyla Bellar; Level 1 Amateur Showmanship - Premium Diesel & Laura Hice; Level 2 Amateur Select Showmanship - Good By Me & Gretchen Ingersoll; Level 3 Amateur Select Showmanship - RR Certainly A Lady & Anne Wilson; Level 2 Amateur Showmanship - I Gottem Talkin & Julia Oxendine; Level 3 Amateur Showmanship - Definitely A First & Kaleena Weakly.

Level 1 Youth Horsemanship - All But Sudden & Shayne Gilliam; Youth Horsemanship 13 & Under - All But Sudden & Shayne Gilliam; Level 2 Youth Horsemanship 14-18Moonlightin & Libby Wilhelm; Level 3 Youth Horsemanship 14-18 - Almost Invited & Sydney Swallom; Level 1 Amateur Horsemanship - Moonlight Potential & Christine Harrison; Level 2 Amateur Horsemanship - Two Ziplines & Katie Kopf; Level 3 Amateur Horsemanship - Definitely A First & Kaleena Weakly; Level 2 Amateur Select HorsemanshipHuntin The Buckles & Suzanne Muller; Level 3 Amateur Select Horsemanship - On My Lever & Shannon Cairone;.

Level 1 Amateur Equitation - Gun Powder N Smoke & Payton Anderson; Amateur Select Equitation - Real Good Reason & Jo Ann Niffenegger; Amateur Equitation - Too Blazin Cool & Alexia Tordoff; Level 1 Youth EquitationMade To Be Lazy & Ella Roberts; Youth Equitation 13 & Under - Certainly A Good Time & Eva Johnston; Youth Equitation 14-18 - Im N Outsider & Violet Shetler; Complete results for both the Florida Gold and Gulf Coast Circuits can be found at wwwanequineproduction.com.

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Pictured on the opposite page is Aiden Cochran riding Sure Am Southern, winners of the Limited Non-Pro Western Pleasure Mataurity, the largest futurity class at the Fun In The Sun Futurity and (top) Nick Mayabb piloting Made In Style to a win in the Novice Horse Open Trail. On this page (clockwise from top) Sheyenne Nelson riding Heart Stopperr to a win in the 3-Year-Old Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle. Below that Megan Hunt Shows Happy As A Lark in Pleasure Driving; one of many Showmanship competitors; and a flag ceremony featured at the show.

Make It Easy, owned by John McNichol and shown by Katie Green.

3-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure (5 shown): Dark Ladie, owned by Haley Purkapile and shown by Shannon Curl-Holbin.

3-Year-Old Limited Open Western Pleasure (8 shown): Dark Ladie, owned by Haley Purkapile and shown by Shannon Curl-Holbin.

3-Year-Old Non-Pro Western Pleasure (3 show): Strike 3, owned by Jay & Kristy Starnes and shown by Logan Starnes.

3-Year-Old Limited Non-Pro Western Pleasure (5 show): Strike 3, owned by Jay & Kristy Starnes and shown by Logan Starnes.

Maturity Non-Pro Western Pleasure (10 shown): Forever Kool, owned by Ditty Up LLC and shown by Nancy Wilkerson-Ditty.

Maturity Limited Rider Open Western Pleasure (15 shown): Made In May, owned by Robin Shifflet and shown by Carmen Mayabb.

Maturity $10,000 Limited Horse Open Western Pleasure (11 shown): Thats How U Holiday, owned by Andrea Rowland and shown by Jay Starnes.

3-Year-Old Novice Horse Open Western Pleasure (4 shown): RV Is Always Lazy, owned by Tammy Conroy and shown by Brian Cox.

Hunter Under Saddle

Maturity Open Hunter Under Saddle (5 shown): Al Be Bleu, owned by Tali Terlizzi and shown by Jamie English.

3-Year-Old Open Hunter Under Saddle (5 shown): Super Freek, owned by Kelly Smith and shown by Jamie English. s

3-Year-Old Limited Open Hunter Under Saddle (3 shown): Ima Southern Gent, owned by Becky George and shown by Colton Plyman.

3-Year-Old Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle (6 shown): Heart Stopperr, owned and shown by Sheyenne Nelson.

Maturity Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle (3 shown): Bigg Red Truck, owned and shown by Tali Terlizzi.

Maturity Limited Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle (3 shown): Nuthin To It, owned and shown by Deborah Jury.

Green Hunter Under Saddle (7 shown): What Does It Matter, owned by Marcie McClendon and shown by Elizabeth Baker.

Novice Amateur Select Hunter Under Saddle (5 shown): OK Rockn Danite Away, owned and shown by Kim Stonerock.

Novice Horse Open Trail (17 shown): Made In Style, owned by Janice Warford and shown by Nick Mayabb.

Green Tail (16 shown): Made In Style, owned by Jan- ice Warford and shown by Nick Mayabb.

Junior Trail 5 & Under (6 shown): Acrobatt, owned by Chapmnancy G Chapman TTE and shown by Nick Mayabb.

Novice Amateur Trail (6 shown): HP Satin Dream, owned and shown by Dr. Ted D Filandrianos.

Amateur Trail (7 shown): Whose Your Bay Bae, owned and shown by Kelly Birkenholtz.

Amateur Select Trail (7 shown): Eye On The Ball,

Senior Trail 6 & Over (20 shown): I Am The Party, owned by Dr. Ted D Filandrianos and shown by Jonathan Meilleur.

Pleasure Driving ttt

All-Age Open Pleasure Driving (3 shown): Happy As A Lark, owned and shown by by Megan Hunt.

Amateur Pleasure Driving (3 shown): Happy As A Lark, owned and shown by by Megan Hunt.

The Fox Lea Farm Winter Circuit and Fun In The Sun Futurity was held Jan. 7-14 at Fox Lea Farm. Established in 1983, Fox Lea Farm is a privately owned, nationally recognized horse show facility which hosts over 42 events, of various types, annually and attracts competitors from all over the country and internationally. It is located in Venice, Florida, just minutes from some of the best beaches in the country.

Judges for this year’s event included: Kelly McDowall, Scott Neuman, Robert Dehn, Valerie Kearns, Sara Simons, Leslie Lange, Karen Graham, Clint Ainsworth, Nancy Alto-Renfro, Beckey Schooler, Dave Denniston, Kelly Wainscott, Holly Hoover, Bruce Walquist, Tony Burris and Rhonda Replogle.

For complete results from the 2023 event visit www.elitehorseshows.com.

Some scenes from the Fun In The Sun and Fox Lea Farm Winter Circuit (clockwise from top left): Jonathan Meuiller warms up I Am The Party; pizza is prepared in a brick oven for exhibitors during one of the many social events provided at the show; action on the over fences arena; a collection of the beautiful neck ribbons presented to class winners; a Lead Line competitor steals the show; and Christopher Russell shows Im Gettin Trashed in Open Ranch Trail.