March 2020 Issue

EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN March 2020 Page 65 At Combined Meeting of Associations, AMHA Recognizes Local Horses Association’s (AMHA) Show Horse Hall of Fame. The first inductee was Opies Boy, posthumously. Foaled in 1989, the dynamic, bay Morgan gelding was pur- chased by Cindy Nord during the summer of 1996. He stayed in training with Mike Slomkowski of Showcase Stables, who drove him to the Reserve World Pleasure Driving Championship. After the Morgan Grand National, Opie went home with his new trainer, Mike Goebig of Broadmoor in Kutztown, PA. From that point on, this team was successful at state, regional and national shows. Cindy drove Opie to the Grand National Amateur Pleasure Driv- ing Geldings Championship and World Amateur Pleasure Driving Championship in 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000. Then for 16 years, Opie enjoyed retirement, trotting the fields and enjoying life at Cin- dy’s Meadow Ridge Farm. After Opies’ passing, Ste- phen Kinney, Editorial Director of THE MORGAN HORSE mag- azine, said, “It's not just that he established such a record, it's also the fact Opie was extraordinary to watch every time you saw him. Unforgettable!” The second was PVF Peace Of Mind. In 2010, Suzy Staf- ford’s purchased a three-year- old brown mare. It wasn’t long before this dynamic duo became top contenders, nationally and internationally, in the sport of carriage driving. Fondly known as Hunny, she made her debut at the 2013 Morgan World Championship Show. There she earned two World Championships and four Grand National Championships in the Carriage Driving division. She was also the USEF Zone 2 Regional Champion in Ridden Dressage First Level and Car- riage driving. was named the USEF Horse of the Year and was inducted into the Horse Stars Hall Of Fame, sponsored by the USEF and Equus Foundations. In 2016, Breyer Animal Cre- ations also used her as a model for one of their model horses. Among her many highlights, Hunny was also the new face of Triple Crown Training feed and represented the United States in the FEI Single Horse World Combined Driving Champion- ships, placing second in the world in Dressage. Therapy Horse of the Year EF Star Performer was rec- ognized as the AMHA Therapy Horse of the Year. He began his work as a therapy horse in March 2019 at Sebastian Riding Associ- By Suzy Lucine On January 21-26, Hackney, Morgan, Roadster and Saddlebred trainers, owners and exhibitors gathered in Lexington, KY, for the associations’ annual meetings, lectures and award ceremonies Two Morgans were inducted into the American Morgan Horse Hunny accumulated multiple USEF honors from 2014 through 2016, including Reserve National Combined Driving Horse Champion, Re- serve Combined Driving Horse of the Year and National Com- bined Driving Horse Champion. Many of these awards were won multiple times. In 2015, Hunny ates in Collegeville, PA, as a six- year-old while his owner attended nursing school. Despite his age, he is an extremely trustworthy mount--nothing fazes him! Star is kind and connects with his riders...one little boy won't ride anyone else. His curious Morgan personality puts a smile on every- one's face--he is a barn favorite. Star will also be a part of a new equine facilitated psychotherapy program. One of the instructors in this program said Star is a wonderful horse to teach with as he quickly gains the trust of the students. Staff members love how in- teractive Star is with the children, his curious personality, and how bombproof he is at such a young age. He is making a big differ- ence for the clients in his therapy program. They are so grateful to have Star as part of their amazing equine team. EF Star Performer truly embodies everything that makes a Morgan a Morgan, and made it an easy decision to recognize him as the AMHA Therapy Horse of the Year. The United Professional Horsemens Association (UPHA) chose the Children’s Benefit Show as the UPHA Chapter 15 Honor Show of the Year. This year, the show will be held April 3-5 at the Gloucester County Dream Park in Logan Township, NJ. Kathy Russo Stewart of Cream Ridge, NJ, was UPHA Chapter 15 Horse Person of the Year. Kathy’s daughter, Alexa, shows her Saddlebred under the direction of Anne Butler of Mill- stone Riding Club in Allentown, NJ. Kathy is an active member of both UPHA Chapter 15 and the American Saddle Horse Association of New Jersey. She also managed the Mid-Atlan- tic Charity Horse Show that was held at the Dream Park in Gloucester County, NJ, this past July. EF Star Performer, who began work in 2019 at age six at Sebastian Riding Associates in Collegeville, PA, was named American Morgan Horse Association Therapy Horse of the Year for 2019.