Riding Dragonsmeade Well Played, Kerrianne Adamek of Murraysville, PA won two titles at the World Championship Morgan Horse Show. Credit: Howard Schatzberg.
Many quality Morgans from Pennsylvania were shipped to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to compete in the Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show, held October 7-14. More than 1,000 Morgans were entered from all over the country and Canada, and they competed in excess of 300 classes for over $400,000 in prize money.
For the four consecutive year, Matt Kwapich of Bernalillo, New Mexico, was the show's manager. This year, Sally Plumley of Monmouth, Oregon, served was show chairman. "We were so happy to have more entries than in recent years participating in a record number of classes," Sally said. "From thrilling park saddle classes to carriage driving classes, including a spectacular four-in-hand presentation, to 38 entries in the newly added Ranch Horse Pleasure class, and everything in between, there was something for everyone as the versatility of our Morgan horses was demonstrated magnificently.”
Merriehill Nighty Night was the first horse from Pennsylvania to bring home world and national titles. Owned by Debbie Confer of Cardinal Hill Stables in Bedminster, she won the Grand National Two-Year-Old Mare Championship, the Reserve World Junior Champion Mare and the World Futurity Two-Year-Old Mare Championship. Scott Neidlinger of Lingering Hill Stables presented her.
There was another Pennsylvania winner in the next age group of mares. Ledyard Octavia was pinned Grand National Three-Year-Old Champion Mare, and went on to win World Senior Champion Mare and World Champion Mare. Owned by William Haines of Ledyard Farms, Dwayne Knowles and Mike Goebig of Broadmoor in Kutztown presented the mare.
Mike Goebig and Dwayne Knowles, owners/trainer of Broadmoor, took the most horses from one Pennsylvania barn with 16. Showing under their direction, retired Derry Township School Superintendent Linda Brewer was back in the winner’s circle with her bay gelding, Centaurus Rising. They were the Reserve Grand National Classic Pleasure Masters Champions. They culminated the show season with Reserve World Champion honors in the Masters Classic Pleasure Driving division.
Showing under the Broadmoor stable banner, Allyson Wandtke had an incredible show. She rode CN Timeless Masterpiece GCH to the Grand National Ladies English Pleasure Mare Championship, a mare owned by her mother, Cindy Nord. They finished the division as World Champions. For the third year in a row, Allyson presented this mare to the Grand National Ladies Pleasure Driving Mare Championship. Later in the week, Allyson drove the nine-year-old mare to the Reserve World Ladies Pleasure Driving Championship.
For Allyson, the third time must be the charm as she also rode Get Smart to the Grand National Ladies Park Saddle Mare Championship. Allyson co-owns the mare with her mother.
Riding her dynamic gelding, CBMF Restless, Allyson won the World Amateur English Pleasure Championship. This was the fourth time they have won this honor. The other wins happened in 2012, 2014 and 2015, with Reserve World Championship titles in 2013 and 2016.
MIZ Saturn Star, owned by Good Morgans LLC and ridden by Kim Germ-Cramer, won the Grand National Amateur English Pleasure Masters Championship for the second year in a row. They went on to win the World Championship in this division. Before they made their victory pass in the spotlight, it was announced that this talented mare would now be retired to Kim’s broodmare band.
Reserve World Amateur English Pleasure Masters Champion was Clayhill Affirmative, owned by Tony Humphreys and Julie Broadway, and ridden by Julie Broadway. Showing provides Julie with a different perspective of the horse world compared from her job as President of the American Horse Council.
Indian Creek American Girl and owner Holly Johnson won the Grand National Amateur Ladies Pleasure Driving Championship. Then they captured the Reserve World Ladies Amateur English Pleasure Championship.
Whitemud Sky Captain CH and owner Dianne Lents were Reserve Grand National Amateur Pleasure Driving Masters Champions. This duo also captured the Reserve World Amateur Masters Pleasure Driving Championship.
Tony Lee had a great catch drive in the Grand National Amateur Gentlemen Pleasure Driving Championship. He drove Dianne Lents’ gelding, RWJ Massimo, to reserve championship honors.
Broadmoor also had the honor of presenting the first horse in the 45-year-history of this show to be officially retired. Following the last class on Friday evening, the special retirement ceremony for the multi world champion Stand And Deliver was held. A brief video of his career was shown on the Jumbotron in center ring. Then the house lights were dimmed and the spotlights were aimed toward the ingate as owner Tara Good rode ‘Stilts’ into the ring to a standing ovation. After a few trotting passes both ways of the ring, Tara lined up the stallion in center ring, and was greeted by Mike Goebig and Dwayne Knowles. His bridle and saddle were removed and his halter put on. Then a garland of roses was laid across his back, and Tara led him out of the show ring for the very last time.
Friends and fans of the great stallion were invited back to the Broadmoor stable area to celebrate this retirement. Stilts was in his glory standing in his stall with the door open so anyone who wanted to could have their photograph taken standing next to him or take the opportunity to pet him. It was a great celebration.
Making the last victory pass from the Kutztown-based stable was CBMF Uprising. He was the Reserve World Open Pleasure Driving Champion for owner William Haines of Ledyard Farms and was driven by Dwayne Knowles.
Alicia Owens and her entries from Scottfield Stables in Lenhartsville had a great show. Audra Lee unanimously won the Grand National Saddle Seat Equitation 14 & 15 Championship and the Reserve World Saddle Seat Equitation 14-17 Championship. She was also Reserve Champion in the UPHA Morgan Senior Challenge Cup Phase II and in the AMHA Saddle Seat Gold Medal Finals. Audra was riding CBMF Random Hearts GCH, an eight-year-old bay mare owned by Kristina Vingelis.
Kristina’s bay gelding, SFS Johnny Drama, won the Grand National Four-Year-Old Classic Pleasure Driving Championship. Debbie Peterman drove him.
EKL Girl From Ipanema won the Grand National Four-Year-Old English Pleasure Mare Championship. Alicia rode her for proud owners, David and Beth Grella.
Riding Someone Like You, Alicia won the Reserve Grand National Ladies English Pleasure Mare Championship. Jennifer Joy Norris owns the five-year-old bay mare.
Also showing under the Scottfield Stable banner, Dragonsmeade Varvatos and Sarah Hecht unanimously won the Grand National Junior Exhibitor Park Saddle 15 & Under Championship. They went on to win the Reserve World Junior Exhibitor Park Saddle Championship. This was the second year in a row this duo won both of these impressive titles.
Amanda DuPont of Windward Farm in Port Matilda had a successful show. She rode SSLLC Imperial Command to the World Three-Year-Old Hunter Pleasure Futurity Championship. The bay gelding is owned and bred by Kevin Schengrund, DVM, of Hershey.
Chit Chat was the Reserve Grand National Hunter Pleasure Mare Champion. Amanda rode the bay mare for owners Peggy and Phil Alderman.
Owner Jane Thompson was thrilled when Amanda rode her BRMF Fearless to the Reserve Grand National Three-Year-Old English Pleasure Mare Championship.
Amanda coached Elizabeth Fawcett to the Reserve Grand National Hunter Seat Equitation 18-35 Championship Finals. She was riding PlayMor’s Call Me A Star, who is owned by Rosemary Croop.
Kerrianne Adamek of Murraysville had a great show with her horses to culminate a successful junior exhibitor career. Showing Sacred Path Indiana Jones, she won the Grand National Junior Exhibitor Classic Pleasure Driving 14-17 Championship, Grand National Junior Exhibitor Classic Pleasure Saddle 16 & 17 Championship and World Junior Exhibitor Classic Pleasure Saddle Championship. Riding ECP Scandelous, Kerri won the Reserve Grand National Junior Exhibitor English Pleasure 16 & 17 Championship and the World Junior Exhibitor English Pleasure 14-17 Championship. Kerri also rode Dragonsmeade Well Played, to two unanimous titles in the Grand National Junior Exhibitor Park Saddle 16-17 Championship and the World Junior Exhibitor English Pleasure Championship. Kerri shows her horses under the direction of Tim Roesink of Grove Pointe Stables.
“Kerri is a horse junky,” Tim Roesink said about the freshman at the University of Tampa who hopes to transfer to Duquesne University in Pittsburg. “She loves showing her Morgans, and she’s dedicated and works really hard at presenting her horses to their best performances.”
Pittsburg resident Lynn Begalla was thrilled when her Cimi’s Voodoo Daddy won the Grand National Four-Year-Old Pleasure Driving Stallion & Gelding Championship, and then went back to take on all comers and win the World Open Pleasure Driving Championship. Phil Fountain of Fire Stables expertly drove him.
Lynn Peeples of Lynn Peeples Stable in Creekside drove his mare, TRE I Wonder to the Reserve Grand National Three-Year-Old Park Harness Championship. With horses from William Haines’ Ledyard Farms, Lynn was the Reserve Grand National Two-Year-Old Park Harness Champion driving Ledyard Code Red. He presented Ledyard Oberon to the Grand National Three-Year-Old Champion Stallion title. Oberon also won the Reserve World Three-Year-Old English Pleasure Champion. Katelyn Byler rode him.