AJ Billetts and Flintlocks Grandee. Credit Howard Schatzburg
East Coast Morgans Take on the World
The 2019 Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show® was held October 12-19 in Oklahoma City, OK. The show attracted about 950 entries from across the United States and Canada. More than $250,000 in prize money was awarded.
Since 1973, this show has represented the pinnacle of achievement in the Morgan horse world. Longtime show manager Matt Kwapich of Bernalillo, NM, and show chairman Jeffrey Gove of Seabrook, NH, along with a dedicated and hard-working show committee and staff, joined an impressive list of sponsors, officials, and volunteers to make this year's show better than the last.
For the second year in a row, Playmors Im a Star Too and owner Kerrianne Adamek of Murrysville, PA, won the Grand National Youth Park Saddle Championship. They went on to be named Reserve World Champions in the division. The duo shows under the direction of Tim Roesink of Grove Pointe Stables.
Kerri also won the Grand National Ladies Classic Pleasure Saddle Championship with her gelding, Dragonsmeade Iconic Fusion. They also won the Reserve Grand National Youth Classic Pleasure Saddle Championship Finals.
Nancy Hendricks of Carreg Wen Farm in Middletown, MD, won the Grand National Amateur Masters Pleasure Driving Championship with CBMF Fearless. Later in the event, she drove Fearless to the Reserve World Championship in this division. She shows her nine-year-old bay gelding under the direction of Tim Roesink.
Amanda DuPont, owner and trainer of Windward Farm in Port Matilda, PA, won the Grand National Three-Year-Old Hunter Pleasure Stallions & Geldings Championship riding Warpath. Owned by Jane Soura, Warpath went on to win the World Futurity Three-Year-Old Hunter Pleasure Championship as well as the World Three-Year-Old Hunter Pleasure Championship.
Amanda won the Grand National Four-Year-Old Hunter Pleasure Mare Championship with Jane’s CFS Gentlemens Queen.
Playmor’s Call Me A Star GCH won the Grand National Road Hack Hunt Seat Finals and the Grand National Versatile Morgan Finals. He is owned by Rosemary Croop and was ridden by Amanda.
Instead of riding her homebred HURs Imperator, Jane Thompson presented him to the Reserve Grand National Amateur In-Hand Geldings Finals Championship. Jane shows under the watchful eye of Amanda DuPont.
Amanda’s son, AJ Billetts, won the World Walk Trot Hunter Pleasure 9 & Under Championship and the Reserve Grand National Walk Trot Hunter Pleasure 9 & Under Championship riding Flintlocks Grandee.
Mike Goebig and Dwayne Knowles brought 17 horses from Broadmoor, their farm in Kutztown, PA. They went home with numerous world and national titles.
Dwayne was first to visit the winner’s circle when he drove Ledyard Repunzel to the Grand National Two-Year-Old Park Harness Championship. ‘Ruffles’ went on to win the World Two-Year-Old Park Harness for the Ledyard Company, LLC.
Blurred Lines and owner Kim Germ-Cramer were unanimously pinned Grand National Ladies English Pleasure Mare Champions. ‘Princess’ was also the World Ladies English Pleasure Champion.
Also showing under the Broadmoor stable banner, Holly Johnson rode her mare, Indian Creek American Girl, to the Grand National Amateur Masters English Pleasure Championship. The duo finished the show as the division Reserve World Champions.
Riding the bay mare, Carol Dawson, in the last class of the show, Mike Goebig won his seventh World Open Park Saddle Championship. The win wasn’t an easy one for Mike and the mare, owned by Holly Johnson, as after the regular class was worked and the entries stripped for conformation, the mare and one other horse were put back on the rail for a work off, much to the delight of the audience. Carol Dawson was pinned the unanimous winner.
Alicia Owens, owner/trainer of Scottfield Stables in Lenhartsville, PA, was very proud when Sarah Hecht won the World Junior Exhibitor Park Saddle Championship with Dragonsmeade Well Played. “This horse is so incredible,” said Sarah after her unanimous win. “We’ve worked so long and so hard to get here, so this win really means a lot. My parents have given me every opportunity to thrive, and I’m forever grateful.”
Earlier in the show, this duo won the national championship in the 16-17 age group of this division.
Sarah also rode her Dragonsmeade Varvatos GCH to the Reserve World Junior Exhibitor English Pleasure 14-17 Championship. They won the national championship in their age group, 16-17.
Someone Like You and Jennifer Norris won the Grand National Amateur Ladies English Pleasure Championship unanimously.
Alicia coached Audra Lee to the Reserve World Senior Saddle Seat Equitation Championship. She rode CBMF Random Hearts GCH.
Sophia Esarco rode SFS Johnny Drama to the Reserve Grand National Classic Saddle Seat Equitation 14-17 Championship.
Alicia also showed EKL On the Edge to the Reserve Grand National Three-Year-Old English Pleasure Stallion & Gelding Championship. He is owned by Ashton Vattelana.
Ellen Palillo of Endless Mountain Morgans in Meshoppen, PA, had a great show with her Disco Daredevil. Four years ago, during his first trip to Oklahoma City, the gelding was the Reserve World Snaffle Bit Reining Champion with trainer Josette Conti in the saddle. This year, Ellen rode him to both the Reserve Grand National and the Reserve World Championship in the Reining Non-Pro division. They slid to top scores under the direction of Josette Conti Kain of Kain Performance Horses in Kutztown, PA.
Ellen frequently shows her gelding in open competition through the Keystone Reining Association. She likes to promote the athletic abilities of a Morgan to a non-Morgan owning crowd.
“It’s always fun to show my reiners at the Morgan World Championship so my Morgan family can see the versatility of the breed in a division that I love,” Ellen said.
There were several champions from the Oxford, NJ, stable of Kathleen Peeples’ Waterford Farm. She rode Cherrydale Casanova to the Reserve Grand National Four-Year-Old Park Saddle Championship and the World Four-Year-Old Park Saddle Championship. The bay stallion is bred and owned by Robin Herrick of Cherrydale Manor in New Wilmington, PA.
Casanova has won every year he showed in Oklahoma City. Kathleen’s assistant, Christopher Bernard, drove him to the World Two-Year-Old Park Harness Championship. The following year, Chris drove him to the World Futurity Three-Year-Old Park Harness Championship, and Kathleen rode him to the World Futurity Three-Year-Old Park Saddle Championship. This year, Chris drove him to the Reserve Grand National Four-Year-Old Park Harness Championship.
Kathleen also showed the colt’s dam, Cherrydale Casseopea. “I just can’t say enough great things about this colt,” Kathleen said.
Kathleen also rode Mirabels Annabella to the Reserve Grand National Four-Year-Old Hunter Pleasure Mare Championship for owner Cynthia Brown Clark.
Changing into her western outfit, Kathleen rode EKL Soundtrack to the World Three-Year-Old Western Pleasure Championship. He is owned by Cathy Miller.
Ashleigh Wood had a good show with her mare, Cherrydale Ariella GCH. Under the direction of Kathleen and Chris, they won the Grand National Amateur Western Pleasure Mare Championship and the Reserve Grand National Ladies Amateur Western Pleasure Mare Championships.
Kathleen also coached the Eaton sisters to great rides in their classes. Sarena Eaton was the Reserve Grand National Junior Exhibitor Classic Pleasure Saddle 13 & Under Champion riding Kinzu Keeping It Real. Younger sister Victoria was the Reserve World Walk Trot Classic Pleasure Saddle 9 & Under Champion riding LA Ricochet GCH.
Ledyard The Rebel was the Reserve World Futurity Two-Year-Old Champion. He was presented by Chris and Kathleen. Chris drove him for owner Ledyard Company LLC to the Reserve World Two-Year-Old Park Harness Championship.
All Morgan enthusiasts involved in this year’s memorable event are looking forward to the 2020 Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show, October 10-17 in Oklahoma City.