2011 US Nationals News & Reviews, Sunday
Welcome to the News & Reviews of Saturday, October 29th, the final day of the 2011 US National Arabian & Half-Arabian Horse Championships - and what a day it was! Wow! The morning began with three halter classes in the Pavilion including the Arabian Mare, AOTR, which was won by Suzanna MPA and shown by David Merlau. Meanwhile classes were being held in the Ford Arena, including Arabian Hunter Pleasure Junior Horse, won by Jullyanna and ridden by Cynthia Burkman. Shawn Rooker won the English Pleasure Futurity, riding Prosuasion, and the Arabian English Show Hack, was won by MM Sabe and ridden by Larry Hoffman.
Later, all the afternoon classes, halter and performance, were conducted in the Ford Arena. It was a well-planned schedule that alternated between performance and halter, which created a wonderful flow of nonstop excitement. Some highlights include John Ryan winning the English Pleasure Junior Horse Championship with Defying Gravity RGS - it was a class full of talented and beautiful young horses. Terry Ann Boggs was completely outnumbered in the Senior Gelding Championships, but she rose to the occasion and bested all the men with her handsome gelding DC Magnum Storm. In the last class of the afternoon, the talented young rider, Jessica Clinton won the Country English Pleasure Junior Horse Championship title with Princess of Baske. Then everyone had a short reprieve before the evening classes and the final championships. It would be a night to remember!
Just as the sun was setting, the first class of the evening was called into the ring. It was standing room only for the Arabian Junior Colt Championship and the anticipation was unbelievable. The undefeated, Three-Year-Old multiple National and International Champion Vitorio TO was trotted into the ring by his handler, David Boggs and was met with tremendous cheers and applause. Then the arena went wild when the brilliant chestnut yearling colt Barzan Al Shahania and his handler Greg Gallun trotted into the arena. It was a dilemma - there could only be one National Champion - and that title went to Barzan Al Shahania with Vitorio TO named Reserve Champion. Both colts are exceptional examples of the Arabian breed! In the Senior Stallion Championship, LD Pistal and David Boggs took home the roses and the title of Champion, while Eccentric Valentino, shown by Rodolfo Guzzo, was named Reserve National Champion.
Perhaps the most exciting class of the evening was also the final class - Purebred English Pleasure. In a group of beautiful and talented horses, two really stood out. After the horses were put through all the gaits and called into line, the crowd was treated to an unbelievably exciting work-off between three horses. In the end the girls ruled the ring, Leah Beth Boyd and the extremely talented mare Starr Llight from Cedar Ridge Arabians were named Champions, while their stable mates, Brass Starr and John Golladay were Reserve Champions. It truly was a fairy tale ending for a wonderful show!
To see all the pictures from the final night of classes - and more - visit Mike Ferrara Photography, the official photographer of the show. Also, watch for the upcoming digital US National Showcase coming to you from arabhorse.com!
Our sponsor for Sunday, October 30th is Rohara Arabians
