Scottsdale Show News - Monday February 16, 2015
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2015
Welcome to the 2015 Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show News and Reviews for Monday, February 16th. The sponsor for today’s news is Midwest Station II, home of the Midwest Scottsdale Collection.
This year, the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show is celebrating its 60th Anniversary. David Boggs is celebrating his 40th anniversary with the show. Over the years, David and his farm, Midwest Station II, have earned a record number of championship titles in halter and performance including the coveted Supreme Halter Horse Championship, which he has won several times. With all those experiences, how do you select just one as being the most memorable one – that would be almost impossible to say. But, ask David Boggs, and almost anyone about their first Scottsdale experience and they can tell you the year they attended and which horses won, and other truly incredibly memorable stories.
David Boggs recalls that his first Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show was 1975; he was still a teenager. Yet he seems to remember it, like it was only yesterday. “At my very first Scottsdale Arabian Show, I presented the Junior Champion Filly, One Exception. She was a daughter of my father’s stallion, our beloved Garis, a 7/8 brother to the great Gamaar. There were so many great horses and breeders in Minnesota at that time, horses who made history and who we find in the pedigrees of our most successful show and breeding horses today. One of the experiences I enjoyed the most that year was my first visit to what was the empire of our breed at that time... Lasma Arabians!
The thrill of Scottsdale continues for me and for my clients, family and friends; it just never grows old. I am as excited to win a championship for my clients today, as I was that first time. I think it’s because my love of the horses has never diminished – if anything, it’s stronger than ever. This year we have incredible horses from around the world. We have a collection of gems, which we are very proud to present in the show ring, as well as at special presentations through out the week. I would like to extend my personal invitation to come and visit the farm and join in the fun and excitement of the Scottsdale show. It’s going to be a great year!” You can also visit the Midwest website at: www.midwestarabian.com
The 2015 Scottsdale show is the result of hard work by members of the AHAA and a huge group of volunteers. Their goal is to make every Scottsdale show memorable and to make this year’s event the best one yet. Here are some Scottsdale memories from friends in the Arabian horse community.
Bob Battaglia didn’t hesitate for a minute when asked about his first Scottsdale experience, “It was 1970, and the show was held at the McCormick Ranch. I had recently started my own training business, Star Craft Training Center in Chicago. One of my first show horses was owned by R.T. Moore, father of national award winning performance trainer, and a very good friend today, Tom Moore. It was a great experience!”
Kim Jarvis, of Jarvis Insurance, said, “My first Scottsdale show was in 1980 at Paradise Park. I came to the show because of my family’s insurance business. We were providing insurance for all the big sales that were held back then. It was so exciting to see all those incredible horses. I’ll never forget it – those were great times. And here we are all these years later, enjoying the show and making new memories!”
Kelly Charpentier said she first attended the Scottsdale show back in 1983 at Paradise Park. Kelly was working for Keg Arabians, a very big and influential farm located in Louisiana and home to the U.S. National Champion Stallion Marsianin, a stallion bred by the Tersk Stud of Russia. “Scottsdale is wonderful. Where else do you see so many friends and really great horses?”
Lee and Jackie Melchi attended Scottsdale for the first time in 1984. The show was held at Paradise Park. It was their first year in horses. Since then, they have owned and bred numerous champions. Lee remembers sitting ring side by the low stucco wall of the main show arena and having to dodge the clots of dirt that flew up when the English Pleasure horses passed by in the ring and how much he loved it.
When I asked Travis Hansen about his first Scottsdale experience, he said his first trip to Scottsdale was in 1984. He came as a spectator to watch his parent’s stallion Northerlie being show by none other than the great Ray Fisher! Everyone chimed in and remembered Ray Fisher, his lovely wife Gwen and their son, Ray Jr.
Stan Keeter said the first time he went to Scottsdale was the year Sharem el Sheikh was Champion Stallion. That was 1987 and there were 12 in the class. Since then, Keeter has showed his own Scottsdale Champions including Echo Magnifficoo. Stan’s son Preston can’t remember the first time he attended Scottsdale because it was before he was even born!
Doc Warkentin’s first time going to Scottsdale was 2005 when Ben Bogart showed his straight Egyptian Mare, Sabia Barke, who went Top Ten. This year, Doc has his yearling Trussardi son, Truth DSW, in training with Joao Rodrigues.
Joao and his wife Annette own Rodrigues Training Center in Scottsdale. Joao is the son of Zeze Rodrigues, one of the most accomplished and successful trainers from Brazil. Another familiar face from Brazil we have seen for many years at Scottsdale is Zico Guardia, who was visiting Scottsdale this year with fellow Brazilian, Leandro Aguiar of Haras Cruzeiro.
Breeders and owners Maureen and Dan Grossman arrived in Scottsdale for the first time in 1984. Dan Grossman remembers the show; “We had a booth for our new stallion, Abdullahhh, a stallion by Patron and imported from the Netherlands.
Maureen and I bought the stallion at the Lasma sale on July 18th, 1985 at 4:00 p.m. I remember I waned that horse so much; it was like I was sweating bullets. But we got him and then brought him to Scottsdale! That was thirty one years ago and we’re still going strong!”
Nate White, head of Sales and Marketing at Midwest Station II, said his first visit to Scottsdale was in 2007. Eight years later, he is a well-known and highly respected member of the Midwest team. Cari Alford’s first time to the Scottsdale Horse show was just last year in 2014, which goes to show – there are always great new people to meet and enjoy.
Janice Wight McCrea, Past President of the AHAA and current Head of Marketing and PR for the association, remembers her first trip to Scottsdale, “Our first trip to Scottsdale was in 1968. We came from our home in Ohio to watch the show, which was held in a field right off of Bell Road and west of Lasma.”
Janice Wight McCrea’s Mother, Lois McCrea, remembered the story a little differently. Her memory – which is sharp for a woman in her 90’s – was that their family first went to Scottsdale in 1962. Lois recalls the show was held at McCormick Ranch that year. The McCreas bought their first horse in 1959 and first participated at the show in 1976. Lois also said this is her 31st year working at the show, she assists with exhibitor services and gives tours of the show grounds to groups of visitors to the show. Now that’s the Scottsdale spirit!
For those of you around the world who are not able to attend the Scottsdale show this year, there’s no need to feel left out. You can catch all the action in the Equidome, Wendell Arena, Wells Fargo Reining Arena and the Aljassimya International Arena through the live feed provided by IEquine and Arabhorse.com. Watch the live feed at www.iequine.com
The IEquine live feed provides the most important communications network in the industry. In 2014, there were 420,000 visits to the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show Webcast from viewers in 101 different countries around the world. In addition, advertisers received 6.3 M banner impressions. Log on to the live feed at www.iequine.com . Contact james@iequine.com for the unique advertising opportunities throughout the Scottsdale show.
We hope you enjoy the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show – wherever you are – and visit the website and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/scottsdalearabian
