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Ontario Morgan Horse Championship Classic News

July 17 - 18th, 2010 at the Royal Canadian Riding Academy, Newmarket, Ontario. Greg Reeves - Chairperson
Judge - Tina Porter, Stewiacke, NS

2010 Prize List

2010 Entry Form

Sponsor Letter

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The Ontario Morgan Championship Remains a Classic

The 42 nd annual Morgan Classic under the guidance of chairperson Greg Reeves went smooth as silk. In fact, exhibitors this year were quite impressed with the facility and how the staff went out of their way to welcome us. Upon entering the grounds, you were welcomed by RCRA staff (easily spotted by their black RCRA T-shirts) and asked us if we needed help unloading. As exhibitors were setting up, they would drop by the stabling area to ask if we needed anything. A very nice touch indeed!

The indoor warm – up ring is vastly improved with new white paint and a sprinkler system to keep the dust down and the staff kept the rings in good shape. The outdoor rings are always kept in excellent show shape as is the main show ring. The sound system needs work but that was the only minor issue we had and we thank Paul Hillier for working on it a few days before the show began.

The Classic show committee worked hard this year as always to bring this show to life; Many thanks to Greg for his leadership, Janet Phillips (and her dad) for her direction, Susan Hawkshaw and Jennifer Sills for their excellent secretarial skills, Stephanie Ross, Derek Ross and Danny Kavanagh for organizing the trophies and ribbons, Amanda McKill for keeping us on budget, Lisa Zizovski for heading up sponsorships, The Kavanagh Family for the Saturday evening wine & cheese party, Dan & Andrea Lehman for their morning hospitality & Morgan gift boutique, Amanda Gilbank for running the youth challenge, and to Michelle Yake, Anne Munro, Lynne Pierce, Christine Bejjany, Tina Collins, Sherri Wilson, Mary Freeman, Genevieve Kendell-Hayes for your dedication and support in attending meetings, mailing prize lists, ordering ribbons, doing the paperwork, finding prizes etc etc!

A show is only as good as the officials you hire and we have some of the best in the business; Doug & Mary Ruth Moore , an unbeatable team of ringmasters, Brian Errico and his instantly recognizable voice and distinct humour, Richard MacKenzie, farrier to the show ring stars, Shoot photography for catching those winning moments, Craig Collins for his show management skill and hunter/jumper course designs, Barry & Sandra Beach for their carriage driving expertise, Medivent for their first aid proficiency and Dr. Ralph Watt for being on call and thankfully not called! And we also welcomed Anne Welch as steward and she was wonderful. We really appreciate everything you helped us with from the prize list to show wrap-up, your knowledge is very much valued.

Anne Judd from Tampa, Florida was our invited judge and she was a pleasure to have. And we must thank our judge liaison, Ian DeGruchy for taking time out of his busy schedule to get Anne to the show and for his hospitality all weekend. I know Anne was well looked after during her stay in Ontario.

In Hand classes have been losing popularity over the years and it is sad to see our Classic In Hand classes move so swiftly because of low entries. The show committee was wise to reduce the number of classes offered in 2009 but this is not the direction we want to go; we want & need breeders/owners to bring their horses for conformation classes.

Chestnut Hill Right On Q owned by Jack Reeves took top honours in the Mares Championship with Joland Remarkable Bay coming in reserve for owner/handler Lisa Kavanagh. Michael and Helen Paine’s two year old mare, Brite N’ Elegant was our two year old winner.

Top honours in the gelding division went to a new fresh face on the Ontario circuit, VVM Mad About You owned by Emily Rice and shown by Leslie Hudson. Laurel Gould, despite having broken ribs from a freak accident only weeks before showed her tall, dark and handsome young gelding Temptations Symphony to reserve.

There is always one or two horses that get the crowd sitting on the edge of their seat and one such entry was the metallic buckskin weanling colt Stand Up And Cheer. “Cheers” is owned by Gord & Mary Freeman and was shown to the 2 & under colt class win by David Kavanagh. David was thrilled and honoured to show this Stand And Deliver baby as he had the privilege of working with “Stilts’ while he worked at Broadmoor last year. Meanwhile, his sister Lisa showed the family’s Cyan Star Trinity to a good second place ribbon in the same class. The winner of the 5 & over stallion class was P.R.’s A Promise Kept with new owner Vanessa Gonyea. Promise went on to capture Champion Stallion for a delighted new Morgan owner and took home the Intercity Insurance Cooler! Cheers took Reserve honours and he now has quite a fan club. Photo: P.R.'s A Promise Kept

The specialty In Hand class was a full class of lovely entries and the western mare, Chestnut Hill Felicity owned/shown by Greg Reeves placed first with another western entry, Mirabel’s Loyal Romeo in second place with Christine Bejjany showing for her mom, Donna Bartliff.

The last couple years have seen a dramatic drop in carriage entries with plenty of good carriage shows in the province and across the borders; it seems many Morgan competitors have chosen to show elsewhere. However, the Classic is a wonderful place to bring out your young or novice drivers/horses as well as show in other classes. Ken Pedlar continues to support the Classic with his nifty gelding, Justice Lieut. Colonel and this team won the Carriage High Point Championship Classic Cooler which was donated by Greenhawk Harness. The Freeman’s also brought their sporty Morgan gelding, UCM Governor Cornwallis with Gord handling the whip and taking home reserve honours. It should also be noted that the striking grey stallion TFM Skywalker and Bob Thomas won the highly competitive reinsmanship class among the gentleman drivers. Photo: Justice Lieut. Colonel.

In English Pleasure, our junior riders set the stage with Emily Rice and VVM Mad About You winning the Championship for the junior riders. Madison Reeves and Chestnut Hill Specialty took home reserve honours for Jack Reeves. Chestnut Hill Right On Q was the lone entry in the 3 & 4 year old class with Jackie Stickwood aboard. In the competitive 5 & over class, it was Penny McKee’s Silversides Rising Son winning with Judy Martin in the irons. Joland Remarkable Bay finished a strong second with owner/rider Lisa Kavanagh. Interesting note: both Judy and Lisa are riding in knee braces, recovering from knee injuries and they both rode masterfully!

There were no entries in the gentleman’s class but we had a lovely Ladies English pleasure class and Judy on Silversides Rising Son and Lisa riding Joland Remarkable Bay finished one-two again.

The English Pleasure Championship class saw seven entries come back to work for the Classic Cooler and it was Silversides Rising Son who put in the winning performance. The winner of the junior exhibitor title, VVM Mad About You dug in deep with Leslie Hudson aboard to claim the reserve champion spot. Congratulations to everyone who competed, it was a great class to watch!

Let’s slow things down a bit as we highlight our western horses. It was gratifying to see a few more entries show up for the western pleasure division. Starting with our junior riders, we had 3 very good entries with Madison Reeves riding Chestnut Hill Felicity for Greg winning. Misty Vale Sassette came in second with Taylor Pickford riding for Dustin Hosier. For the championship, Chestnut Hill Felicity held on to win the Championship and Trillium Irish Signature with Emily Rice aboard stepped it up to slide into reserve champion.

In the 5 & over class, Greg and Chestnut Hill Felicity were called out first with Donna Bartliff and Mirabel’s Loyal Romeo in a close second. DGH Street Smart and owner/rider Michelle Coffey had to ride alone in the huge ring in the 3 & 4 year old class. The ladies put on an impressive show in their class with Donna Bartliff and Mirabel’s Loyal Romeo winning and debuting in a new division - Anne Munro and Meldon Hawk in second place. Donna and her loyal Morgan, Mirabel’s Loyal Romeo stayed strong and won the Western Championship. Greg and Chestnut Hill Felicity were called out for reserve.

In the novice rider division – Hunt or English, Cyan Star Cerulean and owner/rider Erika Shepherd did a nice job in a solo performance to earn the red ribbon. Novice Rider – Western was Taylor Pickford and Misty Vale Sassette. We welcome Taylor to the Morgan world as well; she owns a gorgeous Saddlebred but is learning lots riding Morgans for Kelly Pilgrim and her husband Dustin Hosier.

In the novice horse division – English, Sheila McNaughton and her bold mare Northline Spring D-Lite were called out first. And coming across the US Canada border to compete, Judith Manchester-Vassie and QLS Arpeggio came second. Under hunt attire, the winning novice horse was SKF Dun Kiddin and Tina Collins. The second place horse was Dreamaway Sugar ‘N’ Spice and Michelle Yake riding for Lynne Pierce. DGH Street Smart and Michelle Coffey had to go it alone again in the novice class but had a nice steady ride which kept Michelle smiling thru the class. Trillium Hot Chili Pepper and novice driver Jennifer Sills had the arena to herself as well in the novice driver class but she had a good drive and is gaining lots of experience in the show ring.

The Morgan hunters continue their dominance in numbers at the show and they always put on a wonderful display of manners, extensions and steadiness. The Champion hunter for 2009 was Meldon Hawk who is no stranger to the winner circle. However, Anne Munro was not in the saddle; her daughter Amy is back in the saddle! The reserve champion was Samor’s Black Jack and owner/rider Allison Short. Hawk and BJ were also first/second in the five and over class, ladies and the amateur class. Trainer Michelle Yake will certainly be proud of you both! XM Alsace Lorraine and owner/rider Karen Farnell was a close third in the ladies and amateur classes while Northline Rainmaker and owner/rider Heather Baiano took home third in the 5 & over class and the Championship.

In the four year old class, Cyan Star County Cork was the lone entry. County Cork is a newcomer to the hunter world and did an amazing job switching gears from a driving horse to a saddle horse!

The winner of the limit class was SKF Dun Kiddin, a son of Dragonfire Kirin who is owned and shown by Tina Collins. Coming in second was Lauralee April and owner/rider Sherri Wilson who we haven’t seen in the show ring for a couple of years and it’s great having her back as a competitor.

SKF Dun Kiddin also won the novice hunter class with Tina in the saddle and Dreamaway Sugar ‘N’ Spice took second with trainer Michelle Yake up for Lynne Pierce.

In the junior exhibitor ranks, we had a lovely class of 5 entries and the winner was Mackenzie Collins (who is just out of the walk-trot division) and her new horse Commit To Memory. Mistyvale Sassette and Taylor Pickford picked up second place. In the junior exhibitor championship, Mackenzie and Commit To Memory took the trophy and cooler home with Taylor and Sassette earning reserve champion.

Continuing with the hunter theme, the Over Fences classes attracted 3 entries, all Northline Bred Morgans! However, it was the very experienced Northline Rainmaker with owner/rider Heather Baiano who took it all. She cleared the fences with style and also showed his lovely extensions to win the Working Hunter under Saddle and Hunter Hack. Northline Raindance trotted into second place with Lesley Vivian aboard. It was no surprise when Northline Rainmaker was called out as the Working Hunter High Point horse and his half brother Northline Enterprise as reserve High Point horse.

The Classic offers futurity classes for horses that are properly entered and paid up into the OMHC Futurity. Unfortunately, these classes have been light in numbers and breeders need to consider the benefits of entering the futurity plus the prize money that is paid out!

No yearlings were shown this year; Two year olds brought out Brite “N” Elegant and Cyan Star Trinity. David and Lisa Kavanagh showed Cyan Star Trinity to the winner’s circle and Michael and Helen Paine showed their elegant filly Brite “N” Elegant to the second spot. Laurel Gould and Mandy Gilbank brought out Temptation’s Symphony to win the three year old futurity class. There were no three year old driving horses and we had two entries in the four year old under saddle class. Chestnut Hill Right On Q and Cyan Star County Cork made for a competitive class and had everyone on the edge of their seat to await the judge’s decision; County Cork in hunt attire with David Kavanagh aboard was pinned first and Right On Q in saddle seat tack with Jackie Stickwood up was called out for second. These two young horses did a great job despite their inexperience and made a great class. The Breeder Sweepstakes presentation was made at this time and Chestnut Hill Right On Q was the Champion with Cyan Star County Cork in reserve.

2009 saw some terrific equitation classes which is very refreshing and certainly more exciting! In the CMHA Medal Showmanship class, Mackenzie Collins and her adorable gelding Commit To Memory were called out first. In second place were Ashley Reeson and her gelding Northline Enterprise.

In the CMHA Medal Hunt Seat on the Flat class, Emily Rice aboard Trillium’s Foxy Tribute was wearing the red ribbon and Mackenzie Collins with Commit To Memory were awarded the blue ribbon.

Emily is a versatile rider and with her new horse VVM Mad About You captured the Saddle Seat Medal class win. Madison Reeves and her special mare Chestnut Hill Specialty were second. Both these girls are in their last year as junior exhibitor riders.

Emily and her other horse, Trillium Irish Signature jogged and loped into first place in the Western Seat Medal class.

For the first time at the Classic, our show offered the Equine Canada Saddle Seat Equitation Medal class. This class was open to any saddle seat rider on any breed of horse. We had one Saddlebred horse/rider entry and she helped step up the level of competition. The winner was Emily Rice and VVM Mad About You and the Saddlebred Callaway’s Will Oblige and rider Ally Bianchi placed second. Thank you to Tina and Craig Collins for donating the EC Cooler to the class. It was a great class to watch and what great experience for our young riders. Photo: Emily Rice and VVM Mad About You

The high point youth Classic cooler was awarded to Emily Rice and Mackenzie Collins was awarded reserve high point youth.

In our Classic division, Trillium Hot Chili Pepper and driver Jennifer Sills showed off their skills in the Classic Pleasure Driving class. Both horse and rider are newbies but you would never know it by Jennifer’s calm demeanor and Chili’s mannerly and steady drives. This team claimed the Classic Driving Championship as well and made trainer David Kavanagh very happy.

Under saddle, the winner of the preliminary class was Meldon Mansfield and Sarah Carpenter from Vermont and trained by Judy Martin. Andrea Lehman and her typey bay mare, Hollowbrook Toy Story were tied for second. In the Championship, Andrea laid down a solid ride to capture the Classic Pleasure Championship and Erika Shepherd and her bold gelding Cyan Star Cerulean put together a good ride to move into the reserve championship spot.

Pleasure driving entries were down which is disappointing to see, let’s hope this trend turns around next year as I love to watch a good driving horse! In the two year old class, Cyan Star Trinity made his debut with David Kavanagh on the lines. In the three & four year old class Chestnut Hill Right On Q with Greg Reeves was first for owner Jack Reeves. There were no entries in the five & over class and Lisa Kavanagh took Cyan Star Cerulean into the ladies pleasure driving class for owner Erika Shepherd. In the Championship, Right On Q and Greg Reeves were called into the winner’s circle and Cyan Star Cerulean was pinned reserve.

Road Hack is always exciting to watch particularly when the hand gallop is called for and this year Northline Raindance had the winning ride with owner Lesley Vivian in the irons. In second position was Dreamaway Sugar “N” Spice and Michelle Yake who are a very cool team of horse and rider and I’m sure owner Lynne Pierce is delighted with her new mare.

It was absolutely smashing to see 5 walk-trot riders compete at this years Classic! And they were all very good which made it hard for our judge. The equitation winner was Emily Waytowich aboard the big hunter gelding Northline Raindance. Emily is coached by Mandy Gilbank. In second place was Kyla Vendrig in saddle seat attire riding Saralin’s Markessa.

In walk-trot pleasure Kyla Vendrig and Saralin’s Markessa put in a polished performance to win the class. Kyla is coached by Nancy Kavanagh. In second place were Gabby Ruller and the ever-steady Trillium Irish Signature. Gabby is coached by Peggy Rice who also owns the horse.

In leadline, we had 4 adorable entries – Alexa Scott riding her mom’s horse, SKF Master Of The Game and three of the four Lehman children entered the class and all four of them came away with red ribbons and medals. Congratulations to Alexa, Dalton Lehman riding Chestnut Hill Felicity, Sierra Lehman riding Hollowbrook Toy Story and Anika Lehman riding Saralin’s Markessa.

And of course the stick horse class, a grandparent’s delight and a wonderful way for the youngest of the young to enjoy a horse show. Thank you to the parents who dressed up their kids and brought stick horses. Sierra Lehman, Anika Lehman, Maia Lehman, Ryan Bejjany, Christian Bejjany, Katey Lawson, Abigal Springer and Emma Reeson came to compete in the stick horse class. All the kids were able to choose the ribbon of their choice and a loot bag to keep them busy afterwards.

Something new to the Classic in 2009 was the Charity Class; we invited riders to enter the “mystery” class with proceeds going to the charity of their choice; the specs only said the horse must be able to walk, trot and canter. Judge Anne Judd asked the spectators “What did we want? Serious or fun? Pleasure or Command?”

Overwhelmingly, Command was the favorite choice and so the class ran as a Command class but it did have a twist….I believe 12 entries took up the challenge and when we were down to the last four horses, Judge Anne shook thing up a bit. She asked the remaining four riders to perform something of their choice down the long rail only. They had to really dig deep and impress her! All four entries laid down some beautiful pattern work but it was Greg Reeves and his wife’s quarter horse Cher that stole the show with their flying changes down the rail. There was only one award for that class and Greg and Cher stood proudly in front of the win sign to accept the red ribbon and the Henry Equestrian Plan Cooler and the money will go to the Canadian Cancer Society. It was a fun way to end the Saturday portion of the show and the judge, riders and spectators had a great time participating. Photo: Cher

Congratulations to everyone who was involved. Whether you won or lost your class, I hope everyone enjoyed the ride because in the end, that is what it’s all about. Enjoy the ride and we’ll see you next year.

Nancy Kavanagh’