Anglo-Arabians - Horse Show News

Horse Show News

The North American Anglo-Arabian Horse Association (NAAAHA) sponsored their second High Point Championship Awards at the Youth National Championship Show.

The gelding BEYTHOVEN (Bey Oro x Run Really Run) earned Supreme Champion Anglo-Arabian honors thanks to winning National Champion in Hunter Hack and Top Tens in Working Hunter, Hunt Seat Equitation Under Saddle 14-17 and Hunt Seat Equitation Over Fences. Beythoven is owned by Miles J. Reiter and ridden by Cody Mahoney. Beythoven was bred by Laura Wood.

FF IRISH VODKA+++// (Pri Ibn Masriyyah x Jennifers Winner) was Reserve SupremeChampion Anglo-Arabian. This Anglo gelding won a Reserve Champion in Hunt Seat Equitation Under Saddle 14-17. In addition, he won a Top Ten in Training Level Dressage 14-17 with owner/rider Collier McLeod.

MP MURRAYS LAW+, above, ( MP Dream Machine x Karrie Ael), owned and ridden by Natasha Costello, earned a Top Ten in Hunter Hack and Training Level Dressage 13 & Under. He was bred by Portia McLeish.

Rounding out the Anglo-Arabian Awards was Kaylan Herbst and her mare, FOREIGN POLICY+/, below, (Daalim El Nefous x Pretty Policy) who earned two Top Tens in Working Hunter and Hunter Hack. This mare was bred by Christine Pappas.

The winners all received beautiful neck sashes and embroidered dress sheets, with Champion receiving a gold trophy cup as well. Prizes were donated by owners and breeders of Anglo-Arabians to recognize these athletes’ accomplishments.

Regional Shows are still ongoing, but here are some highlights of our stellar Anglo performances.

Region One Championships: SAUL+/ - Top 5 Trail AOTR; Pacific Slopes Championships: SANS PREMIUM EDGE - Champion SHUS Open, Champion Training Level Dressage; Region 2: BEYTHOVEN - Champion Working Hunter Open and Top 5 Working Hunter ATR

;Region 3: BEYTHOVEN - Champion Hunter Hack Open & ATR, Champion Working Hunter; Champion SHUS,;`VICE-REGENT SM - Top 5 Hunter Pleasure Jr. Horse; Region 5: VICE-REGENT SM - Res. Champion SHUS Jr. Horse, Top 5 SHUS Open; CA ZANES DARJEELING - Champion Dressage Prix St. Georges; FF BRAVEHEART - Champion SH Show Hack, Top 5 SHUS Open, Top 5 Dressage Second Level.

Region 7: ANGELS LEGACY - Champion Fourth Level Dressage, Champion SH Show Hack, Res. Champion Hunter Hack Open, Res. Champion SHIH Mares, Res. Champion SHUS; SEE ME IN ROME++/ - Champion Third Level Dressage, Champion Fourth Level Dressage, Champion SHIH ATH, Res. Champion SHIH Open; RS MERCURY, Top 5 SHIS Open and ATH; KEMPER COUNTY - Top 5 SHUS; NF MISS SCARLETT SLEW - Top 5 SHIH; SAUL+/ - Champion Trail AOTR; ;

Region 9: FORMULA ONE FERRARI - Top 5 Western Pleasure AOTR; Region 11: FOREIGN POLICY+/ - Champion Working Hunter Open and AOTR, Reserve Champion Hunter Hack; CA MIGHTYABLEZANEGREY - Top 5 Training Level Dressage;

Region 12 - FF IRISH VODKA+++// - Champion Hunter Hack Open & ATR, Champion Working Hunter Open, JTR & ATR,; SIGNAL BEY - Champion SHUS Jr. Horse, Res. Champion SHUS Open; Region 14: FF IRISH VODKA+++// - Champion Working Hunter Open, JTR & ATR, Champion Hunter Hack Open, Res. Champion Hunter Hsack ATR;

"It is with great sadness that I am reporting the death of my twice National Champion and multi Top Ten Anglo-Arab, DW Raven++++//. He passed away on March 9, 2008 at 10 years of age after a freak accident. Raymond was not only a champion, but a true friend and a trusted partner. He was a horse who would try his hardest at whatever was asked of him, always giving 100 percent. DW Raven++++// was that "one in a million" horse. How fortunate I was to have had him in my life." - Kathy Cannon Pittman

SEE ME IN ROME+/ (photo left) - 1 st - SPORT HORSE IN HAND, SIX YEAR OLD & OVER GELDINGS , 1 st - SPORT HORSE IN HAND CHAMPION & RESERVE GELDING, 2 nd SPORT HORSE IN HAND, FIVE & OVER GELDINGS - ATH, 3 rd - DRESSAGE FOURTH LEVEL TEST 2, 4 th - DRESSAGE FOURTH LEVEL TEST 1

FF IRISH VODKA (photo below)- RESERVE CHAMPION - REGULAR WORKING HUNTER JTR , 1 st - SPORT HORSE IN HAND, FIVE & OVER GELDINGS - ATH. 1 st - SPORT HORSE UNDER SADDLE, JTR , 2 nd - SPORT HORSE UNDER SADDLE, STALLIONS/GELDINGS, 2 nd - SPORT HORSE UNDER SADDLE CHAMPIONSHIP, 2 nd - SPORT HORSE UNDER SADDLE CHAMPIONSHIP - JTR, 2 nd - HUNTER HACK, OPEN,

BEYTHOVEN (photo below) - CHAMPION - REGULAR WORKING HUNTER JTR , TOP TEN - SPORT HORSE UNDER SADDLE CHAMPIONSHIP, 4 TH - SPORT HORSE UNDER SADDLE, STALLIONS/GELDINGS

THOR (photo below)- RESERVE - REGULAR WORKING HUNTER AATR CHAMPIONSHIP, TOP TEN - SPORT HORSE UNDER SADDLE CHAMPIONSHIP, TOP TEN - SPORT HORSE UNDER SADDLE CHAMPIONSHIP - AATR, 1 st - HUNTER HACK, OPEN, 1 ST - HUNTER HACK, AATR, 3 RD - SPORT HORSE UNDER SADDLE, STALLIONS/GELDINGS, 5 TH - SPORT HORSE UNDER SADDLE, AATR,

SOLEYA++++// - CHAMPION - SPORT HORSE IN HAND, FIVE & OVER MARES - ATH, CHAMPION - SPORT HORSE UNDER SADDLE, MARES, RESERVE - SPORT HORSE UNDER SADDLE, AATR, 1 ST - SPORT HORSE UNDER SADDLE, AATR, TOP TEN - HUNTER PLEASURE CHAMPIONSHIP, AAOTR 40 & OVER, TOP TEN - HUNTER PLEASURE CHAMPIONSHIP, AAOTR 18-39, TOP TEN HUNTER PLEASURE CHAMPIONSHIP, AATR 40 & OVER, 1 ST - SPORT HORSE UNDER SADDLE CHAMPIONSHIP, 1 ST - SPORT HORSE IN HAND, SIX YEAR OLD & OVER MARES, 2 ND - DRESSAGE FIRST LEVEL TEST 1, 2 ND - DRESSAGE FIRST LEVEL TEST 4 STAKES CLASS, 3 RD - DRESSAGE TRAINING LEVEL TEST 1, AATR

The final standings for the 2007 USEF Awards have been announced and include more than a few Anglo-Arabians amongst them. HALF/ANGLO ARABIAN BREEDER OF THE YEAR is Laura J. Wood of Brooksville, Florida, a long time Anglo breeder and exhibitor. Laura was also second place for HALF/ANGLO ARABIAN OWNER OF THE YEAR, for points accumulated on her homebreds Touch of Vanity, Signal Bey and Almost Crimson. Alexis Starer, of Cape Charles, VA, was 4th place Owner with her Anglo mare Before Sunrise.

HUNTER/JUMPER: 5th TOUCH OF VANITY, 10th BEYTHOVEN, 13th DW RAVEN, 18th FOREIGN POLICY, 21st OZ THE TIN MAN, 22nd THOR

SPORT HORSE: 1st - BEFORE SUNRISE, 3rd - TOUCH OF VANITY, 4th - CYLENT KYSSES, 15th - DW RAVEN, 16th - SIGNAL BEY, 22nd - ANGELS LEGACY, 24th -THOR

TRAINING LEVEL DRESSAGE: 7th - CB HANDSOME REWARD, 14th - CYLENT KYSSES, 32nd - RA ANCIENT ANSWERS.

FIRST LEVEL DRESSAGE: 4th - CYLENT KYSSES, 18th CB HANDSOME REWARD, 42nd FF BRAVEHEART.

SECOND-FOURTH LEVEL DRESSAGE AMATEUR: 12th OZ THE TIN MAN, 25th ANGELS LEGACY

Sport Horse Nationals was the scene of Anglo-Arabians shining in these disciplines as usual, among some of the stiffest competition on the continent!

Perennial favorite SOLEYA (above) was named Reserve Supreme Champion SHIH, in addition to winning Champion in SHIH Mares Open and ATH and Top Tens in SHUS Open and HA/AA Dressage First and Second Levels. She also earned Supreme Champion Anglo-Arabian Sport Horse.

TOUCH OF VANITY (above) was Reserve Champion in SHUS ATR, a feat he repeated for the third time in a row at the East Coast SHN venue. In addition, he won a Top Ten in Working Hunter Open and ATR. A slight injury resulted in his owner/rider/breeder Laura Wood scratching him from the rest of his classes. Nevertheless, he was named Reserve Supreme Champion Anglo-Arabian Sport Horse.

Patricia Seale's CYLENT KYSSES (above) earned five Top Ten Titles - SHIH Open and ATR, SH Show Hack and HA/AA Dressage Training and First Level. She also placed in the Top Five for the Anglo-Arabian Sport Horse Award.

Kaylan Herbst and her mare, FOREIGN POLICY earned three Top Tens in Working Hunter ATR and Hunter Hack Open and ATR. She also placed in the Top Five for the Anglo-Arabian Sport Horse Award.

R JAY BAKARO and Allan Ehrlick rounded out the Top Five for the Anglo-Arabian Sport Horse Award with a Top Ten in Working Hunter AAOTR.

Other Anglos earning National Titles include Kristin Hardin's MSSOFIE (above left) who won Reserve Champion in SHIH 2 Year Old Fillies Jackpot. In the Colts class, KOOL BREEZE TR won a Top Ten. Jennifer Roberts' KHANDLE IN THE WIND won Top Tens in SHIH Mares Open and ATH. HC ROYAL VHELVET (above right) went Top Ten in her SHIH Mares Open class. Cara Blanchard and her five-year-old gelding, CB HANDSOME REWARD went Top Ten in HA/AA Training Level Dressage.

DW RAVEN was named Top Ten in Hunter Hack ATR and AAOTR. Fiona Gowers' SAVANNAH (above left) was Top Ten in both SHUS Jr. Horse and HA/AA Training Level Dressage ATR. Laura Wood's SIGNAL BEY (above right) also earned a Top Ten in SHUS Jr. Horse. Alexis Starer and BEFORE SUNRISE (below) were named Top Ten in SHUS ATR.

The 50th Anniversary of Canadian Nationals proved very lucrative to the Anglo Arabians competing there. A total of 7 Championships and 4 Reserves and several Top Tens were earned by these animals.

R Jay Bakaro, owned an shown by Allan Ehrlick, was Champion in Working Hunter Open and AAOTR and Open Jumper; Reserve in Jumper ATR; and Top Ten in Working Hunter ATR. FF Irish Vodka , owned and ridden by Courtney Percival, was Champion in Working Hunter ATR and Hunter Hack; Reserve in SHUS ATR and Top Ten in SHUS Open and Training Level Dressage ATR. Stablemate Ace of Spades, with Taryn Pearson, was Reserve in Hunter Hack and Working Hunter ATR; and Top Ten in Open SHUS. Soleya and new owner Lorna Harron were Champion in SHUS and First Level Dressage and Top Ten in SHUS ATR. MJ Fatal Atracson won Reserve in Third Level Dressage.

The fantastic new Supreme Champion Anglo-Arabian Award at Youth Nationals, sponsored by the North American Anglo-Arabian Horse Association (NAAAHA) was a HUGE success. The prizes were gorgeous and the recipients were thrilled! The winner took home a large gold cup mounted on a marble base. All winners got a gorgeous neck ribbon and dark grey dress sheets embroidered in light blue print with a light blue/navy border. The sheets read "Supreme Champion Anglo Arabian Youth".

The Supreme Champion (above) was an imported 16 year old chestnut French mare bred by Serge Louis, named Jolie Louise (Roseau d'Or x Paramaribo). She is owned by James or Tami Roberts of Carmel Valley CA. She went Top Ten Working Hunter with Christi Roberts and carried another rider, Cody Mahoney, to Champion Equitation over Fences (Eq counted for half points).

The Reserve Champion (below left) was a 6 year old bay gelding named Beythoven (Bey Oro x Run Really Run). He was bred by Laura Wood and is owned by Miles Reiter of Aptos, CA. He was ridden by Cody Mahoney to a Top Ten in Working Hunters and a Top Ten in Hunter Hack.

Top Five (above right) was a 12 year old chestnut gelding named Crimson Illusion+ (Bey Oro x Crimson Spider). He was bred by Laura Wood, and is owned by Arielle Controneo of Bernardsville, NJ. She entered him in just one class, Hunt Seat Eq on the flat 14-17, and went Reserve Champion.

The Arabian Horse Association has announced that internet voting will be utilized this year to elect Committee heads. In order to be eligible, you must first be an AHA member, and a member of the Committee for 2007 and 2008 that you wish to vote on. (To join a committee, log in to the members only area, click on MEMBERS INFO on left menu, then click on COMMITTEE SIGN-UP.) You must sign up by SEPTEMBER 4, 2007.

"This year the Arabian Horse Association will begin a new procedure for electing Chairs of the General Membership Committees. Every committee member will be allowed to vote for the Chair using an Internet voting procedure.

Beginning September 17, e-mail messages will go out to committee members providing the link to an online ballot. You may vote until October 15. Candidates are to be SELF-NOMINATED. The elected Chairs will take office at the close of the 2007 convention and serve two years until close of the 2009 convention. They would then be eligible to serve, if then elected, only one more two-year term. A member can be a Chair of only one committee (except for ad hoc committees), and may not be an AHA board member. (The General Membership Committees are listed on the AHA website.)

To nominate YOURSELF send your name and region, committee name, and a brief (not over 50 words) statement of your qualifications or why you should be the Chair of that committee, by e-mail to the Staff Committee Coordinator, Janet Holloway at: Janet.Holloway@arabianhorses.org.

September 4--Nominations close
September 17-Election polls open (by e-mail)
October 15-Polls close
November 18-Newly elected Chairs take office

To participate in the election, and most committee activities, your e-mail address on record must be valid. If you have changed your address recently, it is very important that AHA have your new address. You can do this by visiting the AHA website and logging in as a member."

Here is a golden opportunity for you to make some positive changes! The ABHJA and NAAAHA are endorsing Laura J. Wood of Brooksville, Florida, for the Head of the Hunter/Jumper Committee. She is a very knowledgeable, very experienced horsewoman that has been showing Arabian-bred hunters for 30 years.

Laura's comprehensive knowledge of both the Open and Arabian shows, and her commitment to improving these divisions for the betterment of horse and rider makes her a natural choice for this position.

Email Laura here for more information about her and to discuss some suggestions for improvement.

We found Ace of Spades +++// quietly living his life in a pasture at an eventing barn in Colorado. He was 10 years old and had never been shown anywhere. His owner was going off to college and her trainer had heard I was looking for a registered Half or Anglo Arabian for a client. We bought him off a video and had him shipped to Arizona. He arrived with a nasty skin fungus and an even worse respiratory infection. We were madly in love with him anyway. After some recovery time, and a few months tune-up and fitness work, he has never looked back. At 15 he hasn't been sick a day in his life since.

To date he's had an amazing career achieving his Legion of Supreme Merit and Legion of Excellence. He is 20 points away from finishing out the program with a Legion of Masters. He has been Region 7 USEF Horse of the Year and reserve many times in Specialty, Sport Horse, and Hunter/Jumper. Most recently Region 7 USEF HA/AA Sport Horse and Specialty Horse Champion in 2006.

In winter 2004, after accomplishing so much together, his owner Marie Arias-Stein was facing a move to Maryland as her parents had taken jobs back east. It was decided that Ace would stay with me and Marie would come back in the Summer of 2005 to practice for one last show on him- the 2005 Sport Horse Nationals. Their career together and their horse show ended dramatically. In the last final of the last class of the horse show- HA/AA Sport Horse Under Saddle- Marie (14 years old) and Ace (13 years old) took the Reserve National Championship behind Soleya and Todd Ehret.

He could do it all. Working Hunter, Sport Horse Under Saddle, Sport Horse In-Hand, and even posting a 70% to win a Training Level Dressage class at the Scottsdale Show in 2004. There would never be another one like Ace. But Wait- Not so fast.

Thanks to a little bit of publicity on Ace and Marie from the show and the fact I was actively seeking out Ace's siblings, Bunny O'Connell and I eventually found each other. Bunny lived in Tennessee and owned one of the last of the Pri Ibn Masriyyah / Jennifer's Winner brood. At age 8, he'd pretty much been hanging out and trail riding. She'd always thought he was meant for something more. We talked and she told me about him. It was clear at age 8, he'd need to start from the beginning in his training. It didn't matter. She didn't even have a current picture of him. That didn't matter either. We made a deal and he was on his way.

'The Twins" with 6 Region 7 Championships and 3 Top 5's between them in 2006

He arrived and everyone gasped. He was the spitting image of Ace from the very faint star to the white left hind. They were even nearly the same size- Ace at 17 h and Guinness at just a hair under 16.3. Unbelievable. He was the same super mover and athlete with maybe a little extra considering he was about half Ace's age. Registered as FF Irish Vodka, we called him Guinness because Bunny being Irish told us 'Irish Vodka' was slang for Guinness Beer. (An Irish thing)

We got Guinness in January 2006. I am not exaggerating when I say that he had no idea how to canter, and when we started him over fences in February, instead of jumping that first cross rail, he thought it would be a lot more fun to wear it like a suit. By the time the poles had stopped flying around, he had three different colors of jump paint on his legs, feet, and chest. We thought, "Oh my God, this is going to be a long haul".

Ann Hughes; FF Irish Vodka ++/ (Guinness) - 2006 HA/AA AAOTR Working Hunter Champion

But of course, it wasn't. He caught on very fast- just happy to have a job, and by April he was at his first 'A' Show which happened to be Region 7, winning Sport Horse U/S and Hunter Hack classes. By the end of September, after Sport Horse Nationals he had three Regional Titles, three National Top Ten's, three Reserve National Championships, and a National Championship. In less than one year he has achieved his Legion of Honor, Legion of Supreme Honor, and Legion of Merit.

We are very proud of both of these guys. They couldn't have done it without their riders- mostly Marie Arias-Stein, Courtney Percival, and Annie Hughes- all juniors and amateurs. Sometimes affectionately and some times not so affectionately, they are referred to as 'The Twins'. We love it either way.

The two boys are both going strong at settling into their new home in Oregon, as BSH had recently relocated from Arizona. Our first show here in March- the Arabians in Motion Sport Horse Classic- they took four Championships and two Reserves in HA/AA Sport Horse US, HA/AA Sport Horse Geldings In-Hand, In-Hand ATH, and Working Hunter. They show next at Region 4 in June.

I feel truly blessed to have both of these horses in my life. They have shown heart, depth, and talent far beyond expectations, and really opened my eyes to the grace and athleticism of Anglo Arabians in general. As someone who believes in and practices the Warmblood/Arab cross, these horses are always reminding me what a nice horse really is. I look forward to adding Anglos to my breeding program. The possibilities are really endless.

After the 2007 Sport Horse & Youth National Championships, there will be an award for the High-Point registered Anglo-Arabian horse and additional Top Five point earners, donated by Anglo breeders, owners and enthusiasts. This is in conjunction with the formation of a North American Anglo-Arabian Horse Association (NAAAHA) whose goal is to unite Anglo breeders thoughout North America and to promote the breed in all endeavors where the Anglo-Arabian excels.

Points will be awarded in classes as follows: Champion 30 points, Reserve Champion 20 points, Top Ten 10 points except Sport Horse In Hand, Sport Horse Under Saddle, Hunter Hack, and Training and First Level Dressage which will be awarded Champion 15 points, Reserve 10 points, and Top Ten 5 points. This point structure is designed to reward the more highly skilled horses according to the level of difficulty required in hunter/jumper, show hack and upper level dressage.

The NAAAHA plans to sponsor an awards program in all disciplines in the future, but your feedback, support and ideas are needed in order to maximize participation. Please drop an email to us at info@NAAAHA.com with your input or visit NAAAHA's website here.

UPDATED 8/20/07 - The 2007 AHA shows have spotlighted Anglo-Arabians in the Sport Horse disciplines again. East Coast Championships started out with LVF Bottom Line (left) winning Champion Working Hunter ATR. Diamond Jim Kelly (below) won Reserve Championships in SHIH Geldings and SHUS ATR, plus a Top 5 in SHIH ATH.

At the Region 4 Championships, FF Irish Vodka +//, with Courtney Percival, came away with Champion in Hunter Hack; Reserve in Working Hunter and Top 5 in SHIH Geldings.

Kathleen Cannon's DW Raven +// took Region 10 Champion in SHIH Geldings Open and ATH and a Top 5 in SHUS ATR.

The Region 15 Championships featured Lalani Quincy + as the Champion in SHIH Geldings and HC Royal Vhelvet with Top 5 in SHIH Mares. Alexis Starer's Before Sunrise +++// was Reserve Champion in SHIH Mares ATH and SHUS Open. Signal Bey and Laura Wood (below right) were Top 5 in SHUS Jr. Horse. Lauren Over and LVF Bottom Line (top) won Reserve Champion in Hunter Hack Open and Top Five in Working Hunter JTR.

Region 13 had Kaylan Herbst's Foreign Policy + (left) winning top honors in Hunter Hack Open and ATR. Region 1 Champion in Hunter Hack was Starr Chasers Fund and Top 5 in SHUS went to Thor.

Pictured below at the Region 2 Championships, Starr Chasers Fund (upper left) was Champion in SHUS Open, Reserve in Hunter Hack Open and SHUS ATR and Top 5 in Working Hunter Open. Beythoven (upper right) was Champion in Hunter Hack Open and SHUS ATR and Top 5 in Working Hunter Open and ATR. The French Anglo mare Jolie Louise (lower left) was Champion in Working Hunter Open; Reserve in Working Hunter ATR and Top 5 in Hunter Hack Open. Firgrove Ausabl River was Champion in First Level Dressage AOTR and Top 5 in Second Level ATR.

The Region 11 Championships featured Anglos that captured five Championships! Foreign Policy + and Kaylan Herbst were Champion in Working Hunter AOTR, and SHUS ATR; Reserve Champion in Hunter Hack and Top Five in Training Level Dressage AOTR. Kathleen Cannon and DW Raven +++// (above right) earned Champions in Working Hunter Open, Hunter Hack and SHIH Geldings; Reserve in Working Hunter AOTR and Top Five in SHUS Open.

Region 5 Championships had Anglos on top of five classes as well. CA Zanes Darjeeling and Megan Hays were Champion in SHIH Mares and Third Level Dressage Open and ATR. C J One For The Money +// was Champion in Sport Horse Show Hack; Reserve in SHUS Open and Sport Horse Show Hack ATR and Top 5 in Second Level Dressage. Alexis Smith's BR Mescalero was Champion in SHIH Geldings and Reserve in SHUS Jr. Horse. Tosia Long and FF Braveheart (above) were Reserve Champion in First and Second Level Dressage. OKW Berlyn (below left) won a Top 5 in Hunter Pleasure AOTR.

Region 9 Championships featured a unique Anglo gelding, Formula One Ferrari, (above right) winning a Top 5 in Western Pleasure Open, AOTR and ATR plus Ladies Side Saddle.

The Region 12 H/J Championships featured Champion wins by Touch of Vanity +// in Working Hunter ATR and Hunter Hack Open and ATR. More results as the become available.

The 1st Annual VAHA Sport Horse Show bragged close to 200 horses and hired a second dressage judge in order to accommodate the overwhelming response to this show. Laura Wood (left) and her Touch of Vanity +// were Champion Working Hunter, Champion Sport Horse Under Saddle Open and Reserve in SHUS ATR. Another of Laura's homebreds, the Anglo stallion Signal Bey, was Champion SHUS Junior Horse.

Alexis Starer's Before Sunrise +++/ won Champion in the SHUS ATR, Reserve in SHUS Open and Terri Aldred-Kerr's Diamond Jim Kelly was Champion SHIH Gelding. The class results are as follows:

TOUCH OF VANITY +// - 1st SHUS Open; 1st SHUS ATR; Champion SHUS Open Championship; 1st Hunter Hack Open; 1st Hunter Hack ATR; Reserve ChampionSHUS ATR Championship; 1st Low Hunter; Champion Working Hunter ATR

BEFORE SUNRISE +++/ - Champion SHUS ATR Championship; Reserve Champion SHUS Open Championship; 2nd SHUS Open; 3rd SHUS ATR; 2nd SHIH Mares 6 & Over

SIGNAL BEY - (photo above) Champion SHUS Jr. Horse Championship; 1st SHUS Jr. Horse; 1st Dressage Training Level Test 1 Jr. Horse; 3rd SHUS Novice

DIAMOND JIM KELLY - (photo above)1st SHIH Geldings Championship; 1st SHIH Geldings; 2nd SHUS Novice; 6th SHUS Open Championship; 6th Dressage TL Test 2

EXACTLY SPECIAL - 3rd SHUS JTR; 3rd Dressage First Level Test 1 JTR; 4th SHIH JTH; 4th SHUS JTR Championship; 6th SHUS Novice

The Region 7 Championships were held in Scottsdale the end of April. Jackie Alkin''s homebred Anglo mare ANGELS LEGACY ++// (below left) was Champion in Sport Horse Show Hack and Third Level Dressage, and Top Five in SHIH mares Open and ATH. SEE ME IN ROME + (below right) was Champion in Dressage Third Level ATR and Top Five in SHIH Geldings Open and ATH.

The Region 12 Championships held in May were exclusive of Hunter/Jumper classes (scheduled June 9) still showed off the talents of several Anglo-Arabians. The young VERY HEAVENLY (Versace x A-Heaven Scent ++ {AA}), photo below left, was Champion in Breeding Mares and Top 5 in SHIH Mares Open. Her half-sister SHEEZ HEAVENLY (Shah Azim x A-Heaven Scent ++ {AA}), photo below right, was Reserve Champion in SHIH Mares Open. Both mares are owned by Alstad Arabian Farms,

Cara Blanchard's CB HANDSOME REWARD (Rohara Tattinger x Rewarding Debt {TB}), pictured below right, won Reserve Champion in SHUS Jr. Horse and a Top 5 in SHIH Geldings Open. Laura Woods' TOUCH OF VANITY +// (RV Golden Vanity+// x Honky Tonk Special {TB}) photo below left, was named Champion in SHUS Open and ATR for an unprecedented fourth year in a row! Laura's Anglo stallion, SIGNAL BEY (Bey Oro x Run Really Run{TB}) was Reserve Champion in the SHUS Futurity and Top Five in the SHUS Jr. Horse.

The Anglo-Arabians did a fabulous job in February at the Scottsdale All-Arabian show. Anglos seriously dominated the Dressage, Sport Horse and Working Hunter divisions. Before Sunrise +++/ was Champion in both Sport Horse Mares in Hand AT and Sport Horse Under Saddle AT; Zihautenejo and Beythoven garnered 2 Working Hunter Champions and Reserve Champions respectively; and Oz The Tin Man laid down three winning upper level dressage tests, earning two high point Championships!

Unique among Anglos is the western horse Saul +/, who competed in Trail, Reining and Horsemanship. This versatile horse has won 1 National Championship, 2 Reserve National Championships, and 2 National Top Tens in Reining during his career.

OZ THE TIN MAN (Sidi Of Magic x Regalbatim{TB}) Owned by Katherine Groesbeck

ANGELS LEGACY +/ (Magic Domino AHS+++// x Vagabonds Angel+/{AA}) Owned by Jackie & Sue Alkin (pictured above)

BEFORE SUNRISE +++/ ( Free ASA Eagle{TB} x Khemmoanne) Owned by Alexis Starer

OZ POOF OF PURCHASE (Sidi of Magic x Regalbatim) Owned by Teresa Groesbeck

ZIHAUTANEJO (Khemos Baskota x Weldareason {TB}) Owned by Lauren & Karen Carr (pictured above and below)

VIRGINIA -- The foal was just 10 days old when she first set eyes on her owner and gave her a swift kick in the ribs, but the two recognized their mutual dislike immediately. Bijoux was bred by Lynn Foley at her former Tidebrook Farm near Franktown and was born in Richmond on Valentine's Day, 1994. That's where any sign of affection between the two ends.

"We really have not gotten along since then," she said of the country's top-ranked half-Arabian sport horse. Almost 13 years and a couple of owners later, the path to the winner's circle has been distinguished by happenstance as much as the recent hard work and dedication of Bijoux's current owner and trainer.

Bijoux, a nickname for the champion officially registered as Before Sunrise, won Reserve National Champion in her breed at the United States Equestrian Federation show in Idaho this September; judges awarded the mare more points than any other half-Arabian in any discipline.

Twenty-four-year-old Alexis Starer -- whose family ten years ago moved to a sprawling 400-acre farm here where Old Plantation Creek meets the Chesapeake Bay in lower Northampton County -- has owned the gray Anglo Arab mare for less than two years and started competing with her just eight months ago.

After the first, fateful encounter between the then-Chestnut foal and Foley, the former was essentially put out to pasture. "I didn't like her color, either," Foley said, pointing with disdain to all things brown amid acres of barren winter Shore fields, trying hard to convey just how unattractive the pony's coat was to her sensibility. She's gray now, much to her delight, but Foley said Bijoux was 8 years old by the time the color changed and she'd given her away long before.

At about age 2, a horse-loving friend who was helping out on the farm developed a bond with the young horse and Foley happily turned her over. Cindy Nottingham, also of Franktown, always thought there was something special about Bijoux.

"It's a good thing that she finally had someone who loved her," Starer said. "I think horses are good for people just like people are good for them." Starer said Nottingham contacted her because she wasn't sure how much longer she'd be able to care for Bijoux. She decided to give the mare a chance.

So after years of boarding and looking pretty -- a decade-long stretch when she was just getting "fat and happy" on different farms -- Starer and Nottingham struck a deal that would set the stage for a string of successes and a national championship at age 12.

Starer trains horses from a big, clean barn across from the end of an airstrip surrounded by pastures and farmfields at the family spread, Bayview Farm. Right now it's home to 11 horses, some boarders among them.

Bill Doughty trains and competes with Starer. The 32-year-old Shore native said his grandparents farmed the land before the Starers bought it. He's now a field superintendent for Alexis' father, Bob, who has a homebuilding company.

"In December (2005), I had sold a horse I was showing and competing pretty hard," Starer said. I didn't have anything to ride and Bill said, 'Take Bijoux.'

If it was, it was a joke on everyone but Bijoux, who surprised them all with her performance, especially with so little training at her age.

Bijoux was a "superstar," Starer said of their first show, winning five of six classes.Trophies started to pile up fast as she and Doughty continued to enter her in shows; Bijoux won 43 out of 52 classes in competitions during the season in Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Entering each competition qualified the horse for successive shows throughout the region, winning the east coast reserve championship and ultimately qualifying for the nationals in Idaho, where she also was reserve champion in events with both Doughty and Starer. The only horse to win more points than Bijoux in her class was from Canada, not the United States.

Bijoux also was recognized by the Arabian Horse Association this year and awarded the Legion of Supreme Merit. The award is an international designation for horses who have earned a certain number of points in both halter and performance events.

Starer, the youngest of three daughters, is an amateur-owner rider who, like Doughty, holds down a full-time job -- but like most horse enthusiasts she said she works to pay for her equestrian habit.

So during the day the Bridgewater College graduate who was recruited for their varsity equestrian team -- she holds a dual pre-veterinarian degree in equine science and psychology -- works as a mortgage loan officer running the Cape Charles branch of National City Mortgage. "We just do this for fun," Starer said of the all-consuming pastime.

The fun right now involves getting ready for the largest Arabian horse show in North America. Held the second week in February in Scottsdale, Ariz., the show hosts 3,500 horses. Competitors at the Idaho nationals totaled about 900.

Doughty and Starer -- a couple in horsemanship and in their personal lives, too --will drive to Arizona hauling a 2006 Sundowner horse trailer that had its maiden voyage to Idaho in September. "I gave her the choice between a horse trailer and a ring," Doughty said.

Nonetheless, the couple is looking forward to the future, especially the days-long drive to and from Arizona in the new purchase. It has room for three horses and supplies, but it's a premium ride for horse enthusiasts, too, with a queen-sized bed, pull-out sofa, kitchenette and a bath complete with shower stall.

Sitting just inside the door is a set of golf clubs. "I go to the shows and I bring golf clubs," Doughty said. "All the big time trainers play golf. It makes me feel like one of them."

And for Foley, who unwittingly put the events in motion more than 10 years ago, she seems genuinely pleased for Bijoux and her belated glory. "She'd still be in someone's backyard looking pretty if it hadn't been for these two," she said

The United States Dressage Federation announced the 2006 All-Breed Award Winners in November. Included in the Half-Arabian winners were three Anglo-Arabians: Training Level: WK VALENTINO+/ in fourth Place; Third Level: COUNT DOWN in fifth place; and the Fourth Level Champion HAZEN.

The United States Equestrian Federation has announced the Horse Of The Year National Championships for 2006. A great number of winners are Anglo-Arabiians and are listed below. The leading owner for HA/AA is Alexis Starer, owner of BEFORE SUNRISE+++//, while Laura Wood holds fourth place in Leading Breeder. Congratulations to all!

OVERALL GRAND CHAMPION HALF/ANGLO-ARABIAN: BEFORE SUNRISE+++// owned by Alexis Starer of Cape Charles, Virginia

HA/AA Sport Horse: CHAMPION BEFORE SUNRISE+++/, Alexis Starer, VA; 6th ACE OF SPADES+++//, Marie Arias-Stein, MD; 7th DW RAVEN +++//, Kathleen Cannon, OK; 8th KHANDLE IN THE WIND+++//, Jennifer Roberts, NH; 14th WK VALENTINO+//, Susan Pendzinski, CA: 20th RHYTHM IN BEY+, Lauren Smith, AZ; 35th CYLENT KISSES+++/, Tricia Seale, TX.

HA/AA Hunter/Jumper: 5th TOUCH OF VANITY+//, Laura Wood, FL; 7th DW RAVEN +++//, Kathleen Cannon, OK; 10th AC NO FOOLIN++/, Tracy Ratliff Lord, GA; 11th KHANDLE IN THE WIND+++//, Jennifer Roberts, NH; 15th BEFORE SUNRISE+++/, Alexis Starer, VA; 18th ACE OF SPADES+++//, Marie Arias-Stein, MD

HA/AA Dressage: 39th ARIS OF PARISH+//, Carol Harwood, CA; 42nd CYLENT KISSES+++/,Tricia Seale, TX.

HA/AA Dressage Amateur: Reserve Champion WK VALENTINO+//, Susan Pendzinski, CA: 23rd RHYTHM IN BEY+, Lauren Smith, AZ; 31st CYLENT KISSES+++/, Tricia Seale, TX; 39th ZUARA, Debbie Neff, FL; 47th DW RAVEN+++//, Kathleen Cannon, OK.

HA/AA Specialty: 8th ACE OF SPADES+++//, Maria Arias-Stein, MD; 21st AC NO FOOLIN++/, Tracy Ratliff Lord, GA; 22nd TOUCH OF VANITY+//, Laura Wood, FL; 24th DW RAVEN +++//, Kathleen Cannon, OK; 48th KHANDLE IN THE WIND+++//, Jennifer Roberts, NH.