The Old Dominion Horse Show in Manakin Sabot, Va. was the
site for the inaugural competition for ponies nominated to the NAPF
Registry incentive program. A parade of lovely young ponies competed in
hand, divided by ages and genders. USEF “R” Hunter Breeding judges Joe
Dotoli (of Vermont) and Beth Neilsen (of Colorado) evaluated the
youngsters at the walk and trot prior to standing for conformation.
Amateur and pro handlers were equally represented with Tim Foster of
Twin Cedars Farm winning the Glenhaven Farm Junior/Amateur Handler
Trophy for the day. Twin Cedars had a big day taking home the Joan
Barland Memorial Best Young Pony Award, as well as the 3 Year Old
Performance Championship ( ridden by Brooke Kemper) with their lovely
small gray gelding Picturesque Bow Tie ( Picturesque Formal Attire)
Reserve best young pony was Oliver Brown’s ‘I’m Talking” by Land’s End
Adagio.
“This was Bow Tie’s first time jumping a little course and
he couldn’t have been better” enthused Ms. Foster. “The NAPF is such a
great way to get these babies started when we don’t have to have juniors
ride them in their first competitions. And the prize money is nice too!
Now he can go back out to the field and continue growing up. I couldn’t
be happier.” Both judges were wowed by the young gelding and felt that
he will go on to a great performance future.
The “Touch Me Not” Trophy for the Grand Champion 4& 5 Year
Old Performance Division was won by Dan Short’s Glenhaven Audrey. Audrey
a 5 year old 14.1 1/2 mare by Downland Rembrandt was shown to the
victory by Taylor Brown of Palmyra, Va “ I had never even seen Dan’s
pony before, but she was really fun to ride, a great jumper and just as
easy as he said she would be. I am glad he didn’t come all this way for
nothing! She is ready for a young rider to go out and win with.”
Consistency paid off for Terian Farm’s “Land’s End
Colonel’s First William” to win the Pony Futurity Leading Sire award, a
beautiful bronze donated by Mike Elmore of New Mexico. “We just kept
coming up second a lot!’ laughed owner / breeder Terry Daugherty of
Tennessee. “He is a young stallion by Land’s End The Colonel’s Fox that
we have only bred to our own mares with great results. They are all just
so quiet that they made our job very easy. We can’t wait to come back
here next year. We had so much fun at this show!”
A luncheon reception was held for the first annual Lifetime
Achievement Pony Breeder Award. The award will be named in honor of
the foundation stallion Farnley Lustre who stood at the Farnley Farm in
White Post, Va. Owned by Mrs. Joan Dunning it was fitting that she
should be the first recipient. The award, a beautiful painting called
“Tribute to Lustre” by artist Cheryl Hight (www.cherylhightartist.com)
of North Carolina was accepted by her daughter, Mrs. Hetty Abeles of
Washington, DC. Each year a brass plate with the new honoree’s name will
be placed on the frame.
2010 will offer a new $1000.00 award to the Leading Sire and
$500.00 to the reserve winner in addition to the regular prize money.
The group has also offered a “stimulus” discounted nominating fee of
$300 for all stallions for the upcoming year. For more information on
how you can be part of this innovative incentive fund program open to
all breeders and owners in North America visit
www.ponyfuturity.org or 434 242 8937
