Celebrating The Industry by Colleen Scott
photos by Victor and Lori Ricigliano Jeffrey Carter Mason
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There is much to love about the annual Scottsdale Show—location, weather, competition, food, shopping—the list is endless. This year, the Arabian Horse Times added yet another element—the Readers’ Choice Awards Celebration. Organizers of the first-ever extravaganza were Times Publisher Lara Ames and long-time Advertising Account Executive Mike Villaseñor. They pulled out all the stops and created an one-of-a-kind event that not only celebrated the breed, but also provided a great opportunity for fellowship. The evening’s proceeds (including table sales and a live auction) were all contributed to the Horsemen’s Distress Fund—just more icing on the cake.
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uests were welcomed to the cocktail hour with a sky-sweeping movie premiere-type spotlight, red carpet, and live video interviews at the hacienda-style Monterra at WestWorld. (See www.ahtimes.com for Scottsdale video coverage.) For many who remember a time when parties were the norm and not the exception, the return to providing opportunities for celebration and networking is a welcome one. “I’m thrilled,” said industry leader Sheila Varian (who would later be named Breeder of the Year) in a red carpet interview as she arrived. “It makes me feel terrific. It makes me feel like maybe we’re gathering a little bit of our chutzpa back again.” The combination of recognizing the best in the industry, the camaraderie with fellow horsemen, and giving back to the community via the Horsemen’s Distress Fund made the first-ever event something memorable and one many in attendance hope the Times repeats in future years.
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2009 A R A B I A N H O R S E T I M E S R E A D E R S ' C H O I C E A W A R D W I N N E R S Breeder Of The Year • Varian Arabians
Half-Arabian Hunter Horse Of The Year • Everlastin Love
Horseman Of The Year • Gordon Potts
Purebred Halter Horse Of The Year • Bey Ambition
Horsewoman Of The Year • Vicki Humphrey
Half-Arabian Halter Horse Of The Year • Shutup And Dance
Trainer Of The Year • Jim Stachowski
Purebred Sport Horse Of The Year • OKW Entrigue
Adult Amateur Of The Year • Robin Porter
Half-Arabian Sport Horse Of The Year • Lord Of The Ring
Youth Exhibitor Of The Year • Jessica Medved
Purebred Working Western Horse Of The Year • Al-Marah Matt Dillon
Show Official Of The Year • Cindy Clinton
Half-Arabian Working Western Horse Of The Year • BSF Gunsmoke
Instructor Of The Year • Lisa Jo White Purebred Horse Of The Year • Afires Heir Half-Arabian Horse Of The Year • Revelation JF
Purebred Specialty Horse Of The Year (Driving, Show Hack, Side Saddle, Native Costume)
• Afires Vision Half-Arabian Specialty Horse Of The Year (Driving, Show Hack, Side Saddle, Native Costume)
• Capt Jack Sparrow PGA
Sire Of The Year • Afire Bey V
Photographer Of The Year • Mike Ferrara
Rising New Star Award
Show Of The Year • Iowa Gold Star
(Trainer Under 30 Years Of Age)
• Jason Krohn Best Team (Farm) Spirit Award • Midwest Training Centre Purebred Saddle Seat Horse Of The Year • Afires Heir Half-Arabian Saddle Seat Horse Of The Year • Revelation JF Purebred Western Horse Of The Year • Sunsational Kid Half-Arabian Western Horse Of The Year • Ima Rock Star
In 2009, what was your favorite advertisement featured in the Arabian Horse Times? • Strawberry Banks Farm Stallion Section August 2009 issue, Arabian Horse Times In 2009, what was your favorite editorial story of the year in the Arabian Horse Times? • An Amateur Point Of View Articles by Russ Vento Since last year's Arabian Horse Times Readers' Choice awards, what has been your favorite front cover? • March 2009 - DA Valentino
Purebred Hunter Horse Of The Year • KM Bugatti
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Besides the Arabian Horse Times commitment to the event, many patrons stepped up to make the evening possible. Jay Allen, president of the Arabian Horse Association of Arizona, says sponsoring the event was a natural for the club. “We feel that it is important to support events that honor outstanding horses, events and people in the industry. The Readers’ Choice Awards were held during the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show, and there is no better time for the horse community to come together to celebrate the accomplishments of the greats in the industry than during this wonderful show.” The National Show Horse Registry and Ohio Buckeye Show were also sponsors, a commitment easy to make says Cindy Clinton, who handles public relations and promotions for the NSH Registry and manages the Ohio Buckeye. “The NSHR and the Buckeye are dependent upon the people that make up our industry, and any way we can help reward them for their accomplishments can only help our industry. This program also gave back to those that supported them, which made it a much easier financial decision,” she says. Melissa Holmes of Show Season concurs. “We get a lot from the horse community. This was a great way to give back to them. It was also a very positive way to start the show,” she says. The Minnesota Breeders Association also supported the event as a sponsor, with president Tom Mensing saying, “We try to be supportive of anything in the industry that is supportive of our community and our breeders.” APR IL 2010 | 73
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The Awards With 32 categories, emcee and auctioneer Greg Knowles had his work cut out for him to keep the crowd of 400 engaged and entertained. Knowles capably rose to the occasion, with his quick wit and comedic timing. One of the biggest laughs of the entire evening came when Gordon Potts was announced as Horseman Of The Year. Knowles kept encouraging Potts to run to the podium “like a halter guy would.” However, Potts continued at what might be called more of a western jog. When he did reach the podium, Potts kept the crowd laughing as he shared that many times he had written and rehearsed speeches, but he rarely had the opportunity to deliver them. Other award recipients included Robin Porter as Adult Amateur Of The Year. Pitted against some stiff competition in Mike Beethe, Joe Frizzell, Katie Harvey, Lori Lawrence and Carol Skeuse-Hart, Porter said she was surprised when her name was called. She shouldn’t have been too surprised given the year she had in both the English and western divisions aboard Toi Store CRF, Gotta Wear Shades, Caliente Virtuoso and Arktik CAHR. Porter, who grew up showing, says success in the show ring is about multitasking. “You’ve got to be able to ride the horse, get seen, watch the judges—really pay attention,” she relates. “You’ve also got to listen to your trainers.” Fellow nominee Joe Frizzell walked home with the award for his horse Sunsational Kid V in the Purebred Western Horse Of The Year
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category. The dynamic duo had a sensational year, winning every class at the Ohio Buckeye Show, every championship at Region 11, and championship and reserve titles at the U.S. Nationals. “He’s such a fun horse to ride,” says Frizzell of the stallion. “He always seems to be in a good mood and makes me smile when I just ride him into the arena.” In the Rising New Star Award category, trainer Jason Krohn got the nod and gave his father a lot of the credit. “As trainers we are nothing without our great horses, and we are nothing without our great customers. That being said, I would also be nothing without my dad.” Krohn’s year was a memorable one in that he captured his first professional U.S. National Championship title in the Half-Arabian Country English Pleasure Junior Horse class aboard KRA Im On Fire. “Taking the victory pass with that rose blanket was the biggest moment of my career, and it is one that I will never forget,” he says. Krohn also
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points out an amateur title as a big moment in 2009. “Martha McCollough was U.S. National Champion in the Half-Arabian Country English Pleasure Maturity. Not only was it her first national title, but it was also my first amateur client championship. Martha was a star.” Another star of the evening was Afires Heir, who won in two categories—Purebred Saddle Seat Horse of the Year and Purebred Horse of the Year. In accepting the award on behalf of Afires Heir, Joel Kiesner gave a very convincing whinny. While the Afires Heir team was excited about his victory in the Saddle Seat category, it was the win in the overall Purebred Horse Of The Year category that was really special. “To have people from across the disciplines vote for him says a lot about him. He is such a special animal to us; it warms our hearts that other people see in him what we see,” says Kiesner. “We’d like to thank the Arabian Horse Times and all the people that voted for him.” Besides honoring horsemen, horsewomen and horses, the Readers’ Choice Awards also included recognition for those who contribute to the industry in other ways. Cindy Clinton, who manages the Ohio Buckeye, Region 14 and the National Show Horse Finals, was named Show Official Of The Year. “It means more than people realize,” Clinton says of the award. “I love managing horse shows and to be recognized for doing something you love makes it so much more special.” Mike Ferrara, voted Photographer Of The Year, echoes Clinton. “The awards are a wonderful way to give recognition to some people who never get any recognition. It is nice that people notice your hard work.” Ferrara was also an event patron, and says he can’t think of a better cause to support than the Horsemen’s Distress Fund. When it came to the Best Team (Farm) Spirit Award, Team Midwest took home the honors with Don Morse accepting the award on behalf of Midwest Training Centre. “We have a lot of fun together,” he says. “All the Midwest
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customers get along really well. We don’t just hang out at the horse shows together; we also hang out at the farm a lot together.” Show Of The Year went to the Iowa Gold Star Futurity, who had a large Roaring 20s contingency in attendance. Organizers have centered the show on a theme since 2007, and this year the lead characters are already stirring up trouble. Golden Johnny Star (Russ Reynolds) and Diamond Rita (Kelly Reynolds) head up “The Gold Star Gang,” which also includes: “Lucky” Lonnie Malloy, Candy “Stats” Malloy, Mikey “The Bruiser,” Lola “The Showgirl,” and a couple known as “The Cleaners.” Other characters ready to debut at the September show include “The Joker” and “Lady Jade,” as well as “The Ladykiller,” “Krazy Katie,” and “Major Mikey O’Neil.” Each of the characters has its own story accessible through the show’s website. As if managing the show isn’t enough work, organizers spend countless hours on the themes each year. “It keeps things fresh and fun. It’s something no other show does, and it allows people to let down their guard and relax at the show. This is a horse show, and the bottom line is that we’re all here to have fun. Isn’t that really why we do all of this?”
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The Horsemen’s Distress Fund Auction Although all proceeds from table sales were contributed to the Fund, event organizer Mike Villaseñor took things a step further by introducing an auction of one-of-a-kind unique opportunities for Arabian horse enthusiasts. The items offered for purchase were truly priceless, and the generosity of the bidders reinforced the Arabian horse industry’s commitment to one another (Table sales and auction items contributed a combined total of $44,000 to the Fund.) One unique auction item was dinner for 10 at Cedar Ridge Arabians along with a ride in the wagon pulled by the famous Percheron draft horse hitch. Bidding was fast and furious, with a conglomerate of Don & Janey Morse, Roger & Stephanie McMahon, Dan & Maureen Grossman, and Jim & Sally Bedeker eventually beating out the competition. “We haven’t been to the Ames place yet,” says Don Morse, “but we are all very much looking forward to it. The Ames family has been in this business a long time, and we all really like the whole family. The money went to a great cause, and we’re really excited.” Other once-in-a-lifetime opportunities included rides on the national champion horses Revelation JF (National Champion HalfArabian English Pleasure Horse) and Gotta Wear Shades (National Champion English Pleasure Junior Horse). Ken, Diane and Loren Hicks and Robin Porter donated the rides, respectively. Besides the opportunity to ride these spectacular horses, the chance to drive and handle national champions was also offered during the evening. Strawberry Banks Farm and Barbara Chur donated the chance to drive A Temptation. Taking things a step further, David and Terry Anne Boggs contributed their training services and the opportunity to show multi-titled Shutup And Dance at Youth Nationals in 2010.
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Other auction items included a breeding to Hucks Connection V (who would capture the Scottsdale Liberty Championship title later in the week) and a breeding to the American Saddlebred Undulata’s Nutcracker, who at 9 has already sired 16 World Champions and five Reserve World Champions. Derek Molina of Molina Fine Jewelers in Scottsdale contributed a set of men’s and ladies’ stainless steel watches. When a bidding war broke out between Annette Stevens and Andrew Sellman, he graciously contributed a second set. “I wanted to be a part of the Readers’ Choice Awards because of my daughter Athena North Molina, my wife, Myranda Molina, and Taryl Pearson, the executive director of the Arabian Horse Association of Arizona,” states Molina. The three of them got me involved in the horse world and made me love and appreciate the companionship that a girl or boy can have with these amazing horses. I relate my daughter’s horse shows to my jewelry business. Spectators only see the end result, but they rarely see the hard work and training that goes behind the finished product. Molina Fine Jewelers and I are committed to supporting the Arabian horse community. It’s just a little of what we can do to give back to the Arabian horse community and its amazing people.” Molina also donated goody bags for the award recipients.
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The Horsemen’s Distress Fund Auction “There is a little bit of a misconception out there that the Horsemen’s Distress Fund, because it was started under the auspices of the Arabian Professional and Amateur Horseman’s Association (APAHA), is only available to professional horsemen,” states Mary Trowbridge. “That is not the case. The fund has always been intended to be very broad-based, industry-wide and available to trainers, riders, breeders— anyone who needs assistance during a time of unexpected crisis.” The fund is a separate 501 ( c) 3 organization from the APAHA and managed by an independent Board of Directors, which includes: Mary Trowbridge, Mary Jane Brown, Stan Morey, Van Jacobsen, and Reverend G.T. Schramm. While many fund-raising events and drives have been conducted in the past for specific individuals, Trowbridge says the Readers’ Choice Awards was the first event to raise funds for the Distress Fund as a whole. She describes the event as being one that not only provided fellowship, but also an opportunity to give back to the entire Arabian horse community.
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“We’ve all spent a lot of money back and forth with each other,” she says. “Yet, what happened as a result of this event is that we spent money giving back to the whole community. We had people investing money that went toward the common good. The donors of the auction items and the bidders and buyers were truly heroic in the amounts of money they spent,” she says. “I can’t thank the Arabian Horse Times, Lara Ames and Mike Villaseñor enough for organizing and hosting this event. The night was a win-win for everyone. It was a fun evening and got people involved—just a great night of fellowship and celebrating the Arabian horse.” ■
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Patrons The event celebrating the Arabian Horse Times’ Readers’ Choice Award recipients would not have been possible without the support of the following patrons. Platinum Patrons
Markel Iowa Gold Star Futurity Gold Patrons
Schneiders Show Season Minnesota Breeders Association National Show Horse Registry Ohio Buckeye Show Arabian Horse Association of Arizona Silver Patron
Ferrara Photography
The Arabian Horse Times would also like to thank everyone who purchased a table, as the entire table sale proceeds were contributed to the Horsemen’s Distress Fund. The following also participated in the Horsemen’s Distress Fund Auction, helping raise a combined total of $44,000 in contributions to the Fund. A special thanks to both the donors of these incredible once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and their purchasers. Breeding to Undulata’s Nutcracker, contributed by Kris Swanson & David Jampsa, Swanson & Jampsa, LLC, purchased by Dick & Lollie Ames. Ride on reigning National Champion Half-Arabian English Pleasure Horse Revelation JF, under the direction of Vicki Humphrey, contributed by Ken, Diane and Loren Hicks, Baywood Farms, purchased by Burrline, LLC, Cole, Tracy & Katie Burr. Ride on reigning National Champion English Pleasure Junior Horse Gotta Wear Shades, under the direction of Shawn Rooker, contributed by Robin Porter, Crescent Creek Farms, purchased by Whispering Pines Arabians, John & Sharon Ames. 82 | AR ABIAN HORSE TIMES
Opportunity to drive National Champion English Pleasure and Pleasure Driving A Temptation, contributed by Barbara Chur, Strawberry Banks Farm, purchased by Joni Hyrick. Breeding to Hucks Connection V, contributed by Jacques Lapointe, Diamond Hill Arabians, purchased by Eric Rosa. Men’s and Ladies’ Molina Watches, two sets contributed by Molina Fine Jewelers, purchased by Andrew Sellman and Annette and Brent Stevens. Opportunity to show Multi-National Champion Shutup and Dance at Youth Nationals in 2010, under the guidance of Midwest Training Centre, contributed by David and Terry Anne Boggs and Family, purchased by Whispering Pines Arabians, John & Sharon Ames. Dinner for 10 at Cedar Ridge Arabians and a ride in the World Famous Ames Percheron Hitch, donated by Dick and Lollie Ames, Cedar Ridge Arabians, purchased by Don & Janey Morse, Roger & Stephanie McMahon, Dan & Maureen Grossman, and Jim & Sally Bedeker.
READERS' CHOICE AWARDS
Arabian Horse Times' staff (l to r) John Diedrich, Lara Ames, Wayne Anderson, Kandi Menne, Colleen Scott, and Mike Villaseñor.
The Readers’ Choice Awards 2011 Three years ago, the Arabian Horse Times instituted the Readers’ Choice Awards as a way to recognize excellence in the Arabian horse industry. The program is unique in that it provides a venue in which to recognize the horses, riders and trainers, as well as all those things that support the industry such as advertising, photography, show management and team spirit. The Readers’ Choice Awards is unique in that it allows everyone an opportunity to vote. Readers of the Arabian Horse Times can not only nominate their favorite people and horses, but they can also vote for them. No membership or subscription is required—merely a love for the Arabian horse. Have a favorite in a category we’ve discussed here? Be sure to watch for the call for nominations in October and cast your vote.
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