Show Bound Once Again Contribute by Kathy Howard
Few Miniature horses have an un- imaginable show career spanning 27 years in three different breed registries. Fan- fare’s Check My Label, has done just that. At the age of 28 years old, “Checkers” re- turned from the 2017 AMHA World Show and brought home a World Champion, two World Reserves, a Top Five and a Top Ten. Checkers’ show record includes three National Champions, three National Re- serves, four World Champions and seven World Reserves from the American Min- iature Horse Association, a Hall of Fame in Hunter from the American Miniature Horse Registry and a Supreme Champion and Superior Performance from the Pinto Horse Association of America. Fanfare’s Check My Label was bred
by Cheryl Woods in California. As a year- ling, he was trained and presented by Sha- ron Housley. In 1990, Linda Foster of Eu- gene, OR purchased him. Jane Schultz and her daughter leased Checkers from Foster, showed him at the AMHA National Show, where he excelled earning two National titles and a Reserve. Checkers was one of the first Miniatures John and Andrea Ev- ans of Dayspring Farm, bought and began showing both at AMHA shows, and local PtHA shows in the Northwest. From 1998 to 2000, Checkers added another National and two Reserve titles to his show record for the Evans. Judy Howard fell in love with Checkers the first time she laid eyes on him when Jane Schultz was showing him at the NWMHC Capital City Show. In 2003, Judy and Howard Stables were lucky enough to acquire Checkers from the Evans. Judy and Howard Stables continued his show career on the Northwest Pin- to show circuit, showing him in Oregon, Washington and several years at the Western Canadian National Pinto Show. He became a multiple International Pinto Champion and Reserve. With many PtHA ROMs and ROEs, he is PtHA Open Champion #2029, PtHA Open Legion of Merit #308 and the pinnacle of all awards PtHA offers, Pinto Open Supreme Champion #172 and Pinto Open Superior Performance Award #23. Checkers continued to show at AMHA approved local shows, the Western Region- als and the World Championship, excelling in the hunter classes, halter obstacle classes,
Megyn Hall & Checkers
Whitney Owens & Ambientas
Miniature Horse World
Harvest H/J Wrap Up
and obstacle driving classes both in youth and open divisions. Marci Stucki-Cowart partnered with Checkers and added sever- al more titles to his show record. In 2008, Checkers went into semi-retirement after Marci grew out of the youth division. During his semi-retirement, Checkers
became part of Michael’s Place, a non-profit organization, giving developmentally chal- lenged young adults the opportunity to care for and play with Miniature horses while developing important social skills and basic job skills.
In 2017, two new little girls came
into Checkers’ life. One is seven-year-old, Megyn Hall, granddaughter of Sheryl Pe- terson of Oak Bay Acres. As both Megyn and her horse were new to showing, Megyn needed a well-seasoned horse to teach her how to do the hunter and halter obsta- cle classes. Checkers’ second little girl is 16-year-old Sunny Balshaw, granddaughter of Heather Ward of Sunnyvale Miniatures, who shows Checkers in the youth and open divisions in the hunter, halter obstacle and obstacle driving classes. So, began the end of Checker’s semi-retirement and he went back into the show ring at the age of 28. Fanfare’s Check My Label made his return to the 2017 AMHA World Show showing with Sunny and Megyn in the youth divisions. With both girls, Checkers added one more World and two Reserve ti- tles, a Top Five and a Top Ten.
Anybody watching can tell Check-
ers truly loves the show ring. His ears are always forward and performs without hes- itation. Fanfare’s Check My Label has the heart of a true champion! w
The Harvest Horse Show was held with great summer weather and a big crowd at the Great South- west Equestrian Center in Katy, TX. On Thursday the $10,000 Oakwell Farm & DS Holdings, LLC, Costume Welcome Stake had 38 entries, showing over Anthony D’Ambrosio course. The entries were decked out in all kinds of crazy outfits. Ziezo and Scott Lenkart (Eggs and Bacon) owned by Fleur de lis Farm took the top spot. Trapp O’Neal and the TKO Partnership’s Capitano took home the red ribbon, and a lot of makeup. Friday was a very busy day with the Texas Super Series Group Championships and the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. Skip Bailey set a challeng- ing derby course and Peter Pletcher on Jamie Jarvis’s Mystique came away with the blue. Holly Shepard re- ceived the red ribbon for their effort on Kodachrome owned by Nina Moore. Earlier in the day the $5000 USHJA National Derby was held with Bob Brawley taking blue on Madison Meek’s Tobolsk. Second went to MTM Nameworthy owned by Abigail Albrecht and ridden by Kelly Lorek.
Saturday the $30,000 Harvest Grand Prix was held
and Whitney Owens, riding DS Holdings LLC’s Am- bientas, bettered the seven horse jump off field. As the Grand Prix winner, Whitney also took home the Infinity trophy. Second went to Quilona V Z owned by Carolyn Elsey.
A long standing tradition at the Harvest Show, is the awarding of several memorial perpetual trophies. The “Union Avenue” trophy (Grand Hunter) was award- ed to Screenshot and Jeff Lauwers. Jeff also captured the “Blue Rodeo” trophy for Grand A/O Hunter. The “Top of the Line” Trophy (A/O 36+) went to Luminous owned by ShadySide Farm and ridden by Kate Gibson. The “Summer Breeze” trophy for Grand Pony Hunter was captured by SunBeam owned by Ticket to Ride and rid- den by Carolyn Colter. The “1954 Dallas Charity” Tro- phy (Grand Child/Adult Jumper) went to Esprit owned by Orpen Horses and ridden by Hensley Humphries. Finally, the “Biko” trophy (Grand JR/AO jumper) went home with I-Mai Tai OHF and Emily Thomas. w
December 2017 SouthWest Horse Trader 7
Jerry Mohme Photography
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28
