Monterey Horse Show Results, by Julia Goldman Rain or shine, nothing stops Black Sterling from TOTAL domination. The Monterey Spring Fest Horse Show tested our team with some heavy duty weather. Our new stallion Ate started his saddleseat career. Ate, the former M2 Dressage champion of Holland, and recently imported by Janna, was the star of the arena after being ridden saddleseat only twice before competing! After the initial oohs and awes as the bold stallion bounded into the arena, the crowd could not take their eyes off the amazing energy of this champion. Ate won the friesian open English pleasure qualifier under the direction of Kathrin our gutsy dressage rider from Germany. My Stormy was great, with rock solid flawless performances in his qualifier. Janna, in the irons because I had rowing practice, proudly led our Storm-bucket to the winners circle beating some very nice American Saddlebreds in Open English Pleasure. There were three high stepping saddlebreds trying to beat Stormy but Janna’s ride left room for no error. Stormy made no mistakes, his head never bobbled, and together they took down the other three saddlebreds. Next to enter the arena was the one and only BLACK STERLING with Ronald Goldman in the irons, and a recently imported Wiebren, a third level dressage friesian with points in Z level. Wiebren has competed in Holland, been very successful, and even has beaten the approved stallion, Wisse. Eve, another one of our great dressage riders from Holland, rode Wiebren to win the Friesian Walk and Trot Under Saddle Class. This was a unique win because Eve rode Wiebren dressage, and beat all the saddleseat riders in the ring, INCLUDING our Sterling! Sterling has made an incredible comeback from his “degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis.” His spunky attitude, a trade mark of our favorite boy, brought him a third in the qualifier because Sterling decided cantering the first way of the ring sounded better than whatever gaits were being asked. Wiebren and Eve paraded with class and style down victory lane, a real crowd pleaser as a murmur of interest crept though the onlookers, hearing he is one of our sale horses. That evening, the Friesian Amateur Pleasure Class was about to be called to the arena and Kathrin sat atop Ferrari. She had never ridden the horse prior to the class she was preparing to show in. The canter signal for Ferarri is quite opposite of that used in dressage, the form of riding Kathrin is familiar showing in. It was three classes before our class and I ( who supposed to be riding and showing Ferrari) was nowhere to be found. Janna, Ron, Kathrin, and Ferrari were all wondering where Julia was. I left to come to the show at 3:00 pm and it was after 7:00. The drive with traffic from Sonoma to Monterey should take no longer than three hours, so everyone back at the BSF camp were all twiddling their thumbs- wondering if Julia would show up in time to compete?!? I arrived two classes before Ferrari was to show, threw my hair in a bun, jumped in a riding suit, and placed reserve in the class to Janna and Ravello. Ron’s new horse-who Janna likes so much, she BEGS him to let her show Ravello. Ravello snacked on many peppermints and received pats from fans, prior to wearing the blue ribbon. Ravello charged into the class as though he owned it, like a packaged chess piece, never put an ear back and gracefully took both leads with smooth transitions. Ferrari was a little excited on his first canter lead and charged like a bullet, quite typical for him, but overall, the horse performed with the brilliance he knows best. Gen Hess, a Western Champ and fellow do-it-yourselfer at the shows rode Sterling western in a practice session and instructed Janna in a lesson, teaching her neck reining, and the basics to western riding. Janna has decided to pursue a western career for Sterling. Sterling is going to be our Friesian Western Pleasure Champion. Stay tuned…. Ron pulled out his cart and harness and hooked Stormy for Friesian Driving. Stormy and Blu took off around the ring with solid gaits and spirit. Stormy was bright and eager to go. Blu let that horse do what he knows best, and drove him to the winners circle. Stormy left though the gate high headed and sporting the blue. Ferrari and I entered the Juvenile Friesian Walk/ Trot class, a class I was prepared to ride Stormy in, but soon after uncovering another outrageous IFSHA rule, we learned I could not show Stormy in this walk/trot class because I had shown him in walk/trot/canter classes at other shows. Ferrari was incredible, he was floating, soaring through the class, and the last pass before lineup was called, the curb chain on his bridle split in half! Curb chains are made of stainless steel and the chain link pieces are welded together. Well, this chain did not fall off it split right down the middle The horse was startled and the chain dangled and jingled loudly which confused the horse and he jumped and cantered three strides right in front of the judge, so due to this equipment failure, Ferrrari and I placed second in the qualifier. It was upsetting because I really thought I had a winning ride up to that point. The next morning, Ferrari and Ravello battled it out in the Friesian Pleasure Amateur Championship. Janna called on Ravello to step up and perform, which he did, and he did well. Ferrari had a consistent class with a power attached to his gaits. Ferrari was swift and solid, where Ravello flowed and gracefully carried out his gaits. Janna and Ravello won the Friesian Pleasure Amateur Championship, and Ferrari took third. Onlookers told us Ferrari’s head should have been held higher second direction. The last two classes were ones to go down in the book. I led Stormy down memory lane beating the Saddlebreds and becoming OPEN ENGLISH PLEASURE GRAND CHAMPION!! Stormy, though a little low headed in the bridle, did only what was asked, no more, no less, and won with an incredible ride! I LOVE showing that horse!!! The last class of the show, our incredible new Jasper X Oege Pref stallion, Ate, and the question…. who to ride him. Janna had a choice, either let Kathrin show him or jump on “Nitro” herself. Janna took the bull by the horns, so to speak, and rode the bold stallion herself in the Open Saddleseat Friesian Under Saddle Stake, after having only ridden him ONCE before! Ate looks like he is doing a piaffe when he slow trots, you just have to see this horse to believe it! And when he is stepped up down the straight away, oh my, he FLIES. Needless to say, Janna and Ate won the Open Friesian Stake, and we think this is just a taste of very good things to come with this special stallion. Don’t even bother to ask Janna if he is for sale anymore…based on the size of her grin when riding him, and I know what that smile means, he is now a permanent member of our BSF family. We came home a bit soggy, from the rain, but with 10 wins, we are pretty happy for the wear. And we feel more ready to take on the competition in just 1 month, at Woodside. Come cheer on our black horses, and don’t forget the peppermints [Ate has not acquired the American taste for mints, thus he would prefer you bring him a carrot!]. Check the following for movie clips : |