39th National Appaloosa Championships - Colour and Character!

The 39th National Appaloosa Championships were held 25 - 30 March (including the National Futurities) and featured a huge variety of events that encompassed everything from Halter to Dressage, Showmanship to Hunt Seat Equitation and Western Pleasure to Working Hunter!

Over 125 horses competed at the show and for five days AELEC was taken over by Appaloosa horses of every size, shape and colour imaginable.  Now the dust has settled on the 39th National Appaloosa Championships, Tamworth will have to wait until next year before so much colour and character once again invades AELEC.

Horsezone, as one of the proud sponsors of the National Show, were on the spot for a wide variety of events. 

CLICK HERE to view 8 pages of photos from the show and HERE to view National Futurity photos.  If you're unfamiliar with wide variety of western performance events out there - check out these pictures for an over view.  There really is something for everyone!

Most Impressive:

• 2010 Filly Lyn-Lins Prettydarnhotace (Ashfield Dreamin' Aces x Perpetually Pretty Strutin) - pictured top right - owned by Lyn & Lindsey Skelly and 2010 Colt APS One Hot Dream (RP Perfect Nights Dream x Ashfield Dream Rebel) owned by John Maher both won every class they were entered in from a large field - including winning the Futurities and Amateur classes, in addition to their Nationals class. 
• The Socialite (Temonee x Zips Socialite) - pictured right - was Champion in the $1000 Champagne Western Pleasure, Reserve Champion in the $1000 Hunter Under Saddle Classic with his trainers Kyle and Kristy Mobberley in the saddle (Kyle rode him in the Pleasure and Kristy in the Hunter).  He then won and placed in Amateur classes for his owner Sharon Coldwell, but that's not all, The Socialite's progeny were also out there doing well with daughter, The Social Girl, gaining Reserve Champion in the Champagne Western Pleasure behind her sire!
• Amateur Gillian Allen and RQH The Wizard (RQH Doing It In Style x Riverdowns Stylish Impression) who not only won the $1000 Hunter Under Saddle Classic against a large field of trainers, but also won most of their events throughout the show.  This stylish pair are the definition of harmony between horse and rider!
• Trainer Raelene Gilboy and the team from Carousel Performance Horses, Victoria.  Raelene rode several different horses at the Nationals and if she wasn't winning a class, she was right up there in the placings as a result of her consistent and correct training and showing techniques.  Three year old Ampleur Hot and Hawnie - shown by Raelene and owned by Amelia Leeman pictured below right wearing cream and gold - won Overall High Point Performance Horse of the Show.  To Raelene, however, the biggest thrill is when the Amateurs or Youth, who are all part of the Carousel team, do well; and with Amateurs Gillian Allen and Anne Brooksbank's winning performances throughout the show, amongst others, Raelene had plenty of opportunities to be proud.  That all said - what was most impressive about the Carousel team was that everyone was always smiling, supporting each other and generally having a great time - what showing is supposed to be all about!

Goosebump Moments:

• When the 2010 fillies entered the hushed AELEC arena for the very first class of the show and there was still five wonderful days of showing ahead of us.
• Gillian Allen and RQH The Wizard - pictured below right - after winning the $1000 Hunter Under Saddle Classic - all the other riders in the class dismounted and filed out, with many stopping to hug and congratulate her.
• The Socialite ridden by Kyle Mobberley winning the $1000 Champagne Western Pleasure and The Social Girl, ridden by Kristy Mobberley (Kyle's wife) placing second - talk about keeping it all in the family!
• The Youth 13yrs & Under Walk/Jog Showmanship - these kids were so young and so good, we'd all better watch out when they grow up!
• Hunter Hacks - Shout the Bar and Cayuse Walk in Time - thundering around the arena and over fences in the Open Working Hunter class.

 

Most Popular Classes:

• The $1000 Champagne Western Pleasure and $1000 Hunter Under Saddle Classics both attracted large entries with plenty of good horses in each class, making for great showing for competitors and spectators alike.  The fact that for the winners of each class, Horseland Dubbo donated a hunter saddle for the Hunter Classic and Ivys Western Wear donated a western show saddle for the Champagne Wester Pleasure, made these events extra special!
• 2010 Filly and 2010 Colt classes both had large numbers and high quality entries.
• Three Year Old classes in the ridden events had the most entries, with some of the best horses of the show falling into this age group.
• Amateur classes were well supported across all events and it's great to see Limited Amateur and Masters Amateur classes being offered, for people with less experience (Limited) and those over 50 years of age (Masters).

 

Crowd Pleasers:

• All halter classes.
• Feature events - especially the Champagne Western Pleasure and Hunter Under Saddle Classic.
• Self Obsessed (An Obsession x Show Me the Money) - pictured right - owned by Nicole Noppert and shown by Terese Searle, winning Supreme Halter Horse of the Nationals.
• The calcutta for the feature events - especially the Champagne Western Pleasure - bidding was fast and furious on crowd favourites.  The Socialite, who has an impressive track record was very popular and reached $325, however, the lovely chestnut DD Whispering'N the Dark (Tall Dark N Radical x HP Midnight Whispers), ridden by Tyler Pearson was not far behind him and made $300.  Plenty of horses went over $100.

 

What's Hot:

• Appaloosas, of course! Not just their colourful and varied coat patterns but also the other traits that characterise this wonderful breed.  The Appaloosa is a breed NOT a colour. So if a little Appaloosa foal happens to be born without spots (even two coloured parents cannot guarantee spots) it is still an Appaloosa.
• Bling, bling and more bling on western outfits - I swear the outfits get more stunning each year - the colour at this show was a feast for the eyes.
• Hanging out at Ivys Western Wear and Horsemans Trading post and picking out stunning outfits for yourself and your friends!
• Traditional hacking attire for Hunter Under Saddle classes - Raelene Gilboy's English outfit had a previous life as a Garryowen winner's attire!
• Having fun catching up with Appaloosa mates from all over Australia and oohing and aahing over each others horses.
• Progeny of well performed Appaloosas out there competing and winning.
• Sportsmanship!

 

What's Not:

• AELEC's yellow seats that flip up!
• People moving about and kids jumping around in the stands during a classes.
• The bar being closed throughout the show - there was no central meeting point for competitors and spectators to meet up, relax and have a catch up.
• Derogatory comments about Appaloosas that weren't blessed with spots by the colour fairy  - as mentioned above, the Appaloosa is a BREED NOT A COLOUR.  The aim is to breed colour but it doesn't always work out that way.  Appaloosa breeders still love their solid coloured babies and never let them know they don't have spots like their brothers and sisters - so they don't feel left out - they're spotty on the inside!

If you would like a Champion Appaloosa of your own, CLICK HERE to view the Horsezone listing for awesome two year old gelding, Censational - pictured left - who won all three of his National Futurity classes - Hunter Under Saddle, Western Pleasure and Trail, as well as Runner Up High Point Two Year Old of the National Show.

CLICK HERE to view all Appaloosas for sale on Horsezone and HERE to sell horses or gear.

Stay tuned to www.appaloosa.org.au for detailed results which will be posted in coming days.