Our show circuit clientele has grown this year and we are extremely pleased with the progress of established and new clients alike.
The Taylor family is always a joy to have at a horse show and we enjoy their weekend visits to the barn for lessons. Kenton Taylor changed arenas and mounts this year, to introduce his 4-year old home bred La Dolce Vita to the world of horse showing. "Patrick" got some great basics under his belt in the hunter ring to begin his journey to his eventual jumper career. He took the hustle and bustel of the horse show scene in stride and will get a little more exposure under his belt before the season ends.
Daughter Lauren has also changed arenas, moving from the short-stirrup hunters up to the lower jumper ranks with Mocha Grande. The horse and rider team really bonded in the jumper ring and enthusiasm was evident on both their faces. We look forward to watching Lauren's jumper career blossom. Highlights for the Taylors include:
La Dolce Vita
Golden Gate Classic: Ribbons in the Low Adult Hunters at Patrick's first show, Feserve Champion in the Baby Green Hunters
Pebble Beach Classic II: Highlighted the week by finishing off with a ribbon in the Pre Adult Hunter classic; 3rd in the Family Class
Mocha Grande
Golden Gate Classic: 3rd, 4th and 7th in 0.8 meter jumpers, Champion in the 0.85 meter open jumpers, Champion in the 0.85 meter Childrens/Adult Amateur Jumpers
Pebble Beach Classic II: Reserve Champion in the Low Pre-Children's Jumpers, Reserve Grand Champion in Low Pre-Children's Jumpers
It has been really fun to watch the development of Sherry Kozloff's Parzival. "Percy" has gone from 1.15 meter through 1.30 meter levels in the span of just eight horse shows. Sherry has also enjoyed progress with the promising jumper in the Adult Amateur classes and hopes to move up to the modified division in 2008. Show highlights include:
Woodside Spring Preview: 2nd in a 1.15 meter class with Buddy aboard
Woodside Spring Classic: 3rd in the Adult Amateur class with Sherry in the irons
Pickwick Summer Classic: 6th in a Level 4 class with Buddy up
Oaks Classic II: 4th and 6th in Adult Amateur Jumpers with Sherry up (in huge classes!)
Oaks Classic III: 4th in a 1.20 meter class with Buddy holding the reins
Golden Gate Classic: 3rd and 5th in 1.30 meter classes with Buddy
Pebble Beach Classic: Winner of a Level 5 class with Buddy up.
We wish we could have seen more of the Montgomery Show Stables clan this year, but family plans and obligations have kept them busy and absent from much of the show scene. We hope to see much more of them when their schedules settle down in 2008. Tori Montgomery joined us for the Golden Gate Classic where she had the catch ride on Fletcher and also continued to bring green horse, King Arthur, along in the jumper arena. Arthur finished 5th, 8th and 3rd for the three days in Zone 10, 1.10 meter competition and finished off the week with a 5th in the Championship class. Tori also attended Pebble Beach Classic I where she ended up winning the Modified Amateur Jumper Derby on her MS Kilina Pride. Tori and cousin Adrienne Dixon cut very stylish figures as the jumper entry in the Family Class, earning a 3rd place finish.
The talented Watson sisters from Sacramento have joined us on the road this summer. Older sister Molly put her focus on some of the bigger equitation classes and learning the ropes in the Modified Jumpers with Oh Lordy! and Prize Fighter. Molly's horses are both for sale at this time, as she looks to move up in the jumper ranks. Younger sister, Rose Ellen, has started getting her feet wet in the equitation ring, and having a little fun in the Children's Jumpers with Invaluable. Both girls have earned respectable ribbon with Molly's high ribbons in the NorCal, WCE and Pickwick classes at Pebble Beach, qualifying her for both the NorCal and Pickwick medal finals. Rose has earned good ribbons in both age group equitation and medal classes and mastering speed skills in the Children's Jumpers. We have been impressed with the work ethic of these sisters and are thankful for the at-home tutelage of their mother, Pat Blaylock Watson. The future of these rising starts looks bright!
It has been rewarding to a part of the development of the Branscomb Farms youngsters. Rider Caylei Morrison has really assimilated the concept that Buddy has instilled and the young stock has come along with confidence in the show ring. Five-year-old stallion, Casio B, participated in the Young Jumper classes through the year, showing greater maturity with each outing and ending the summer with an excellent performance in the Championship class at Show Park. The talk, dark and handsome Onyx went from Baby Green Hunter to 1.10 meter jumpers to lay the foundation for a career in any arena. We feel he would make an elegant equitation horse. We are excited that such quality horses are being bred locally, and applaud K.C. Kelly for her efforts. It will be fun to watch her future crops develop and enter the show ring over the years.