SMHA News

by Melinda Jennings

The KMSHA/SMHA International Grand Championship Horse Show was held at the Kentucky Horse Park on October 8th-10th. The International Show offers a chance for both Kentucky Mountain and Spotted Mountain Horses to compete against the best horses from all over the United States and other countries. As everyone started arriving for the show spirits were high. This is the one time a year many exhibitors travel from their own regions to central Kentucky to compete with their peers for a championship title. Many old favorites and new horses wanting to make their mark waited in the warm up ring.

A Championship title at an International Show is a thrill unto itself. With even more Championship classes and the New Grand Championship classes this year, it is a coveted title indeed. This year a record number of entries fought hard for the titles and we would like to congratulate the following championship winners:

• Spotted Mountain Horse Trail Pleasure Champion: Iceburg ridden by Geoffry Hill for Hill and Hill Farm, this is the 4th time in a row that this talented team has won the Championship at the KMSHA/SMHA International.

• Spotted Mountain Horse Classic Pleasure Champ: Blue Boy’s Wonder Cobra ridden by Chuck Chambers for Mike Smedley.

• Spotted Mountain Horse Park Pleasure Champion: L.B.’s Wild Thing ridden by Geoffrey Hill for Lonnie Eversole and Billy Caudill.

And we would like to congratulate these new Grand Championship winners:

• Spotted Mountain Horse Country Trail/Trail Pleasure Grand Champion: Iceburg ridden by Geoffrey Hill for Hill and Hill Farm.

• Spotted Mountain Horse Classic/Park Pleasure Grand Champion: L.B.’s Wild Thing ridden by Geoffrey Hill for Lonnie Eversole and Billy Caudill.

This year L.T.’S Blue Ribbon with Nichaela Noebe and Shawn Magrum taking turns riding and showing, won the SMHA Versatility Award for the second time in a row. Nichaela and Ribbon, won the Carson Masters Juvenile Versatility Award, no small feat when you realize that Nichaela, Ribbon’s owner, is showing in the 11 and under classes. Add that Ribbon was also instrumental in Shawn winning the James Powell Award for Trainers and you have a truly remarkable team.

This International was bittersweet for Christy Adams. Christy dedicated her ride to her grandfather, Andrew Boyd who passed away on September 17, 2009. Many of us knew and will miss Mr. Boyd who was a well known breeder and trainer of some of the finest spotted saddle horses in the country. His breeding lines are seen in many of Spotted Mountains Horses today.

As the 2009 show season comes to an end, I would also like to congratulate the following high point winners in the Spotted Mountain Horse divisions:

SMHA Trail Pleasure: 1)Iceburg , 2) Lady of The Nite and 3)Blue’s Magical Charm. SMHA Classic Pleasure: 1) Rocking The Night Away, 2) Hammer and 3) One Red Hot Lady. SMHA Park Pleasure: 1) L.B. Wild Thing and 2) Fancy’s Painted Delight.

As we look ahead to the 2010 season, let’s show our support for the Spotted Mountain Horse by continuing to register, trail ride and show out beautiful spotted horses.