Happy Friday! Here is your Friday Flashback, which will give you a taste of what fun the Lippitt Country Show can be!
“Lippitt Country Show 2000”
by Judith Wyman
The Lippitt Club celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the Lippitt Country Show in 1999, and carried on the traditional showcase of full and half Lippitts this summer in mid-August, (2000) at picturesque Tunbridge, Vermont. A line in the introduction to the Lippitt Country Show program sums up the emphasis on the old type: “.. We stress manners and an easy, balanced way of going more strongly than does any other Morgan show. We expect our show horses to act like pleasure Morgans, with presence and that Morgan look.”
Although entries were down from previous years, with 52 horses competing, the 26th Lippitt Country Show enjoyed both good weather and enthusiasm. The L.C.S continues to hold a couple of in hand classes for half-Lippitts, and several performance classes in which half-Lippitts can compete (half-Lippitts are Morgans having a full Lippitt sire or dam). The focus remains on the full Lippitts, with a full roster of in hand classes (a.k.a. breed division) and a broad spectrum of classes for the performance divisions.
The judge this year, Karen Cabic of Palmyra, NY, upheld her reputation for attention to the conformation in all classes. There were additional judges for the trail classes and dressage tests. Announcer Mariyln Childs always provides enlightening and interesting commentary about these Morgans. (No wonder, considering she is a published author, Morgan breeder, trainer, and judge; and the Childs own Chelsea farm where the original Morgan horse, Figure, is buried.) Grace Yaglou trumpeted commencement of class sessions.
Of the many Lippitts that graced the historic fairgrounds in Tunbridge this year, some could not but catch your eye. We provide you with some of the highlights that also demonstrated the versatility, soundness, and sensibility of the Lippitt Morgan:
The black mare Cantieglen Naiad belied her seventeen years, beginning her many successful entries into the show ring with a blue from JR exhibitor Tori Kerivan in Fitting and Showmanship, 13 years and under, and also Beginner Pleasure Saddle Walk/Trot; a second in 15 and Older Lippitt Mares; a third in Aged Horses Under Saddle Pleasure with owner Grace Yaglou, then reserve in Hunt Seat Championship; a first in Log Obstacle Pulling with Liz Fortin ground driving; a first in Full Irons; and a third for young Blake Warren in Telford of Braintree, Vermont. Grace Yaglou and her beloved mare Naiad also put on an amusing portrayal of the days of Justin Morgan in the Lippitt Heritage Class, as the hard-working farmer and his work horse in the field are brought their refreshment by the farmer’s wife.
The young bay stallion Annaray Magic Justice went on from his first in Lippitt Two Year Old Colts to not only win Junior Champion Lippitt Stallions but also nail Grand Champion Lippitt Stallion, with handler Jennifer Lomastro for owner Cynthia Capobianco.
His 7-year-old sire, the bay Randallane Genesis, was shown by his owner/breeder, Crescent Peirce of Randallane Morgans. The wicked typey Randallane Genesis warmed up from his middle placing in Lippitt Stallions 5-14 years to take the blues in Lippitt Sire and Lippitt Get and the coveted Justin Morgan Standard Class. Sired by Tiffin Ransom, Randallane Genesis has sired an exquisite 4-month-old bay filly, Randallane Genevieve. Randallane Genevieve won her Lippitt Weanling Fillies class, took second in Broodmares with 2000 Lippitt Foals, and claimed Junior Champion Lippitt Mares with breeder/handler Crescent Peirce for the filly’s owner. The judge was overheard to say as she exited the ring in-between classes, “I just love that baby”. Don’t cry though, breeder Crescent Peirce says she has another of the same nick “in the oven.”
Stallions Randallane Genesis and Amadeus Mozart Ara-Li* both vied for full Lippitt Western Pleasure and the Western Pleasure Championship with Randallane Genesis placing first and Champion, respectively. Although not planned, these two western entries were even color coordinated with black and turquoise apparel and saddle blankets. There is something special about a proud Morgan decked out in silver .
Coming from over the border, Canada’s Amadeus Mozart Ara-Li* carried the flag for the 26th Lippitt Country Show, won his full Lippitt Pleasure Driving Stallions and the Open Mile Trotting Race in harness, (and had) impressive wins in Carriage Driving, Gamblers’ Choice, and also Roadster Under Saddle, among other placings for owner/exhibitor Dawn Brown.
Some other mares that stood out this year are the 10 year old chestnut Braelea Ash-Mora, and the dark 11 year old TOV Brigetta Ann. Brigetta placed first in Lippitt Broodmares with 2000 Lippitt Foals, second in both 5-14 Year Old Lippitt Mares and Senior Lippitt Mare Championship, then claimed Grand Champion Lippitt Mare for owner and handler Lori Cash. This typey mare also placed well among 8 stallions in the coveted Justin Morgan Standard Class- a very respectful third. All with a nursing foal nearby.
Bred by Judy Mosman, Braelea Ash-Mora is a mare any Morgan lover would be proud to have in their barn. Leased and ably shown by junior exhibitor Ashley Anderson of Enfield, New Hampshire, this show team of girl and mare won Hunter Hack, Jr. Exhibitor Hunt Seat Pleasure, Open Jumping, Pole Bending, and the Hunt Seat Championship. They also won their Pairs class with another junior exhibitor riding Ashley’s matching chestnut mare, Storybook Salute Vermont. Half-sisters, Braelea Ash-Mora and Storybook Salute Vermont were both sired by Horton’s Vermont.
Bay stallion Wachuset Imperial showed what a 20 year-old can do. Bred by Stan Wiggett of Imperial Morgans and exhibited by Kelly Mastine, “Imp” won Lippitt Stallions 15 and older, Lippitt Get of Lippitt Stallion, Road Hack-Mares, Gelding and Stallions, Aged Horses Under Saddle Pleasure, Road Hack Championship, Saddle Seat Championship. Wachuset Imperial was sired by another veteran campaigner, Meredith Bruce, out of Meredith Nora.
The Lippitt Country Show is usually held the third weekend in August, in one of the ultimate Vermont locales, Tunbridge, not to be missed if you love old-style Morgans.
Article from LCN XXXII, No. 6, pp. 4-5.
(01/24/14 – Please note that this coming summer will be the FORTIETH annual LCS. Go to the show’s website for more information – www.lippittcountryshow.com – see you there!)
Photo of Cantieglen Naiad by Kate Tobey.
