Arabian Horses.org Sport Horse Nationals

PA Solidor and Kim Ruppert enjoy quiet time

They're Loving It!

Talk to exhibitors and they're excited to be here and happy to share the horses they love with the sport horse world. Riders with downtime take their horses walking up the hill and over the cross country course or hunt for the best grass in any of many fields that surround the facility.

Arabian Jumpers Set Fast Pace

Flamengo Rach gets ready for Arabian Jumpers

Claire Rozran and her two Arabian horses, Visconde Rach and Flamengo Rach, delivered the fastest rounds in tough open jumping competition, placing champion and reserve in Arabian Jumpers. Family Jewel, who was champion gelding in the sport horse in hand class out of a field of 54 horses, went top ten. The class also included 2004 jumper champion DDA Springtime ridden by John French.

"It was very competitive," says Michelle Blair, an open hunter/jumper trainer from Wellington, Florida, who also rode Family Jewel to a reserve in 2003.

Blair has trained horses for almost 30 years but is relatively new to Arabians.

"They're very sturdy with good legs and feet. They're beautiful, and they're real athletes, very solid. I take my warmblood in two classes and he's tired. These horses have great endurance."

Family Jewel+/ is owned by Pam and Pat Livecchi, Jupiter, Fl.

"He does everything," says Pam. "I even take him trail riding."

Unusual Good Luck Charm

What's green and brings good luck? You might say a shamrock or maybe a dyed rabbit;s foot. At the Dressage by Danica stable, it's a jar of pickles! According to Debbie Adams, Danica's mother, it's a German tradition to hang a pickle on your Christmas tree for good luck.

"If one is good, think what a whole jar can bring," says Debbie.

Stay tuned to see if pickle power really works.

Arabian Sport Horse Show Hack

DA Prism and Katie Showers

Magnum TA and Valerie Eakley

First Time SHN and First Time Champion

Double Champion Half-Arabian Stallion in hand, Arabian/Trakehner TF Perons Brilliance with his fan club and breeder (far right) Judy Ernst

Give me a kiss big guy!

Girls just wanna have fun