Happy Holidays!
Please remember to let us know what your holiday plans are so we can better take care of your horse or pony. Remember to include the Annual MPH Holiday Party in your plans. This year the party will be Sunday, December 8 starting at 1:30 pm. Please no dogs, but you are welcome to bring a big appetite! We are expecting a special guest sometime after 3 pm.
Holiday Hours:
Christmas/Hanukkah
Tuesday, December 24 (Christmas Eve)…Close 2 pm
Wednesday, December 25 (Christmas/Hanukkah)…Closed
Thursday, December 26…Closed
Friday, December 27…Close 3 pm
Saturday, December 28…Regular Hours
Sunday, December 29…Regular Hours
New Year’s
Tuesday, December 31 (New Year’s Eve)…Close 2 pm
Wednesday, January 1 (New Year’s Day)…Closed
Thursday, January 2…Close at 3 pm
Friday, January 3…Close at 3 pm
Saturday, January 4…Regular Hours
Sunday, January 5…Regular Hours
We will also be closed the afternoon of Wednesday, December 4. We will worm and vaccinate the barn that morning.
We had a busy beginning of November. MPH showed for three weeks at Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas. Included in those three weeks was Zone 7 Finals where MPH excelled in the Hunters, Jumpers, and Equitation! At the Final Chase Horse Show we participated in the THJA Equitation Finals where all three of our contestants placed in the top two. Here are some of the highlights of those weeks.
Zone 7 Finals:
Equitation Champion
Hunter Seat Equitation 15-17, Royal Odyssey and Liston Johnson
Hunter Champions
Large Children’s Hunter Pony, Ontario and Margot Evans
Younger Children’s Hunters, Highmark and MJ Maestas
2’-9” USHJA Hunter, Esquire owned by Cheryl Lawrence, ridden by Caroline Molther
Jumper Champion
1.10-meter Junior Jumper, Kathmandu WV and Liston Johnson
Reserve Hunter Champions
Small/Medium Children’s Hunter Pony, Sorry Not Sorry and Annabel Grefe
Younger Children’s Hunters, Clint One and MJ Maestas
Harvest Horse Show:
What a great horse show weekend for Liston Johnson! Not only was she Zone Champion in the 15-17 Age Group Equitation and 1.10-meter Junior Jumper, she was division Champion in both divisions. She also picked up the fourth-place ribbon in the 1.15-meter Classic on Kathmandu WV aka Kat.
MJ Maestas also had a great weekend. Along with being the Younger Children’s Champion and Reserve in the Zone Championships, she was also Champion of the Division on Highmark aka Koko. MJ and Koko never placed less than second in all their classes over the weekend! MJ also won a Children’s Equitation over Fences on Perry. SWS Charleston aka Charley and MJ placed fifth in the 1.05-meter Jumper Classic.
Margot Evans was Reserve Champion in the Small/Medium Children’s Pony Hunters on Johnny Cash aka Juan. She was also Reserve Champion in the Large Children’s Pony Hunter Division on Ontario aka Dusty along with her Zone Champion.
Autumn Classic:
Margot Evans continued her winning ways. Margot was Champion in the Large Children’s Hunter Pony Division on Ontario aka Dusty. She was also Reserve Champion in the Small/Medium Children’s Hunter Pony Division on Johnny Cash aka Juan.
MJ Maestas brought home another Championship. This time it was in the 1.0-meter on SWS Charleston aka Charley. MJ also made her presence known in the Hunter ring. She was second in the Younger Children’s Hunter Classic on Highmark aka Koko as well as winning a Children’s Hunter over Fences Class on Clint One aka Uno and placing fifth in the Classic on him.
Caroline Quarles and Once In A Blue Moon aka Blue Too were Reserve Champion in the Walk/Trot Division.
Liston Johnson had a great finish to the weekend. She and Kathmandu WV aka Kat won the 1.15-meter Jr/Am Jumper Classic.
Sam Marshall and Moves Like Jaguar aka Jaguar won a Short Stirrup Hunter over Fences Class.
Emalyn Bilski and Denali won the 18” Opportunity under Saddle just missing Reserve Champion in the division by ½ point!
Brynn Neustadt and Charm Your Sox Off aka Kermit won a blue ribbon in the Walk/Trot Division. This was Brynn’s first horse show!
Esquire aka Squirrel owned by Cheryl Lawrence and ridden by Caroline Molther won the 2’-9” GSEC Hunter under saddle.
Final Chase Horse Show:
THJA Equitation Finals
Champion, Children’s Equitation, MJ Maestas
Reserve Champion, Adult Equitation, Lauren Harrison
Reserve Champion, Junior Equitation, Liston Johnson
Annabel Grefe and Sorry Not Sorry aka Nacho closed out the year with a Champion in the Small/Medium Children’s Pony Hunters. They placed second in all their classes. Showing consistency is key! Look for them in the Green Medium Pony Hunters in 2025.
Liston Johnson’s newest mount, Grand Romance aka Champ was Champion in the 3’-3” Large Junior Hunter. Liston and Kathmandu WV aka Kat placed third in the 1.15-meter Junior/Amateur Classic. Liston and Kat placed in the top four every week in their Classic.
Katherine De Zevallos’s Brazos was Champion in the 2’-6” GSEC Hunter with Carolyn Molther aboard.
Margot Evans and Ontario aka Dusty continued their winning ways. They were Reserve Champion in the Large Children’s Pony Hunters, winning both classes over fences on Sunday.
MJ Maestas and Clint One aka Uno also closed out their partnership with a win in a Children’s Hunter over Fences Class. MJ placed third in the Children’s Hunter Classic on Highmark aka Koko finishing up another great partnership. Along with winning the THJA Children’s Equitation Finals, MJ and Perry also won a 14-17 Junior Equitation over Fences.
Brynn Neustadt and Snuffleupagus aka Gus started their partnership with a Reserve Champion in the Walk/Trot Division.
Emalyn Bilski and Denali picked up another Blue in the 18” Opportunity over Fences. Look for this pair in the Short Stirrup in 2025!
Lauren Harrison closed out her year with Oswald Van De Leeuwe aka Ozzy by winning an Older Adult Hunter over Fences Class.
December Reminders:
If you are planning on showing in the Frost Fire Horse Show, December 12-15 and have not told us your intentions, now is the time to do it. We will be going to Wellington for the month of January. If you have not told us of your intention of showing at WEF, we need to know ASAP. Stalls may not be available.
A reminder that December 1, 2024, starts the new show year. Please make sure all memberships are current. These include USEF, USHJA, THJA, WCHR, SPCA, NAL, WIHS. Adult riders also must be current with safe sport. Memberships must be current for points to count towards qualifying shows and year end awards.
Congratulations to Liston Johnson on the purchase of Grand Romance!
Congratulations also go out to Brynn Neustadt on her new ride, Snuffleupagus aka Gus.
Happy Birthday to our birthday girls: Ciara Loomis, Sahana Parasher, and Amelie Schaeffer.
At this time of the year, I am often asked if it is appropriate to tip the staff. You have been billed on your monthly statement for Holiday Gratuity. The Holiday Gratuity money is divided between all the guys (and Ophelia). If you would like to give them a little more or feel one guy was especially helpful to you this year it is more than ok to do so.
I am also often asked if it would be appropriate to decorate your horse or pony’s stall. The answer is, YES! Starting December 1, you may decorate their stall. Please keep in mind that some plants are poisonous to horses. Also be mindful that any electric cords must be out of the reach of the horses. If you are in doubt please check with Patty. All decorations must be taken down no later than January 3, 2025.
Horse Show Corner:
How much is each ribbon worth towards the Horse Show Division Championship and Reserve Championship?
From the USHJA Rule Book
In Hunter and Hunter/Jumping Seat Equitation sections, only the first six ribbons in each class are counted regardless of the number offered. Ribbons have the same value even if less than the specified six places are awarded due to lack of entries. First Place…10 points, Second Place…6 points, Third Place…4 points, Fourth Place…2 points, Fifth Place…1 point, Sixth Place…1/2 point.
Book Corner:
As many of you know, Tim and I went on a long weekend in October to the Grand Canyon. We had awesome weather and a great time. It also brought back a memory I had of a favorite childhood book, Brighty Of The Grand Canyon by Marguerite Henry. Marguerite Henry was my favorite author when I was in elementary school and probably this is one of the reasons I still love to read. Anyway, if anyone has a young reader on their gift list this Holiday season, I highly recommend any of Marguerite Henry’s books and Brighty Of The Grand Canyon in particular! You can also find a copy of it in our lending library. (I heard an elf recently dropped a copy off.)
I can’t believe my next newsletter will be for 2025!
Happy Holidays!
