Happy Holidays!
Let’s keep our fingers crossed for good weather for the MPH Holiday Party on Sunday, December 7. We hope to see everyone there, rain or shine. Remember we expect to have a special guest sometime after 3 pm!
You are welcome to decorate your stall anytime this month. Take into consideration potential risk, plants that may be poisonous, electrical cords hung so horses can chew on them, etc. All decorations must be taken down no later than January 3.
Please let us know when you will be leaving town over the holidays. This helps us plan schedules both for your equine and our staff.
A few clients have asked if it is appropriate to tip the staff. On your November statement you were charged a holiday gratuity that will be split between all the guys and Ofelia. If you have a special staff member that you feel has helped you especially this year you are welcome to give them more.
Holiday Hours
December 24, Wednesday…Close promptly at 1P.M.
December 25, Thursday…Closed.
December 26, Friday…Closed.
December 31, Wednesday…Close promptly at 2P.M.
January 1, Thursday…Closed.
November Horse Shows
November was a busy month with horse shows at Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas. Here are some of the highlights of the three weeks.
Harvest
Liston Johnson had a great week in the jumpers! Liston and Georgy Girl aka Nala were Champion in the 1.10-meter Junior Jumper. Liston and Gigolo VD Berghoeve aka Geo won the 1.15-meter JR/AM Jumper Classic.
Lauren Harrison and RVF Hudson were Champion in the Adult Amateur Hunter 50+ years. Caroline also picked up a win on Hudson in the warmup.
Amelie Schaeffer and Flower Power aka Faith were Reserve Champion in the Children’s Hunter Pony. The pair also won the warmup on Sunday.
Margot Evans Uncanny aka Mickey was Champion both in the USHJA Hunter, 2’-3” and USHJA Hunter 2’-6” with Caroline Molther on board.
Caroline was also Reserve Champion in the USHJA Hunter 2’-6” on Anabel Grefe’s Indigo aka Indie.
Caroline continued her winning ways on Cheryl Lawrence’s Esquire aka Squirrel. The pair was USHJA Hunter 2’-9” Champion.
Great Southwest Autumn Classic
This horse show was also Zone Finals.
Lake Francis made her first show with MPH a great one. She and Never Say Never aka Wren were Champion in the Walk/Trot and Cross Rails.
Amelie Schaeffer and Flower Power improved their performance from the Harvest and were Champion in the Large Children’s Hunter Pony Division both in the Horse Show and Zone Finals.
Caroline Molther and Cheryl Lawrence’s Esquire aka Squirrel were Reserve Champion in both the horse show and Zone Finals in the USHJA Hunter 2’-3”.
Margot Evans and Bada Bing Bada Blue won a Small/Med Pony Hunter over Fences Class securing a horse show blue and a Zone Finals Blue. Caroline and Margot Evans Uncanny aka Mickey were Reserve Champion in both the horse show and Zone Finals in the USHJA Hunter 2’-6”.
MJ Maestas and Perry won a 14 and under Junior Equitation over Fences Class on a score of 87. The pair also won the 3’-3” Hunt Seat Medal.
Liston Johnson and Royal Odyssey aka Odie made their first time in the WEC Premier Cup count. They were the winners!
Final Chase
This horse show also had the THJA Medal Finals.
MJ Maestas had a great last horse show of 2025. In the THJA 3’-6” Junior Medal Finals MJ and Perry took home the Reserve Championship. This was MJ’s first Championship at 3’-6”. She and Perry were also Champion in the 14 and under Equitation. The pair won both over fences classes in the division. They had a repeat win in the 3’-3” Hunt Seat Medal. MJ on Oswald Van De Leeuwerk aka Ozzy were Reserve Champion in the Large Junior Hunter 3’-3”.
Liston Johnson also made her last show of 2025 a good one. She and Georgy Girl aka Nala were Champion in the 1.20-meter Junior/Amateur Jumpers. The pair also won the NAL JR/Am 1.25-meter Jumper Classic. She and Royal Odyssey aka Odie repeated their win in the WEC Cup. Liston and Odie finished seventh in the THJA 3’-6” Junior Medal Finals.
Amelie Schaeffer and Flower Power aka Faith had a repeat Championship in the Large Children’s Hunter Pony Division.
Anabel Grefe and Indigo aka Indie were Champion in the Limit Hunter Division.
Uncanny aka Mickey owned by Margot Evans and ridden by Caroline Molther were Champion in the USHJA Hunter 2’-6”. The pair were also Reserve Champion in the 2’-3” GSEC Hunter and 2’-6”GSEC Hunter.
Caroline also rode Cheryl Lawrence’s Esquire aka Squirrel to the Hopeful Hunter Championship.
Delaney Husted and Silk Sonic aka Slick were Reserve Champion in the Children’s Equitation.
Kitty Walters and Prince L won the Combined 3’-6” A/O Hunter under Saddle.
MPH won Championships in the Hunters, Jumpers and Equitation over the course of the 3 weeks. A big thank you to those that made it happen, our riders, their parents, Caroline, Ciara and all the guys!
Barn News
December 1 starts the new show year. Please remember to renew all Memberships. If you are not current, your points will not count for yearend awards or qualifying classes. If you need help with this please contact Ciara or Patty.
We are continuing to watch the Herpes outbreak. We will decide later this week if we will attend the Frost Fire Show in December depending on the latest news.
If you plan to show in Wellington this January and have not told us which weeks you will be attending, please send us an e-mail with when you will be there.
Congratulations, Welcomes, Birthdays
Congratulations to MJ Maestas on the purchase of Franco aka Frankie. Look for them in the Equitation Ring!
It’s official, Charley is now a Husted! Congratulations Delaney!
A big welcome to Scarlet Buckner! She will be starting at MPH in December.
A big happy birthday to our December birthdays, Amelie Schaeffer, Sahana Parasher and Ciara Loomes.
EHV-1 News and Information
Since the Texas horse world is presently dealing with an outbreak of EHV-1 I thought I would include some information on the disease.
What is EHV-1?
EHV-1 is a DNA herpesvirus that commonly infects horses and most often causes a respiratory illness (fever, nasal discharge, cough) or in pregnant mares, abortion. In a minority of infections, the virus invades the central nervous system and produces neurologic signs.
How EHV-1 Spreads
EHV-1 spreads primarily horse to horse by direct contact with respiratory secretions (sneezing, nasal discharge) and indirectly via contaminated people and equipment. Short range airborne spread in crowded environments is also possible when infected horses are actively shedding. Stressors such as transportation, competition, mixing unfamiliar horses and recent illness- can increase shedding and susceptibility. Horses may shed virus before they look sick (or never show signs), a single infected horse can cause disease in multiple locations when moved.
What are we doing to protect our horses?
1)- Checking temperatures twice daily. This is something MPH does on a regular basis not just during this outbreak.
2)-Watching carefully for nasal discharge.
3)-Listening for unexplained coughing or sneezing.
4)-HPC and MPH have agreed not to bring outside horses onto the property for the near future.
5)-Making sure all our horses are appropriately vaccinated.
Horse Show Corner
What makes horse show bills so pricey? Here is a break down of the fees that each exhibitor pays per show. These are fees that every horse show charges.
- Entry Fee: These are the fees you pay to enter each class. The higher the prize money offered the higher the entry fee.
- Stall Fee: The fee you pay for the stalls you use during the show.
- Office Fee: Fee charged for secretarial services, such as accepting entries, issuing numbers, making changes to entries, etc.
- Medic/Ambulance Fee: Fee to help pay for medical personal on the property.
- USEF Drug & Medication Fee: (this is also called the USEF Fee and USHJA Fee). Fee to help finance random drug testing of horses at USEF competitions.
- Night Watch Fee: (at most shows but not all shows). Fee to pay for horse show personal to check on horses/ponies from approximately 10 pm to 4 am.
- Ringside Amenities Fee: (only at Great Southwest Equestrian Center). Fee for instant replay video at the ring.
Wishing you a safe and healthy holiday!
Patty
