U.S. Nationals Review ~ by Jaime Stachler
Hennessey Arabians had another great year at the U.S. Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma: they enjoyed exciting times with friends of the industry, while adorning another 4 Nationals Top Ten honors for the Hennessey Arabian program.
The week started with a National Top Ten Yearling Filly award for H Embrace H, this filly, bred by the Hennessey operation, was the first national winner both bred and foaled at their farm in Ocala, Florida. Her honor came in beautiful division of Arabian Yearling Fillies, a class that was one of the most competitive of the show. Thank you to Ricardo Rivero for her beautiful presentation.
From that great win, Hennessey’s moved on to also win National Top Ten honors with Hunter Pleasure Futurity mare, Medea o. This three-year-old, owned in partnership with oOne, LLC and trained and ridden by Peri Tilghman, who did a masterful job in her arena of youngsters. Similarly, Miz Vougue, the Hennessey’s Country Pleasure Jr. Horse had a beautiful class in her division with Mary Trowbridge, and found herself in the winners circle with an additional top ten. She was this year’s Region 14 Champion and now has National honors to her merit. Both of these young mares will be exciting to watch as well as important to the Hennessey breeding program.
H Mobility H rounded out the week and the wins in the Purebred English Pleasure Jr. Horse Class: one of the most exciting divisions in the arena. This Top Ten honor will be added to Mobility’s Reserve National Championship earned two years ago in the English Futurity Division.
In addition to achieving their goals in the ring this year, the Hennessey’s were also touched and honored to take part and contribute to those activities that bring the Arabian community together as a whole. This year, the Arabian Horseman’s Distress Fund truly captured the attention of everyone at the show, and particularly the attention of Frank Hennessey. He attended the annual AHDF Wine Walk to witness the show community coming together to enjoy each other and raise over $12,000 dollars for this outstanding cause. After being touched by this experience, and the additional fund-raising events, Frank Hennessey himself made a generous contribution to this effort that protects and supports the Arabian community that he loves.
Not only did the Hennessey program enjoy great reward in the competition in Tulsa, but also in the overall experience of the Arabian community this year. The hard work and hope accomplished by the Horseman’s Distress Fund, brought breeders, trainers, and exhibitors closer together to support each other and the Arabian Horse ~ one of the missions of Hennessey Arabian, LLC as a whole. In the show ring, the Hennessey mission was accomplished as well – skilled breeding, dedicated training and preparation that proved an ultimate reward. A sincere thank you is extended to the trainers that dedicated themselves to the process ~ thank you Guzzo/Rivero Worldwide, Kiesner Training, Trowbridges’ Ltd. and Wilson Training Center for your continued hard work and great hospitality at the show! We are already looking forward to next year!