Miller Equestrian Services / Valle Vista Farms

The month of July was a blur with the Miller Show Team competing in two regional horse shows as well as several weeks of summer horse camp....but we survived and have made some memories of a lifetime.

SANTA BARBARA NATIONAL MULTI BREED HORSE SHOW

We started the month off up the coast in gorgeous Santa Barbara at the historic Earl Warren Fairgrounds for the Santa Barbara National Multi Breed Horse Show. This was the 102nd anniversary of this event which ran from July 6th through 9th with classes highlighting American Saddlebred, Andalusian, Fresian, Morgan, Rocky Mountain, Tennessee Walking Horses, Hackney, Mountain & Moorland & Welsh Ponies.

The Miller Show team was small but mighty bringing only 11 horses, eight riders and entering 43 classes. These mighty mights brought home 10 Grand Championship tricolors as well as 18 Championship blue ribbons.

Individual highlights below:

TAMARA MORAVEC

and MORENGO SS, MUY BIEN & OLD SCHOOL GROOVE

With back-to-back wins, Morengo SS & Tamara Moravec bested the Morgan Classic Pleasure Saddle qualifier and championship. This amazing gelding, with Tamara Moravec whip, were also seen taking a victory lap in the Morgan Classic Pleasure Driving division. Muy Bien with Fidelis Farms/Tamara Moravec took a victory lap with the tricolors in the Morgan English Pleasure Open Championship. Old School Groove ran the table in the Morgan Park Saddle division with back-to-back wins in the Morgan Park Saddle Jr./Amateur qualifier and championship. This team also were steller in the Morgan Park Saddle Open division.

AUDREY THORNTON

and HARLINGTON'S INDEPENDENCE

Audrey and Harlington’s Independence brought home two Grand Championship tricolor ribbons in the Morgan Hunt Seat Equitation and Morgan Hunter Pleasure Jr./Amateur divisions, as well as the qualifiers. They were also seen taking a victory lap in the Morgan Hunter Pleasure Open. Indy is owned by Michelle Moranville-Stevens.

Keara Holland 

and CLAYHILL AFFIRMATIVE GCH

In their first show together, Keara Holland and Clayhill Affirmative GCH swept the Saddle Seat Equitation division with back-to-back wins in both the qualifier and championship. They continued their winning ways with a victory lap in the AMHA Saddle Seat Medal division. These two will surely be a force to be reckoned with at the Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show in October. Mouse is owned by Ann Blankenship.

Jordan Canby

and ULTRA'S LOVE POTION & CALLAWAY'S NAUGHT AND NICE

Jordan Canby was seen in both the English Pleasure and Three-Gaited divisions. Ultra’s Love Potion was undefeated at Santa Barbara with back-to-back wins in the Morgan English Pleasure Jr./Amateur qualifier and championship. Jordan also rode Lovey to the blue in the UPHA Challenge Cup riders 17&Under. Callaway’s Naughty and Nice took a victory lap in the ASB Three Gaited Jr/Amateur Championship. Naughty is owned by Ann Blankenship.

Leah

and ROBERT MONDAVI

Leah was crowned the winner of the Morgan Walk/Trot Equitation 11&Under qualifier and championship with Robert Mondavi at the Santa Barbara National Multi-Breed Horse Show.

Cierra Holtz

and FIRST AND ONLY, FEELIN BUBBLEY & MUY BIEN

Kicking off Santa Barbara National Multi-Breed Horse Show in style was First and Only taking the blue in the English Pleasure Saddle Seat Open. Lola is owned by Fidelis Farms/Tamara Moravec. Cierra was Feelin Bubbley with a spectacular winning drive in the Morgan Pleasure Driving Junior Horse. Bubbles is owned by Cierra and her fiancée Dillon Shea.

Muy Bien earned the first place finish in the Morgan English Pleasure Open qualifier with Cierra in the saddle for owner Fidelis Farms/Tamara Moravec.

Frank Miller

and CASH & ULTRA'S LOVE POTION

Cash and Frank Miller racked their way to the winner’s circle in the ASB Five Gaited Limit / Junior Championship. Frank was also spotted on whip with a spectacular winning drive with Ultra's Love Potion in the Morgan Pleasure Driving division. Lovey is owned by Jordan Canby.

OTHER CANDIDS

MORGAN MEDALLION CLASSIC HORSE SHOW

VIVA LAS VEGAS!  The Miller Show team was in Las Vegas last month at the Morgan Medallion Classic Charity Horse Show. As typical, the Miller Team went BIG with 27 horses, 21 riders/drivers in 106 classes and a whole lot of Vegas fun.

The classes were big and competition stiff, but the Miller team was up for the challenge. The show kicked off Thursday evening, July 21st, and while we didn’t have an Elvis sighting, we did see many top performances including the Miller Show team with five (5) Grand Championship tricolor, 10 Reserve Grand Championships and eight (8) Champion blue ribbons.

Some individual highlights are below:

KAITLYN JACKSON

and BEARS BOOGIEBEAR

Katie and her gorgeous gelding, Bears Boogiebear, came to Vegas to win, and win they did! Two Grand Championships were had in the Morgan Hunter Pleasure Jr. / Amateur as well as the Morgan Hunter Pleasure Ladies. This team also saw blue in the Morgan Hunter Pleasure Open division. 

TAMARA MORAVEC

and FIRST & ONLY, OLD SCHOOL GROOVE and MUY BIEN

First and Only and Tamara Moravec brought home the Reserve Grand Championship tricolor in English Pleasure Driving. She was also spotted in the saddle and driving Old School Groove and brought home the Reserve Grand Champion tricolor in the Morgan Park Saddle Amateur as well as the blue ribbon in her only driving appearance in the Morgan Park Harness Amateur Any Age. Tamara is also picking up a new division and took the Championship tricolor in Saddle Seat Adult Equitation on Muy Bien.

PAIGE TOROK

and DRAGONSMEADE FIRST NIGHT

Paige Torok took home the blue ribbon in Showmanship 17&Under with Dragonsmeade First Night. Jubilee is owned by Allie Schlosser.

FRANK MILLER

and PICK YOUR POISON, PARTY NIGHT AND PRIVATE EYES

Frank Miller was seen showing In Hand as well as in the Pleasure Driving division with much success in both. Pick Your Poison saw victory with a Grand Championship tricolor in the Morgan in Hand Stallions and Morgan In Hand Stallions, 3&Over/Senior classes. This team also were the Reserve Grand Champions in Morgan In Hand. Private Eyes, owned by Ann Blankenship, took a Reserve Grand Champion victory lap with Frank on whip in the Morgan Pleasure Driving. They also were the Reserve Grand Champion Morgan In Hand Mare. And if that wasn't enough, Frank was seen driving Party Night to the Championship in the Morgan Pleasure Driving Limit Horse division. Party Night is owned by Linda Sheridan.

LEAH

and ROBERT MONDAVI

Leah brought home the Reserve Grand Champion tricolor in Walk/Trot Saddle Seat Pleasure 12&Under on Robert Mondavi in a deep class of five

BROOKE YULE-GRONAU

and BRUNO MARS

Brooke Yule-Gronau rode Bruno Mars to the Championship in Morgan English Pleasure Limit Horse. Bruno is owned by Laura Lindsay.

ANN BLANKENSHIP

and CLAYHILL AFFIRMATIVE GCH

Ann drove the hair off Clayhill Affirmative GCH to bring home the Reserve Grand Champion Morgan Classic Pleasure Driving Open tricolor ribbon

LINDSAY HELIKER

and RUSTIC V’S BOTTOM LINE

Lindsay Heliker was spotted in both pleasure and equitation classes in both saddle seat and hunt seat. Lindsay and Rustic V’s Bottom Line brought home the medal and the blue ribbon in the AMHA Saddle Seat Medal class.

PRO AM TEAMS

PAIGE TOROK & BETSY KRUTEK with Dragonsmeade First Night

JORDAN CANBY & BROOKE YULE-GRONAU with Ultra’s Love Potion

ALLIE SCHLOSSER & CIERRA HOLTZ with Unconventional

The ProAm was as exciting as ever and the Miller team had three formitable teams competing for charity.

AMHA YOUTH OF THE YEAR

Clara Wosser, Paige Torok and Leah

Morgan horses have long been defined by their ability to suit people with varying interests. Similarly, AMHA believes that Morgan youths should also be versatile.

The AMHA Youth of the Year contest is designed to recognize top achievers and includes four graded sections - a written exam, an oral presentation, a judging contest and a horsemanship pattern. Each section of the contest is worth approximately 250 points. The Senior Division Youth (14-17 YO) who wins ,OR scores over 800 points total, qualifies to compete for AMHA Youth of the Year at the Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show in Oklahoma City in October. The Miller Show team had three YOTY contestants this show, Clara Wosser, Senior Division Reserve Champion, Paige Torok, Junior Division Champion and Leah. Great job ladies!

To date, we haven't had anyone qualify to participate in the AMHA Youth of the Year contest in OKC, but there is one more AMHA Youth of the Year contest prior to OKC which is happening virtually this month. Good luck to the Miller Show team contestants!

And more horse show candids...

HOT SUMMER NIGHTS HORSE SHOW

Sunday, August 7th at 3:30 p.m.

Valle Vista Farm, Escondido

SCHC LABOR DAY CLASSIC HORSE SHOW

September 9-11th

Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park

30753 Avenida La Pata, San Juan Capistrano

GRAND NATIONAL & WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MORGAN HORSE SHOW

October 8-15, 2022

State Fair Park

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

DO YOU HAVE GREAT PHOTOS & VIDEO FROM THE LAST SHOW? 

UPCOMING BARN BIRTHDAYS