At Dressage at Devon, September 24, Power Paint Gypsy Farm’s stallion EBV Airwalker placed 1st out of seven entrantsin the Gypsy Vanner USDF Prospects in Hand Class and 1st in the Gypsy Cob &Drum Horse Class out of four entrants with scores of 60% and 62%, respectively.Airwalker’s sons Leviathan and four-monthold Java Joe placed 4th and 2nd, respectively. Owner Mary Ann Riess was justifiably proud. “It was a great day for Power Paint Gypsy Farm!”

In its third year, the Heartland Feathered Classic was held September 25-27 in Danville, IN. Nine GHA member farms participated. Chinkapin Ranch’s Marsha Gulick fi elded Splash CR, who placed 2nd in the Gypsy & Drum In Hand Obstacle Course Class out of 18 entrants and 7th in Gypsy Broodmares 5 & Over out of eight entrants.

Golden Signature Farm showed Appaloosa stallion GSF Rosco, who placed 1st in Gypsy in Hand Best Traditional Movement out of 15 entrants and 1st in Open Trot in the Park out of two. GSF also fielded gelding SR Just Bucking Around, bred by Lucky Charm Ranch, who pinned in four classes, earning 2nds in two.

Lucky Star Stables’ Leslie Barnes showed Sterling Sylvia in four performance classes, earning two 2nds, a 3rd, and a 5th. New owner Laura Green showed gelding ‘Ol Blue Eyes, originally from Lucky Star, and pinned in several performance classes. ‘Ol Blue Eyes was also Reserve Champion Gelding of the show. Congratulations, Laura!

Run Gypsy Run’s two yearlings, Pres-Collins Ice Storm and Kimico Rock Ridge, both pinned in the Yearling Colt Class.

Shamrock Farms fielded gelding Billy O’Brien, Silverado, and Swanky Lashes, as usual winning a plethora of 1sts, 2nds, and 3rds in halter, riding, and driving. Silverado was Reserve Champion Gypsy Stallion and won the crowded Gypsy Bred by Owner
Class.

Silver Feather Gypsies was well represented by a fi lly of its breeding, SFG Summer Rose. Now owned by Stillwater Farm, Summer earned four 1sts, two 2nds, and two 3rds.

Westmoreland Farm Gypsy Horses’ Lucky, Troy, and Blue Girl pinned in their respective halter classes.

West River Gypsy Horse Farm showed three youngsters – Jezebel, Indigo’s Royal Callahan, and Redmond, broodmare Nessa, and stallion Ruari. All told, West River earned 11 ribbons. Notable was Redmond’s 1st in Gypsy Colts of 2009 out of fi ve entrants and Jezebel’s 2nd in Gypsy Bred by Owner out of 11. Callahan earned a 5th in the crowded Best Traditional Movement Class and 4th in Gypsy Colts 2 & 3 Years out of six entrants.

The HFC is to be commended for providing a number of youth and novice classes. Seventeen-year-old Karlie Rudbeck showed Heaven Sent Farm & Stables’ blue and white mare Blootiful. All told, the pair racked up nine placings out of 10 entries. Katie Sharp of Superior Stables showed VV Violetta and placed in 12 out of 15 total entries, six of which were 1sts, 2nds, and 3rds. Superior also fi elded gelding Moony, who placed 6th in Gypsy Geldings 3 & Over and 5th in Amateur Walk/Trot Western Pleasure out of nine entrants.

In other youth news, twelve-year-old Jesse Young, son of J-Lo Haven Farms’ Karen Brown, showed BellaDonna Lilly, bred by BellaDonna Gypsy Farm, in the WNC Open Horse Show Circuit (Asheville, NC, October 3). In this, his fi rst show, Jesse placed 4th. Lilly is only sixteen months old. Karen showed Chakotay, also sixteen months old, who placed 2nd.

Freshman Chloe Kott and talented gelding Pour L’Amour de Garcon (“Boy”) represented Santa Margarita Catholic High School in an Orange County Interscholastic Equestrian League (OCIEL) competition held October 3-4. Competing against 21 other riders, she placed 4th in Equitation over Fences (2’6”) and 12th in Equitation and in Pleasure. Mother Lori Kott states, “We are quite proud of our Gypsy, especially since this is his (and our daughter’s) fi rst season competing in rated shows and first season jumping a full course.” Lori feels she must frequently defend the Gypsy’s abilities. Once Chloe and Boy, still in his English saddle, were giving cow sorting a try. A man watching them loudly protested, “A Gypsy as a cutter? Please.” He was apparently surprised when Boy went after the cows. She adds, “For her to attend a show with a sea of classic hunter/jumper horses and walk away with ribbons her fi rst season only proved that I was right all along, and that this breed is more than just a pretty face.”

The Gypsy Horse Association wishes everyone a Happy Holiday and a prosperous New Year!