NODA Members Shine at Arabian Sport Horse Nationals by Wendy Gruskiewicz
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he 2015 edition of the Arabian Sport Horse National Championship in Raleigh, NC was the destination for five NODA members and their champion Arabian and Half-Arabian horses September 15 -20, 2015. Making the trip were NODA members Charma Fargo with SRC Gabriella+, Wendy Gruskiewicz with Riften+++//, Jessica Meredith Litt with Dance Fevor++//, Karen Potts with WWA Colino+/, Kathleen Allen’s purebred gelding Solvarian+ and DB Sporthorses trainer Danielle Blymier-Hebler. The Arabian Sport Horse Nationals, under the direction of the Arabian Horse Association, is a unique concept among horse breeds. Only the Arabians host a stand- alone NODA Arabian riders from left: national Charma Fargo, Wendy Gruskiewicz, Jessica Litt and Danielle Hebler. championship sport horse competition. The competition was created thirteen years ago to highlight the athleticism and versatility of the Arabian Horse. Classes are offered for registered Arabians and Half-Arabians in Dressage training level through Grand Prix, Western Dressage, Sport Horse InHand shown on the triangle, Sport Horse Under Saddle, Show Hack, Carriage Driving and a full complement of Hunter Over Fences and Jumper classes, all having both amateur and open divisions. Most classes require qualifying scores to attend. The dressage portion of the show ran three Charma Fargo, National Top Ten rings for six days with with SRC Gabriella+ six judges scoring more than 600 rides. Officiating were USEF judges Natalie Lamping, Marilyn Heath, Carol Bishop, Angela NODA News 2015 page 15
Littlefield, Debbie Riehl-Rodriguez and Deborah Spence. Jessica Litt rode her purebred Arabian gelding Dance Fevor++// to a National Championship, two Reserve National Championships, and two additional Top Tens at first and second levels. WWA Colino+/, owned by Karen Potts and trained and ridden by Danielle Blymier Hebler earned a Top Ten at Second Level and finished just out of the ribbons with a very good score at Third Level. Jessica Litt
Solvarian+, owned by and Dance Fevor++// Kathleen Allen and trained and ridden by Danielle also earned a Top Ten at Second Level and an additional Top Ten at First Level. SRC Gabriella+, a half-Arabian mare owned and shown by Charma Fargo, earned Top Tens in two First Level classes. The majority of the dressage classes had 30-45 entries. Not to be outdone, Wendy Gruskiewicz rode Solvarian+ to a third place award in Western Dressage Basic and a fourth place finish in Western Dressage First Level with the inaugural classes boasting 22 and 19 entries respectively. Over in the coliseum Riften+++//, owned by Wendy Gruskiewicz, showcased the versatility of the Half- Riften+++// with owner Wendy Gruskiewicz, rider Danielle Hebler Arabian horse as the 16.2 hand gelding won a National Championship in Carriage Drive and Ride with Sarah Vas, whip, and Danielle Hebler in the irons. The charismatic bay giant won another National Championship trophy on the lead with Jessica Litt in the In-Hand Amateur to Handle. He also earned Top Tens in Carriage Turnout, Carriage Working and Top Ten in-hand open out of 30 entries. Riften+++// also rocked the dressage ring with 11th and 13th place finishes at Training and First with Danielle.