Morgan Dressage Association AMHA Convention

AMHA Convention

The Morgan Dressage Association participated in the new millennium AMHA Convention in a big way -- sponsoring a pair of well-known, elite Morgan dressage riders to lead dressage-oriented workshop sessions, creating and showing a video of Morgan Dressage Horses from around the United States, holding informal get-togethers for convention-goers interested in dressage andcreating a full color booklet on Morgans in dressage specifically for the convention.

Obviously the highlight for many of us were workshops on Friday and Saturday led by two extraordinarily successful dressage riders.

The speakers were:

Big Bend Doc Davis

Mona Sansoucy Gaudet is best known for riding and training her late black chestnut Morgan stallion, Big Bend Doc Davis, to many dressage championships through Grand Prix. During their life-long partnership, the pair won USDF All-Breeds and AMHA Open Competition Championships from 2nd level through Intermediare. They also earned the AMHA Bronze, Silver and Gold Medallions in addition to several Grand Prix Musical Freestyle Championships at large New England competitions. Davey's retirement ceremony at the New England Morgan Horse Show is still talked about today. (See the story on this web site or in the Fall 1999 Morgan Dressage Association newsletter ) Black Tie

Cathy Echternach has successfully trained dressage horses of all breeds in the Mid-Atlantic region for 18 years. Her current FEI partner is a 13 year-old Morgan gelding, Whippoorwill Ebony, aka Black Tie, who is the most successful Morgan currently competing in the sport. Cathy purchased Ebony as an 8 year-old green broke prospect and began his very successful career in dressage just five years ago. The pair have successfully competed and won against all breeds throughout the Mid-Atlantic and the Florida circuit, capturing the USDF All-Breeds Championship at Intermediare I in 1997 and 1998, and making a successful debut at Grand Prix this summer. They ended the 1999 competition year ranked 21st in the United States against all horses competing at Intermediare II. Cathy and her Morgan have been featured in a number of national publications, including "Dressage Today." In addition, they performed a musical freestyle demonstration for two nights at the Mid-Atlantic Morgan Horse Regional Championships this summer to thunderous applause.

Read a report on their workshops.

This MDA convention effort was made possible by a wonderful group of sponsors, who supported MDA's efforts to bring Dressage to the forefront at the convention. Thank you sponors!

The sponsors included:

Kennebec Morgans, Margaret Gardiner, Woolwich, Maine
Caduceus Morgans, The Hughes/Putnam family
Little Brook Farm, Polly Smith, Brownsville, VT
Laughter Morgans, Suzanne & Tony Bullard, Finksburg, MD
Dr. & Mrs. John Echternach, Norfolk, VA
Dream Morgans, Terry Johnson, Chehalis, WA
Melissa Dowling, Monkton, MD
Raynyday Morgans, Jackie Smith, Dayton, OH
Joy Platz, Ottsville, PA
High Harpeth Farm, Beth Sheller, Franklin, TN
Blue and White Morgans, Joanna Kelly, Jarrettsville, MD
Gray-Barron Ranch, Wendy Gray Bizzarro, Park City, UT
Vintage Morgans, Nora Boman, Klamath Falls, OR
Spring Hollow Morgans, The Skillington family, Hopewell, PA
Helden Glen Morgans, The Dietrich family, Lovettsville, VA
Sport Morgan Group, www.eqwi.com/SportMorgan
Custom Creations/Statesman Farm, Lynne Shpak, Woodstock, MD
Susan Marsh, Eureka, CA
Nancy Reilly Louisville, CO
Nancy Warren Willow Spring, NC
Rita Adams Dry Ridge, KY
Dr. Amy Joseph-Jones Lynchburg, VA
Lyn Alban, Harlyn Acres Aurora, IL
Mary Jean Vasiloff, McCulloch Farm Whippoorwill Morgans Old Lyme, CT
Morgan Sport Horse Association, Jennifer DuBois, Peterborough, NH
Susan Martin, Martin Training Stable Myersville, MD
Sherry Cole, Triple Creek Farms, Sheridan, IN

By helping to sponsor the MDA convention project, these sponsors were eligible to win a 14K gold dressage horse pin created and donated by Lynne Shpak. The winner, whose name was drawn by Mona Gaudet following the Saturday afternoon session, was Rita Adams of Kentucky. Congratulations Rita!