We’re back from the 2005 Nationals, held in Oklahoma City. We were competing, as usual, only in open halter events. Our entries on July 7 and 8 were weanling colts, weanling fillies, yearling mares and two yearling mares. We came out victorious getting four top ten in big classes. These classes represented the culmination of the best breeding programs built on the best efforts of jockeys and jockeys since the conception of this breed. These horses proudly carry the genetics and the inspirational baton for the future as a breed.
Not everyone rehearses their losses. Shamefully, he was noteworthy. Our trusting madness caused us to be crucified on the two-year-old mares. We had the nerve to enter a tall, burly mare with a nice head, but no muscles or neck! (We leave great champions and national champion mares like Awe Shauntae shown by Terry Sartain at home for this class). They took the fire out of us, with many very good mares. Unfortunately, Monte Horn got the worst of it, much to the chagrin of many, due to his enviable prestige and position in other races. For those who scoff, “It’s all politics in open halter classes at big shows,” this class proved that you better have a good one, and you better be in shape at the time.
This was Monte Horn and his beautiful wife Anna’s debut at our Appaloosa “Nationals.” Both he and his wife are multi-generational riders. Monte has shown many paints, palaminos and quarter horses to his championships in several race congresses and world championships. He highlights Ice Age (December Chronicles cover), among many others at Heck Yeah Ranch here in Mississippi. He is also fitting Mega Fella, who is Palamino’s favorite open two-year-old stallion that he will introduce this week. (P313-320 Chronicles of July/August) We chose, as our only “out cross” risk this year, “Dominant Image”. He’s a bargain at Heck Yeah. He is an AQHA stud who appears to be worth much more than the $700,000 he was supposedly sold for. We bred Awe Lure, our Phenomenique producer in the snow cap.
In a big, tough class of roughly fourteen years old, the winning National Open Champion weanling colt was a huge chestnut with white hair. He was four to six inches taller than any other colt in the class. Our two Awe Striker colts tied for the reserve national champion. Both came from single mares of three and four years. Judge’s thing from “call” Awe Tonamus. He is a dark chestnut colt with a long neck and a handsome head with a large blanket. He was introduced by Tim Finkenbinder, who made his Appaloosa breed debut in 2003. At worlds, we arranged for him to take our “Dynamic Kid To A Te” to his first world championship Open Stallion two-year-old. Class, as well as taking our Awe Sum Maid to the World Champion Reserve in open weaning ponds. At these 2005 nationals, it was three-year-old Phenomenique’s (first foal…of a first foal) whose magnificent chestnut colt tied for reserve open weanling national champion. This dual bred Awe Striker “Awe Phen Awe Sum” was submitted by Monte Horn for a third place to be proud of.
Open weenling filly “Awe Foxy Deelite” and yearling open filly “Maid Awe Sum” (full sister to Awe Sum Maid World Open Reserve and National Reserve Open Weanling Champion introduced by our old friend and quintessential trainer Terry Sartain ) were also among the top ten open national winners. The classes were roughly huge and tough, with upwards of fifteen to twenty-five horses competing. Many thanks to Tim and Monte for their excellent presentation, and also to Anna for all of her great preparation work.
All this moving, displaying, building barns and houses, tearing down forests into pastures while trying to build pool cues has taken its toll on poor Bob. He also hits all the shots and calls all the shots here at the ranch! We fit in only with the help of the ranch, and we did well with horses like Awe Sum Maid and Dom Orlandi’s colt we called Mr All Inclusive. He was last year’s unanimous open weanling world champion, both of these excellent animals shown by Terry Sartain.
Moving to a new location is wonderful. We are conveniently located just two and a quarter miles south of Exit 18 of Highway 78 at 1594 Victoria Rd. (Nice Beltway). We are just south of Memphis, in Byhalia, Mississippi. Perhaps we can help some of you achieve a greater “victory” in the show ring or in your breeding program, with a Meucci Ranch mare or gelding. Come see some of our past winners and their pregnant moms in the pasture. Eleven are bred to Dynamic Kid To a Te and several other top stallions including Awe Striker. There will be thirty-one foals next year. We have sixty-five heads, including five foals for you to choose from. This is the best time to pick some. We are on a shorter surface, just asleep. That’s why we’re lowering prices.
A tidbit for some of you to think about: How we halter breeders like the new non-halter “halter classes” like “Hunter in Hand” and other non-leading halter stallion events…! I’d also like to share some nutritional secrets that your vet probably doesn’t even know, because they’re cutting edge!
That is all for now!
If you’re interested in seeing Bob’s handiwork in high-resolution images, head over to: Meucci Cues Pictures and meuccicues.com.
Or see some of Meucci Ranch’s beautiful horses: the Meucci Appaloosas.