U.S. Nationals — Saving the Best for Last!

A green and gold sign with a horse emblem is decorated with a large red floral arrangement and ribbon, surrounded by greenery and small white flowers, at night.
Row of wooden director-style chairs in front of a wooden counter, with horse-themed decor and "Trowbridge's Ltd." logo on the wall.
A gold-colored horse statue mounted on a wooden base with an engraved plaque, displayed against a dark background.

U.S. Nationals — Saving the Best for Last!

A rider in formal attire on a black horse adorned with red roses and ribbons, performing in an indoor arena before a seated audience.

Saving the best for last, The Trowbridge Team traveled again to Tulsa at the end of October, where nine horses competed against the best Arabians and Half Arabians in the country in a myriad of events, garnering eight top tens and a Unanimous National Championship to bring back to Connecticut.

Four riders in formal attire participate in a horseback riding competition inside an indoor arena with spectators in the stands.

Kathy D’Auria and her elegant Half Arab mare Kreme Dela Krewe returned to top their 2008 Reserve Championship in the HA Country Pleasure AOTR with a Unanimous National Championship win in the HA Country Pleasure 55 and over class this year, turning in a flawless ride to bring home the roses, and Lindsey and Kreme also won a top ten in the Half Arabian Open Country Pleasure the next evening. Congratulations to Ken, Kathy and Kreme for putting in such a flawless ride, and for their dedication to their horses and loyalty to us all over the years. Thanks, Ken and Kathy, and congrats!! No one deserves it more!

JP, Heather, and Megan Tracy’s Crosswind Farms were well represented at US this year, with the two farm bred mares CWF Jitterbug Jane and CWF Tango Tilly, bringing home top tens in the HA English Pleasure AAOTR with Jane and Heather, and a top ten in the Open HA Country Pleasure by Tilly and Mary.

A rider in formal attire presents a chestnut horse with ribbons at an indoor competition, as an audience watches from behind a white barrier.
An older woman with long blonde hair and a black leather jacket sits at a table, speaking with her hands clasped, against a dark green background with yellow designs.
A rider in formal attire competes on a high-stepping dark horse in an indoor arena, with spectators watching from the stands.

Ka Boom! lived up to his reputation for making the horse show exciting by winning a top ten in the HA English Pleasure AAOTR with Rosemary Fitzgerald, as well as a Top Ten in the Half Arabian English Pleasure with Mary. The four year old Triften son Tribbianni, owned by the Messina family of Greenwich, Ct., brought home the first National award for this new Arabian family in the Purebred English Pleasure Junior Horse class. Juke Box Hero and new owner Toni Dolby made their cuts in the competitive HA Country Pleasure AAOTR classes, and then Juke went on to garner a top ten in the HA Country Driving. And Marchesi, the three year old son of Marwan, brought the Conti family their first National award with a top ten win in the Purebred Gelding Futurity class.

Person in a black jacket and hat stands beside a horse draped in a green and yellow blanket inside an indoor arena with a sandy floor.
A person in formal attire drives a chestnut horse pulling a two-wheeled cart in an indoor arena during a horse show event.

Special thanks go to our great friend and veterinarian, Dr. Jeff Williams of Rhinebeck Equine for again traveling with the team to Tulsa to support the Trowbridge horses and riders in their year end competition. Jeff’s attention went a long way towards making Nationals a success for horses and riders alike, and we thank him heartily!

Thank You Dr. Jeff!!
(And kudos to photographer Mike Harrigan–to see more of his photos, go to www.jmhphoto.smugmug.com