Afrodita M Suay
2007 IALHA NATIONAL RESERVE CHAMPION VINTAGE RIDER ridden by Nancy Latta
2007 IALHA IRA AND ANDY DACK PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR ENGLISH HORSE OF THE YEAR-4TH YEAR IN A ROW.
6-TOP FIVES 2007 IALHA NATIONAL SHOW ridden by Amanda Latta-Shields
Kripton-Seni II
2007 IALHA NATIONAL GRAND RESERVE CHAMPION SENIOR STALLION HANDLED BY VAUGHAN SMITH AND TRAINED BY SANDY SHIELDS
(4 TIMES PRESENTED AT IALHA NATIONAL HALTER INCLUDING JUNIOR AND SENIOR STALLION HALTER-STALLIONS ALL AGES/AMATEUR TO HANDLE AND WON EACH TIME CHAMPION OR RESERVE-CONSISTENT HALTER CHAMPION
2007 IALHA NATIONAL CHAMPION DRESSAGE SUITABILITY-AMATEUR ridden by Amanda Latta-Shields
2007 IALHA NATIONAL CHAMPION HUNT SEAT PLEASURE-AMATEUR ridden by Amanda Latta-Shields
2007 IALHA NATIONAL CHAMPION WESTERN PLEASURE-AMATEUR ridden by Amanda Latta-Shields
2007 IALHA NATIONAL RESERVE CHAMPION WESTERN PLEASURE-OPEN ridden by Sandy Shields
2007 IALHA MAL & BARBARA CURRIE PERPETUAL TROPHY WESTERN HORSE OF THE YEAR
Fabuloso XLI
2007 IALHA NATIONAL TOP FIVE IN COUNTY PLEASURE-AMATEUR ridden by Amanda Latta-Shields
Orgulloso XLIX
2007 IALHA NATIONAL CHAMPION FORMAL SADDLE SEAT-OPEN ridden by Amanda Latta-Shields
2007 IALHA GARETH SELWOOD PERPETUAL TROPHY FORMAL SADDLE SEAT HORSE OF THE YEAR
By Nancy Latta
I am a firm believer that certain people and animals come into our lives for very special reasons when we least expect it, and I am still in awe that we have been blessed to have such a magnificent animal a part of our family. We treasure him as a work of art in progress. Joe enjoys watching his Kripton in the show ring and has enjoyed watching this young horse mature into a superb Halter horse and an excellent example of an Andalusian with pure Spanish heritage and bloodlines.
Sandy Shields, our trainer extraordinaire of 17 years brought four of our horses to the 2007 Nationals ready to compete. The most important aspect of showing and our primary goal is with each ride there is improvement for the horse and rider individually and that the horse and rider continue to become a cohesive working team in whichever discipline is being ridden. We allow our horse to compete in more than one disciple at a show. Over the years we have learned to carefully watch and listen to our horses and what it is that they desire to do in the show ring. Yes, the horses do let us know which discipline they want to do each year and sometimes it even changes from show to show. Our 22time National Champion Andalusian Stallion, Mayoral LA, started that for us back in 1994. We have learned that the horses are so much happier and willing participants in the training and showing process when they are allowed the luxury to decide which discipline they will be competing in. The intuitive relationships that we have built with our horses have enabled us to successfully show year after year without the threat of tiring our horses out, or making them sour to the show ring.
I (Nancy) consider the 2007 IALHA Nationals a very successful end to the show season for Amandalusian Farm in many areas. The one aspect I will remember about 2007, is looking back over the 11 years we have attended Nationals, is the consistent quality of rides and presentations each of our horses gave us each time they were in the arena. We did not always agree with the Judges placements but that is OK. If the ribbons come that is icing on the cake. The important aspect to us is that the horse and rider continue to improve with each ride, and we were all were thrilled with the clean and quality performances of all 17classes that Kripton-Seni II, Orgulloso XLIX, Fabuloso XLI and Afrodita M Suay participated in. Collectively they accumulated 4 National Championships, 3 Reserve Championships and 14 Top 5's along with 3 High Point Year End Awards that were presented at Nationals.
I (Nancy) usually prefer to help get the horses ready and love to watch Amanda and Sandy ride but this year I decided to ride Afrodita in the Vintage Class (45 yrs and over) and was ecstatic to receive National Reserve Championship. The highlight for me was to ride Afrodita in the Hunt Seat Pleasure- Amateur class along with Amanda who was riding Kripton and Sandy's 14 yr old daughter & Amanda’s neice, Jessie Shields, riding her horse Centello. Amanda and Kripton won the class but we were waving and cheering each other on as the placing of the class was announced.
Another highlight for us was the evening of the Western Pleasure Amateur class. Amanda was aboard Kripton, and Jessie was aboard Centello. While they enjoyed the opportunity of competing together in the same class, they were ecstatic to come in Champion and Reserve, as Aunt and Neice. Jessie also continued to have a successful show, winning the Western Pleasure Youth and placing Reserve in the Hunt Seat Pleasure Youth.
After a long competition season here in California, a large group of us travel together to Ft. Worth for Nationals. California (50+ horses). The trip to and from Ft. Worth is always an adventure and many funny stories to recount over the years. One of the reasons I (Nancy) enjoy IALHA Nationals is for the comradery and the friendships that are formed over the years. For us, it is a great time to meet new friends and visit with old friends. As usual, if anyone had a problem or needed help, someone was there to help. The California horses all did very well and the awards were spread out among many of them.
Making plans for next year!