The News at Meucci Appaloosa Horse RanchWritten by Ruth Meucci
We’re back from 2005 nationals, held in Oklahoma City. We were competing, as usual, in only Open Halter Events. Our entries on July 7th and 8th were weanling colts, weanling fillies, yearling mares, and two-year-old mares. We were victorious garnering four top tens in large classes. These classes represented culmination of best breeding programs built on best efforts of horsemen and women since this breed’s conception. These horses proudly carry genetics and baton of inspiration for future as a breed.Not everyone rehearses their losses. Embarrassingly, it was note-worthy. Our overconfident insanity caused us to be crucified in two-year-old mares. We had gall to enter a tall, girthy mare with a nice head, but no muscle or kneck! (We left grand champions and mares like Awe Shauntae home for this class.) They slapped fire out of us, with a lot of very good mares. Unfortunately, Monte Horn bore brunt of it -- to chagrin of many -- because of his enviable prestige and position in other breeds. For those who sneer, “It’s all politics in open halter classes at big shows,” this class proved that you had better have a good one, and they had better be fit at their peek. This was Monte Horn and his pretty wife Anna’s debut at our Appaloosa “Nationals.” Both he and his wife are multi-generational horsemen. Monte has shown many paints, palaminos, and quarter-horses to their championships at various breed congresses and worlds. He stands Ice Age (the Chronicles December cover), among many others at Heck Yeah Ranch here in Mississippi. He is also fitting Mega Fella who is favorite Palamino open two-year-old Stallion that he will be presenting this week. (P313-320 July/Aug Chronicles) We chose, as our only “out cross” risk this year, “Dominant Image.” He is a bargain at Heck Yeah. He’s an AQHA stud that looks like he’s worth a lot more than $700,000 he was reportedly sold for. We bred Awe Lure, our snowcap producer of Phenomenique to him. In a large, tough class of approximately fourteen, winning Open National Champion weanling colt was a huge chestnut with white hairs. He was about four to six inches taller than any colt in class. Both of our Awe Striker colts tied for reserve national champion. They both were out of three and four-year-old maiden mares. The “call” judge chose Awe Tonamus. He’s a longnecked, pretty-headed deep chestnut colt with a large blanket. He was presented by Tim Finkenbinder, who made his debut in Appaloosa breed in 2003. At world, we arranged for him to lead our “Dynamic Kid To A Te” to his first world championship in two-year-old Open Stallion Class, as well as lead our Phenomenique to Reserve World Champion in yearling open mares. At this 2005 nationals, it was three-year-old Phenomenique’s (first foal… out of a first foal), whose gorgeous, bay colt it was that tied for reserve national open weanling champion. This double bred Awe Striker “Awe Phen Awe Sum” was presented by Monte Horn for a third-place to be proud of.
| | Boston Red Sox - The best of the bestWritten by Eric Madsen
Boston is having another very good year. Even though they fell to second place when they lost to Tampa Bay Devil Rays 3-1 victory and sent Boston to its sixth loss in seven games. When New York beat Texas later Monday night, Yankees moved into first and Red Sox fell into a second-place tie with Baltimore, one-half game back.In my opinion Boston Red sox will recover and will win World Series. This is just my opinion and I know New Your fans will mumble under their breath when they read this article.
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