From carriage driving to reining, saddle seat equitation to western dressage, few single-breed horse shows rival the Morgan Grand National and World Championship Horse Show for diversity. The distinctly American breed is valued for its versatility, and that trait is evident in the horses competing at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds through Saturday, Oct. 19.
The Performance Arena and Coliseum both hold a variety of classes, including western, saddle seat and hunter pleasure and equitation classes, park, pleasure driving and in-hand. The show’s evening sessions are held in the Coliseum where spectators can enjoy some of the most hotly contested Morgan show classes of the year.
All three arenas are being recorded and broadcast live online by Richfield Video Productions. To watch the show, visit MGNLive.com.
For equestrians and fans who are able to attend the show in person, admission to all sessions in all arenas is free for spectators. Special events for exhibitors and their families include a kids’ stick horse contest, the Grand National Dog Show, a lip sync contest, and an ongoing scavenger hunt. Riders age 1 and under will compete for the title of National Youth of the Year, a contest that rewards well-rounded young equestrians by testing their skills and knowledge in a judging contest, a prepared speech, a written test and a ridden or driven horsemanship pattern. Youth of the Year competitors at the Grand National qualify by winning at a state or regional youth contest held at various Morgan shows throughout the year.
Find out more about the show at MorganGrandNational.com and watch live online at MGNLive.com.
cool
cool
Love this breed.
In these shows, they don’t use soaring…do they? High stepping is not a natural gate for Morgans.
Pat, soaring has never been a practice used for the Morgans. You can’t soar a trotting breed because the horses would appear obviously lame in that gait. Soaring isn’t tolerated, but unfortunately has been caught in very few gaited breeds over the years. The Morgan community is very very small and close-knit, so abuse of these animals would be noticed right away and anyone doing it would be most likely forced out of the breed. It just wouldn’t be tolerated and their name as a trainer wouldn’t last. The high-stepping gait seen by the Morgan is determined by breeding, conformation, and athleticism. Morgans are a very special breed, being that there is a lot of diversity! We have horses that are under 14hh to over 16hh– some will carry themselves in a sporty manner with lower neck sets, or some that naturally arc at a steep angle, much similar to the American Saddlebred. As you watch the new generation of the foals being born in the AMHA registry, it is apparent that some look like natural-born joggers or sport horses, while others trot around proudly, with their knees almost touching to their chest. The best thing to do is allow the horse to do what he/she naturally excels at! It’s a wonderful breed, and from personal experience working them, I know that these horses would NOT perform being subject to abuse. They are truly a free and fun spirit!
Nice article