The NAN 2013 Wrap Up

NAN Harrisburg is officially in the record books. And what an amazingly well run show this was. This was my best ever NAN experience as an entrant. I found the show very well paced--I never felt rushed, and I only rarely felt things were dragging without explanation. I did not miss a single class, despite over scheduling myself on Friday with performance (I had 4 horses in CM/AR English Trail. AAAAHHHHHHH!) The staff was professional, and things ran smoothly.

I thought that NAN 2010, when Eleanor Harvey and I ran it, was the best NAN ever-best organized, most fun, whatever. No longer true. We are second, and very solidly beaten. Not a photo finish at all. Chair Niki Hertzog and registrar Jim West were super organized and super professional. I thank you all for your hard work. You've set the bar high for 2013.

I also want to thank my husband David, who agreed to come along and help for the weekend. I am sure that by Friday night he was over hearing grown women talk about little plastic horses and the politics thereof, but he really did not let on. I am so very grateful he gave up his weekend to something he doesn't have any interest in at all, because I asked him to. I love you, David. You're awesome.

I took 33 horses to Harrisburg, and showed in 81 classes. I came home with 28 Top Tens, 5 Reserves and 6 Champions. And here they are, and these are the people who created them. All pictures will blow up if you click on them, so you can get a better look:

First off, here are my horses that didn't get noticed:

These are my resins, from left to right, the back row:

Elidar, a "Daffyd" resin sculpted by Sarah Minkiewicz-Bruenig and finished by Daphne Mazuz
Oscar Wilde, a "Showman" resin sculpted by Kathi Bogucki and finished by Carol Williams
Firefly, an "Elsie" sculpted by Sarah Minkiewicz-Breunig and finished by Stephen Michaud
Margo, a "Koko" resin sculpted by Lynn Fraley and finished by Tom Bainbridge
Valerian Steel, the Animal Artistry large Andalusian by Donna Chaney and finished by Ann Harris
Bruce, an "Otto" resin by Sarah Minkiewicz-Bruenig finished by Morgen Kilbourne

And in front, left to right:

Sundance, a "Taboo by Sarah Minkiewicz-Bruenig and finished by Mel Miller
Tyrion, an "Imp" by Sarah Minkiewicz-Bruenig finished by Jenn Danza (he fell over during his class or I think he would have been pinned!)
Shock Value, a "Nevada" by Sarah Rose finished by Mel Miller

And in customs land:

Khandan, a Breyer classic Arabian mare by Bev Manderfeld
Hot Zone, a Black Horse Ranch hunter by Ann Harris--Hot Zone arrived with a broken leg I found Friday morning. Happily, Jenn Danza put him back together and he did not miss a class!
Just Another Guy, a Stone Ideal Stock Horse by Kirsten Wellman
Armaan, a Breyer Stablemate G1 Arabian stallion by Kirsten Wellman

I managed to not get images of my horses in their performance classes (something had to give!) so for many I don't have pictures of them in set ups. Sorry. Also, in general, a lot of my older horses did very well this year, so please indulge me with some stories.

Top Tens

Harpo, a Mittens resin, sculpted and finished by Ann Harris, Top Ten in CM/AR English Trail. Tack by susan Doolittle, doll by Cari Chaney. I think Martina Vanelli took the performance picture. I have had Harpo for 10 years now.

Viva Las Vegas, a Matriarch sculpted and finished by Carol Williams. Dave gave me this horse early in our courtship. She took Top Tens in CM/AR Reining/Western Dressage, Trad/Classic/LB scale QH, and Tr/Cl Other Dilute. This horse's barn name is Priscilla--she got some tack damage repaired this weekend, so I think her performance career is over. Her saddle is by Janet Eddington, bridle by Sue Bensema Young and doll by Rosewood dolls

Polka Parr T is a customized Black Horse Ranch Reiner done by me. I have been showing Polka since 2000! He is a multiple past NAN champ and holds 3 separate Superior Event Horse awards (marathon driving, reining and roping) This year he got his Top Ten in Reining/Western Dressage. She was shown with a Terry Newberry saddle and bridle (which I purchased for Polka the night before NAN 2001 started!) and has a doll by Anne Field. I will show this horse forever.

Polka Bueno, an Okie Too sculpted and finished by Carol Williams. This foal is 12 years old, and still wins for me! He got his Top Ten in AR Stock Foals.

Snickerdoodle, a Loki resin by Lesli Kathman, finished and haired by Sarah Minkiewicz-Breunig. I am not his original owner, so I am not sure of his age, but I think the date on him is 2004. He is a resin that was a cast custom, something that is frowned upon now. His Top Ten is in Workmanship-Classic/Traditional Tobiano

Airline Amy and Waps Baby Doll. I think of these two as sisters, and that is why I show them together. Both are finished by Danielle Feldman (I own a third appaloosa by her as well!) They both earned Top Tens in Sport/Carriage/Draft Foals, Patterned. Amy is a Lets Fly resin by Tibbi Searcher, and Doll is a Gesche resin by Carlee Balling-that latter resin was released in 1997, though Doll is probably wearing a different paint job than the one she started out in.

Secret Weapon, a Valinor by Sarah Minkiewicz-Breunig and finished by Jennifer Scott. Secret had some repair work to her tail and scored third in her workmanship class, SM/LB scale Greys

Roxanne, a Working Girl resin by Sarah Rose and finished by Sommer Prosser. Roxy won her Top Ten in QH/solid colored stock horse SM scale.

Chakra, a Vixen by Sarah Minkiewicz-Breunig finished by Steph Michaud. Chakra is still new here, and I really love her. Her Top Ten was in workmanship, SM/LB scale Overo pinto

Reserve Champions

Dun in Pastels, a custom Black Horse Ranch Hunter by Lesli Kathman. He was owned by Paula Hecker who showed the heck out of him in the 90's, and she sold him to me about 18 months ago. Paula stalks him on my Facebook page, which makes me happy. I think he was done in 1996. I am honored to own him now, and clearly, he's still got it--he placed Top Ten in CM/AR Huntseat pleasure, Stock/pony and took reserve champ in CM/AR Other English. He used tack that was made for him by Jennifer Kistler and used dolls made by Cari Chaney and Anne Field.

Frasasti, a custom Breyer Weather Girl by Danelle Gatcombe. Danelle is a wonderful regional customizer, and it was great to tell her that Frasasti followed up her Top Ten from last year with a reserve in CM Grey, where she was judged on the technical work Danelle did on her.

Lasher, a custom Breyer Classic Swaps by Sarah Minkiewicz-Breunig. Lasher was made in 1992 and refurbished in 1996. He is older than NAN or NAMHSA! The fact that he took reserve in CM Other Sporthorses Classic/LB/SM scale speaks to how ahead of his time he was in 1992.

Josie Whiplash, a tiny Breyer Stablemate scale scratching foal finished by the late Judy Renee Pope. Josie took reserve in workmanship, LB/SM scale dilutes.

Champions

Skipper Dan is my lone OF horse this time-he's a Breyer Enchanted Forest, and was one of many versions of this pony on the table. He had three classes, and failed to place in 2 (he shouldn't have) but did manage to not only place but win OF Dressage with a Prix Caprilli entry. His tack is by Jana Skybova and his doll-an adorable kind with glasses and jodphurs-is by Anne Field.

Heidi, a Hazel resin by Morgen Kilbourne, finished by Sonya Johnson, had a great day--she is super fun to play with. She started the day winning the harness class (harness by me, cart by BillDuncan, dolls by Anne Field), then picked up Top Tens in Cross Country/Jumpers and dressage (tack by Corrine Ensor and Susan Doolittle, dolls by Anne Field) and then a Reserve in Poles/Barrels/Keyhole/Flag and Balloon Racing (tack by Pam Perkins, doll by Anne Field) I really enjoy showing this horse-she is just FUN.

Smoke N Satin is a customized Breyer Lonesome Glory by Pamela Hutton. This horse has been around since 2001, and she is a past champ at Breyerfest Live. This year she took a Top Ten in CM Thoroughbreds and then won her workmanship class, CM Greys--yes, I took both champ and reserve in that class!

Sadira, a Jezebel resin by Sarah Rose finished by Sommer Prosser. She went Top Ten in SM/LB Bay and then won the ARab mares class, beating horses of all scales!

All About Khemistry is a CM Breyer classic Man O War by Kirsten Wellman. He was created as a donation to help raise money for a mutual friend, and I won him at auction for about $100. He does well, and is consistent. This weekend he went and won the class Lasher was reserve in. He is Kirsten's first ever NAN champ that she created!

Chump Change is a Genoveva resin by Brigitte Eberl finished by Ann Harris. I adore this horse. Her color is perfect, and I love it. She does well locally, but has never placed at NAN. This year she won her workmanship class, Trad/Classic Bay Mare/Filly/Geldings

Finally, and you may skip this if you are easily grossed out, I want to present my favorite entry to set up. Friday morning brought us the Scene class where you can set up all sorts of non competitive horse type things, like a horse standing for the vet, or milling about at a check on a hunt, or....avoiding being eaten in the world of The Walking Dead. Photos by me, Marisa Evans and Martina Vanelli. I would appreciate any other photos people had of this set up. I absolutely LOVED watching the reactions to it (mostly along the lines of "Gross. But cool." And if there had been some sort of popular vote, this entry would have won. Alas, he was out of the ribbons by a single point. Still a win for me though!

That's my NAN wrap. See you at Breyerfest in about a month, yikes!!