Having been at the nationals for finals week this year, I can say from direct observation that the top 10's in the halter classes were very Saddlebred in body style. Never mind the head--which were beautifully Arabian. However, the bodies were long backed, long loined, shallow barreled and lacked substance. Our new National Ch. Sr. Stallion--Magnum Psych (again) still looks like a mare in his refinement, and a Saddlebred in his body type. As well as his son who went reserve NC Sr. Stallion. Quite the interesting photo ops of the two of them nose to nose in the arena after the crowning :-)
The halter (er, 'breeding') classes were swept by Magnum Psyche get, and Padron's Psyche get....most of who were handled, bred, or shown out of the Midwest barn.
Now, for anyone interested in the English Open class--7 of the top 10 were sired by Afire Bey V --even the ring announcer started to laugh as she got to stating "Sired by Afire Bey V" for the 5th time.....
Gordon Potts won western pleasure open....
And at last, to be a complete hypocrite.....we (my friends and I who do the nationals every other year together) crashed the Midwest barn party after the show was over on Saturday night. You have never seen so many drunk, silly folks in all of your life! My 13 year old daughter was finally sick of watching us "dumb old people" and begged us to leave. They had two bands, food, and an open bar.....
