Jim, Harry, and Carolyn Sebring with CBMF Crown Prince, the 2013 World Champion Park Harness. (Photo © Abbie Trexler)

Shelburne, Vt. - The best of the best in the Morgan breed was celebrated in Oklahoma City for the 2014 edition of the Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show®, October 12-19. Since 1973, this show has represented the pinnacle of achievement in the Morgan horse world. More than 1,000 of the world's finest Morgan horses from across the United States, Canada, and Europe met in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to compete in over 300 classes for $400,000-plus in prize money.

Matt Kwapich of Bernalillo, New Mexico, was the show's manager for the first year, and Sherry Cole of Sheridan, Indiana, served in the capacity of show chairman.

"We had new management, new show chair and some new events, and were very pleased how welcoming and helpful everyone was both to the show in general and to each other," said Cole. "It was such an honor for me to chair this show. I was on the show committee in the 1980s and my dad was chair twice, so I worked closely with him. When I returned to the committee a few years ago, it was wonderful to see how the show had been built on a solid foundation from the beginning. I'm pleased we had a happy, fun filled show—that was my goal."

Kwapich, along with a dedicated and hard-working show committee and staff, joined an impressive list of sponsors, officials, and volunteers to make this year's show the best ever. "It is with great excitement that I come to Oklahoma as the manager of the Grand National this year," said Kwapich. "This horse show is where the best of the best in the Morgan breed compete is Morgan history in the making!"

The Youth of the Year Contest had six competitors this year. Mackenzie Meier of Lenexa, Kansas, was crowned the winner of this prestigious contest. Meier, 17, will receive a unique custom-designed prize package valuing $2,500. This award is generously sponsored by the Cynthia Elaine Epperson Trust. Earning reserve honors in the contest was Sydney Cheong of Los Angeles, California, who also has earned a custom-designed prize.