For the sixth year in a row, Fred Nava of Kingston, Massachusetts, is the show's manager, and this year, Sally Plumley of Monmouth, Oregon, serves in the capacity of show chairman.
"Every year, Morgan enthusiasts from across the country look forward to these two weeks in Oklahoma City as a time to celebrate their love for this wonderful breed and this year is no exception," Plumley said.
Nava, along with a dedicated and hard-working show committee and staff, joins an impressive list of sponsors, officials, and volunteers who continue to make the largest Morgan horse show one to remember year after year.
David and Cindy Vogels had a lot to celebrate Sunday evening when their homebred AMHF I've Got A Secret won both the World Champion Senior Gelding and World Champion Gelding honors with trainer Robert Kellert. The two-year-old FRF Supreme Judge was the World Champion Junior Gelding with John Hufferd showing for Fire Run Farm. In a switch, the World Champion Junior Mare, Causing Chaos, battled against the older mares to win the top honors of World Champion Mare. Chaos is owned and shown by Caprice Soltice Wilbur. World Champion Senior Mare was last year's open winner, Jungle Love, owned by Frances Pugh and shown by Ken Swanson. Mastroianni returned to the Oklahoma stage to tie a breed record, winning the World Champion Stallion title a record four times. He was led to victory by trainer Mark Bodnar for owner Sheryl Bartolucci. LPS The Boogie Man is the only other stallion to win the World Champion Stallion title four times. The World Champion Junior Stallion was Merriehill After Hours, owned by Cingate Morgans and led to victory by Whitney Bodnar.
The Youth of the Year Contest begins on Thursday and has ten competitors this year. The winner of this prestigious contest will be announced Saturday evening and she will receive a unique custom-designed prize package valuing $2,500. The winner's award is generously sponsored by the Cynthia Elaine Epperson Trust.
Local veterans and U.S. military men, women, and families will be recognized and honored on Wednesday, October 10 at 6:45 PM. Youth representatives from the American Morgan Horse Association will be on hand to present stuffed animals, provided by the Vermont Teddy Bear Company, Shelburne, Vermont, to the children of military families to thank them for their support and sacrifice.
Competition continues through Saturday, October 13. Show times are 9 a.m., 1 p.m., and 7 p.m. each day. Admission is free throughout the week.
You can watch the entire show live at www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2012MorganGrandNational.
Founded in 1909, the American Morgan Horse Association is a non-profit organization serving more than 50,000 Morgan horse owners, breeders, exhibitors, and enthusiasts throughout the United States. AMHA serves as a parent organization to more than 90 recognized Morgan horse clubs and national service organizations. It also provides an important link to foreign Morgan horse registries and clubs.
Working in conjunction with AMHA is the American Morgan Horse Institute (AMHI), a charitable organization dedicated to educations and historical Morgan activities. One of the activities of the AMHI is conducting the Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show®, the breed's premier show.
For more information and updates on the Morgan Grand National, go to www.morgangrandnational.com.
For more from the Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show read the continuation of this article Morgan Breed Celebrated in Oklahoma City - Part 2.