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| Irish horses get the job done in Tucson |
| The successful winter show in Tucson Arizona is featuring some of the best Irish Horses in the United States. From California to New Jersey Irish horses have found their way to Tucson Arizona. To the Irish Horse enthusiast, the breeding lines are familiar. But, most attending the show didn't know the Irish Horse was there and and was doing well. |
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| Spanish Parade an Irish Sport Horse Stallion, ridden and owned by Sarah Ballou of Grass Valley California won the $2,500 open jumper class. Spanish Parade had four faults in the jump off of Sunday's Grand Prix. Ballou who loves the Irish Horse says she has bred her stallion to her King of Diamond's grand daughter mare. |
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| One of the more impressive victory strings has been achieved, by the Irish Sport Horse, Joe Brown. Joe Brown, of the King of Diamond's line, won several first place ribbons with two different riders. On Sunday he won the Marshall and Sterling Cup with rider Jennifer Clarkson. Earlier Joe Brown was ridden by Gloria Gage and won $1,500 Adult Jumper Classic. Joe Brown also captured the Reserve Championship. |
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| The Irish pedigrees of Clover Hill and Ginger Dick left their marks at Arizona show. Liza MacMillian, of Minnesota, placed second with Clover Hill's Trinity in the Modified Junior Jumpers. MacMillian says she loves the Irish Horse and in a recent trip to Ireland bought several sport horses. Clover Hill's Trinity also has had several clear rounds. |
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| The Wexford Stable, owned by Chris Hickey of New Jersey, presented the stable's Irish Horses well. In Clover, owned by Susan Benson, in six weeks of showing jumped all clear rounds but one and was Reserve Champion in the High Adult Jumpers week Three at Tucson Hits. Another horse |
| imported by Chris Hickey/Wexford Show Jumping was Lisbairn, by Flagmount Diamond now owned by Susan Beesemeyer and ridden by Havre Fernandez was the Circuit Champion Low Training Jumper. |
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| The only purebred Irish Draught Stallion , O'Leary's Irish Diamond, was the horse being talked about after his high jumper training class on February 20th. In his first two weeks of competition "Irish" had four double clear rounds but was not keeping up to the speedy thoroughbreds in competition. That was not the case Wednesday as the huge stallion displayed rare speed for such a big horse. |
| "His speed scared me," said his rider Rob Gage. The two finished the jump off in a time of 32.4 seconds. As proof of the intense competition in the class of 45 horses, the winning time was 31.96 seconds. Irish was fourth. |
| Many watching the Irish Draught were amazed with his temperament, noting he was so calm. "He jumps like a hunter," said Rehbeccah Burkhart of Oregon. |
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| Discussion amongst the Irish Horse owners at the show was whether or not more should display the shamrock seen on the saddle pad for O'Leary's Irish Diamond. |
| See pictures |
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