Swedish Nationals 2018: Halter

After the Performance show was over we started the halter show with the foals. The foal championship was quite diverse with a whole bunch of different breeds. My four foals did really, really well, R. Peppermint (PS Weanling rr S. Nordström), Troublemaker (Sm. Scrambling Foal cm T. Wolmer) and Cochise (RC MM Flicker rep. L. Morris) all got second place in their respective classes and Helios (RC Oliver rep. S. Kern) got first in his class. Helios also went on to be named Champion Reserve after an adorable Shire foal and with a Sporthorse foal as Novice Champion.

Champion Foal: Lallybroch's Janet, RC Lilly rep. M. Berg
Champion Foal Reserve: Helios, RC Oliver rep. S. Kern
Champion Foal Novice: X-Kid, Breyer Tr. Glossy Zenyatta OF

After foals came Arabians. I only had two to show. My relatively new, Arwen (RC Gizelle rep. S. Nordström) surprised me an got first in her class. Ahvaz Aliyah (Cl. Swaps rrh S. Nordström), another relatively new model in my collection, took fifth out of seven in her class. The champion title went to a really nice Arabian stallion, with a stunning little Arabian mare as reserve and a pretty Thunderstorm got Champion Novice.

Champion Arabian and Best Arabian: Ibn Nayyamaah, RC Aashiq rep. M. Hjerppe
Champion Arabian Reserve: Yasmine ox, RC Jezebel rep. S. Nordström
Champion Arabian Novice and Best Arabian Novice: Marjanah, Breyer Tr. Thunderstorm Weather Girl OF

The Swedish Model Arabian Registry had donated rosettes and special prizes for the Best Arabian, Best Arabian Foal, Best Novice Arabian and best Novice Arabian Foal. The adult Best Arabian prizes went to the Champion and Champion Novice models and the Best Arabian Foal prize went to the winner of the Arabian foal class and the Best Novice prize went to the Best Novice Arabian foal in the same class.

Best Arabian Foal: Bashir, RC Bidjar rep. P. Lawson
Best Arabian Foal Novice: Mio, Breyer Sm. Standing Foal OF

We then started out with the draft horses. I had two British Drafts to show, Ayers Rock Brigadör (PC MM Brigadier rep. A. Gustafsson) and Brego (Mini Haggis rep. T. Melin) they took fourth out of four and second in their respective classes. Before moving on to judging the none-British drafters we had to vote for Best Suffolk Punch and Best Suffolk Punch Novice, as the Swedish Model Suffolk Punch Registry had donated special prizes for them.

Best Suffolk Punch: Hall of Fame
Best Suffolk Punch Novice: Sweet Jill

We judged the rest of the drafter championship and when it came time to vote for the Champion the title went to an absolutely gorgeous Shire stallion, with another beautiful Shire stallion as Reserve and a really cute Fjord as Champion Novice.

Champion Drafter: Lallybroch's James, RC Ursus Major rep. S. Prosser
Champion Drafter Reserve: Dark Shadow, Eberl Adonis rep. S. Nordström
Champion Drafter Novice: Rime, CollectA Fjord OF

Next up where Ponies. I showed no less than 5 models and most of them did great! Maverick (RC Tivoli rep. A. Dionne), Gold Rush (Copperfox Sovereign OF) and Epsilon (NL New Forest OF) all got first in their respective classes. Remembrance (PS Shoal Pony OF) got second after Maverick and Jax (AA Welsh Sec C rep. T. Melin) got sixth out of six in his class. It's always fun to see the pony division as they are so diverse from small fluffy ponies to bigger horse-like ponies. I was a bit busy during the Championship voting but I was happy to realize that Maverick was crowned Champion with an adorable Gotland Pony as reserve. The Champion Novice was a Welsh Cob painted by the owner.

Champion Pony: Maverick, RC Tivoli rep. A. Dionne
Champion Pony Reserve: Midas, RC Russtic rep. P. Nilsson
Champion Pony Novice: Louis, Copperfox Welsh rep. J. Taudien

The Swedish Model Hackney Registry had donated prizes to the Best Hackney/Hackney Pony and Best Hackney/Hackney Pony Novice. So before we could move on the next division we voted on the Hackneys.

Best Hackney: Jack Pridey, Breyer Sm. G2 ASB cm S. Nordström

Best Hackney Novice: Darcy, HR Hackney OF

Thereafter it was time for the Riding- and Carriage Breeds. This was one of the bigger championships and I showed no less than seven horses with mixed results. El Salvaje (RC Eberl Verrochio rep. L. Lawrynovicz) got second in his class, as did Raphael (RC Gabriel rep. T. Melin) in his. Bocelli (Breyer Tr. Tregoyd Journeyman OF) got first in his class. Madonna (Sm. G2 ASB rep. C. Johansson) and Since You Don't Love Me (Sm. G2 ASB rep. A. Gustafsson) showed in the same class and got first and second. My Akhal-Tekes Nazar (HA Akhal Teke Stallion rr. T. Melin) and Ancient Gold (Breyer Tr. Akhal-Teke OF) got third and fourth out of four in their class. In the end the Champion title went to the Tenneesee Walker, which I really liked! Reserve went to a beautiful Lusitano and the Novice Champion was also a Lusitano, beautifully painted by it's owner.

Champion Riding and Carriage Breed: Independence Day, RC Independence rep. G. Schmidt
Champion Riding and Carriage Breed Reserve: Principe, RC Vincenzo rep. S. Nordström
Champion Riding and Carriage Breed Novice: Capricorn, Breyer Tr. Andalusian rep. N. Petersson

The Swedish Friesian Sporthorse Registry had donated prizes to the best Friesian Sporthorse and the Best Friesian Sporthorse Novice. The best Friesian Sporthorse title went to a gorgeous mini, jam-packed with details! And Best Novice Friesian Sporthorse went to an OF Appy Django.

Best Friesian Sporthorse: Rokus. PC Friesian rep. C. Riley
Best Friesian Sporthorse Novice: Fenoglio, Breyer Sm. Mystery Surprise Django OF

Next up, my favourite Championship! Sporthorses! I showed 13 horses, the most I showed in any division this day! And the results were mixed. It started out quite well with Fallen Hero (RC Valor rep. N. Söhn) and Sunny Side N (Tr. Seattle Slew OF) taking second in their respective classes. In the Thoroughbred Mares class I showed two models, Lost All Hope (RC Kitty Didit rep. L. Lawrynovicz) and Ice Baby, Ice (Sm. G2 TB rr C. Johansson) I didn't expect them to do too good as there were some nice entries in the class but I was very pleased (albeit a bit surprised) when Lost All Hope got first in the class and Ice Baby, Ice got fifth out of eight. Some of my Warmbloods didn't do quite as well as I had hoped and others did better. Belize (RC Eberl Genoveva rep. S. Nordström) got second in her class with Charisma (Tr. GG Valentine OF) as fourth. Chester VS (RC Eberl Caitano rep. S. Nordström) gor first in his class, as did Lord (Tr. Keltic Salinero OF). Bailando (Sm. G2 Andalusian rr T. Melin) and Fandango (Tr. Valegro OF) got fourth and fifth out of six in their class. Vivaldi (Tr. Acadia OF) and Diadora (RC Eberl Akelei rep. ? / restored T. Melin) got third and fifth in the same class Lord entered. Elessar (Copperfox Finnegan OF) got second in his class. I wasn't too hopeful when it came to the championship as the competition was fierce. But in the end Lost All Hope surprised me quite a bit and was crowned Champion. Her Reserve was a really nice Standardbred with a small Trakhener as Champion Novice.

Champion Sporthorse: Lost All Hope, RC Kitty Didit rep. L. Lawrynovicz
Champion Sporthorse Reserve: Baron Copia, Eberl Aladin rep. S. Nordström
Champion Sporthorse Novice: Ziggy Stardust, Breyer Sm. Valegro rep. N. Petersson

The Stockhorse championship was quite small but still had some gorgeous models. My two models shown were Don't Call Me Nymphadora (RC Moxie rep. A. Brock) and Whiskey Lullaby (Tr. JCP SR Smart Chic Olena OF). Nymphadora won her class and Whiskey got fifth out of seven. In the end a gorgeous Paint was crowned Champion with my own Nymphadora as reserve. Best Novice was a really nice Quarter Horse.

Champion Stockhorse: R. Frosted Robin, PS ISH cm F. Cohen
Champion Stockhorse Reserve: Don't Call Me Nymphadora, RC Moxie rep. A. Brock
Champion Stockhorse Novice: Charillino, Breyer Tr. Harley rep. J. Taudien

Next up, Wildhorses and Crossbreds. I had three horses showing in this championship and they are some of my favourites so I was very happy to see them do as good as they did. Sahale J (RC El Embosco rep. E. Gonzales) got first in his class with Nahele (RC El Embosco rep. J. Hall) as second. My mini Cheyenne (RC MM Sierra rep. L. Morris) got third out of seven in her heart. In the end I was happy to see Sahale J was crowned champion! His reserve was a really, really beautifully painted American Saddlebred based Walkaloosa. The Champion Novice was a really nice OF Mustang.

Champion Wild- and Crossbred: Sahale J, RC El Embosco rep. E. Gonzales
Champion Wild- and Crossbred Reserve: Liberty, RC AA Mini ASB rep. L. Sorg
Champion Wild- and Crossbred Novice: Firelighter, Breyer Sm. CC Kohana OF

Next to last of the day was the Other Equus championship, in which I, as usual, had no models. It was a small championship but there were both donkeys, mules and zebras competing. In the end a little Zebra claimed the champion title with a really cool Mule as reserve and the Champion Novice was a cute little Donkey.

Champion Other Equus: Zaara, AA Zebra OF
Champion Other Equus Reserve: Alfons, RC Hey Mule rep. C. Jolly
Champion Other Equus Novice: Smörblomma, Schleich Donkey OF

Last championship of the day was Fantasy. I do have a few fantasy models on my shelves but I didn't bring any to the show. Instead I watched the other models. My boyfriend (who is not really a horse person but enjoys performance and fantasy) had two horses two show in this division, and they did quite good! His RC Mini Seunta painted by himself actually won his class and then went on to claim the champion title! The reserve was a gorgeous unicorn and Champion Novice was a skeleton horse (owned, painted and haired by my boyfriend) made after Ghost Rider's horse from the movie with the same name.

Champion Fantasy: Thor, RC Mini Seunta rep. C. Bäckfalk
Champion Fantasy Reserve: Chrysaor, HA Kilimanjaro rep. D. Brown
Champion Fantasy Novice: Banshee, Tr. Horse Skeleton rh C. Bäckfalk

When all the championships were done we put up horses for the callback table. It was a really tough competition on the callback table and I had three horses in the competition. The only one of mine I really thought might have a chance was Sahale J (but I might be a bit biased as he is probably my absolute favourite in my collection and he was a grail for YEARS before I finally could call him mine). I was absolutely baffled when Lost All Hope's name was called for Best In Show! I couldn't believe it! She has never, ever done this good for me, she might have claimed a champion title or champion reserve at some show, but usually not necessarily even placing in her class! I was in a bit of a chock for the rest of the voting but the beautiful Independence resin was crowned Best in Show Reserve and a repainted Copperfox Welsh was crowned Best in Show Novice. 

Best In Show: Lost All Hope
Best in Show Reserve: Independence Day
Best in Show Novice: Louis

I think the show went quite well and we finished in acceptable time so I am very happy with how it went. 10 years ago I arranged the Swedish Nationals (my first and only time hosting a liveshow before this) and hopefully it might not be another 10 years before I host or co-host another show.