AMHA 2017 CHAMPION AWARD: Fox Brush Custom Design

MaryAnn Schafer 1

Champion Horse, “Fox Brush Custom Design”

In November 2017 Fox Brush Custom Design (Rikki) garnered another first when she became Australia’s first Morgan mare to be accorded the AMHA Champion title. (Rikki’s other notable first was becoming the first pure bred Morgan mare to complete the Tom Quilty Endurance Ride.) Rikki’s achievement of the AMHA Champion title also sees her continuing a family tradition as her dam, Bowood Elusiv Dream, GCH was accorded the AMHA Grand Champion title posthumously a few years back based on her own accomplishments in Open Competition and her achievement of the AMHA Sport Horse Award.

The AMHA Champion title mainly recognizes the outstanding achievements of Morgans in Morgan competition — Championships earned by competing against other pure bred Morgans at World, National and Regional Morgan Shows/shows with Morgan Divisions. The CH and GCH Titles are also awarded to Morgans competing in the AMHA Open Competition Program who achieve the highest levels of that Program.

Rikki’s achievement of the Championship title gives me a quiet sense of pride and accomplishment as well as re-confirms that I did the right thing almost 10 years ago (where did the time go?!) when I sent Rikki down to Australia in co-ownership with Diane Howard, Wirraway Sport Morgans. I knew she had more potential then I was going to be able to realise with her at that point in my life and felt she had valuable bloodlines to contribute to the Morgan breed through her progeny. Diane, Jock, Laura Axsentieff, Monica Hammond and Brian Belcher have all been the major forces in seeing Rikki on her way to realizing her potential. Diane, Jock and Laura were ‘Team Rikki’ in her endurance career and Quilty glories; Diane has had the foresight to produce three amazing foals from Rikki who are continuing Dream’s legacy as well as Rikki’s; and Monica and Brian have been amazing stewards in seeing Rikki to her Morgan Championship qualifications and title. Thank you all!

I understand there is another Australian Morgan who has earned the AMHA Championship Title and to that Morgan and to the team behind him, I tip my hat and say, Congratulations, Well Done! Australia has many, many fine Morgans and I’m thrilled to see them getting the international recognition they so justly deserve.

MaryAnn Schafer

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