Southern States is pleased to honor our equine customers who have recently won in competitions. Congratulations to all our Winners!

Fall is in full swing – and Southern States customers are bringing home wins by the bushel.

November 26th Highlights

Southern States was a sponsor of a Welsh Pony Show held at Irish Tulip Farm in Maryland last month. Southern States customer Maye Show Ponies was a big winner at the show. Maye's own Falling Moon Huckleberry was Supreme Champion Go Green 4 under judge Mike Elmore. This entry was also 3rd runner up in the Welsh Champion of Champions class.

Krista Hodgkin of Roanoke, VA, and her horse, Well Spent were named Year End Grand Green Hunter Champions for the Southwest Virginia Hunter Jumper Association. Well Spent is a 7-year-old Thoroughbred who is fueled by Legends Pelleted Performance horse feed.

November 19th Highlights

Southern States customers continued their winning ways at the RMI Raleigh Benefit Horse Show, November 12-16. Becky Hall's Otteridge Up in Lights was deemed Best Young Pony in the breeding ring with Junior Johnson handling. Becky Forbes and Kick the Clouds galloped away with the reserve championship in the Adult Jumpers. Lovingston and his owner Corrine Davies led the way in a competitive Younger Adult Amateur division. Kathy Bennett is no stranger to winning, as was the case with her championship in the Older Amateur Owners on Make My Day. Rejoice did double duty for trainer Chris Wynne and owner Taylor Shearin – picking up the championship in the First Year Greens and the reserve championship in the Younger Large Juniors. Megan Fellows picked up a reserve championship with Lariat in the Older Small Juniors for owner Lauren Moyer. Show Place Farm's Lone Star was a star in the Green Pony Hunters, taking home the championship ribbon to Gloucester, VA. Also hailing from Central VA, Sydney Ellis and Almost A Hat Trick were victorious in the Large Pony Hunters. Laura Schroff's Heritage was reserve champion in the Regular Working Hunters with Winn Alden in the irons. Winn also led the victory gallop in the ACL PreGreen Classic on Liam Madden's Touch of Sun. Meanwhile, Danny Robertshaw picked up reserve honors in the 3'3" PreGreen Hunters on Ann Rice's Briland.

The Virginia Horse Show Association held their Associate Finals at the Virginia Horse Center November 14-16. Hazelwild Farm's Minor Threat was champion in the Special Hunters. Cactus Jack and Shirley You Jest took home tri-colors to Pam Herman Farms. Show Place Farm trained Rio Del Sol and At Last to championship honors. Calista and Ironwood earned championship ribbons for the Stone House Stables banner.

The Southwest Virginia Hunter Jumper Association Annual Horse Show held in Lexington, VA, November 7-9 saw lots of Southern States-fed horses taking home top honors. Horses hailing from Vineyard Farm, Stonebridge Farm, Mill Creek Stables, Kemper Knoll Farm, Roaring Run Farm, Mayes Show Ponies, Diane Hinch's, Hollins University, Rosehill Farm, Randolph Macon College, Chatham Hall School, Nick Alberti's and Anne Shaver's all had a great show. Carly Williams was named best child rider on a pony. Congratulations to you ALL and we appreciate your business.  

Southern States is proud to relay this year's accomplishments of Rachelrae - a registered Oldenburg yearling filly owned by Soothsayer Stables in Delaware. Rachelrae is by Rosenthal that stands at High Point Hanoverians in Chestertown, MD and out of the Main Mar Book Thoroughbred mare. With limited showing she has never placed below 3rd.  At the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair in May, Rachelrae won a class of "Other than Thoroughbred " fillies handled by Charlie Brown of Virginia, then went back to be named Reserve Best Yearling handled by Ray Francis of Pennsylvania.   In September, she was shown at the first ever Oldenburg Breeders Society Horse Show and Mare Performance Test held here in the US.  At this show, she was shown in the "Suitable to become a Hunter" against weanlings, yearlings and 2 year-olds and won that class. Later that day, the judges named Rachelrae as the "Best Conditioned " of the breeding show entries.  She has been fed on a Legends feeding program through Hudson Farm Supply at Harrington, Delaware which can take part of the credit for the condition she was in. 

November 18th Highlights

Steve Foster's mule, Amazing Grace, won America's Ultimate Horse Idol National Championship at the Virginia Equine Extravaganza held in Richmond October 31-November 2nd. Amazing Grace is fueled by Legends Performance Textured Horse Feed that her owner purchases for her through the Front Royal Southern States. While only 3 years old, Amazing Grace (who is a Molly Mule) has won many jumping and halter classes and fairs, expos, rodeos and mule shows.

November 12th Highlights

The Duke Children's Benefit Horse Show in Raleigh, NC, is always a well-organized event. There were a bunch of Southern States customers at this year's show and a good number of them left with championship ribbons. Fresh off his reserve championship at The National Horse Show, Andiamo and pilot Megan Fellows were reserve champions in the Older Large Junior Hunter Division. Andiamo has had a great year and we are thrilled that Triple Crown Complete is in his feed tub every day. Becky Forbes and Kick the Clouds led the victory gallop in the ACL Adult Jumper Finals. Olivia Wren picked up the championship in the Older Children's Hunter on Liam Madden's Touch of Sun for Winn Alden Equestrian. Olivia also won the USET Talent Search and the WIHS Equitation Class. Beaver River Farm had an amazing show. Caprelli, Heartsong, Cypress, Tenerife, Fortune's Turn, Island Life and Briland all contribute tri-color ribbons to their banner. Showplace Farm's Lonestar was champion in the Green Pony Hunter division with Peyton Smith. From Breckenridge Manor, Diane Monroe's Legendary was reserve champion in the Older Adult Amateurs and Sarah Morris's At Last was reserve champion in the Younger Children's Hunters.

October 30th Highlights

Congrats to Tommy Garland for his success in the Hunter Pleasure Futurity at the Arabian Nationals inTulsa, OK.

Rebecca Forbes and Kick the Clouds were 8th in the WIHS Adult Jumper Championships at the Washington International Horse Show.

Local Weekend for Washington International was a successful one for Southern States customers. Caroline Ball's MacGyer was champion in the Older Children's Hunters. Megan Sullivan and Houston took home reserve honors in the Younger Adult Amateurs. Meadowbrook Stables' Wizard picked up tri-colors in many divisions including the Baby Greens and PreGreens for rider Miranda Scott. Zan Martin Dillon and Just Sam were victorious in the Open Hunters. Too Much Fun and On the Air swept the Older Adult Amateurs for Lysa Burke Horkan. Lysa's horses also hooked her up with a set of tri-colors at the Zone 3 Finals which were held on Sunday, October 19th, also at Prince George's Equestrian Center.

October 23rd Highlights

We have a lot of catching up to do! Indoor season is in full swing in Hunter/Jumper World. Southern States is proud of the horses and ponies we feed who are having a great fall.

Rosalynn, owned by EMO Stables, had top placings in the Green Conformations and First Year Greens at the Washington International Horse Show (October 21-26). Rosalynn was piloted to her ribbons by Hunt Tosh. Winn Alden had a successful run in the Regular Conformations and Regular Workings with Leigh Rutti's Urban. Liza Towell had a great show with Isaac for owner Sarah Ward. Katie Dawson and Nevada were 3rd in the WIHS Children's Hunter Championship, while Hannah Itell and Fargo came home with 12th place.

Catching up on Pennsylvania National results – Heather Thueniessen and her mare Double Dutch were 8th in the NAL Adult Amateur Jumper Classic. Winn Alden and Urban came home to Virginia with the reserve title in the Regular Conformation Hunters. Cezanne and Holly Shepherd won a class in the Green Conformations for trainer Vick Russell.

Donna Crookston, from Salisbury, PA, has had a year to remember in the Combined Driving arena this year. She and her Morgans (RC Cowboy and Black Cadillac) won at the Lexington (KY) Combined Driving Classic earlier this month. In August, she was a member of Team USA at the Combined Driving Singles World Championships in Jarantow, Poland. Donna's horses are fueled with Legends Performance Textured from Delmont Agway.

October 15th Highlights

Way to go Sarah Ward!!! Finally Farm (Camden, SC) student, Sarah Ward won the Grand Champion Junior Hunter title at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show (Harrisburg, PA) on Friday, October 10th. She clenched this wonderful honor by being champion in the Older Large Junior Hunter division on her gorgeous horse – Onassis. Sarah has worked very hard with her horses over the past few years and we are thrilled with her accomplishments!

October 10th Highlights

The Bellville (GA) Southern States is thrilled to announce that customer Jerald Collins' Quarter Horse – Georgia Ryon - won the $25,000 John Deere Sprint Stakes at Turfway Park (KY) on September 13th. Collins' horses are fueled with Legends Show and Pleasure and Legends Grow and Perform.

Georgia Ryon pulled off a major upset in the $25,000 John Deere Turfway Park Sprint Stakes as American Quarter Horses made their debut over Polytrack – a new type of all-weather footing being used at race tracks.

This was the 4-yr-old mare's second start of the year. The mare is trained by Randy Brown and was piloted to the victory by Howard Pierce.

October 9th Highlights

To say TTB Cutting Horses have had an awesome run at the Quarter Horse Congress would be an understatement. The crew from Rocky Mount, VA, have raked in the following awards: Phil King won the $10,000 Amateur Challenge on Hi Brow Doll; Tracy Barton won the Open Challenge on Hi Brow Doll (marking a 151); he also won the 5&6 Year Old Classic on Double Mint Cash (marking a 149); Tracy then went on to be reserve champion in the $10,000 Novice Horse on Ten Colors and Travis Barton (Tracy's son) won the Youth Challenge for the second year in a row on Instant Starlight (whose mother is the horse on the Legends Performance Pelleted bag). WAY TO GO!

The Virginia Tech Riding Team was part of a 3-way tie for High Point Team with Virginia Intermont and UNC-Charlotte when they hosted the Virginia Tech IHSA show on Sunday, October 5th. Brett Flower, Lauren Ryalls and Caitlin Cox all won blue ribbons for their team. Go Hokies!!

Over in the world of eventing, Shelby Puricz has had a very successful fall tour. Hailing from Sanford, NC, Shelby and her horse, Stalking Man, were 3rd at the USEA Area 2 Championship at the Carolina Horse Park September 13-14. They were also 1st at the Loudoun (VA) Horse Trials and 5th at the Morven Park (VA) CC1*. Stalking Man is fueled with Triple Crown Complete. Good job on a great season!

As Southern States hunter/jumper customers gear up for end-of-year big horse shows, they continue to leave a winning streak everywhere they go.

Let's start with the USGPL Finals held in Culpeper, VA, the last week of September. Winn Alden Equestian's entries of Touch of Sun and Heritage earned both went home with championship ribbons. Elizabeth Roberts took home a tri-color on Black Mail. Show Place Farm's Kiss N Tell, My Wish and Wellen's Golden were all winners in the pony hunter divisions. Ray Coutley's Navier Stokes was champion in the Low Adult Amateur Jumpers

Moving south to Raleigh, NC – the NC State Fair Horse Show was held October 1st -5th. Again, Winn Alden found herself in the winner's circle with Heritage. Harold Chopping won tri-colors on Astor and Katarina. Walnut Knoll Farm's Solaris was champion in the Small/Large Pony Hunters. Fortune's Turn, Shem Creek and Heartsong all put championships on the Beaver River Farm banner. Heather Theuniessen was reserve champion in the Adult Jumpers on Double Dutch. Santorini picked up a win for trainer Tami Jones. Wellen's Golden Glory and My Wish were back to their winning ways for Show Place Farm. Don Sheehan piloted Certification to the reserve honors in the 3'3" PreGreens. Breckenridge Manor Farm saw Aspen, Lorenzo and Rejoice bringing home blue ribbons.

Hailing from Orchard Hill Farm, a big congratulations to Megan Rosenthal and Gayfield's American Idol on their championship at the Aiken Fall Festival I in mid-September. The following week, Megan and Lee Hill Forget Me Not were champions in the Small/Medium Children's Pony Hunters and were also third in the Children's Pony Hunter Classic at the Aiken Fall Festival II.

September 30th Highlights

Southern States is thrilled to announce that Virginia Tech Won at "Dressage at Devon!"

During the week of September 22, four Virginia Tech students traveled with a Virginia Tech-bred foal to Devon, PA, to compete at Dressage at Devon, the most prestigious dressage competition in the hemisphere and the largest sport horse breeding show in the world. The students competed against top professional handlers and the country's leading horses to earn an unprecedented win in the famed Dixon Oval. They bested 18 other competitors to take the top spot in the ISR/Oldenburg Two and Under class, with a winning score over 80%! This is the first time any horse owned by a university or campaigned by university students has ever taken a blue ribbon at Dressage at Devon!

The students, Rebecca Arnold of Martinsville, VA, Kelli Beavers of Lebanon, VA, Claire McGill of Monroe, CT, and Alison Parker of Herndon, VA, had all participated in the Virginia Tech Summer Sporthorse Internship Program, in which they received instruction in conformation analysis, biomechanics and proper handling and presentation techniques for sporthorses. In addition, students in the internship participate in all aspects of running a large breeding farm and assist with ongoing research at the horse center. Coaching the students was Dr. Rebecca K. Splan, Associate Professor of Equine Science in the Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences.

The winning foal was Landmark VT, who was barely five months old at the time of the competition. Landmark VT is no stranger to success and already has a stellar resume. In July he was shown by Virginia Tech students to multiple wins and two Reserve Champion titles at the Dressage at Lexington breed show, and on September 20th was named Champion Colt of his foal inspection. In addition to his win at Devon, he also placed fifth there in the GAIG/USDF Regional Breeders' Colt Championships under an international panel of judges and against older horses. He is one of the first foals in North America by the international dressage star Lingh, whose owner Karin Offield generously donated frozen semen from her incredible stallion to the Virginia Tech's top-ranked sporthorse breeding program.