Mike McCormick Goes Double Clear In The $3,000 Nordic Lights Farm/Bruheim Family Welcome Stake At Dallas Harvest Horse Show

Tyler, TX - The predicted rain for today proved to be false. There was not a cloud in the sky all day for the competitors at the Texas Rose Horse Park. The sold out Dallas Harvest Horse Show will run through November 9, 2008.

Hospitality is a main focus for the staff of the show. Exhibitors and spectators are welcomed every morning with a complimentary breakfast buffet located in the hospitality tent. You will also find catered lunch and dinner spreads made from scratch by Ellen Ahmann.

The horse show is also big on giving back to the community. For the second year in a row, the horse show has teamed up with Habitat for Horses. Habitat is a horse protection organization that provides a sanctuary and a second chance for horses in dangerous situations.

Habitat not only helps find forever homes for these animals, they are also very involved with horse ownership and awareness education. Jerry Finch is the President of the organization, and with the help of his staff, saves on average 300 horses per year. Habitat for Horses has gained the support of country music legends Willie Nelson and Toby Keith.

In the jumpers, the largest money class of the day was the $3,000 Nordic Lights Farm/Bruheim Family Welcome Stake. Nordic Lights Farm is a newer facility, but has already developed a reputation for having the highest quality hunters and jumpers.

Galloping to victory in the class was Mike McCormick and his horse MTM Remington. Only three horses made it to the jump off, and McCormick was the fastest with a jump off time of 34.847 with no faults.

Anthony D'Ambroiso's course definitely separated the class of riders as many accrued time faults and jumping faults.

"I think you need to be able to not miss. He (Anthony D'Ambroiso) set up long lines, tight lines, wide ones, and vertical to vertical. It was a tough course. It was a good test," said McCormick.

McCormick is a big fan of horse show manager Patrick Rodes and the shows he puts on. He had nothing but good things to say about the show grounds and all the upgrades that have been put in to place over the past year.

"The footing is spectacular good. It takes a long time to get footing right at a new show facility, and this new footing was finished in a year. It is awesome," said McCormick.

In today's Level 4 Jumper class, the winner was Katherine Le Blanc and mount Tumba. She was the fastest of the three riders who made it to the second round. Louisiana-based Le Blanc purchased her horse last winter while in Gulf Port.

Even with a wet ring, riders were still complimenting the fantastic footing that is new to the grand prix ring this year. In the jump off, Le Blanc was the only one to go clean with a time of 40.039.

"It was a nice course. It was a little wet from the rain, but it was not bad. The course rode a little technical, but it was good," said Le Blanc. "I think I made up the most time in the jump off coming back from jumps 4 to 1 to 2. We had a nice gallop going."

Le Blanc has been to the Dallas Harvest Horse Show when it was still in Dallas, but she has not experienced the show at its new location in Tyler, TX. She really likes the show and is having a great time.

Highlights on the schedule for tomorrow include the $5,000 Jumper Classic and the $15,000 ASG Software Solutions/USHJA International Hunter Derby, which is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. Also on schedule in the grand prix ring will be the last classes for Level 1-6 Jumpers, the start of the Adult Amateur Jumpers, and the Low Junior/Amateur Owner Jumpers.

$3,000 Nordic Lights Farm/Bruheim Family Welcome Stake

1. MTM Remington, Mike McCormick, Mike McCormick, 0/0/34.847
2. Indian Creek's Washington, Irene Galo, Gunnar Roer, 0/0/36.627
3. Alamo, October Hill Farm, Erin Davis, 0/0/39.439
4. River of Dreams, Kai Handt, Christian Heineking, 1/79.248
5. CR Aryenne, Brett Gage, Brett Gage, 4/72.598
6. Indian Creek's Coraggio, Irene Galo, Gunnar Roer, 4/74.118
7. Sacramento N, Shannon Slyfield, Shannon Slyfield, 4/74.838
8. Foreign Legion, DS Holdings, Frank Owens, 5/79.657

Level 4 Jumpers

1. Tumba, Katherine Le Blanc, Katherine Le Blanc, 0/0/40.039
2. Je M'Appelle Chester, Nordic Lights Farm, Sherre Sims, 0/4/37.542
3. Uniform, Tony Font, Joshua Tabor, 0/17/57.763
4. SF Pande Azucar Z, Natalee Newton, Natalee Newton, 0/76.423
5. SF Diva, Silver Fire Farms, Natalee Newton, 4/73.083
6. Chicardo, Hans De Groot, Erin Davis, 10/85.192

For more information, please visit www.southboundshows.com

For more information and to view adoptable horses, please visit www.habitatforhorses.com

For full results, please visit www.horseshowsonline.com

Photo Credit: Mike McCormick and MTM Remington, winners of the $3,000 Nordic Lights Farm/Bruheim Family Welcome Stake. Photo (C) 2008 Jenny Underwood/PMG.