WASBA Show Committee

AMBASSADORS

Selected horses were inducted as WASBA Show Committee's Ambassadors.
These horses showed the versatility, style, trainability and grace  that we all know the Standardbred is capable of.
Each horse was inducted because of their greatness at their showing disciplines or for simply being a great advocate for the breed.

COUSTEAU

Racy Prince - Chicaben

Bay Stallion, Foaled 1989

A stunning bright bay stallion with four white socks and always immaculately presented, Cousteau was always placed in Best Presented classes including winning at two Royal Shows and taking home the Runner Up Best Presented trophy for three consecutive years. Although he was more remembered for his ridden achievements Cousteau also collected 3 Supreme Led awards including Supreme Led Senior Exhibit at   the 2002 State Championships.

Cousteau was retired from showing in 2005 and inducted as a WASBA Show Committee Ambassador in 2006

Achievements:

* Overall Ridden Exhibit of the Year 2002/03

* Performance Horse of the Year 2002/03
* Ridden Stallion of the Year 00/01; 01/02; 02/03 & 03/04
* Runner Up Led Stallion OTY 2001/02; 02/03 & 03/04
* Runner Up Best Presented Exhibit OTY: 2001/02; 02/03 & 03/04
* Supreme Led Exhibit & Champion Ridden Exhibit - Perth Royal Show 2003
* State Champion Supreme Led Senior Exhibit - 2001
* State Champion Senior Stallion - 2001 & 2004

EASY SUNSHINE

Fastease - Ky Hanover

Liver Chestnut Gelding, Foaled 1988

Easy Sunshine was a beautiful horse winning champions as a stallion and gelding and it was unfortunate he suffered from unsoundness as one can only imagine what this outstanding animal could have achieved under saddle. This beautiful entire was an impressive sight with his magnificent liver chestnut coat and movement to die for. His biggest achievement was in 1995 when he was awarded Supreme of Supreme All Breeds, a very first for a Standardbred in WA. Sunny was shown only intermittently between 1994 to early 2001 due to various injuries, along with being gelded and a return to racing. Sunny was enjoying his retirement when unfortunately he had to be laid to rest after a freak paddock accident on the 23rd of October 2006.

Achievements:
* Supreme of Supreme Exhibit - Dressage Ass. Breed Show 1995 (as a stallion)
* High Point Stallion/Colt 1994/95
* High Point Gelding 1997/98
* State Champion Senior Gelding 2001
* 4 x Supreme Champion Exhibits; 11 Champion Gelding Exhibits

Easy Sunshine competing at the Perth Royal Show
as a stallion
Photo credit: Hoofbeats

GRANDALUSION

Garry John - Dalsea

Brown Stallion, Foaled 1984

The big, robust and large moving entire with his flowing mane and tail was an impressive sight that had him dominate Standardbred showing in WA throughout the nineties. In 2002 the WASBA Show Committee introduced a perpetual cup in his honour to be awarded to the Supreme Led Standardbred at the Perth Royal Show. The Royal Show was "Garry's" domain going down in the record books as a seven time winner. Another of Garry's highlights came in 2002 at the Northam Ag. Show where he claimed Supreme Led Horse of the Show. Over the years Garry has certainly done the breed proud and was finally inducted as an Ambassador for the breed in 2000.

Achievements:
* Supreme of Supreme Led Horse - Northam Ag. Show 2002
* 7 x Royal Show Champion/Supreme Champion Exhibit

Grandalusion winning one of his countless Supreme Led awards
Photo credit: Carol Darby

MISTER FLASH

Satinover - Ebony Phoenix

Black Gelding, Foaled 1988

Mister Flash had a brief attempt at a racing career which ended after one start when he galloped from the mobile and ran a distant last. He was obviously destined to be a show horse whith his stunning colour and perfect markings. Turned out immaculatley by owner Emma Dunton he was rarely beaten in a Best Presented class. Mister Flash won numerous Supreme Led Exhibit's and countless Champion Ridden awards over the years but his biggest success was at the York Breed Show in 2000 where he was awarded Supreme of Supreme Led Exhibit of the Show. Emma also competed in several Unofficial Hack Shows where "Robbie" was twice sashed Reserve Champion.

Achievements:
* Supreme of Supreme Led Exhibit - York Breed Show 2000
* 1997/98 Hi Point Hack; Hi Point Best Presented Exhibit & Runner UP Led Gelding
* 1998/99 Hi Point Led Gelding; Best Presented & Allrounder; Runner Up Hi Point Hack
* 1999/00 Hi Point Led Gelding; Best Presented Exhibit & Runner Up Hi Point Hack and Allrounder

Mister Flash winning Supreme Led Exhibit at the Notable Breed Show 2000
Photo credit: Carol Darby

PRIVATE BLUE

Indian Lake - Murray Blue

Chestnut Gelding, Foaled 1978

Private Blue had successes as a led horse and some of his memorable wins included Champion Led Gelding at the 1992 & 93 Kalamunda Show, Champion Open Led Gelding at the Flying Colours Lodge Show in 1993 along with Champion Ridden Standardbred and Reserve Champion Open Hack at this event. It was as a ridden horse that Private Blue would excel with a Champion Ridden Hack at the 1993 Perth Royal Show along with Being Victorious at four Perth Royal Shows as the Champion Ridden Standardbred. Each year, since it's introduction in 2000, the 'Private Blue' Perth Royal Show Ridden Cup is awarded to the winner in his honour.

Another remarkable effort was a score of 88% (of a maximum score of 100) and a Top 5 in the Supreme Ridden of the Show at the A.C.E International Show in 2001 under three European Judges. Although not extensively shown throughout the seasons with Melanie's time restrictions they still managed to take out Association Awards for the Ridden Gelding in 2001/02 and Runner Up in 1992/93 and 2002/03, The pair competed at the 2002 State Championships at the age of 24 years and collected a Champion Ridden Hack and a Reserve Champion Heavyweight Hack. It was in 2000 that Private Blue was inducted as an Ambassador for the breed.

Private Blue on the way to a win
at the Perth Royal Show
Photo credit: Hoofbeats

TAKE ON ME

Nero's Son - Call Me Stace

Bay Mare, Foaled 1996

'Xena' was one of those fantastic mares with near perfect conformation and a great appeal that made her stand out from the crowd. In her short but brilliant career she was never unplaced and only ever missed a broad sash once. Her biggest success came in September 2002 at the Northam Ag Show, where after taking out the Supreme Led Standardbred Exhibit, beating the quality stallions, went on to be sashed Runner Up Led Horse of the Show. Another outstanding achivement was taking three consecutive Champion Led Mare titles at the Perth Royal Show, something no other mare has ever done. Xena only attended two State Championships shows but definately added her flavour to the mix by taking Reserve State Champion Led Senior Mare and the following year taking out the Supreme Led Senior Exhibit. Always immaculately presented by both different owners she was a force in the Best Presented classes and also took Champion Best Presented Exhibit at the State Championships in 2003. A truly beautiful mare in every sense of the word Xena was sadly lost through a bout of colic which ended her stunning career. She is sadly missed from the show ring
   

Achievements:
* Champion Led Mare/Filly Perth Royal Show 2002, 2003 & 2004
* State Championships 2003 - State Champion Best Presented Exhibit & Reserve State Champion Senior Mare
* State Championships 2004 - Supreme Champion Led Senior Exhibit & Reserve Best Presented Exhibit
* End of Year Awards: Led Mare of the Year 2003/04; 2004/05

Take On Me winning Champion Led Mare/Filly
 at the 2004 Perth Royal Show
Photo credit: Hoofbeats

OAKRIDGE ELEGANCE

Spring Run - Winning Formula

Bay Mare, Foaled 1987

Oakridge Elegance was very successful in both led and ridden classes. A consistant performer in led classes would see 'Bess' successful in taking home many a Led Mare of the Year or Runner Up Award home over the last 5 years. It would be in ridden events where she would be dominate for several years and giving every competitor a reason to strive for a better performance. Bess's consistancy in both disciplines would prove it's worth where she took home the Performance Horse of the Year on three occasions. Bess also took her rider, Sam Cechner to many a Senior rider awards including a State Champion Rider. Bess was also very competitive in the unofficial hack ring where on numerous occasions she would defeat quality hacks.

Achievements:
* Led Mare of the Year: 2001/02 and 2004/05
* Runner Up Led Mare of the Year: 2000/01; 2002/03 and 2003/04 
* Ridden Mare of the Year: 2000/01 - 2004/05
* Overall Ridden Horse of the Year: 2000/01; 2001/02 and 2003/04
* Performance Horse of the Year: 2000/01; 2001/02 and 2003/04

Oakridge Elegance on the way to take Champion Ridden Mare at the 2005 State Championships
Photo credit: Aussies In Action 

AMSLEY IDEAL

Brown Gelding, Foaled 1987
Ideal Tanner - Ellen's Reward

Amsley Ideal was purchased by Karen Haigh for a confidence builder which she could ride mainly for pleasure and to take out hunting. 'Ams' proved his worth and went from hunting to eventing and dressage and showjunpming - he would never have represented Australia were Karen's words - but rarely did they come home without a placing in any of those disciplines. The pair also competed successfully in Open Unofficial Hacking and did the breed proud on numerous occasions, always being amongst the ribbons. Although not always were the pair greeted with nice comments when lining up to take their placegetter medals, they did go on to win at Pony Club 'C' Grade  level - One Day Event and that was one of their greatest achievements in this field.
'Ams' would be brought to our attention at our inaugural State Championships in 2000 where he completely blew his rivals away to take the Supreme Champion Ridden Title. The pair then returned the next year to make a clean sweep of their classes once again and take a second title much to the amazement of Karen Haigh. On both occasions he carried Karen to Champion Senior Rider Titles also. They also competed at a couple of the breed shows on offer and come away with broad sashes on both occasions. Competing at limited shows his dominance would also see Ams take home the End of Season award for the Ridden Gelding of the Year in the 2000/01 season. Sadly we wish Karen had more time to compete at more breed shows and really show what this horse could have achieved, the pair were certianly great combination to watch compete.

Sadly for Karen, Ams had to be laid to rest due to a tragic paddock accident on January 16th, 2005. He had somehow shattered his near fore pastern on their Serpentine property where he had been enjoying his 'semi-retirement'.

Amsley Ideal on his way to take the inaugural State Champion Ridden Title
Photo credit: Pro Digital Photography

Romany King at the Perth Royal Show 2002
Photo credit: Hoofbeats

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