Maverick Hill Dressage Herd:
Salty Dog Productions
Competition horses:
Gold Play: (GP)
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Gold Play- Grey Flanell X Sir Donnerholl X Wolkenstien II
Owned by Nancy Hutson and Jordan LaPlaca
Gold Play (Grey Flanell x Sir Donnerhall), is a 2015 German imported OLD gelding. He was purchased by Nancy Hutson from the Hof Kasselmann Stable in Hagen Germany, as an international hopeful for the future for rider and co-owner, Jordan LaPlaca of Maverick Hill Dressage.
He was a successful FEI 6 year old for his year, taking NEDA 2021 "Year End" Reserve Champion. Gold Play was presented by Jordan to Christine Taurig at the Merkel Emerging Young Horse Program in Wellington, FL March 29-30, 2022. He has successfully competed as an FEI 7 year old during this current competitive season of 2022. He has achieved scores in the upper 70%, and is qualified for the year's "Festival of Champions”! During the 2022-2023 winter season in Wellington, FL, Gold Play Produced exceptional scores in his FEI debut on the national level achieving scores as high as 75% in the PSG from former FEI 5* and USDF S Judge Lilo Fore. In his first CDI debut of the season he was the youngest horse in FEI 1* division and made the ribbons out of a strong class of seasoned horses and riders. He continued the CDI Small Tour season in good form with consistent scores and strong placings. He also competed nationally in the small tour gaining top scores and wins in both the PSG, Inter 1 and the Inter 1 Freestyle. He currently is ranked number one in the USA with a median score of 75.7 % for the Inter 1 Freestyle as of July 2023.
Outside of being an incredible athlete, Gold Play's character is simply just a "good boy". He is affectionate, loves to work and is always ready for the next adventure. He has a natural aptitude for all the collected work and excels in half passes, piaffe /passage and collection in the canter. Both Nancy and Jordan are excited for what this young horse's future will bring.
He was a successful FEI 6 year old for his year, taking NEDA 2021 "Year End" Reserve Champion. Gold Play was presented by Jordan to Christine Taurig at the Merkel Emerging Young Horse Program in Wellington, FL March 29-30, 2022. He has successfully competed as an FEI 7 year old during this current competitive season of 2022. He has achieved scores in the upper 70%, and is qualified for the year's "Festival of Champions”! During the 2022-2023 winter season in Wellington, FL, Gold Play Produced exceptional scores in his FEI debut on the national level achieving scores as high as 75% in the PSG from former FEI 5* and USDF S Judge Lilo Fore. In his first CDI debut of the season he was the youngest horse in FEI 1* division and made the ribbons out of a strong class of seasoned horses and riders. He continued the CDI Small Tour season in good form with consistent scores and strong placings. He also competed nationally in the small tour gaining top scores and wins in both the PSG, Inter 1 and the Inter 1 Freestyle. He currently is ranked number one in the USA with a median score of 75.7 % for the Inter 1 Freestyle as of July 2023.
Outside of being an incredible athlete, Gold Play's character is simply just a "good boy". He is affectionate, loves to work and is always ready for the next adventure. He has a natural aptitude for all the collected work and excels in half passes, piaffe /passage and collection in the canter. Both Nancy and Jordan are excited for what this young horse's future will bring.
Show Time:
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Show Time - San Amour X Davigion X Zeus
Owned by Denise Sarnoff
Julia's Magic: (Cado)
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Julia's Magic- Owned by Denise Sarnoff
Lisaro Van Het Mettenhof: ( Liske`)
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Lisaro Van Het Mettenhof - Uphill X Sandreo X Sandro Hit
Owned by Karen Horn
Photo credit: John Chevalier
𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲𝘀 - Mizrahi x Queen's Mercy Me: Puck
Owned by Kelly Henderick
To most Americans when they hear the bred Morgan horse, they are often brought back in time to when a horse was really needed to do everything around the farm during a time in history where farming, travel, and a real need for versatility was essential from an equine partner in order to survive. Over the past several decades, Morgan horses have continued to evolve with the fashions that have come and go in the horse world providing the opportunity to this once ‘farm and family’ horse to showcase as a proud member of literally any riding or driving discipline there is to offer today.
My first horse exposure as a kid was with Morgans. Growing up in Vermont, Morgans were everywhere and a lot of my early career as a young professional was in training Morgans for many local breeders. I grew fond of this breed as they always seemed to want to please. There was something special every time I would go to a show and watch the stallions park out in a line up or see the same horse go from the “in hand” classes to the driving, western, hunt seat and even saddle seat classes with the same horse! They could do it all!
There are so many attributes that this fabulous breed is known for. Fanciers and breeders all will agree that they are not adored just for their elegance, but most importantly for their hearts. This is a breed that suffers no fools, but will kill themselves trying to please their people. Albeit that the Morgan is not a horse for everyone, no one can dispute the significance of when one of them shines through in a disciple. This small but mighty horse when reaching the highest of training and performance offers everyone one a reminder that you don’t always need to have a high dollar new “horse du jour”, to achieve something truly special.
𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲𝘀 (Mizrahi x Queen's Mercy Me. Bred by the Henderick family of Queens River Farm) most affectionately known as Puck, is one of those very special Morgans. It is always a special day when any dressage horse reaches the Grand Prix level, it is even more special when a “non conventional horse” reaches this goal! To date, Puck is the 20th Morgan to reach the Grand Prix, moreover, on his second time down centerline reached an excellent score of over 60% giving his AA owner Kelly Hendrick her first score towards her Gold Medal! Kelly has had Puck for the majority of his life and for the past several years has been his sole rider.
As will all horses there are many people that contribute to the development of these wonderful creatures. Kelly was fortunate to find herself in the early days with Olympian Micheal Poulin and trainer Gwyneth McPherson, who started Puck’s development and training towards the Grand Prix. As time went on Kelly continued her education with clinics and a handful of lessons here and there until she found herself at her current home base of Maverick Hill Dressage, in Ledyard CT. Over the winter working with one of the associate trainers (Frederick Magazzini), the two started putting the elements together with the idea of coming out for the show season of 2023 debuting their first Inter 2 with her little dancing machine. As the summer progressed it was made very clear that the two of them were well on their way to the Grand Prix. Working with her current trainer Jordan LaPLaca, attending clinics held at the farm with Jordan’s coach Albrecht Heidemann and MHD Associate trainer Kathleen Cronk, Kelly found her way to the Grand Prix this summer.
It takes a village of course… but the message here is that Kelly and Puck are the most perfect example of dedication, consistency and heart. Puck is a magical little horse, standing 15.0 hands he takes the ring as his stage and produces some hair raising movements that most warmbloods would never achieve on their best days. Kelly is an ambition and invested owner who wants to achieve her goals in a manner that keeps her wonder boy happy in the work, healthy and ready for the nexts days adventures.
To the Morgan horse, an owner with vision and a village to see them on their way! Congratulations Kelly Henderick, you and Puck have made history and I for one am so excited to see the two of you succeed and represent one of Americas most favorite horse breeds!
My first horse exposure as a kid was with Morgans. Growing up in Vermont, Morgans were everywhere and a lot of my early career as a young professional was in training Morgans for many local breeders. I grew fond of this breed as they always seemed to want to please. There was something special every time I would go to a show and watch the stallions park out in a line up or see the same horse go from the “in hand” classes to the driving, western, hunt seat and even saddle seat classes with the same horse! They could do it all!
There are so many attributes that this fabulous breed is known for. Fanciers and breeders all will agree that they are not adored just for their elegance, but most importantly for their hearts. This is a breed that suffers no fools, but will kill themselves trying to please their people. Albeit that the Morgan is not a horse for everyone, no one can dispute the significance of when one of them shines through in a disciple. This small but mighty horse when reaching the highest of training and performance offers everyone one a reminder that you don’t always need to have a high dollar new “horse du jour”, to achieve something truly special.
𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲𝘀 (Mizrahi x Queen's Mercy Me. Bred by the Henderick family of Queens River Farm) most affectionately known as Puck, is one of those very special Morgans. It is always a special day when any dressage horse reaches the Grand Prix level, it is even more special when a “non conventional horse” reaches this goal! To date, Puck is the 20th Morgan to reach the Grand Prix, moreover, on his second time down centerline reached an excellent score of over 60% giving his AA owner Kelly Hendrick her first score towards her Gold Medal! Kelly has had Puck for the majority of his life and for the past several years has been his sole rider.
As will all horses there are many people that contribute to the development of these wonderful creatures. Kelly was fortunate to find herself in the early days with Olympian Micheal Poulin and trainer Gwyneth McPherson, who started Puck’s development and training towards the Grand Prix. As time went on Kelly continued her education with clinics and a handful of lessons here and there until she found herself at her current home base of Maverick Hill Dressage, in Ledyard CT. Over the winter working with one of the associate trainers (Frederick Magazzini), the two started putting the elements together with the idea of coming out for the show season of 2023 debuting their first Inter 2 with her little dancing machine. As the summer progressed it was made very clear that the two of them were well on their way to the Grand Prix. Working with her current trainer Jordan LaPLaca, attending clinics held at the farm with Jordan’s coach Albrecht Heidemann and MHD Associate trainer Kathleen Cronk, Kelly found her way to the Grand Prix this summer.
It takes a village of course… but the message here is that Kelly and Puck are the most perfect example of dedication, consistency and heart. Puck is a magical little horse, standing 15.0 hands he takes the ring as his stage and produces some hair raising movements that most warmbloods would never achieve on their best days. Kelly is an ambition and invested owner who wants to achieve her goals in a manner that keeps her wonder boy happy in the work, healthy and ready for the nexts days adventures.
To the Morgan horse, an owner with vision and a village to see them on their way! Congratulations Kelly Henderick, you and Puck have made history and I for one am so excited to see the two of you succeed and represent one of Americas most favorite horse breeds!
Don Vito:
