Maryland-bred Ponies Win Ribbons at Yearling Futurity

photos and article by Kathryn Southard (first published in the September 2023 Equiery)

The 2023 Maryland Pony Breeders Annual Yearling Futurity was held on July 8 at the Equestrian Center of Harford County in Bel Air. Judge Jon Bates of Honeoye Falls, New York, watched 46 yearlings across six in hand classes before awarding the top Maryland-bred pony to the Hunter Breeder Filly class winner Wynnbrook Aurora (Mystical x Land’s End Cloudberry), a stunning dark bay Partbred Welsh filly bred and owned by Jacqueline Morris of Forest Hill.

The Best Maryland-Bred award went to Wynnbrook Aurora (Mystical x Land’s End Cloudberry) who is owned and bred by Jacqueline Morris. The filly also won the Hunter Breeding Fillies class.

The 2023 Grand Championship was awarded to Picturesque Walking on Sunshine from six in-hand classes. This handsome palomino crossbred gelding by Picturesque Formal Attire out of Honey Pot, is owned by Maise O’Neill of Freeland and bred by Kristy Wilwerth of Warrenton, VA. Shown by O’Neill, Picturesque Walking on Sunshine won the Hunter Breeder Colts/Geldings division, was Champion Hunter Breeder and went on to win the Overall Grand Championship.

The overall Grand Champion was Picturesque Walking on Sunshine (Picturesque Formal Attire x Honey Pot) who is owned and bred by Maisie O’Neill. The pony also won the Hunter Breeding Colts/Gelding class and was named Champion Hunter Breeding Yearling.

The Reserve Grand Champion and Welsh Division Champion was awarded to Boston Run Allure, a lovely gray Welsh Section B filly who was shown by her breeder and owner Paul Maye.

Thanks to incredible sponsors and volunteers, the 2023 MPB Futurity was a huge success and lots of fun! Over $10,000 in cash and prizes were awarded this year. All Futurity participants received goodie bags which included a commemorative aluminum insulated water bottle. Division Champions received a beautiful pony bridle from Huntley Equestrian, an embroidered coolerette, and a bucket of grooming supplies courtesy of Tractor Supply of Fallston and Mane N’ Tail. The top eight ponies in each class received a ribbon and a variety of prizes including embroidered saddle pads, leather leads and halters, gift certificates, horse treats and more!

The Maryland Horse Industry Board awarded the MPB a $1,000 grant used to enhance the prize money awarded to Maryland-bred ponies enabling MPB to give an extra $50 to the highest placing Maryland-bred in each class and $25 to the next six Maryland-bred ponies.

The full 2023 MPB Futurity Results are below with the Maryland-bred ponies in bold. Maryland-breds earned 21 of the 39 class ribbons awarded at this year’s show.

WELSH Section A (9 entries)
1. Shenandoah Barnard (Skyline Emperor x Shenandoah Barndance) Hetty Abeles
2. Shenandoah Moon Wind (Skyline Emperor x Shenandoah Windlass) Hetty Abeles
3. Severn Trilby (Severn Bay Rum x Severn Easter Bonnet) Mary Benedict
4. Severn Tiger Lily (Severn Bay Rum x Severn Periwinkle) J. Ferson and J. Hartman
5. Severn Chloe (Gypsy Rose’s Pride x Severn Ciara) Tiz Benedict
6. Copper Beech Summer Zephyr (Copper Beech Cardiff x *Wilcrick Summertime) JudithAnn Hartman
7. Loafers Lodge Shimmer (Charmsley Cormac x Loafers Lodge Dazzle) Loafers Lodge
8. Copper Beech Double Double (Copper Beech Cardiff x Copper Beech Turkish Coffee) JudithAnn Hartman

WELSH Section C Cob (1 entry)
1. Aldercrofts Lady Persephone (*Synod Lord Percival x Halcyonia Mystique) Casey Edinger

WELSH Section B Colts/Geldings (6 entries)
1. Should Be Fine Captain Jack (Rosmels Dressed In Scarlet x Loafers Lodge Go For It) Racheal Lively & Loafers Lodge
2. Maranatha Flare (Wynnbrook Coup d’Etat x Telynau Dazzle) Ezra Utting
3. Sherwood Forest Messenger (Farnley Triton x Farnley Elegance) Lucy and Sally Sharp
4. Maranatha Totem (Farnley Triton x Maranatha Keepsake) Ezra Utting
5. Heaven’s Gate Weller (Wynnbrook Coup d’Etat x Heaven’s Gate Margarita Time) Patricia Eastman
6. Slackwater Fools Gold (Clanfair Gold Rush x Cartwheel Ballerina) Casey Edinger

WELSH Section B Fillies (9 entries)
1. Boston Run Allure (*Telynau Royal Anthem x *Hoekhorst Sweet Symphony) Paul Maye
2. Shenandoah Pirouette (Shenandoah Patriot x Shenandoah Fandance) Hetty Abeles
3. Locust Grove Lovestruck (Land’s End Love Note x Locust Grove Polanaise) Jean Greenlee
4. Loafers Lodge Sweet Magnolia (Evans Dru x Loafers Lodge Sweetness N Lite) Emily Gill
5. Loafers Lodge Classic Edition (Shenandoah Gaylord x Zephyrus Limited Edition) Loafers Lodge
6. Smoke Tree (J) Blinged Out (Smoke Tree (J) Spun in Gold x Smoke Tree (J) Promiscuous) Patricia Eastman
7. Reynard Butterfly Kiss (Land’s End Love Note x Whispering Chantelle) Theresa Kothstein
8. Free Bird (Falling Moon Freedom x Land’s End Tiggy Winkle) Megan and Justice Ziegler

Welsh Champion: Boston Run Allure
Welsh Reserve Champion: Shenandoah Pirouette

Hunter Breeder Colts/Geldings (12 entries)
1. Picturesque Walking On Sunshine (Picturesque Formal Attire x Honey Pot) Maisie O’Neill
2. Tantallon Mostly Magic (Maple Side Mr Magic x Penny Serenade) Margaret Bzdak
3. Loafers Lodge Knick Knack (Zephyrus Breaking Dawn x Woodland’s Golden Trinket) Loafers Lodge
4. Farnley Tartan (Farnley Triton x Sweetie Pie) Hetty Abeles
5. Maranatha Totem (Farnley Triton x Maranatha Keepsake) Ezra Utting
6. Pikachu (Blackberry Jammin x Wisewood Stardust) Margaret Redman
7. Reynard Secret Crush (Land’s End Love Note x Allison) Theresa Kothstein
8. Fendi (Falling Moon Freedom x Paris) Leslie Malone

Hunter Breeder Fillies (9 entries)
1. Wynnbrook Aurora (Mystical x Land’s End Cloudberry) Jacqueline Morris
2. Shenandoah Coral Bracelet (Farnley Triton x Shenandoah Coral Spring) Hetty Abeles
3. Loafers Lodge Party til Dawn (Zephyrus Breaking Dawn x Loafers Lodge Isis) Loafers Lodge
4. Westwood Iron Maiden (Loafers Lodge Smokey Joe x Falling Moon Juniper) Shawn Bigley
5. Westwood Maui Splash (Wynnbrook Coup d’Etat x AN Chloe) Shawn Bigley
6. Free To Be Me (Falling Man Freedom x Land’s End Misty) Ethan Maye
7. Slackwater Forget Me Not (Blackberry Jammin x Pyron Easter Signature) Casey Edinger
8. Maranatha Pollyanna (Wynbrook Coup d’Etat x Maranatha Polonaise) Michelle Viruete