We're back from the 2005 nationals, held in Oklahoma City. We were competing, as usual, in only Open Halter Events. Our entries on July 7th and 8th were weanling colts, weanling fillies, yearling mares, and two-year-old mares. We were victorious garnering four top tens in large classes. These classes represented the culmination of the best breeding programs built on the best efforts of horsemen and women since this breed's conception. These horses proudly carry the genetics and baton of inspiration for the future as a breed.

Not everyone rehearses their losses. Embarrassingly, it was note-worthy. Our overconfident insanity caused us to be crucified in the two-year-old mares. We had the gall to enter a tall, girthy mare with a nice head, but no muscle or neck! (We left grand champions and national champion mares like Awe Shauntae shown by Terry Sartain home for this class.) They slapped the fire out of us, with a lot of very good mares. Unfortunately, Monte Horn bore the brunt of it -- to the chagrin of many -- because of his enviable prestige and position in other breeds. For those who sneer, "It's all politics in open halter classes at big shows," this class proved that you had better have a good one, and they had better be fit at their peek.

This was Monte Horn and his pretty wife Anna's debut at our Appaloosa "Nationals." Both he and his wife are multi-generational horsemen. Monte has shown many paints, palaminos, and quarter-horses to their championships at various breed congresses and worlds. He stands Ice Age (the Chronicles December cover), among many others at Heck Yeah Ranch here in Mississippi. He is also fitting Mega Fella who is the favorite Palamino open two-year-old Stallion that he will be presenting this week. (P313-320 July/Aug Chronicles) We chose, as our only "out cross" risk this year, "Dominant Image." He is a bargain at Heck Yeah. He's an AQHA stud that looks like he's worth a lot more than the $700,000 he was reportedly sold for. We bred Awe Lure, our snowcap producer of Phenomenique to him.

In a large, tough class of approximately fourteen, the winning Open National Champion weanling colt was a huge chestnut with white hairs. He was about four to six inches taller than any colt in the class. Both of our Awe Striker colts tied for reserve national champion. They both were out of three and four-year-old maiden mares. The "call" judge chose Awe Tonamus. He's a longnecked, pretty-headed deep chestnut colt with a large blanket. He was presented by Tim Finkenbinder, who made his debut in the Appaloosa breed in 2003. At the world, we arranged for him to lead our "Dynamic Kid To A Te" to his first world championship in the two-year-old Open Stallion Class, as well as he lead our Awe Sum Maid to Reserve World Champion in weanling open mares. At this 2005 nationals, it was three-year-old Phenomenique's (first foal... out of a first foal), whose gorgeous, bay colt it was that tied for reserve national open weanling champion. This double bred Awe Striker "Awe Phen Awe Sum" was presented by Monte Horn for a third-place to be proud of.

Weenling open filly "Awe Foxy Deelite" and yearling open filly "Maid Awe Sum" (full sister to Awe Sum Maid reserve world open and reserve open national weanling champion presented by our longtime friend and trainer par excellence Terry Sartain) were also top ten open national winners. Classes were huge, and tough approximately, over fifteen to twenty five competing horses. A big thanks to Tim and Monte for their excellent presentation, and to Anna as well for all of her great prep work.

All of this moving, showing, building barns and houses, bulldozing woods into pastures while trying to build pool cues has taken its toll on poor Bob. He also gives all of the shots, and calls all of the shots here at the ranch! We fit with just ranch help, and did alright with horses like Awe Sum Maid, and Dom Orlandi's colt we named Mr All Inclusive. He was last year's unanimous open world weanling champion both of these fine animals shown by Terry Sartain.

The move to a new location is wonderful. We are conveniently located just two and a quarter miles south of exit 18 off of highway 78 at 1594 Victoria Rd. (nice ring to it). We're just south of Memphis, in Byhalia, Mississippi. Perhaps we can help some of you to greater "victory" in the show ring or your breeding program, with a Meucci Ranch mare or gelding. Come see some of our past winners and their pregnant Mom's in the pasture. Eleven are bred to Dynamic Kid To a Te and several other top stallions, including Awe Striker. There will be thirty-one foals next year. We have sixty-five head, including five foals for you to choose from. This is the best time to pick a few. We are on shorter, newly dozed acreage. Because of this, we are slashing prices.

One tidbit for some of you to think about: How do we Halter Breeders like the new Non-Halter... "Halter Classes" like "Hunter In Hand" and other non-leading halter... leading halter-sire events! I'd also like to share some nutritional secrets that your vet probably doesn't even know - because they're cutting edge!

That's all for now!

If you're interested in checking out Bob's handiwork in high-resolution images head on over to: Meucci Cues Pictures, and meuccicues.com.

Or see some of Meucci Ranch's many beautiful horses: Meucci's Appaloosas.