Trapp O'Neal Gallops To Victory In Level 5 Jumpers At Dallas Harvest Horse Show

Photo Credit: Trapp O'Neal and Al Cantaro, winners of the Level 5 Jumpers. Photo (C) 2008 Jenny Underwood/PMG.

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Tyler, TX - November 4, 2008 - Today kicked off the first day of competition at the beautiful Texas Rose Horse Park in Tyler, TX. The Dallas Harvest Horse Show will run though November 9, 2008. The sold out show will host over 400 horses and riders over the course of five days.

The horse show has many fundraising events planned to raise money for Habitat for Horses. Habitat is a horse protection organization that provides a second chance for animals that have come in to their care.

In addition to protecting these animals, Habitat also strives to educate horse lovers and horse owners about proper horse ownership and care. This organization has received support from country music legends Willie Nelson and Toby Keith. Habitat will be on the show grounds for the duration of the show with adoptable horses available.

The last two classes in the grand prix ring today were the Level 5 and Level 6 Jumpers. In the Level 5 Jumpers, Trapp O'Neal took home the blue ribbon aboard Al Cantaro, owned by Isabelle Potts.

O'Neal piloted Al Cantaro to a quick first round time of 70.880. The class was run according to Table II 2b; if a rider went clear, they would immediately begin their jump off round. O'Neal clocked in at 31.358 seconds in the jump off with no faults. This is only his second time showing Al Cantaro.

"He is a six-year-old gelding that was just imported a few months ago. He was jumping around the 1.30 meter classes in Germany. This is our first show doing the Level 5 Jumpers," said O'Neal. "He is a nice up-and-coming grand prix horse; I just need a little bit of time to get him developed."

O'Neal resides near Fort Worth, TX, and just recently started his own training and sales barn with his girlfriend called TKO Sport Horses.

"This is our fifth month in our new venture. So far everything is going great. It is a work in progress, but we have got some good customers behind us," said O'Neal. "We are in a new area, so we are still getting the word out and letting people know who we are and what we do."

O'Neal was also very complimentary of the show.

"It is a nice show. It is beautiful, and they have done a lot with the facility. Patrick (Rodes) puts on a good show and brings in good course designers. It is nice because it is close to home in Texas, and you don't have to travel to get the kind of quality that he is bringing here," said O'Neal.

Following the Level 5 Jumpers were the Level 6 Jumpers. Run according to Table II 2b, riders followed the same format as the other jumper classes earlier in the day.

Winning the Level 6 Jumper class was Tracy Fenney on Sarah Busbice's horse Tenfold. She beat the rest of the field with a blazing fast jump off time of 31.267 with no jumping faults.

"I just started riding him at the last horse show. He is awesome. He is real light and has a good motor; he is really a nice horse," said Fenney. "I get to start riding him in the grand prixs now. The course was nice. It was good to get your feet wet and get in the ring and get going. He is very quick; everything he does is tight and fast."

Fenney trains with Michael McCormick. Fenney is well known at the Dallas Harvest Horse Show. She is a frequent winner of many of the jumper classes and has won the grand prix here more than once.

Tomorrow the jumpers will continue with another round of classes. The last class in the jumper ring will be the $3,000 Welcome Stake sponsored by the Bruheim Family of Nordic Lights Farm. An exhibitor's welcome party is also on the schedule for the end of the day.

Level 5 Jumpers

1. Al Cantaro, Isabelle Potts, Trapp O'Neal, 0/0/31.358
2. Foreign Legion, DS Holdings LLC, Frank Owens, 0/0/32.965
3. CR Aryenne, Brett Gage, Russell Frey, 0/8/32.864
4. MTM Remington, MTM Farm, Michael McCormick, 0/retired
5. Santina H, DS Holdings LLC, Whitney Owens, 3/78.032
6. Game On, DS Holdings LLC, Frank Owens, 4/65.695

Level 6 Jumpers

1. Tenfold, Sarah Busbice, Tracy Fenney, 0/0/31.267
2. Eltana, Dr. & Mrs. John Baker, Russell Frey, 0/0/34.10
3. Cajun Kid, Kathleen Schweikert, T.J. Le Blanc, 0/8/35.741
4. Eternity 18, Bruheim Sims Show Jumpers, Sherre Sims, 0/4/36.345
5. Santina H, DS Holdings LLC, Whitney Owens, 0/4/37.495
6. Indian Creek's Mighty Magic, Irene Galo, Gunnar Roer, 12/89.092