Ooh Ah Young Hunter Champ

By September 3, 2011
The chestnut filly Ooh Ah has a large blaze and two white socks on her left side.

Ooh Ah was Leslie Nelson's fourth West Coast winner and first to claim the National title.
(Photo by Maria Morgan)

Ooh Ah, an 18-month-old Thoroughbred cross bred by Santa Ynez-based Leslie Nelson, has been named the 2011 Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF National Hunter Breeding Grand Champion.

The chestnut filly with the large blaze competed against several dozen horses in Southern California at the Del Mar Horse Park on August 31 to claim the title Best Young Horse West Coast, putting her in contention with the East Coast victors ― selected Sept. 3 at the historic Warrenton Horse Show in Warrenton, Virginia ― for the honor National Best Young Horse.

Ooh Ah (Nob Hill x Holy Cow by Fire Jade) was bred and owned by Nelson and handled by John Ducharme. “I really didn’t think this day would ever come,” said Nelson, who won three past West Coast victories only to lose the Grand Champion title to East Coast horses. “I was in a state of shock,” Nelson remarked. Known around the barn as Josie, Nelson described Ooh Ah, a yearling, as “without a doubt the quietest, nicest, most uncomplicated filly. She’s just really simple.”

In addition to Yearling, the young horses on each coast compete in Two Year Old and Three Year Old categories.

The Reserve Champion title for the West Coast went to the two-year-old Oldenburg filly Rendezvous, bred, owned, and handled by Sue Lightner, based at Lightacres Stables in Modesto, Calif. Leightner was also awarded the Ted Feiger Memorial Trophy for leading handler. Rendezvous (Ragtime x Misty view by Star Choice) also is familiar with the spotlight, having won the Reserve Champion Best Young Horse West Coast title in 2010.

Best Young Horse East Coast Porte Fino
(Photo by Susan M. Carter)

The Best Young Horse East Coast honors went to the Oldenburg colt Porte Fino (Westporte x Wajimego by Mr. Redoy) bred by Melissa Mihalevich, co-owned by Alexis Von Zimmer, and handled by Bucky Reynolds. The Reserve Best Young Horse East Coast was True North, a chestnut Oldenburg filly (Cabardino x Hanna by Tavistock) bred and owned by Diana Dodge of Nokomis Farm and handled by Oliver Brown. Brown also was the Leading Handler East Coast and was awarded the Belcort Farm Perpetual Trophy.

Ooh Ah breeder Nelson was also awarded the Dave Kelley Perpetual Trophy donated by Nokomis Farm. The Overall Reserve Grand Champion title went to Porte Fino.

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