Of the hundreds of horses that have won honors over the years at four national shows produced by the Arabian Horse Association--the U.S., Canadian, Youth and Sport Horse Nationals--five horses have conquered the arena winning the most championships by division (Arabian and Half/Anglo-Arabian) and gender. NDL Pericles+//, Monrovia X+//, Good Thunder+/, Berried Treasure++++// and Second Editions Debut+// are the ultimate ringmasters possessing the Arabian's charisma, soundness, trainability and willingness to please in show after show.

Standing at the very pinnacle of the Arabian show ring is NDL Pericles+// (Barbary+++ x *Poznan) owned by Jill Zamboni Contreras of Simi Valley, California, and trained by Wendy Potts of The Brass Ring in Burleson, Texas. The 20-year-old Arabian gelding has broken more records for wins than any other Arabian or Half-Arabian gelding, mare or stallion. He has not only captured the greatest number of U.S., Canadian and overall championships (30) he's won more titles (57) at both shows and overall. He didn't even start his championship winning streak until he was 9, taking the red roses in Arabian Hunter Pleasure open in '93 and '94, a feat he was to repeat four more times.

With vast reserves of energy, NDL Pericles+// soon showed that he had the versatility to successfully nab national title after title in open and amateur hunter pleasure, show hack, country English pleasure and English ladies side saddle. He's also taken 18 regional native costume and four western pleasure titles. His owner plans on competing with him in 2004 as long as he stays sound and enthusiastic.

A superlative performance horse with the beauty to match, Monrovia X+// (Barbary+++ x Mi Kauai) has taken more championships than any other Arabian mare. Owned by Russ Vento Jr. and Bob Battaglia of Battaglia Farms in Scottsdale, Arizona, Monrovia X+// started a successful career in the country English pleasure division that would span the next eight years. In her first year of showing she won a top ten at U.S. Nationals and the following year Monrovia X+// was the Canadian National Country English Pleasure Junior Horse Champion. The title would be the first of 14 national championships from Canadian, Youth and U.S. Nationals. Among her championship titles are wins in country English pleasure (four), country pleasure driving (four), country English pleasure JOTR (two), country English pleasure JTR (two) and one country pleasure driving AOTD championship. Monrovia X+// will be taking time out from showing this year to be a mom.

Last year at U.S. Nationals Marikate Matthews had the most bittersweet victory pass of her life on 20-year-old Arabian stallion Good Thunder+/ (Wisdom x GL Americle). After winning a fourth consecutive championship in Arabian Mounted Native Costume ATR, Good Thunder+/ clinched the open class, having won more championship titles than any other Arabian stallion. Matthews of Ocoee, Florida, and trainer John Rannenberg of Rohara Arabians in Orange Lake, Florida, retired Thunder at that show after the stallion had won 12 championships in open and amateur English pleasure driving (six), informal combination (one) and open and amateur native costume (five). In addition, he's earned numerous top tens and reserves in English pleasure. Matthews is taking dressage lessons on Good Thunder+/ and watching his offspring show this year.

The top Half-Arabian gelding Berried Treasure++++// (Huckleberry Bey++ x Prowlers Starlight) has accumulated more national championships (24) than any other Half/Anglo-Arabian gelding or mare. Owned by Katie Russell of Woodside, California, and trained by Wendy Potts, he ranks second overall, behind NDL Pericles+//, among all Arabians and Half/Anglo-Arabians. He started out taking a championship in gelding in-hand stock/hunter type. Hunter pleasure judges loved his bold, ground-covering stride and perfectly balanced gaits and awarded him six championships in open classes and eight in amateur. Later he added more notches to his championship belt picking up six championships in English ladies side saddle, one in amateur show hack and two in open show hack. Russell intends to keep showing the 14-year-old as long as he remains healthy and competitive.

Second Editions Debut+// (Regal Basque+/ x Vanity's Gal) has made a name for herself as one of the most successful Half-Arabian English pleasure horses, as well as the top Half-Arabian mare by picking up 13 national championships. Since Second Editions Debut+// started her career in English pleasure at the age of 3, she has rarely been out of first place. After winning her first championship at U.S. Nationals as an English pleasure junior horse in 1997, she has returned every year since to wear the rose blanket in either the English pleasure or pleasure driving divisions. Owned by Beth Harrison of Piedmont, Oklahoma, and trained by Shan Wilson of Chrishan Park in Springfield, Missouri, the 11-year-old mare will show at Youth Nationals again, where she picked up two unanimous championships in 2003. Wilson may try gaiting her for the five-gaited classes at National Horse Show Finals in September where she has won close to 18 grand national championships.

Top Five All-Time National Champions

The following 41 horses have won the most championship titles based on their division (Arabian or Half/Anglo-Arabian) and gender. Horses are ranked down to fifth place, and the rankings include *ties.

Arabian Geldings

Championships/Horse/Owner

30 NDL Pericles+// (Barbary+++ x *Poznan), Jill Zamboni Contreras

18 WR Sonaskada+// (Sonask x Brilliant Sonada), John Kelly

12 Magalad+// (Zodiac Matador x Gala de Cognac), Jack/Janet Roberts

11 JK Famous+ (Fame VF+ x JK Chelsea), John/Karen Sparks

10 GV Bey Phantom (Huckleberry Bey++ x PHP Micha Rappora, Amanda Purdin

Arabian Mares

14 Monrovia X+// (Barbary+++ x Mi Kauai), Russell Vento Jr.

10 S JustaDream+/ (Justafire DGL x Acquaintance), Michael/Rachel Wilmet

8 Toi Jabaska (Matoi x Mc Jabaskolee), Cedar Ridge Arabians

*6 Magination V (Fame VF+ Mosquerade V), Vallejo III

*6 Vivacious Leigh+// (Focus Alimus+/ x DW Baskal), Meghan Braden

*6 Serannada+// (Robby x Serana), Alice/Sandra Robeinson

*5 Al-Marah Mozonna+/ (Al-Marah Dreamonn x Al-Marah Mosaic), E. Ann Haughness

*5 Firebey Berry+// (Huckleberry Bey++ x Fire Miss), Kelley Burr

Arabian Stallions

12 Good Thunder+/ (Wisdom x GL Americle), Marikate/Mark Matthews

9 WN Knight Rider+// (GG Samir x WN Aralena), Betty Henry

*9 HSA Haleys Comet +// (Skamper x Ok Ellazella), Beth Noteman

8 Mamage (Zodiac Matador+ x CF Fire Magic), Beth Jupp

7 Triften+/ (Matrifik x Tender Mercies), Dolorosa Arabians

*6 Focus Alimus+/ (Ruminaja Ali x Focus Doella), Ilona Leavitt/Steven Zenisek

*6 Lasodo+// (Lea Report x La Iilea), Darlene Dixon-Bottorff

*6 *Betys+// (Dandi II x Isis), Amy Bott

*6 Hey Hallelujah (Huckleberry Bey++ x Hallelujah Bask), Strawberry Banks Farm

Half-Arabian Geldings

24 Berried Treasure++++// Huckleberry Bey+ x Starlight Prowlers, Katie/Joe Russell

16 Sweet XTC++++// (TC Expression+/ x Sweet Seranade+/), Thomas/Judith Effenheim

11 Lightnin Strikes (Islamorada++ x Vanity's Foxy Lady), Joe Betten

*10 Smokestak Lightin+++// (El Montenegro x Nora Rose), Dan Smith

*10 JM Marquis Spirit (Marquis de Cognac x Spirit's Fancy Free), Lindsay Rinehart

*9 Dancealot (Zodiac Matador+ x Lady Desdemona), Prestige Farms LLC

*9 SD Dartanian+++// (Frohwind x PF Marquesa), Patricia Clark

*9 Vallejo Exclusive+// (Fame VF+ x Vallejo Eclipse+++), Elizabeth/David Bentley

Half-Arabian Mares

13 Second Editions Debut+// (Regal Basque+/ Vanity's Gal), Beth/Judith Harrison

*10 Scene Stealer++++ (Comoshun x SS Sweet Samantha ), Buckshot Show Horses LLC

*10 Mattaroyale+// (Zodiac Matador+ x Sherry), Nancy Shafer

*10 FSR Final Cheers (Barbary+++ x Luv That Status), James/Whitney Taylor

*8 RW Candy Kisses+// (BH Santana x Summer Kisses), Prestige Farms LLC

*8 Vallejo Caramel Chip+// (Zips Chocolate Chip x Vallejo Dove+/), Sally Sutton Henry *7 Hearts on Fire RR (DW Bonfire x April Ruby), Crown Ranch

*7 Express Yourself+// (CH Captive Spirit X RayaRoyale+), Ashleigh Ferran

*6 Angelfire CF+// (Hucklebey Berry+/ x Bemet El Paso), Norman and Kirk Hubbard

*6 Dun Scootin+// (Hollywood Dun It x Ra-bon Azragal), Buckshot Farms

*6 SWF Central Park+// (Supreme Heir x BB Flamingo Rose), Linda Kennedy-Jackson

* Tied placings

AHA is a 40,000 member equine association that registers and maintains a database of more then one million Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses. It administers more than $4 million in annual prize money, produces national events, maintains official event records, recognizes more than 400 Arabian horse shows and distance rides and provides activities and programs that promote breeding and ownership. For information about Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses, call 303-696-4500, e-mail info@ArabianHorses.org or visit www.ArabianHorses.org.

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