Cazabu Farms

Picture by, Bryan Nigro Show Photography.

The New York State Horse Breeders Association voted to recognize the Nokota breed and include them in their annual breed show in May 2010. Thanks to the efforts of Leigh Garber and Cazabu Farms of Cazenovia, New York, Nokotas would finally have the chance to compete against each other and be judged stricitly on the merits of the of their unique breed. We started with a limited slate of classes that would highlight the Nokotas natural ability as the perfect all around horse. Any Nokota that is dually registered as a Pinto also had the opportunity to show in the large array of Pinto classes. The Nokota Breeding Classes included halter classes for Stallions, Mares and Geldings. Halter classes were split between 3 year olds and younger and 4 year olds and older. Cazabu Farms Thunder Fox (3 yr. old stallion), Nahimana (7 yr. old mare) and Amigo (8 yr. old gelding) won in their respective classes. The judges were provided background information regarding the physical attributes of the Nokota breed before the show started and they asked many questions during the classes in an effort to educate themselves. The judges loved the Nokota's overall build, legs and feet, complimented all of us on their hair coats, manes and tails and above all, their demeanor. Nokotas love the limelight and very proudly accepted their ribbons at the end of a class. The next breeding class was color. Cazabu Farms had almost every color represented: red roan, strawberry roan, blue roan, dun overo, tri-color overo, grey overo, grulla and solid black. Cazabu Farms' stunning blue roan stalliion, Thunder Fox, walked away with the blue ribbon. After the conclusion of the breeding classes the performance classes began with showmanship, first the youth then the adults. Maddie Wolsey won the youth class with her strawberry roan pony, Lootah. Leigh Garber beat out her husband, Rick Garber and won the class with her mare, Nahimana. Then came the hunt seat classes: Hunter Under Saddle Three years and younger, Hunter Under Saddle 4 years and older and Hunter Hack ( a combination of flat work and jumping 18" fences). Competition was tough and exhibitors were laughing with each other as they tried to eliminate each other from a ribbon. Once again, Cazabu Farms' Amigo swept his classes. Afterwards,the judge came over to the exhibitors to thank them for showing and to tell them he had not had that much fun judging a horse show in 40 years. It was refreshing to see fun back in a horse show. Ideal pleasure, a combination of flat work and halter, for English or Western Equipment was next and the blue ribbon went to Thunder Fox. Performance classes continued with Trail, Reining and Western Pleasure with Thunder Fox and Nahimana taking home the blue ribbons. The spirit of comaraderie and friendly competiton continued as exhibitors cheered for each other and made the judges smile and shake their heads. At the end of the two days the Nokotas had thoroughly impressed everyone from spectators to show officials and were invited back to participate in next year's show. Oh, and of course, Cazabu Farms' Amigo proudly went home with the Nokota High Point Champion Award for the show.