The Arabian Horse Association (AHA) is proud to have a big, beautiful, Half-Arabian mare representing the Arabian breed as a semi-finalist for the United States Equestrian Federation’s (USEF) ‘Horse of the Year’ award. Nutcracker Sweet PF (Undulata’s Nutcracker x Ames Déjà Vu) is not just beautiful, but also talented and athletic - wowing every crowd who has the honor of watching her grace a show ring.
Honoring the Horse of the Year
The Arabian Horse Association (AHA) is proud to have a big, beautiful, Half-Arabian mare representing the Arabian breed as a semi-finalist for the United States Equestrian Federation’s (USEF) ‘Horse of the Year’ award.
© 2014 by USEF
Nutcracker Sweet PF is a 2008 Half-Arabian mare, out of a Saddlebred sire and Arabian dam, owned by Juliette Dell. Having been named the Arabian Horse Times, Half-Arabian Saddle Seat Horse of the Year, this mare has trotted her way through prestigious accolades her entire career.
Trained by James Stachowski, of Stachowski Farm, INC., Nutcracker Sweet PF has garnered more wins in the English division than any other Half-Arabian of the same age, in history. She has been shown in both the Open and Junior rider divisions and has won seven National and Reserve National Championships.
As a four-year old in 2012, this athletic mare became the first horse in history to win the AEPA Halcon Furniture $50,000 Half-Arabian Futurity at U.S. Nationals. She continues to hold the record score of 209 out of a possible 210 in the individual pattern work for that class, to this day.
Six championship titles and three additional first-place finishes in 2014 earned Nutcracker Sweet PF a nomination for USEF’s ‘Horse of the Year’ award. Beginning their year in Scottsdale, AZ, Nutcracker Sweet PF and owner, Juliette Dell captured the crowd’s (and judges’) attention at the 59th Annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show. Here, they won the Half-Arabian/Anglo-Arabian (HA/AA) English Pleasure Champion Junior Exhibitor to Ride (JTR) 18 & Under championship title.
Then at AHA’s Arabian & Half-Arabian Youth Nationals, the dynamic duo claimed the titles of the HA/AA English Pleasure Junior Owner to Ride 14-18 and the HA/AA English Pleasure JTR 14-18 classes.
Closing out the year at AHA’s Arabian & Half-Arabian U.S. National Championship Horse Show in Tulsa, Okla., Nutcracker Sweet PF and trainer James Stachowski brought whistles and cheers from the crowd, earning the red roses and Championship title in the HA/AA English Pleasure Championship class. To say the least, this wonderful mare is well deserving of the USEF ‘Horse of the Year’ nomination.
The USEF ‘Horse of the Year’ title is awarded to two horses (a national and international horse) that have excelled above all others in equestrian competition for that given year. The nominated horse or pony must be at least three years of age; have won a national championship, an FEI rated four-star competition, or medaled in an FEI continental, regional or world championship in its respective discipline; and have competed in a USEF licensed or FEI competition in 2014.
Horses are nominated through USEF Recognized National or FEI Affiliates – each one nominating one horse or pony per their representative breed or discipline. Voting for this award is already under way and can be completed at: https://www.usef.org/_IFrames/hoty/default2.aspx. Polls close December 30, 2014 at midnight ET.
Please join AHA in not just congratulating Nutcracker Sweet PF for her nomination for this prestigious award, but also in voting for her continued success and honor. Congratulations Nutcracker Sweet PF, Juliette Dell and James Stachowski!
AHA is a major equine association serving 85,600 Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horse owners across North America. AHA registers and maintains a database of more than one million Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses and administers approximately $3 million in annual prize money. AHA produces championship events, recognizes over 550 Arabian horse shows and distance rides and provides activities, education, and programs that promote breeding and ownership.