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DARE TO DREAM: The Morgan and Michele Story
It was not long ago that I was standing ring side watching our first
ridgeback being shown by another. I dared to dream that one day I would
show my own dog and win.
In 1994 we
acquired our first ridgeback from Alicia Mohr-Hanna of Kimani Kennels. I
started attending conformation classes and watching pro-handlers at all
breed dog shows. My husband, Chris was usually seen at ring side videoing
performances. We purchased numerous old Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of The
United States (RRCUS) National video's, old ridgeback magazines, and books
of our breed to study health, genetics, training issues, and history.
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My first memorable win occurred in March of 1997. I won
Best Of Breed to finish a championship from the open dog class over
multiple top ten specials. The show was a 5 point major and was with Ch.
Kimani's Walk On The Wild Side ROM, aka Deion. He was 17 months old at the
time. Deion and I went on to finish out the 1997 season as the Number 9 'RRCUS'
Ridgeback.
(CH. Kimani's Walk On The Wild Side, ROM at right.)
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With two champions in our house it became apparent that if
I wanted to continue showing, I was going to end up with a household of
twenty dogs or I would need to start helping friends finish their dogs. It
was not long after that I was helping to champion breeds from every group
for friends and also Pro Handlers who ran into ring conflicts.
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Nagano is our first bred ridgeback. He became Ch. Makana's
Probable Cause, SC by winning Best of Breed from the open dog class for a
5 point major. The show was a 'RRCUS' supported entry with multiple top
ten specials. Nagano is an excellent lure courser and has his ASFA
Championship.
(Ch. Makana's Probable Cause, FC at left.)
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In 1998 Deion was bred to a beautiful Oakhurst bitch. Her name
was Ch. Oakhurst Levi, and she was owned by Barbara Rupert,
Mike and Mary Warfield. We purchased our third ridgeback,
Oakhurst WGASA Celine, out of this litter. Barbara kept
a male from this same litter, Oakhurst WGASA Morgan Run.
Through out this year we often visited Southern
California to attend shows and visit with Barbara and
Dick. Each time Michele fell more and more in love with Morgan.
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Ch. Oakhurst WGASA Celine finished her championship with
Michele in Carson City, Nevada by winning a 5 point Major,
RRCUS Supported Entry. The following day she celebrated
her new Championship by winning her first Best of Breed.
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Ch. Oakhurst WGASA Morgan Run was handled exclusively by his Breeder,
Barbara Rupert, in the classes and finished his championship at just
16 months of age with limited showing.
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LORD OF THE RING
When
Morgan was just a little over two years of age, I finally convinced Barbara
and Dick to let me show him. Although he had not been shown for some time,
we instantly became a team. In a short period of time, we took the west
coast and then the country by storm. By the fall of 2000, we were ranked in
the Top Ten. In just 6 short months, we finished the year ranked number 8 'RRCUS'
ridgeback.
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The 2001 season started off where the 2000 season ended,
winning and more winning. In June, Morgan won his first
All Breed Best in Show becoming the 31st ridgeback in the
history of the breed to do so. He is also one of the very
few owner handled ridgebacks to win multiple All Breed
Best in Shows.
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At the shows leading up to the 2001 RRCUS National
Specialty, Morgan and I had won 12 shows in a row.
Our teamwork had synchronized. I was honored to
win an Award Of Merit under judge, Pat Craige Trotter.
Morgan finished 2001 ranked as the # 3 'RRCUS' ridgeback.
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Currently Morgan is once again ranked the #3 'RRCUS'
Ridgeback All Systems. Morgan is now 4 years old and both physically and
mentally at the top of his game. This year he added another National
Specialty Award Of Merit under judge, Mrs. Barbara D. Alderman, and another
All Breed Best In Show under judge, Mr. Robert Stein, to his list of
accolades.
For the past two and a half years Morgan has been by
my side and it has been a great pleasure and honor for me
to live with and exhibit him. His consistent show attitude
and classic ridgeback type is honest and true. His giant heart
and unconditional love have been my inspiration. Below is a
poem written by my husband Chris that is dedicated to Morgan.
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My love for him fills my heart and soul
He is loud and out of control, nicknamed 'Red Bull'
His effortless motion, so full of pride
'Who let the dogs out' is his battle cry
Take em' a round, 'Dig In'
Catch him… If you can
Our path together has been full of emotion
Standing still or poetry in motion
At home on a quiet day or winning best in show
Take my breath away, he is the rainbow
In my home he lives like a King
And In my heart …Lord of The Ring
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