Balmullo's Beacon: Competition record 

At the 2021 ACPS annual awards meeting, he was awarded the *Tooreen Laddie HALL OF FAME Trophy for his outstanding contributions to the breed through his offspring.

Balmullo's Beacon was trained & competed by Jill Mooney (GA) 1998-1999.
In 2000-2006, he occasionally competed under his owner, Vanessa Morgan, and dutifully carried any interested rider around the farm.
9 yr old junior rider, Avery Lewis, took over the reins from 2010 - 2013.
In 2014, he provided wonderful competition and cross-country experience to a new junior eventer, Breezy.
After that, Beacon went on to teach a few more new young riders, including my granddaughter, Alyssa. He also did a short stint as a lesson pony at a local barn. When he started declining, I brough him home, and after some rehabilitation, he became the perfect partner for my student, Krista. She and Beacon were preparing for their first show together in 2020, when the pandemic shut-down hit us all. They never got to the show ring, but he tried to hang on as long as he could for Krista, but we eventually had to say "good-bye".

At the 2012 ACPS Annual meeting, he was awarded the An Tostal HALL OF FAME Trophy for outstanding lifetime acheivements of a Connemara Stallion.

 

 

Beacon's Competition RESULTS (in reverse chronological order)

2014

2014 River Glen Fall Horse Trials - 6th o/o 12 starters in Jr BN (Breezy's first event!)

Schoolmaster, Balmullo's Beacon, teaching Breezy the way to event with fun, safety and success (River Glen Fall HT 2014)

Balmullo's Beacon is now semi-retired; he is still in the show ring occasionally. His primary job is school-master for Breezy; he also doubles as the trusty pony for Lou when she comes to visit.

8/2/13 Smokey Mountain Horse Show (at Stone Gate Farm, Knoxville, TN)
Bri earned 2nd place in her first-ever jumper class and they did a fabulous job!

Alyssa took home the blue ribbon in her first english riding class - walk only.

2013

2013Certificate of Achievement in Jumpers

Click here to read about the Beacon-Lewis Team

2013 Atlanta Youth Dressage Challenge

10/11/13 USDF Regional Dressage Championships

Dressage Seat Equitation Medal Semi-Finals 13 and under - 4th place
Training Level Jr Yr Championships - 7th place

9/14/13 Good Horsemen Annual Dressage Show (USDF rated) at the Georgia International Horse Park.

Champion for Junior High Score for the show!
Won three of four classes.
Training Level Test 3 (Qualifying) 71.4% - 1st place
1st Level Test 3 (Qualifying) 62.7% - 2nd place
Training Level Test 3 (Qualifying) 70.6% - 2nd place
1st Level Test 3 (Qualifying) 63.8% - 1st place
Qualified for Regional Dressage Champs in October in Training Level.

9/1/13 Labor Day Classic Dressage Show (USDF rated)

1st Level Test 1 (Qualifying) 60.484% - 1st place
1st Level Test 1 66.2% - 1st place
1st Level Test 3 - 5th place

8/2/13 River Glen Horse Trials - 7th o/o 9 starters in Jr Novice


2013 ACPS Region IV Connemara Jumper Champion

5/4/13 Poplar Place Eventing Regional Championships - - 13th o/o 16 starters in Jr Novice

April 2013 Good Horsemen Annual Dressage Show (USDF rated) at the Georgia International Horse Park.

Champion for Junior High Score for the show!
Won three of four classes.
Training Level Test 3 66.8% - 1st place
1st Level Test 1 66.2% - 3rd place
Training Level Test 3 66.216% - 1st place
1st Level Test 1 73.2% - 1st place
Qualified for Regional Dressage Champs in October in Training Level.

4/19/13 River Glen Horse Trials - 1st place o/o 9 starters in Jr Novice

4/6/13 Poplar Place CT - 1st o/o 9 starters in Novice

3/16/13 Pine Top Fall Horse Trials - 13th o/o 15 starters in Jr Novice

2/2/13 Poplar Place Horse Trials - retired in Novice

1/19/13 Poplar Place Horse Trials - 5th in Jr/Yr Novice

 

2012

Winner of the ACPS Hall of Fame An Tostal Trophy:
Awarded in recognition of a career of outstanding achievement, both competitive and non-competitive, of a purebred stallion.

USEA Gold Medal & USEA Blue Ribbon

GDCTA - 1st place for Jr Training level dressage


11/10-11/11/12 Poplar Place Horse Trials - 2nd place o/o 12 starters in Jr Novice-B, w/a 29.1

10/20-10/21/12 Paradise Farm Fall Horse Trials - 1st place o/o 15 starters in Novice-B, w/a 29.5

10/5/12 USDF Regional Dressage Championships, Fairburn, GA, Chattahoochee Hills

Jr/YR Training Championships - 6th out of 24
Training Test 3 - 1st place

9/29-9/30/12 ACPS Region IV Annual Show, Highfields, Aiken,SC
Connemara Jumper Champion

7/12-7/12/12 Good Horsemen Annual Dressage Show (USDF rated) at the Georgia International Horse Park.

Avery has done it again! Riding Balmullo's Beacon, she won the Jr. High Score Championship at The USDF Good Horsemans Dressage Show (9/15-9/16/12). She rode in four (4) Training Level classes (tests T1, T2, T3 & T3), earning first place in all 4 classes! Avery earned the 2nd highest score of the show with a 75.3, earning a Good Horseman medal for scores above 75.

Avery and Beacon ran in the Jr BN division of the American Eventing Championships at Chattahoochee Hills in Fairburn, GA, the weekend of 9/7-9/9/12. Finished out of the ribbons with no jumping faults in the highly contested divison of 84 competitors.

7/12-7/12/12 Good Horsemen Annual Dressage Show (USDF rated) at the Georgia International Horse Park.

Reserve Champion for Junior High Score for the show.
Won three of four classes.
Training Level Test 1 67.2%
Training Level Test 2 67.143%
Training Level Test 3Q 69.0%
Training Level Test 3Q 69.0%
Qualified for Regional Dressage Champs in October.

6/9-6/11/12 Good Horsemen Annual Dressage Show (USDF rated) at the Georgia International Horse Park.
Champion for Junior High Score of the show
Sat: 6/9 Training Level Test 1 74.58 1st place
Sat: 6/9 Training Level Test 3 72.8 1st place
Sun: 6/10 Training Level Test 2 68.39 1st place
Sun: 6/10 Training Level Test 3 69.8 1st place
They now have half of their qualification for the US Dressage Federation Regional Championships in October.

5/5-5/6/12 Poplar Place USEA Horse Trials (Regional Championships) - 1st place, w/a 27.5

4/21-4/22/12 River Glen USEA Horse Trials at JNR - 1st place o/o 16 starters, w/a 27.0


4/7-4/8/12 Chattahoochee USEA Horse Trials at NR - 9th 0/0 16 starters

3/24-3/25/12 Poplar Spring USEA Horse Trials at BNR - 8th o/o 17 starters

3/17-3/18/12 Pine Top Farm USEA Horse Trials at BN - 4th http://www.hoofclix.com/Pine-Top-Farm/2012-03-18-USEA-Horse-Trial/AveryLewisatopBalmullos/21988600_kwVJvG#!i=1761241814&k=WbqnqBJ

2/18-2/19/12 Paradise Farm USEA Horse Trials at BNR - 7th o/o 15 starters

2/11/12 Malone Farms Combined Test - 1st place Novice Division, w/22 ppts!

2011

GDCTA 2011 Year-End Awards 3rd place BN Division

12/3/11 Malone Farms Combined Test - 2nd place Novice Division

11/26-11/27/11 Pine Top USEA Horse Trials at BN - 2nd place o/o 12 starters, w/31.5 ppts

Avery received her USEA Gold Medal yesterday. That is for three shows with dressage below 35 and all clear cross country. She can wear the medal pin on her jacket when she competes. Beacon seemed to prefer carrots, which he got a lot of.

They have also earned a USEA Blue Ribbon Award for finishing 1st through 3rd in three events in the same year.
They are already qualified for both Regional Champs (May) and AEC (Sept) 2012.

11/12-11/13/11 Poplar Place USEA Horse Trials at BN - 2nd place o/o 15 starters, w/30.0 ppts

10/19-10/20/11 Paradise Farm HT 5th place o/o 14 starters, w/31.0 (double clear)

Avery and Beacon have earned a USEA Blue Ribbon Award for finishing 1st through 3rd in three events in the same year (2011)

Balmullo's Beacon was awarded the USEA Eventing Gold Medal with Avery Lewis at the Beginner Novice Level for finishing three times on a scored of 35 or less.

10/8-10/9/11 Pine Top USEA Horse Trials at BN - 2nd place o/o 15 starters, w/30.0 ppts

9/24-9/25/11 Poplar Place USEA Horse Trials at BN - 3rd place o/o x starters, w/30.5 ppts


9/10/11 Barlyn Farm Dressage Show:
1st place Training Level Test 1
1st place Training Level Test 2
1st place Training Level Test 3


9/3-9/4/11 Labor's Reward Highfields USEF/USDF Dressage Show, Aiken, SC:
1st place USDF Intro C
1st place Training Level Test 1
1st place USDF Intro C
1st place Training Level Test 1

8/6/11 Barlyn Farm GDCTA Dressage Show:
1st place Training Level Test 1
3rd place Training Level Test 2
5th place Training Level Test 3

6/25-6/25/11 ACPS Region IV Connemara Show at Canterbury Showplace in Newberry, FL
Connemara Jumper Champion
Connemara Combined Training Champion
Open Connemara Hunter Pony 2'9 Under Saddle - 3rd
Open Connemara Pony Hunter 2'9 Over Fences - 3rd
Open Connemara Pony Hunter 2'9 Over Fences - 3rd
Connemara Pony Jumper Beg Nov Combined 2'6 (OT) - 1st
Connemara Pony Jumper 2'9 ( 2IIb, optimum time) - 1st
DERBY CLASS Connemaras 2'6 - 3rd
Beg Nov. Combined Test (USEF 2011 Beg Nov B and Stadium 2'6") - 1st

5/20-5/22/11 Chattahoochee Hills USEA Horse Trials at BN - 7th/14 w/59 ppts

5/6-5/8/11 Poplar Place USEA Horse Trials at BN - 2nd place o/o 14 starters, w/35.0 ppts

4/16/11 Newton County Horse Show
Low Hunter (2') - 5th/16
Equitation OF (2') - 1st/14
Hunter Hack - 4/20

3/19-3/20/11 Pine Top USEA Spring Horse Trials at BN - 8th/15 w/ 40.5 ppts

2010
Ridden by Avery Lewis (9), Hilltoppers Pony Club (GA)

HTPC Fall Fundraiser D & CT Show 11/20/10
2nd place Tadpole CT
1st place BN CT


Barlyn Dressage Show (GDCTA recognized) 10/9/10
Walk/Trot Test A - 1st place
Walk/Trot Test B - 1st place
Walk/Trot Champion (2 show series)
Training Test 1 - 1st place

Pony Club Regional Dressage Rally 10/2/10
Tied for 1st (out of 19 participants)

On Sept 25, Beacon and Avery competed in their first 2 dressage classes together and earned two blue ribbons with scores in the high 60's.

2006

2006 SILVER MEDALLION IN DRESSAGE

9/30-10/1/05 USEA Jump Start Horse Trials, Kentucky Horse Park at NR under Vanessa Morgan - 2nd place o/o 19 starters, w/35.5 ppts

2nd Place Novice Combined Test, CDCTS at McCord Farm (TN) 9/9/06, with owner/rider, Vanessa Morgan.

6/17/06, ACPS Region IV Show, Flat Creek Ranch, Hogansville, GA, Judges: Helen King (In-hand), Kathy Bridges (Performance) and Sally Crews (Dressage) - shown in-hand by Vanessa Morgan and under saddle by Jill Mooney

RESERVE CHAMPION PUREBRED IN-HAND

2nd place Stallions In-hand

Training Level Test 2 - 3rd place  53.18%

Training Level Test 3 - 1st place 60.42%

1st place Novice Combined Test

2004

2nd place Gambler's Choice & 3rd place Open Jumpers (ridden by Carla Jimmerson) at the 2004 ACPS Region 4 Connemara Celebration and Open Show

2001
I promised myself that in 2001 I would concentrate on riding Balmullo's Beacon, Bubba, primarily in dressage because a) I don't have enough time to really school three phases and b) dressage is where I need to improve the most. Well, the focus seems to be paying off! I took Bubba to a dressage show yesterday and came home with blue ribbons in both of my classes! The really exciting part of this story is that I had a great time:o) In the back of my mind, I wondered how much fun I would/could actually have riding and showing "just in dressage". Well, I have to tell you that I had tons of fun! I came out of the ring with an ear-to-ear grin:o) The thing that I enjoyed so much is that I have finally come to understand how my aids can influence his movement and how to apply my aids with confidence. Now that I am able to do this, Bubba is so much more responsive and we are both relaxed and happy about it. I don't think it's the technical stuff that made our rides so pleasant to do and to watch, but it's the relaxation and enjoyment that were most likely evident to the judge. Our tests just flowed; the only problem was a pilot error resulting in -2 from our score in Tr 2.

We ended up with high score of the show!! signed, Ness and Bubba

10/13/01, ETCTDA D&CT at River Glen:

Training Level Test 1 - 1st place 70.50%
Training Level Test 2 - 1st place 67.91%

8/3-8/4/01, ACPS Region IV Show, Georgia International Horse Park, Conyers, GA, Judges: Ann Toth, Dressage and Caroline Nesbitt, In-hand and Hunter/Jumper
1st place Novice Combined Test
Training Level Test 1 - 2nd place  58.64%
Training Level Test 3 - 1st place 60.77%
2nd place Stallions In-hand
2000

Beacon's 2000 competition record under rider/owner, Vanessa Morgan:

11th Place Sr. Open Novice, River Glen Horse Trials (TN) 11/4 - 11/5/00

Bubba and I finished up our eventing season this year in the Sr. Open Novice division at the River Glen Horse Trials. We didn't finish in the ribbons this time (due primarily to some unnecessary additional movements in our dressage test!) but we had 2 wonderful, fault-free, jumping rounds. This event was really fun because the weather was perfect and the company was wonderful; I got to see some old friends and made some new ones. Start watching for Bubba at the local (TN/GA/NC) dressage shows. (11/00)


5th Place USCTA Area 3 Novice Horse Championships, Turning Point Horse Trials, Big Bear Farm, Pine Mountain (GA) 10/21 - 22/00



Bubba gave me a new challenge in dressage last weekend. He was being lazy and I obviously hadn't yet learned how to make him work when he's like that. He's only recently been lazy. In the spring he was "hot to trot" (must have been something in the air!), so I have a slightly different ride now than I did then. It will be good for me as a rider to learn how to work though this but it doesn't help my scores much right now:-) We were in 4th after X-co, with a 37.0, but I dropped a rail in stadium (my fault) so we finished 5th. I was a little disappointed about that but the most important thing is that I had a great time!! Bubba is so special and so well trained that I can just go out there and have fun. I just need to improve my riding so he gets the colors he deserves.

USCTA Area III, Team 6 brought home the blue ribbon at the Chronicle of the Horse Eastern Region Adult Team Championship Horse Trials at FENCE, Tryon, NC, 9/30-10/1/00!!

Team members included:

  • Linda Dreher (Southern Pines, NC) on If Nothing Goes Wrong
  • Joyce Hampton (Blythewood, SC) on Pony Tail Mike
  • Melinda Holland (Landrum, SC) on Gita
  • Vanessa Morgan (Athens, TN) on Balmullo's Beacon

Beacon finished on his dressage score to contribute to the team's final winning score of 109.6

Click here for the article from the "The Chronicle of the Horse".

I celebrated a land-mark birthday (you guess which one!) at the USCTA 2000 Midland Horse Trials (GA), finishing in 3rd place on her dressage score with Balmullo's Beacon in Sr. Novice Rider.

I can't tell you how much fun I had!!! Our dressage was pretty good, placing us 6th out of 16. Less than 2 hours later, we smoked around the hilly cross country course with ease. Bubba is SO great! I felt half my age:-) We moved up to 4th. Stadium was very nice and we moved up to 3rd place. Let me thank Jill Mooney, at least one more time, for the rock solid training she did on Bubba!!

3rd Place Novice Rider Division, Midland Horse Trials (GA) 5/13 - 14/00

Balmullo's Beacon and Vanessa Morgan finished the Sr. Novice Rider division at the USCTA Pine Top Horse Trials (4/15 & 4/16/00) on their dressage score of 31.0 and took home the blue ribbon!:o)))

I often speak of how proud I am of our stallion, Balmullo's Beacon, as an outstanding sire and athlete, yet today I have a new appreciation. I have not ridden competitively for about 5-6 years and it has probably been closer to 7 or so years since I did a recognized event. This weekend (4/15-4/16/00), I went to the Pine Top Horse Trials in Thomson, GA, to ride my stallion in our first horse trials together. To say that I was nervous is definitely an understatement and before both jumping phases, my heart and stomach were in my throat. Yet, I knew I was mounted on an extremely well trained, willing and kind horse, so that gave me the confidence I needed in my head to help me stay focused.

Not only did Bubba please me with a fabulous dressage test (31.0), but he took me around clean and fast in stadium and cross country. What a thrill it was to ride this guy! I am just so grateful to him for taking me safely and successfully through all 3 phases to take home the blue ribbon! As a wife, mother, and full-time career woman, I absolutely cannot imagine doing this on anything other than a Connemara, particularly, Balmullo's Beacon. I love this pony:o)

Balmullo's Beacon & Vanessa Morgan finished 3rd at the Flat Creek CT, Novice Division 4/9/00

1999

 Beacon was the 1999 USCTA Area III Training Horse of the Year

He has also earned the AWARD OF EXCELLENCE in Combined Training from the ACPS Achievement Awards Program

At the Area 3 luncheon in December, Balmullo's Beacon was presented with the award for USCTA Area 3 Training Horse of the Year. Beacon was tied for 4th in the very tight race for National Training Horse of the Year with 33 points, the winning pair having tied with 36 points. Beacon's rider and trainer, Jill Mooney, also received the Area 3 Training Rider Award for her successes on him.

After the USCTA year end points were tabulated, Beacon went on to finish his 1999 eventing season at the Pine Top Horse Trials in GA on 11/27-11/28 where he took another blue ribbon in the Training Horse division.

  •  1st Place Training Horse Division, Pine Top Horse Trials (GA) 11/27 - 28/99
  • 1st Place Training Horse/Rider Division, River Glen Horse Trials (TN) 11/6 - 7/99; Won Best Dressage Score (29.0) at the River Glen Event
  • 3rd Place Training Horse Division, Happy Valley Horse Trials (MS) 10/30 - 31/99
  • 1st Place Training Horse Division, Big Bear Horse Trials (GA) 10/23 - 24/99
  • 1st Place Training Horse Division, Pine Top Horse Trials (GA) 10/16 - 17/99
  • 2nd Place Training Horse Division, Tryon Horse Trials (NC) 10/2 - 3/99
  • 2nd Place Training Horse Division, Virginia Horse Trials (VA) 5/22 - 23/99
  • 5th Place Training Horse Division, Midland Horse Trials (GA) 5/8 - 9/99
  • 3th Place Training Horse Division, Pine Top Horse Trials (GA) 4/17 - 4/18/99
  • 3rd Place Training Horse Division, SAFE-FENCE Horse Trials (SC) 3/28/99
  • 1st Place Training Horse Division, Jumping Branch Horse Trials (SC) 3/6 - 7/99; Beacon had the best dressage score (24.5) at the Jumping Branch Event
  • 1st Place Open Training Div., Suncatcher Farm Horse Trials (FL) 1/23 - 24/99

Many, many thanks and a big CONGRATULATIONS
to Jill Mooney for a wonderful season on Balmullo's Beacon!!!!!

1998

Balmullo's Beacon was trained & competed by Jill Mooney (GA) 1998-1999

 

 

 

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