What a month this has been!

What a month this has been. It was a great honor to be awarded Sporting Group Breeder of the Year at the AKC Eukanuba National Invitational Show in Orlando Florida. It was very emotional, and yet very exciting to have English Setters recognized as a great breed. While I was there, I showed Zion ,Dual Champion Set’r Ridge’s Real Gold JH in the breed, and he won an Award of Merit and Best Bred By Exhibitor. Best of Breed was given to a Hadji ,Dual Ch Set’r Ridge’s Solid Gold CDX MH son, named Ch Sunshine Palace S Golden State. Congratulations to Sumiko and Larry.
We were able to visit with our friends Lynn, Jackie and Jennifer, their hospitality made the trip much more relaxing and fun. After the Invitational, Paul and I took Micah , Montana and Hunter to Disney Worlds Epcot Center, Magic kingdom, then to Busch Gardens in Tampa, a horse theater show and home Sunday. We were thoroughly exhausted.
We came home to a failing friend. Zabri, Multi Best In show winning Am Can Ch Bluprint’s Set’r Ridge’s Zabri JH, she was an awesome show dog, hunting dog, pet and friend. We love her very much. We all cried together and said good bye and let her go. Zabri was a few weeks from 14 years of age. We miss her terribly. Zabri was the #1 English Setter in 1994 and she was only shown for eight months of that year. She won Best of Opposite at the National several times and Best of Opposite at the National several times, including Best of Opposite to her brother Hadji , Dual Ch Set’r Ridge’s Solid Gold CDX MH HDX CGC in 1993. Zabri won her last Award of Merit at the National at the age of eleven from the veterans class in 2000, with Micah handling her, who at that time was nine years old. Zabri was Micah’s dog and this has been very hard for her. Micah learned to walk by hanging onto Zabri’s hair and pulling herself to her feet. Micah would at age two run through the house holding a cookie as high in the air as possible, so Zabri couldn’t get it. Micah would play show dog with Zabri for hours telling her to go down the hall and back over and over, and then stacking her up. I will never for get Micah at the National down under Zabri setting her feet where they belonged and then getting up and holding her head and her tail. Zabri always did whatever Micah asked her to do.
Zabri is the dam of Best In Show winning Am Can Jap Champion Set’r Ridge Lookin At You Kid JH. Kid was the #1 English in 1995 and 1996 and he won Best of Breed at Westminster in 1996 and 1997. Kid won Best of Opposite at the National as well as several Awards of Merits. We take comfort in the fact that Zabri is no longer suffering and is in heaven chasing pheasants with her brother Hadji and father Jhahil. Zabri never did like to come when she was hunting. She loved birds more than anything. We feel very thankful that God gave us almost fourteen years with Zabri.
On the Juniors front:
Rachel Barns with Talia Set’r Ridge’s Intensity (Canaan x Eve) won Best Junior this month and we get have Rachel here with us for Christmas and her vacation.
On the Show front:
Lisa Leaville’s Cameron (Shoebe x Snowy) just finished her Championship from the puppy class. She won BOW and BOB one day over the Specials for a major.
Summer and Dale Bennett’s Ch Set’r Ridge’s Autumn Skye (Preacher x Ritsy) won a Group III and received her CGC.
Pam and Kayla Kozak’s ZZ (Canaan x Meg) won back to back majors.
Susan Lee and Frank Rapant’s Stylecast Mystical Interlude (Canaan x Kismet) won BOB and a Group IV to finish her Championship.
Lincoln and Christy Loyd’s Hanna (Zion x Maggy) is now pointed from the puppy class. She has won a three shows. Plus she has retrieved several pheasants while hunting this year.
Jill Warrens Neville (Darcy x Sheba) won a 5 pt major and Best puppy at the Specialty a month ago. Their mother Sheba Set’r Ridge’s Superemintent (Bubba x Ritsy) finished her Championship a week ago and will now be in training for Field Trialing.
Sue Linhairs Jordan (Canaan x Quasi) won two three point majors and BOS over male Specials.
Nancy Tuthill’s Ch Set’r Ridge’s Sierra Gold (Preacher x Ritsy) finished her Championship.
Sergio Costa Rodin Set’r Ridge (Shoebe x Snowy) won back to back Group I’s and a Best In Show in Brazil.
Sumiko’s Max (Hadji son) won Best of Breed at the AKC Invitational and her female Shine (Bubba x Ritsy) has won several points this month.

Congratulations to Kelly Fitgerald and the Dr and Mrs Truesdale on Bria’s wins. Bria Ch Set’r Ridge Wyndswept In Gold (Hadji x Tissa) will probably end the year as the #1 Sporting Dog in the United States and will be in the Top Seven All Breeds. Way to go Kelly and Bria.

We will be breeding Dakara to Emanuel as soon as she comes in heat. This should be an exciting litter with great movement.
Look on our web site next week for new photos of our puppies and litters. Zion and Desi’s puppies turned out awesome. We have two tri males , two blue males and two orange females. They are all really nice. They are spoken for, but worth looking at. Zion continues to put great front angulation on his puppies.
Merry Christmas to each of you. God has blessed us indeed this year. May he bless you as well this coming NewYear.
Thank you for showing our dogs and for being such wonderful friends. God Bless, Melissa

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