VT RHAPSODY IN BLUE (show name "RIO'S MERLIN")
2002 Grey Oldenburg NA Gelding (born April 18)

SIRE: RIO GRANDE was the winner of his 100-day test and has been campaigned successfully in international showjumping since 1994. He was selected in 1994 for the Canadian Equestrian Team and was a member of the 1995 winning Canadian Equestrian Team. He also qualified for the 1996 Canadian Olympic Show Jumping team. Rio Grande is the sire of many hunter champions, advanced level dressage horses, Grand Prix jumpers and several approved breeding stallions. He is currently rated as the top hunter sire in North America.

DAM: KARIN is a large, grey Dutch Warmblood mare who was imported to the United States as an open jumper with Tracy (Bartko) Magness. After a successful career, she retired to Virginia Tech's brood mare band and has produced several excellent foals for us, including Navarre VT (Premium foal and Champion Filly at her inspection, currently in training with Tracy Magness) and Noble Oath VT (winner, ISR/Oldenburg NA IBC at Dressage at Lexington).

VT RHAPSODY IN BLUE was sold in the 2004 Hokie Harvest Sale for an outstanding price, second only to that brought in 2000 by VT Rio Grande (also by Rio Grande). He was later re-named "Rio's Merlin" and was lightly shown in 2005 and 2006, earning very respectable ribbons in the Baby Green and Schooling Hunter divisions in Ocala. In 2006 he was sold to a junior rider and has begun a successful show career with his new owner. At the 2006 Lexington National, he was named Reserve Champion Special Children's Hunter.