For the first time in history two horses earned exactly the same number of points for the year. CCF Integriti+// (Infiniti Z x Luz Zagal), owned by Alice Draper of Erin, Ontario and Church Creek+++// (*Baladin d’Oc x Oh Say Valay), owned by Bill and Alexis Doughty of Cape Charles, Va. both earned 348.5 points in 2011, showing exclusively in the sport horse division.

The High Point Horse honor was a surprise to Draper who “never thought it was even possible.” Draper bought Integriti from his breeder and good friend Donna Wilson. “We had been showing together for years. She called me when he was two weeks old and said, ‘Alice this is your Nationals horse,'” says Draper. “He stood out. He likes to show off. I’ve been dying to get to Nationals since I got him. I bought him when he was 3 months old and he’ll be 7 in April.”

At her very first Sport Horse Nationals in 2011, Draper entered nine classes, hoping to take home just one championship. Instead, Draper and Integriti earned themselves seven championship titles and two reserve championships. “My goal was just to get one when I entered that many,” says Draper.

An all-around sport horse, Integriti jumps, does dressage and excels in flat classes as well. The gelding’s 2011 Sport Horse Nationals championships included Arabian Dressage Training Level AAOTR, ATR, First Level AAOTR, ATR, open, Arabian Sport Horse Under Saddle, and Arabian Hunter Hack AAO. The pair earned two reserves in Arabian Sport Horse Under Saddle AT and Arabian Hunter Hack AT.

“That horse had an incredible Nationals,” says Alexis Doughty, owner of Church Creek, of Integriti’s seven championships. We are more than happy to share this honor with that horse.” Church Creek, or “Birdie” also earned 348.5 points in 2011, including three championships at Sport Horse Nationals and four Top Ten’s.

In only her second year of showing, Birdie has become a favorite on Doughty’s show string. “We purchased her as 4 year-old in 2009 and started her toward the end of the year. She showed in 2010 and 2011 was her second year. It’s amazing what she’s accomplished in just two years,” says Doughty. Doughty shows Birdie on the open hunter jumper circuit where Doughty grew up showing Warmbloods and Thoroughbreds. “I’m definitely a convert,” says Doughty of Arabians, Half-Arabians and Anglo-Arabians. “I’m smitten. I just think they are fabulous horses-so smart, so pretty, so athletic.”

Bill Doughty, Birdie’s co-owner and Alexis’ husband, helped show the mare in 2011, also earning the North American Anglo-Arabian Horse Association’s Supreme Champion title. “He does the in-hand and I do the riding,” says Alexis.

Draper and Alexis Doughty both credit the team around them for their success with Integriti and Birdie. “For the last couple of years I started utilizing the local coaches. They really, really helped me, especially Cheryl Smith and Elaine Ward,” says Draper.

“I’m grateful to have such a great team-my husband and our trainer, Lucy Taylor . it’s nice to know that if you surround yourself with the best possible people and work your tail off, success comes and the horses get the recognition we hope for,” says Doughty.

Both Draper and Doughty will win a Montana Silversmith belt buckle, an embroidered cooler from Schneider’s Saddlery, and a $1,500 gift certificate to Schneider’s Saddlery.

To view the entire list of the 2011 High Point Horse Award Top Ten winners, click here: http://www.arabianhorses.org/activities/aa/archive/topten_final_2011.asp