Featured Article (May 2001)

The East Coast Championship’s Virginia Horse of Distinction

Each year the East Coast Championship Show recognizes an American Quarter Horse that has made significant contributions to Virginia. In a special ceremony on April 5 at the Virginia Horse Center, Bee Pine Fifty was designated the East Coast Championship’s Virginia Horse of Distinction for 2001.

Bee Pine Fifty is owned by Stephanie, Mike, Kendall, and Tyler Jennings of Round Hill. “Bee Pine,” as he is known around the barn, is a 19 year-old gelding by Lad’s 50 and out of Della Pine, a daughter of Great Pine. Bee Pine has earned his reputation in the world as a Reining horse, but he has become known in Virginia as a member of the Jennings family. He is well loved by all of us simply because he is a “good horse.”

Bee Pine was bred by Tony and Susan Lomangino of New York. As a yearling he was sold to Pete and Ampy Perez, also from New York, and was shipped to Bob Mac Training Stables in Bear Creek, NC. Although he was cute to look at with a blaze face and four white feet-and showed striking athletic ability, he was gelded because he had a real attitude! Bee Pine became Reserve Champion of the National Reining Horse Association Three-Year-Old Open Reining Futurity in 1985. At that one futurity, which was then held in Columbus, Ohio, he earned $33,516. He was a phenomenally talented reining horse, able to complete a 360 degree spin in less than one second. He could spin, run, slide, and roll back, but when you said whoa, he could and would stand motionless until his next command. He could be dynamic, but he would rather take it easy.

Bee Pine was purchased by Mike and Stephanie Jennings in the fall of 1986 as Stephanie's show horse for the following year. Stephanie had her sights set on the World Championship title in the NRHA Limited Non-Pro division. When she rode Bee Pine the first time, she knew he was the horse that could get her there. One year, 20,000 miles, and 21 Limited Non-Pro classes later, they were both acclaimed 1987 NRHA Limited Non-Pro World Champions. As recently as 1999, Bee Pine remained on the NRHA Top 100 list of all time money-earners.

In 1988 when Mike and Stephanie started their family, Bee Pine was sold to John and Alice Lees, a couple who also lived in Loudoun County and wanted a “nice little western horse.” He lived with them for eight years and had a pleasant, quiet life, where he was well taken care of and loved.

Eventually, Mike and Stephanie's daughter Kendall grew old enough for a horse of her own. Although they kept their eyes open for just the right horse, Stephanie's mind kept going back to Bee Pine because he had a “bombproof” attitude. Nothing ever seemed to upset him. Every horse was compared to Bee Pine and came up short. Stephanie finally gave Alice Lees a call and asked her if Bee Pine might be available. It wasn't an easy decision for Alice, but she eventually agreed to Stephanie's request.

Bee Pine returned to the Jennings family in 1996. He has been a great horse for both the children to ride, giving them confidence and teaching them the value of good hands and strong legs (or sharp spurs, which were sometimes necessary, as his favorite speed is STOP!) Bee Pine has been seen all around Virginia, showing up in Walk Trot classes, costume classes, and occasional Reining classes. He even earned a Team Penning point in 1999. He has attended a 4-H horse camp and has been used as a model to demonstrate “Form To Function” in conformation clinics. Just two weeks ago he played “cow” so Mike could school his working cow horse.

In the eyes of the Jennings family, Bee Pine is a true Champion in every respect.