By Debbie Graham

VERONA, Miss., - The Loraine Wesson Faith Haven Walking Horse Show was held May 3, 2003, at the Lee County Agri-Center. The annual show was sponsored by the Faith Haven Board of Directors to benefit the Faith Haven Emergency Shelter.

Faith Haven is a shelter for children who have been removed from their homes and placed in the custody of the Department of Human Services because they were in an abusive or neglectful situation. Faith Haven Emergency Shelter serves a critical need in providing for these children until permanent placement can be found. More than 2,000 children have called Faith Haven home since its opening in 1997.

The 2003 edition of the horse show was renamed the Loraine Wesson Faith Haven Horse Show in honor of former director, Loraine Wesson, for the love and devotion she has shown to the children of Faith Haven. Mrs. Wesson retired as director this year. She is at home recuperating from surgery that she had seven weeks ago. Her presence at the show this year was greatly missed. Horse show friends look forward to seeing her at the next Tupelo show, The Gum Tree Classic, scheduled for October.

The beautiful spring weather prompted attendance from a large crowd of exhibitors and spectators. Kim Bennett judged all 264 entries in the 34 class event. Perry Thomas served as the announcer and Mike Farley handled the duties of ringmaster. Diane Beaver provided the musical entertainment and Sid Abernathy was the official photographer.

A Lead Line class was added to the schedule this year for the young exhibitors. Midnight and Ella Anderson claimed top honors in this class with Mikey and Sara Bailey Jones taking reserve.

Ray Gilmer Stables at Falcon Ridge Farm led the blue ribbon tally with five awards. The first title came in the Three-Year-Old Amateur Mare and Gelding class with a blue ribbon debut from Falcon’s Backdraft with Jill Cox riding for Charles and Jill Cox. Watch Delight and Ray Gilmer captured the Four-Year-Old Open title for Mr. and Mrs. Dudley Moore. Red Danger and Bart Gilmer were in the winner’s circle in the Four-Year-Old Amateur Stallion class for Mary Ellen Gilmer and Jan Hayburt. Dr. Luby Jones claimed his second blue ribbon early in the season aboard Colorblind in the Amateur Specialty class. This duo also earned blue ribbon recognition at the recent Holly Springs Charity Walking Horse Show. Terri Olinger was thrilled to accept the blue riding her Amateur Park Pleasure mount E.T.’s Grey Threat for Doug and Terri Olinger.

Webb Stables received four Faith Haven titles. Link Webb directed Back To The Ritz to the blue in the Two-Year-Old Stallion class for James and Peggy Vernon. He returned to capture the Three-Year-Old Open Mare and Gelding title with Jazz Queen for Mary Dell Kilgore followed by the title of Grand Champion in the Walking Horse Stake aboard ADA2D for Dr. Jim Baum. Sanman and Pam Russell have earned three blues in a row in the Four-Year-Old Amateur Mare and Gelding class with wins at Holly Springs, Jackson, Miss., and Faith Haven.

Eddie Barclay Stables were the winners in three divisions at Faith Haven. Double Shot Of Gen and Bobby Barclay turned in a winning performance in the Amateur Show Pleasure class. Gen’s All Night and Amber Waggoner made the victory pass in the Amateur Plantation Pleasure Specialty Lite-Shod class for Bobby Barclay. Kody On The Mountain and Tammy Bunch were Two-Year-Old Amateur Stallion champions for Michael and Tammy Bunch.

Valton Rummage Stables collected two titles in the halter divisions. Digger’s Gold Nuggett was the Halter Stallion champion with Valton Rummage at the lead for Tommy Brooks. Sister Shout and Ronald Morton took the spotlight in the Halter Filly class for Clark Farms.

Formac Stables won dual blues at the show. On the heels of their Martin win, Contaminated and Vickie Garland scored an impressive victory in the Three-Year-Old Amateur Stallion class for Paul and Vickie Garland. Gillain Welch and Dan Waddell were in winning form in the Two-Year-Old Mare and Gelding class for McConnell and McConnell.

Entries prepared by Whitter Stables were the recipients of two titles at Faith Haven. Flashy Cash and Rachel Hyneman were the starring attraction as they claimed their first blue in the Juvenile 11 and Under class for Hy Steppin Farm. She’s a Pistol Pusher and Carol Shelton made their blue ribbon debut in the Two-Year-Old Amateur Mare and Gelding class for Steve and Carol Shelton.

Tyler Herndon received dual blues at Faith Haven. He claimed the Juvenile 12-17 title riding Hytone’s Buster Brown and returned to win the Juvenile Pony Specialty class with Black Sails for Tim Herndon. Shea Woods prepared these contenders for show ring competition.

Motown Motion and Toby Scarbrough earned blue ribbon recognition in the Amateur Open class for Meadow Brook Farms. Scarbrough returned to receive the blue in the 15.2 and Under Specialty class for Meadow Brook Farms.

Pusher’s Benny Girl and Shea Levitan topped the Juvenile Park Pleasure Specialty class for Marc and Linda Levitan following a blue ribbon performance at the recent Jackson, Miss., show. JFK’s Rare Form and Andrea Zahnd topped the Ladies Walking Specialty class for Zahnd and Stewart. Fable’s Finale and Ed Abernathy were winners in the Roadster Pony class for WPFA Partners. Julia’s Choice Cut and Luke Pilkinton were victorious in the Amateur Owned and Trained Specialty class. Winning the blue in the Three-Year-Old Open Stallion class was Who Dat Call My Name and Jerry Collier for McJunkin Farms. Extra Flashy and Dan Feathers won their second blue of the season in the Amateur Country Pleasure class for Carolann Feathers.

This concludes the highlights from Faith Haven. Complete results follow and may be printed, searched and viewed at www.walkinghorsereport.com.