POMONA, Calif. - The long standing All Amateur Show, sponsored by the Tennessee Walking Horse Association of California, was staged once again at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds and adhered to the unique format that featured 60 classes for amateur and juvenile riders only. The April 20-21 event was a NHSC-affiliated show that found long time trainer, Lonnie Whitworth coming from Vancouver, WA to evaluate the entries.
Show management duties were handled by Mary K. Hartman, whose team of officials included Secretary Donna West, announcer Bill Hartman, Ring Steward Chuck Herb, ring clerk Nina Lovejoy, Paddock Steward Marilyn Herb, gatekeepers Dave Preszler and Roseanne Allard, and farrier Don Beekman. Photographer Debbie Uecker-Keaugh preserved the action on film, while Take One Video was on hand for the taping assignment.
Another Amateur Show tradition still being observed was the Saturday evening Soup Cook-Off, which is always a welcome respite at the end of a full day of classes. Judged to be the best of the best in 2002, was the chicken gumbo entry submitted by the Hughes family.
The show drew to a close with the Amateur Championship performance of the Coin’s Cruiser/Stan Wilcoxen team, who posed in the winner’s circle after a sporty walking demonstration by this pair.
Golden West Farms posted 19 blues and tricolors to top the ribbon count, with Lite Shod star, Double Java, leading with three big preliminary wins and the divisional Amateur Specialty championship. The talented three-year-old property was directed to the honors by Marcy Drummond for the Mark and Marcy Drummond ownership.
Three Golden West stable mates each scored a pair of preliminary blues and a tricolor sash at the Amateur Show. Double Your Money and owner Bobbie Parady prevailed in the Park Pleasure Western Specialty and Three Gait ranks; Maggie Moore introduced her Lite Shod Pleasure star, He’s A Wrangler, to the circuit in English and Western Specialty competition; and Chief Battle Cry, who teamed with Joyce Hofstee to claim the Spotted Saddle Horse Specialty recognition, with Tara Beck in direction for the Three Gait tie.
Pat Winkler and Pride’s Moonlight Lady made a memorable return to West Coast competition with Park Pleasure Specialty preliminary and stake victories, while Demara Nuzum and Score Triple Sevens celebrated their first blue in the Park Pleasure division after the winning Novice class performance. The Legacy Walkers entry, Coin’s Sweet Dream, joined forces with Nadia Moeller to claim the Lite Shod Pleasure Juvenile award for back to back blues at the Indio and Pomona shows.
The Four-Year-Old Amateur Specialty class belonged to Charles Wharton and Invictus, who made the good ride for the Poplar Creek Farms ownership. Another product of the Poplar Creek breeding program, Strictly Sensational, teamed with new owner Mel Parham to claim their first blue ribbon in the Novice Specialty event.
The amateur riders from Russ Thompson Stables landed a combined total of eleven blues and championships, including the previously mentioned Coin’s Cruiser. The Gordon family properties made a good accounting, with WGC A Specialist and Susan Gordon delighting their friends and fans with their Amateur Specialty Stake appearance. Susan also directed Ritz’s Perfect Touch to a good win in the nine horse Amateur Three-Year-Old event. Kelly Gordon returned to the show ring after an extended hiatus with a flawless Ladies Specialty victory aboard Jazz In Dixie.
Sheila Bartlett and her Million Dollar Dream executed a pair of winning Show Pleasure rides for the Specialty preliminary and Stake honors. The Gentlemen’s Specialty event found Noel Williams and Genuine Cash front and center for the winner’s circle recognition, they accepted the award for the Noel and Roberta Williams ownership.
Dawn Bransfield's catch-riding expertise accounted for four Amateur Show blues: Thompson Stables sponsors the flashy Trigger’s Crack Shot, who topped the Lite Shod Pleasure Western Specialty class, and Pride’s Summer Solstice, who was called for the Trail Pleasure Three Gait honors. WGC Genius’ Dixie Chick and Bransfield teamed up for the Lite Shod canter class blue for proud owner Sheila Kyle, with the last ribbon coming in the Show Pleasure Novice event after a good ride aboard Bionic’s Black Beauty for the Hunt and Ady sponsorship.
The Bouquet Creek entries posted eight blues on the tack room wall, with Mama’s Hands accounting for four victories. Owner Janis Brown was in the saddle for the Lite Shod Western Specialty win, while Shayna Shaw took charge for the divisional Juvenile and Three Gait rewards as well as the Water Glass blue. Bill Marzinzik and Hit And Run owned the Lite Shod Pleasure English and Western Canter classes, with Suzette’s Midnight Mist topping the Trail Pleasure Western Specialty under Shayna Shaw’s direction for owner Adele Ellis. The final flourish came with Shayna’s victory in the Equitation class, where she posed with Hit And Run for the winner’s circle photo.
Courtesy Stables displayed four blues and a tricolor sash at their barn, thanks to Weanling Champion, Command’s Most Wanted, who was led by Dawn Bransfield, and Yearling Champion, Memory’s Twist About, who went on to win the Halter Championship with Jenny Earhart at the lead. Eva McClure is the proud owner/breeder of these quality youngsters. Delight’s Midnight Threat made his presence known in the Model and Flat Shod Pleasure Driving classes with Christy Coon filling in for ailing owner Kathy Beard.
Sue Wittick’s Step Aside Stables entries collected a trio of Amateur Show blues. Pride’s Little Princess and Erika Soloman were called to the Trail Pleasure Western Novice winner’s circle after their good ride for owners Bill and Charlene Talbot. The veteran Allied Commander teamed with Melissa Washington for the Lite Shod Pleasure Novice blue for the Thomason and Wittick partnership; while Brianna Dotson and Patriot Score collected the Park Pleasure Juvenile award for the More family.
Pollack’s Silver Spur Ranch trainer, Jimmy Norris, brought a contingent of owners and horses down from his Northern California base. The Pollack property, Pusher’s Motion Lady, was ridden to the Show Horse Junior Rider recognition by catch rider Shayna Shaw for her very first blue aboard a padded horse. The well-known former WGC Expressive Gold and new owner Peggy Levin made three good Park Pleasure Western rides for a trio of reserve ribbons in Three Gait, Specialty, Preliminary, and Specialty Stake classes.
Jenny Earhart and her owned/trained Royal Prince Charlie dominated the Trail Pleasure division to earn four blues and a championship sash in the well populated classes, with the Halter Two and Over recognition added for good measure. Mike Erickson introduced his newest acquisition, Rainsong, and came away with the Park Pleasure Three-Year-Old and Four and Under blue to document their debut show.
For the complete show story, see the prinited edition of Walking Horse Report dated May 6, 2002.