By Lisa Cummings
DOTHAN, Ala. - Houston County Farm Center hosted the 29th annual Wiregrass Charity Horse Show on October 11, 2003, benefiting the Wiregrass Hospice. This show included 175 walking,racking and Paso Fino horses. Rodney Dick of Unionville, Tenn., was on hand to judge the walking and racking classes. Cindy Griffith of Atlanta, Ga., tied the Paso Fino classes.
Ringmaster Rick Williams stated the show was a success, despite the rainy weather. Exhibitors and vendors stuck it out to make a good show. Melissa Tittle organized the silent auction for the evening, which raised over $400.
Ann McWaters, show committee member, thanked everyone for coming out and making the show a great success in spite of the nasty weather and extended an invitation for next year’s show. This was the first year in the show’s history that trainers made the trek from Tennessee. Everyone was pleased with the judging, as the blue ribbons were well distributed among the exhibitors. The show committee is looking into having next year’s show in a covered arena and making a few more changes to make it better than it’s ever been.
The Walking Horse Stake presented some of the finest entries of the evening. Five teams were called to the gate. Larry Edwards directed I'm Twice The Delight, owned by Lloyd and Mary Touchton of Fairburn, Ga., to the winner's circle. Taking home the reserve ribbon was Generator's Double Coin with Jamie Bradshaw in the irons for Ferguson Farms in Unionville, Ala. Ultra's Knockout and Frank Thornton took the yellow streamer home to Warr and Major of Phenix City, Ala.
Dr. W.S. Warr and Ultra Black Copy made the victory pass in the Walking Ponies Open Specialty. Ultra Black Copy is owned by Dr. W.S. and Gloria Warr of Phenix City, Ala.
The Dan McSwain family entry, Gen's Burning Rage claimed the blue in the Walking Open Specialty under the direction of Larry Edwards.
Santana's Pusher Man and Jamie Bradshaw won the Two-Year-Old Open division for Ferguson Farms of Unionville, Ala. Taking home the blue in the Two-Year-Old Amateur class was Mark's Bad Bart and Bart McWaters for LaRue McWaters of Ashford, Ala.
John Allan Callaway led Fortunes Fool to victory in the Three-Year-Old Open for J. Wayne Brown of Gadsden, Ala. The Bill Lane family entry, Rocket Man Of Generator was directed to the winner’s circle in the Three-Year-Old Amateur class by Ken Lane. The Lane family is from Dothan, Ala.
Vernon Pugh, owner and exhibitor from Mobile, Ala., rode his entry to the win in the Four-Year-Old Open class. Silver Dollar Exchange and Rhonda Major made the victory pass in the Four-Year-Old Amateur class for Dr. W.S. and Gloria Warr of Phenix City, Ala.
The Weanling and Yearling Halter class called seven entries to the gate. Leslie Ehrich and I'm A Sodbuster made their way to the winner’s circle. Leslie Ehrich of Brooksville, Fla., is the owner. Claiming reserve honors in the class was the team of Pure Georgia Poison and Martha Eubanks of Albany, Ga.
Poison At Midnight and owner/exhibitor Melissa Tittle of Lanett, Ala.,went to the winner’s circle in the Amateur Country Pleasure class.
Owner/exhibitor Martha Eubanks of Albany, Ga., and Poison Dynamite made their way to the winner’s circle in the Plantation Pleasure Lite-Shod Specialty.
In the Park Pleasure Two and Three-Year-Olds class Cash's All Colours and Bart McWaters made the victory pass for LaRue McWaters of Ashford, Ala. Judy Leek and Coins For Cash took home the blue in the Park Pleasure Specialty. Cash For Coins is owned by Jim and Judy Leek of Albany, Ga. The Western Park Pleasure Champions were Kim Baldwin and E.T's True Clown for Clark Farms in Arab, Ala.
Beam's Secret Invader and Ray Baldwin made the victory pass in the Open Show Pleasure class. This entry is owned by Mike Parker of Headland, Ala. Amateur Show Pleasure Specialty Champions were Ritz Cracker and Jim Hartzog for Charlie and Linda Bedwell of Dothan, Ala.
The Great Stachmo and owner/exhibitor LaRue McWaters of Ashford, Ala., laid claim to the blue in the Amateur Owned and Trained class. Jim Hartzog and Pusher's Diamond Dust rode to the winner’s circle in the Amateur Riders on 15.2 Specialty. Jim and Mary Hartzog of Ashford, Ala., are the owners.
Kim Baldwin directed Pusher’s Miss Magic to victory in the Alabama Ladies Auxiliary class for owner Quincy Nelson. Miss Ivy League and Rebecca Adams made the winning ride in the Ladies Specialty class. Andrew and Rebecca Adams of Lanett, Alabama own the entry.
Taking the blue home in the Men's Amateur Specialty class was the team of Pride Of Ritz and LaRue McWaters of Ashford, Ala.
This highlights the 29th annual Wiregrass Charity Horse. Complete results follow and may be viewed, searched and printed from www.walkinghorsereport.com.