by Linda Scrivner

JACKSON, Miss. - The long-standing tradition of excellence and hospitality that has become the rule of thumb at the Mississippi State Charity Horse was true once again in 2003. Over 500 top quality horses competed at the show held this year April 10-12.

Show Manager Dude Prestwood stated, “We feel that our show is pretty prestigious. We try to hire quality judges, many that have judged the Celebration to draw quality horses and Tennessee trainers. Many of the horses that show in Jackson are world champions or go on to become world champions.”

The Mississippi State Chaity show has been in existence since 1930. The charity the show has chosen to benefit is the Fireman’s Burn Center at Cleveland, Miss., which usually receives several thousand dollars from the show.

“We appreciate the trainers that come. They seem to enjoy our hospitality and we try to cater to our exhibitors,” said Prestwood. “We also appreciate Lonnie Messick and Director of Judges Judy Martin attending our show. We’ve had full classes each night, great crowds, and excellent support. We hope everyone returns next year and we want to invite those that haven’t to come next year.”

The Mississippi State Horse Show Association showed their hospitality in several ways this year including a barbecue on Friday. Participating barns received fruit baskets and those attending the show on Saturday received welcome bags filled with peanuts.

The show was held at the Mississippi Coliseum and featured 73 classes of competition for walking and racking horses. Sonny Holt of Huntsville, Ala., Spencer Benedict of Glasgow, Ky., and Rollie Beard of Lewisburg, Tenn., served as judges for the 2003 event.

The crowd was treated to an excellent championship stake as each of the five entries entered to the applause of their fans. Throughout the performance the crowd voiced their approval for their favorites.

After a flawless performance, Private Charter and Knox Blackburn were chosen unanimously to wear the crown as 2003 Grand Champion. This followed their WHOA/Kiwanis Grand Championship season-ender and their National Trainers’ Show Reserve Grand Championship season-opener. This team was also the unanimous winners of the Aged Stallions title On Thursday evening. Last year’s Stallion Championship team of Brock Tillman and Generator’s Show Boat claimed the reserve position in both the stake and the stallion preliminary this year. They also executed an excellent performance. Third place was awarded to I’m A Five Star General and Jimmy McConnell. They were the Martin, Tenn., Grand Champions last weekend.

The Franklin, Tenn., based team from David Landrum Stables topped the blue ribbon count at this year’s show with a total of fifteen blues, a repeat of the same number of blues in 2002. Four of these were stakes.

Generator’s Champion also won dual unanimous blues at Jackson this year. He also won the Jackson Grand Championship Stake in 2001 and 2002. Caresse Mills directed the 2002 Amateur Reserve World Grand Champion to both the blue and the tri-color in the Amateur class and the Amateur Grand Championship Stake this year. This team also enjoyed the 2003 National Trainers’ Show Amateur Grand Championship in their second season together.

The competition was extremely strong in the young horse divisions at Jackson. The judges selected 2002 Three-Year-Old Amateur World Grand Champion Main Power and Joe Cotten with unanimous decisions in both the Junior Stallions and the Junior Stake. In 2002, Main Power and Kay Green enjoyed success at Jackson by winning the Owner-Amateur Three-Year-Old Stallions and the Owner-Amateur Three-Year-Old Championship Stake, also unanimously.

Dr. Jim and Kay Green are the proud owners of the 2002 Two-Year-Old World Grand Champion Ted Williams. First, Ted Williams and Joe Cotten were crowned victorious by a unanimous vote on Friday night in the fourteen entry Three-Year-Old Stallions. Then on Saturday, they returned to top the Three-Year-Old Championship Stake with another unanimous vote.

Nancy Groover and her 2002 World Champion Two-Year-Old Mare and World Champion Two-Year-Old Amateur Mare, Texas Salsa, sired by Groover’s Former WGC breeding stallion Hard Texas Cash, put on two great shows this year, just as she did at Jackson in 2002. Last season, she won the Two-Year-Old Amateur Mares and Geldings and the Two-Year-Old Amateur Stake at Jackson, both with unanimous ties. She repeated those wins this season by topping the fourteen entry Owner-Amateur Three-Year-Old Mare and Gelding class, and the ten entry Owner-Amateur Three-Year-Old Stake. Both of these wins were unanimous by a unanimous judges decision.

Lindsey Landrum continues to win blues at Jackson. She made her first blue ribbon ride in 2001 at Jackson aboard The Olympic Touch. In 2002, Landrum added two additional Mississippi Charity blues to her resume, one with The Olympic Touch and the other with WGC This Is It. In 2003, she won The Youth 17 & Under Equitation with The Olympic Touch and the WHT Auxiliary and Daughters class with This Is It. Lindsey also won 2002 World Championships with each of these mounts.

Mike Walden made his debut performance on He’s Wild Eyed & Wicked a blue one in the Owner-Amateur Four-Year-Old Stallion class. Walden purchased this talented stallion immediately following his Trainers’ Show victory with Beverly Wood in the irons.

Marty Irby enjoyed victory twice at Jackson, one of these was under Landrum’s banner in the Owner-Amateur Two-Year-Old Mares and Geldings aboard FDR. This was a unanimous tie.

Rusty Hyneman also made his debut at Jackson. He directed former world champion Backfield In Motion to a unanimous tie in the Owner-Amateur Mares and Geldings Specialty class. I’m Splashed won the Open Specialty with Marvin North directing. In 2002, Karla Landrum won at Jackson in the WHT Auxiliary class.

New owners and teams were abundant at Jackson. Virginia Stewart of Evergreen Farm was extremely pleased with her After Christmas Sale purchase of 2002 WC Andrew Johnson. The real highlight was watching Virginia Stewart ride her new mount each morning in preparation for their debut performance later in the season. It was difficult to tell which she enjoyed more, his victory or her morning rides. David Landrum topped the ten entry Show Pleasure Specialty class at Jackson this year.

The newest addition to the Splash family is General Splash. Karla Landrum took her turn at the reins to capture the blue in the Owner-Amateur Two-Year-Old Stallion class with eleven top youngsters vying for the blue.

Rising Star Ranch of Shelbyville, Tenn., came to Jackson with their truck loaded. They were certainly rewarded for their efforts, returning home with seven blues, including one stake. Ingraham Management enjoyed a trio of Jackson blues with their fine horses. Pam Ingraham directed WC Pure Tribute to the 15.2 and Under Amateur Stake victory in an extremely competitive class.

Ingraham also enjoyed success on her 2002 Four-Year-Old Amateur Mare and Gelding World Champion, Summer Passion, as she entered the aged division. On Friday evening Ingraham topped a ten horse 15.2 and Under Amateur Mare and Gelding class to win unanimously on this high-headed mare. Joel Weaver also enjoyed a unanimous victory in the 15.2 and Under Mare and Gelding on Thursday evening aboard Summer Passion.

Kevin Parton from Rising Star Ranch also enjoyed successes at Jackson. Parton directed his Cash’s Stormin Norman to the victory lane in the Novice Men’s Specialty. A novice at Jackson means the horse or rider has not won a Jackson blue for the last three years. Ten entries answered the gate call in the Novice Horse Specialty. The judges’ choice was unanimous, Joel Weaver and Rain At Midnight for Parton.

On Friday evening, twelve Three-Year-Old Mares and Geldings answered the gate call. AWOL walked away with the blue for Joel Weaver and owners Rising Star Ranch with unanimous ties. Debbie Eichler was equally thrilled with Rumble At The Ritz on Thursday evening when Weaver made a blue ribbon ride in the Junior Mare and Gelding class.

Knox Blackburn Stables and Jeff Givens Stables were neck and neck with six blues apiece. Blackburns’ included three stake blues, while Givens claimed two stake victories.

In addition to the Grand Championship Stake on Saturday, Blackburn’s proteges proudly earned two more tri-colors. Thom Meek made his debut at Jackson with his new The Phantom Menace, proudly exiting the Owner-Amateur Four-Year-Old Stake with a unanimous tie.

Erin Graf won blues with two excellent horses owned by she and her husband, David. Erin purchased Silverado Spirit following her 2003 Ladies Amateur Specialty win at the Trainers Show with Beverly Sherman up. In their debut performance, Graf and her black mare were the talk of the show. They won the Owner-Amateur Specialty Stake unanimously, after also winning the ten entry Owner-Amateur Ladies Amateur Specialty Mare and Gelding on Thursday by unanimous vote. Silverado Spirit won the Ladies Amateur in 2002 at Jackson also with Sherman up. In addition, Graf directed their Real Bad Score to another unanimous victory Thursday evening in the fifteen entry Owner-Amateur Three-Year-Old Stallion class. Blackburn topped the Trainers’ Show earlier this season with this stallion.

Jeff Givens won most of the plantation classes that he entered with his fine string of horses. Givens won the Lite-Shod Stake with current WGC Sundrop Country for Dr. Harry and Mary Woodall who traveled from Texas to enjoy “Sonny’s” victories. They also won the Lite-Shod Three-Gait on Thursday evening.

WC Movie Extra won both the Park Pleasure Specialty Stake and the Park Pleasure Specialty on Thursday by unanimous vote. At Jackson last year, this team also won the Two & Three-Year-Old Park Pleasure. Ralph and Elaine Pinner proudly own Movie Extra.

Another repeat winner from last year was AK 47. Following his Trainers’ Show Model class victory, AK 47 and Givens once again won the Jackson Model Plantation Pleasure title unanimously. Guylene Ozlanski proudly claims AK 47.

Givens’ sixth blue came with Generator’s Power Pusher in the Western Park Pleasure Specialty class for Dick and Sally Reiley.

Whitter Stables left the Magnolia State with five blues, including two stakes. The Whitter team came south loaded for bear. Escalade attracted much attention and the Jackson Two-Year-Old Stake tri-color. Jackie McConnell put on an outstanding performance aboard this striking colt to top the Two-Year-Old Stake with unanimous ties.

Tom Gould strolled into the Two-Year-Old Amateur Stake to wear out the tri-color on Saturday night aboard his Jewel’s Black Charmer under Whitter Stables’ banner.

The new team of multi-world champion Sunrise Que Sera Sera and Christina Butler made a much-talked about performance as they walked to the Youth 11 and Under blue on Friday evening with a unanimous decision.

Jackie McConnell won the Junior Mare and Gelding title aboard current world champion Dangerously Dazzling. Jackie’s young horses are always competitive and at Jackson they made everyone sit up and take notice. Bootylicious repeated her 2003 Starkville win at Jackson by winning the Two-Year-Old Mare and Gelding division.

Hidden Hills Farm and 5-Way Farm earned four blues apiece. The blues for 5-Way Farm included one stake class. Lethal and Lee Wall won the 12 entry Show Pleasure Amateur Specialty Stake. This dynamic team also won the Owner-Amateur Ladies Show Pleasure Specialty earlier in the week under the guidance of 5-Way Farm.

Thad Way directed current WGC Silver Design to the top of a very competitive Pony class with a unanimous decision. Thad also topped the Lite-Shod Amateur Plantation Pleasure Specialty aboard The Ultimate Game to claim their fourth blue.

Hidden Hill’s blue ribbon proteges included three horses owned by Suzy Johnson. World Champion I’m Cruella De Vil and Joel Johnson won the Jackson Novice Youth (no blues at Jackson in the last three years) class. Joel also enjoyed a victory in the Youth Show Pleasure Specialty aboard Mr. Mega Bucks. Current World Champion Insomnia and Keith Johnson topped the Owner-Amateur Men’s Show Pleasure Specialty.

The current world championship team of Fudpucker and Becky Coleman topped the 11 entry Mississippi Walking Horse Association Amateur Specialty with a flawless performance from Hidden Hills Farm.

The famed Black Hawk Farms claimed a trio of blues at Jackson. Lindsey Landrum directed their WGC This Is It to the top of the WHT Auxiliary And Daughters Specialty unanimously. Toby Scarbrough made an outstanding show aboard his Elvis Pusher in the competitive Owner/Amateur Stallion Specialty.

Justin Harris of Black Hawk Farms also won the Two and Three-Year-Old Park Pleasure with Banana Joe unanimously.

Six barns; Dale Watts of Pioneer Stables, Sammy Day Stables, Laura Leigh Dorman, Jimmy McConnell of Formac, Spoiled Rotten Colts, and Larry Webb of Webb Stables each left Jackson with two blue ribbon wins.

Pioneer Stables took home two wins in the Racking division. The tough team of Pusher’s Trademark and Josh Watts picked up a unanimous blue ribbon vote in the Racking Grand Championship. On Friday, Judith Dial showed Pusher’s Trademark to the blue in the Ladies Amateur Racking class.

World Grand Champion Gen’s Johnny Walker Red was victorious in the 15.2 and Under Stallion. The recently purchased Silver’s Boogie Woman carried Daniel Warner for a victory pass in the Youth 12-17 Specialty with a much applauded performance.

Ten entries marched into the Country Pleasure class at Jackson. Larua Leigh Dormanand Dumas McGuire made a great show to earn the victory pass. She also directed Winner’s Pride & Joy to the victory pass in the Trail Pleasure Racking class.

Trainer Jimmy McConnell and Mary Medina borrowed Bob Medina’s World Champion Walking All Over to win the fourteen entry Pro/Am Specialty class by unanimous vote. World Champion Barracuda also directed by McConnell for Formac Stables was the unanimous judges’ choice in the Mare and Gelding division.

Carlyle Johnson made a clean sweep of the Halter Colts division for the second consecutive year with some extremely nice colts owned by James and Peggy Vernon. He won the Filly title with Amour unanimously, followed by the blue in the Stallions section with Monsieur Ritz.

Current World Champion Sanman and Pam Russell were victorious unanimously in the thirteen entry Owner-Amateur Four-Year-Old Mare and Gelding Specialty. They hail under the Webb Stables banner and are collecting quite a lengthy resume. Kathryn Ramsbottom was also thrilling as she directed Beam’s Eclipse to victory in the Youth Medallion class.

There were several single blue ribbon winners. World Champion Hytone’s Buster Brown and Tyler Herndon made a repeat performance as they added the Youth Championship to their lengthy resume under trainer Shea Woods’ guidance.

Charles Clark and London Rain made a great show to top the 15.2 and Under Amateur Specialty Stallion class unanimously under Steve Aymett’s guidance. Robert Stivers and Fame Seeker made a stellar performance to win the 12 entry Two-Year-Old Stallion.

For the second year in a row, Summer Sullivan won the Owner-Amateur Trained Specialty title with Stormy’s Black Rain. Current World Grand Champions Papa’s Smokin Pusher and Beverly Sherman were the stars of Backward S Ranch as they captured the blue in the Owner-Amateur 50 & Over class.

Ricky Corbello topped the Heart Of Dixie Amateur Specialty aboard Santini’s Rave Review for White Rock Stables. Undercover Pusher and Tommy Vinson picked up the blue in the Amateur Park Specialty under Edgar Abernathy’s training.

Blaze N Two Socks picked up a unanimous blue in the Men’s Amateur Racking with Swep Williamson in the irons. Marty Irby collected his second blue of the show aboard Pride’s Shady Lady in the Trail Pleasure Specialty class.

The exciting team of Gen’s All Colors and Carol Smith added another blue to their collection in the 13 entry Novice Lady Rider Specialty, no blue for 3 years in Jackson. They hail from Dick Peebles Stables.

For two years in a row, Shea Levitan was the young rider with the winning touch for the Circle C team. Once again Levitan rode to the winner’s circle with Pusher’s Benny Girl in the Youth Park Pleasure Specialty division.

This highlights the winners from the Mississippi State Charity Show. Complete results follow and may be viewed, printed or searched at www.walkinghorsereport.com.