by Linda Scrivner

 

            WHITE PINE, Tenn. - The 2007 East Tennessee Walking Horse Association Fall Classic was held Oct. 18-20 and was once again outstanding with high quality and quantity of horses. The judges for the 54-class event were Dee Dee Sale, Sherri Dietz Ward and Richard Wall. A total of 512 entries walked into the ring and the classes were brimming with talent compared to 543 entries in 2006.

            Anticipation climaxed on Saturday as the Grand Championship drew near. The audience was treated to a thrill that continued until the judges called for the lineup following a second running walk in the final class of the show. The 13-entries were called into the championship one at a time.

            Blue Blooded Bandit and Knox Blackburn carried the roses from the show ring following an exciting performance. The high-headed gray stallion is owned by Raymond Pedigo. The crowd cheered for their favorites from the time they entered the ring to when the teams exited. Charlene Gibson’s talented I’m Packin A Pistol, directed by Jeff Hatcher, took the reserve position just as he did in 2006. I’m Kriptonite and Steve Dunn carried out the third place award for Stone Gait Farm.

            The fifth annual ETWHA Fall Classic Dog Show was held on Saturday. Those in attendance, both exhibitors and spectators, had a special treat with great fun.

            Knox Blackburn led the blue ribbon tally just as he did in 2006 with six blues. Bonner Stables, Compton Stables, Landrum Stables, Ronald Mosley Stables and Larry Tudor earned three blues each while Herschel Blessing, Mike Carter Stables, Brian Clark, Steve Hankins Stables, Paul Livingston Stables, Kenny Smith of Buzzard View Stables, Hal Newman Stables and Ginger Simpson carried home two blues. Receiving single blues were horses trained by Scott Beaty Stables, Mike Janeway, Jacoby Farm, Roger Richards, Brandye Mills Stables, Stephen Hankins Stables, Ailshie Stables, Jackie Barron Stables, Chris Pickel Stables, Summer Brooks, Bill Reel Stables, Riverbend Stables, Betsy Johnson, Indian Ridge Stables, Danny Kistler and Jeff Hatcher Stables.

            Knox Blackburn’s first blue was won by the team of Senor Jose and Mary Ann Blessing. They accepted the blue unanimously in the 13-entry Novice Amateur Rider Specialty class for What A Blessing Farm. Daughter MaryBeth Blessing and World Grand Champion Prism Sky also claimed a blue in the 12-entry Youth 12-17 Specialty class a few classes later for What A Blessing Farm.

            In 2006, World Grand Champion The Phantom Menace and Thom Meek earned victories in the 15.2 and Under Amateur Specialty class and the Amateur Specialty Championship. They returned to the mountains to claim blues in these two classes once again. Eleven talented entries were in the Amateur Specialty Championship class Saturday.

            In addition to the Grand Championship win with Blue Blooded Bandit, Blackburn also won the 17-entry Open Specialty class unanimously Friday evening with Real Bad Score.

            Double Overtime and Wade Huntley won the first of three blues for Bonner Stables. This outstanding team unanimously captured the victory pass in the Amateur 50 & Over Specialty class Thursday evening.

            Two full sisters won the remaining two blues for Bonner Stables. On Friday Luanne Ledford directed Tarheel’s Rosé unanimously to the blue in the large Four-Year-Old Mare and Gelding Amateur class for Bob and Mary Rollins. Tarheel’s Angelique was recently purchased by Della Compton at Asheville and Kenny Compton directed her to an unanimous blue in the 17-entry Three-Year-Old Mare and Gelding Amateur just as he did at Asheville. 

            The brother-sister team of Shannon Cages and Kenny Compton of Compton Stables earned three unanimous blues. Pusher’s Black Hawk and Kenny Compton claimed first in the NCWHA Members Only Specialty class on Thursday and returned to victory lane in the Amateur Owned and Trained Specialty class on Saturday evening.

            The team of N.Y.P.D. and Kenny Compton, last year’s Grand Champions at the East Tennessee Fall Classic, earned the Amateur Canter title unanimously this year.

            Joe Cotten of David Landrum Stables also returned home with three blues. Fifteen entries made the Three-Year-Old Mare and Gelding class very interesting. The judges’ unanimous choice was the team of I’m Staying At The Ritz and Cotten. Then Cotten and General Judy claimed the blue in the 16-entry Show Pleasure Open class Thursday. Winning his third blue in the Two-Year-Old Stallion Amateur class was the team of Denali and Dalia Smith Saturday evening.

            Ronald Mosley claimed his first of three blues for Mosley Stables aboard Jazz’s Spirited Rebel in the 15.2 and Under class. In the final class of the evening on Thursday Mosley and Gen’s Orange Lady claimed the blue in the Mares and Gelding class. Lindsey Henry claimed the roses and tricolor directing Olympic Pusher in the Juvenile 12-17 Championship Saturday evening under Mosley’s guidance.

            I’m Just Jesse won three blues for Ruth and Larry Tudor making it 16 blues this season for this talented horse. Ruth Tudor first won the 13-entry Trail Pleasure Western Specialty Thursday and returned Friday to win the 11-entry Trail Pleasure English Specialty unanimously. On Saturday evening Brandon Derick won the Trail Pleasure Youth Specialty title.

            Herschel Blessing of What A Blessing Farm won dual blues in the halter classes with the outstanding horses he raises. On Thursday Dynamite Sky and Blessing were the Yearling Stallion champions. His family also owned the reserve champion, Cut The Storm, handled by Brandon Derick. Saturday evening What A Blessing Farm foals were first, second and fourth in the Youth Weanling Handlers, 6-17 Years class. MaryBeth Blessing and Pardon By Governor were first, Summer Brooks and I’ve Got Special Powers were reserve with fourth going to Dangerously Vistosa and Brandon Derick.

            B.B. King’s Jazz won two blues for Bryan Clark. Thursday Jeff Hatcher directed him unanimously to the top of the Park Pleasure Four-Year-Old and Under class. Ginger Simpson was in the irons Friday evening and they claimed the Park Pleasure Amateur Specialty title.

Mike Carter won the Two-Year-Old Stallion class unanimously on Sky Dazzled. Rhythm-N-Rain and K.C. Griffin topped the 17-entry Ladies Amateur Specialty class under the guidance of Mike Carter.

            Steve Hankins Stables won two blues Friday evening. ACC and Kenny Compton were selected to wear the blue from the ring in the Three-Year-Old Amateur Stallion class. Bad Man Jose and Gerald Buckland claimed the blue in the 12-entry Four-Year-Old Amateur Stallion Specialty class.

            Horses shown by Dalia Smith claimed dual blues for trainer Bozo Hacker on Saturday evening. World Grand Champion John FK’s Diamond Delight carried first Dalia Smith and then Joe Cotten to win the 19-entry Pro-Am Specialty class. In My Pocket and Dalia Smith were next on the list to win the blue in the 11-entry Walking Pony Youth Specialty class. 

            The judges chose Julia Livingston and Ritzy to wear the blue from the ring in the ETWHA Ladies Auxiliary class for the first of Livingston Stables blues. Ty Hodges and current World Champion Spring Loaded Santana topped the 11-entry Juvenile 11 and Under Championship under Livingston’s banner.

            Sixteen hard-riding teams entered the ring for the ETWHA Members Only class. Latithia Oran directed her current World Champion Sensational Premier down victory lane unanimously for Newman Stables. The team of Mademoiselle Pusher and Michelle Mercier captured the blue in the 10-entry Two-Year-Old Mare and Gelding Amateur unanimously. Both horses are owned by Melton and Latithia Oran.

            The team of Nita’s Double Pride and Ginger Simpson won two White Pine blues, first unanimously in the Plantation Lite-Shod Amateur Specialty class on Thursday and then in the Plantation Lite-Shod Specialty class Saturday evening.

            The first blue of the show was awarded to Ella Kline leading Love Games unanimously in the Weanling Fillies class under the direction of trainer Mike Janeway. Later in the evening Chris Hazelwood led World Champion Ike Turner to the blue in the Weanling Stallion class for Jacoby Farm.

            Current World Grand Champion Pat Head Summitt and Chris Richards were chosen unanimously to make the victory pass in the Yearling Fillies class for owner and trainer Roger Richards. Hard riding teams hit the show ring for the Men’s Amateur Specialty class and they didn’t let up until the lineup. Bustin Out and Brad Spivey were the number one choice under Brandye Mills Stables banner.

            Royally and Stephen Hankins earned the blue in the Two-Year-Old Mare and Gelding class. Last year’s Park Pleasure Stake champion and World Champion Marching Orders and Buffy Ailshie claimed a unanimous victory in the Park Pleasure Specialty class.

            In a class of 11, the Youth 11 and Under title was won by Heart Attack’s Fast Beat and Danielle Ricker under the guidance of Jackie Barron. Eighteen teams entered the ring for the Walking Pony Adult Amateur Specialty class. Big Al and Janie Stokes scored the blue from Chris Pickel Stables.

            Summer Brooks and Coin’s Goldwatch added the Youth Park Pleasure Specialty title to their resume. Andy Pace and Highly Addictive picked up the White Pine unanimous blue in the Amateur Specialty for trainer Bill Reel.

            Saturday evening Flash Of Silver and Stephen Daniel won the 15-entry Three-Year-Old Stallion title. Laci Walker and Betsy Johnson made their usual great show to win the 11-entry Country Pleasure class unanimously

Let Go And Push carried Wayne Conley to another blue in the Four-Year-Old class. Don’t Look Back and Danny Kistler added the 13-entry Park Performance Specialty title to their lengthy list.

This Spirit’s In Command and Patty Rogers won the 10-entry Amateur Show Pleasure blue under the guidance of Jose Rodriquez of Beaty Stables. The team of Sunfire’s Phoenix and Jeff Hatcher won the Park Pleasure Championship with the roses unanimously.

Complete results and judges’ cards follow and can be viewed, search and printed at www.walkinghorsereport.com.