by Jennifer Maack-Condren

BOLIVAR, Mo. - As traditional as apple pie and baseball, so is the annual Fourth of July horse show in Bolivar, Mo. The 42nd annual Gaited Horse Show was host to over 100 entries of Tennessee Walking Horses and Missouri Fox Trotters. Walking horse judge Bill Branham of Excelsior Springs, Mo., had a tough job marking his card with quality entries in each class.

Halfway through the show the spectators were entertained with the annual Celebration of Freedom fireworks show that can be easily viewed from the show grounds.

The final class of the night was for the Open Walking Horses and four entries made the gate call. Don Bills and She’s Calamity Jane received the blue ribbon tie from Judge Branham following a tough class. Jose’s Strider and Margaret Hickman captured the reserve ribbon in the class.

 Overall entries were down from the 2008 show but the weather couldn’t have been better for a July show and the conclusion to a holiday weekend.

Complete results can be viewed by clicking here.