by Mary A. Palmer
MONTVERDE, Fla. - The Florida Walking and Racking Horse Association hosted another show on April 14 at the Montverde Academy Equestrian Center facilities. Mike Carpenter did the honors in what turned out to be a great day with temperatures peaking at 90 degrees. Everyone agreed it was a great day to enjoy this wonderful breed with friendship, great competition and good barbecue.
Following the opening ceremonies was the Model Walking and Racking division. How Dare You and owner Bernie Duncan claimed the blue ribbon. Regal Rebel and Tracy Pinson were reserve, also for owner Bernie Duncan under the Darby Oaks Stables banner.
Repeats Color Me In with owner Kasey Kesselring at the whip made the victory lap to win the Flat-Shod Driving division under the direction of Tim Thompson. Making a nice showing to take the reserve position was Ebb’s Midnight Storm with owner Weldon Vineyard at the whip.
Ten entries made the gate call in the Amateur Country Pleasure division. The popular team of RSVP and owner Susan Ellison received the nod from the judge. Taking home the red streamer was Silver Dollar Sue ZQ and owner Kathy Nitabach. Hard Rock Farm trains both these fine entries.
Taking home the blue in the Amateur English Trail Pleasure Walking Specialty division was reigning World Grand Champion The Lady Of The Ritz with Kasey Kesselring in the irons for the Montverde Academy. This top champion is trained under the guidance of Tim Thompson. Kathy Anderson made a lovely ride to earn the reserve honors on Daddy’s First Edition under the Hard Rock Farm banner.
Duke Pride Of Genius and Larry Welter of L&K Ranch made a great ride to win the Park Pleasure English Specialty division for owner Linda Ritter. Coin’s Time Out and Joan Birdsall received the second place honors under the guidance of Darby Oaks Stables.
The Amateur Favorite Gait division saw 10 entries make the gate call with RSVP and owner Susan Ellison taking home another blue under the Hard Rock Farm banner. Picking up the reserve honors was another Hard Rock trained entry, Silver Dollar Sue ZQ with owner Kathy Nitabach aboard.
Burl Dale and Gen’s Major Success made a nice ride to take the blue home in the English Lite-Shod Specialty division.
In the exciting Park Performance Specialty division I’ve Been Busted and owner John Kuszlyk made a great ride to claim the blue. A Win Win Situation with Tim Thompson up for owner Debi Frielander captured the red ribbon.
Silver Dollar Sue ZQ and Kathy Nitabach claimed the victory lap honors in the Country Pleasure Four and Under division under the direction of Hard Rock Farm. Janie’s Got A Gun and Elizabeth Krupski received the reserve honors for owner Kasey Kesselring under the guidance of Tim Thompson.
A delighted Caroline Boyle made a nice ride aboard Beam’s Last Embrace for the blue ribbon to win the Youth Easy Gait Specialty division. This pair is trained under the Walkabout Farm banner. John Kuszlyk III and Tunie’s Magic Enchanter also made a nice ride to finish in the reserve position.
The popular team of Delight’s Silver Design and Darren Gray earned the ride to the winner’s circle in the Amateur Trail Pleasure Walking Western Specialty division. Regal Rebel and Tracy Pinson were second for owner Bernie Duncan under the guidance of Darby Oaks Stables.
An impressive 11 entries made the gate for the Youth Country Pleasure division. Taking home another blue were Caroline Boyle and Beam’s Last Embrace under the guidance of Walkabout Farm. Breaker’s Second Chance and Kelly Mendez received the red streamer under the direction of Tim Thompson.
Gen’s Armed With Cash and Sasha Teft of Walkabout Farm made the winning ride in the Park Pleasure Four and Under division for owner Lisa Boyle. Also making a good ride was Jeanette Kuszlyk aboard Cabo San Lucas for the reserve honors.
In the Novice Horse and Novice Rider Easy Gait Specialty division Red Bud’s Last Allen and Lucia D’Ascanio claimed the blue ribbon. Winning Nite Light and Rachel Davies were second. Both these entries train under the Montverde Academy/Tim Thompson banner.
The Kuszlyk family took home another blue, this time with Tunie’s Magic Enchanter and Jeanette Kuszlyk in the Amateur Owned and Trained Trail Pleasure Specialty division. My Scarlett and owner Carol Worsham finished in the reserve position.
In the Youth Walking Specialty division War General and Jennifer Otterbacher captured the blue ribbon for owner Janet Howell. Graciously claiming the reserve honors were Poison’s Anniversary and Kelly Mendez. Both of these fine entries train under the direction of Tim Thompson.
Making another blue ribbon ride were Gen’s Major Success and Burl Dale. This time the win came in the Amateur Lite-Shod Specialty division. Candidate’s Late Entry and Wayne Vandewalker were second under the L&K Ranch banner.
Also taking home another blue was Beam’s Last Embrace and Lisa Boyle in the 10-entry Amateur Easy Gait Specialty division under the Walkabout Farm banner. Making a good ride for the red ribbon were Coin’s Lady Rachel and Brittany Smith for Wayne Carreker.
Adding another blue to their tally was Montverde Academy’s Grace In Command and Kailin Kesselring in the Walking Show Pleasure division. Another Tim Thompson/Montverde Academy trained entry, Keep’s Cuttin Up and Kasey Kesselring, received the reserve honors.
The Grand Liza Jane and owner Laurie Wilson captured the judge’s attention to win the Western Park Pleasure Specialty division. This fine team is prepared by Hard Rock Farm. Cabo San Lucas and Jeanette Kuszlyk took home second place honors.
In the Stock Seat Equitation division Kelly Mendez made a fine ride to win the blue aboard Breaker’s Second Chance. LeAnne Rempel, aboard Generator’s Miss Blaze, claimed the red ribbon. Both these young ladies train at the Montverde Academy.
Texas Dollar and Heather McKeehan came out on top in the Amateur Trail Pleasure Four and Under Specialty division for owners Conklin/McKeehan under the Spotted Haven Walking Horse Farm banner. Cash For Kodie and Teresa Healer were reserve under the guidance of Hard Rock Farm.
Coin’s Lady Rachel and Mary Connor took the victory lap for Wayne Carreker in the Amateur Owned and Trained Country Pleasure division. Shadow On The Mountain and Weldon Vineyard placed second.
Making a nice presentation for the blue in the Walking Four and Under division was Last Woman Standing and Tim Thompson for owner Dr. John McCutchen.
In the Amateur Easy Gait to Canter division Kelly Mendez took home another blue ribbon aboard Breakers Second Chance under the guidance of Tim Thompson. Taking the red ribbon was Rembrandt.Com and owner Dylan Osborn.
Hard Rock Farm added yet another blue ribbon to their tally with Delight’s Silver Design and Taylor Gray in the irons in the Youth Trail Pleasure Specialty division. Who‘s Breathless and Alex Conklin graciously accepted the second place honor for Conklin and McKeehan under the Spotted Haven Walking Horse Farm banner.
Generator’s Push Up and Kathy Anderson made the ride to the winner’s circle in the Lite-Shod Western Specialty division under the direction of Hard Rock Farm.
It was a “happy” Gail Hart aboard Happy Camper winning the Amateur Walking Specialty division. Darby Oaks Stables prepared this fine entry. Raining Gold and Ola Archer claimed the second place position under the direction of Walkabout Farm.
Larry Welter of L&K Ranch took home another blue after winning the Lite-Shod Walking Four and Under Specialty division, this time aboard Pride’s Colt 45 for owner Vicki Ritter.
The team of Delight Silver Design and owner Darren Gray made another winning ride under the Hard Rock Farm banner. This time the pair made the victory pass in the Amateur Trail Pleasure to Canter division. Regal Rebel and Tracy Pinson captured the reserve honors for owner Bernie Duncan.
Also taking home another blue was Tracy Pinson aboard Coin’s Time Out for owner Joan Birdsall to win the Park Pleasure to Canter division. This team trains under the direction of Darby Oaks Stables. American Legend and owner Vicki Ritter made a nice ride to take the red streamer.
The final class of the day was the Walking Open Specialty division. Taking home the top honors were A Frivolous Masterpiece and Tim Thompson for the Montverde Academy.
Complete results follow and may be viewed, searched or printed at www.walkinghorsereport.com.