LAURINBURG, NC.- The 5th Annual Southestern Championship Walking and Racking Horse Show has found a new home at the St. Andrews Equestrian Center in Laurinburg, North Carolina. The forty-class show was held November 3. Unlike the week before, horse lovers enjoyed beautiful weather with temperatures in the seventies. The husband and wife team of Gene and Jane Frye were the announcer and organist for the show. Willie Collins was the show manager and the ring master. Alvin Stickland was the judge of the show while Debbie Bush was the official photographer.

The proceeds of the show will go to benefit the handicapped riding program at the Equestrian Ceneter. The St. Andrews Equestrian program attracts students from all over the United States and Canada. It’s Equine Business management degree and therapeutic riding degree are among the best in the country. St. Andrews has a riding program, which serves 85 Scotland County children with disabilities. Each child rides in one lesson a week at no charge. The covered arena and surrounding grounds are a great place for a horse show.

The afternoon show, which started at two o’clock, featured ten Plantation classes. Mary Jane Durant and Shoeless Joe Jackson had a fun afternoon winning three of the classes. This team won the Plantation Lite Shod, Plantation Western Lite Shod Specialty adn the Plantation Lite Shod Specialty. Jazz Show and owner, Pat Callicut got to take home two blues as Tyler Baucom won the Plantation Youth class and Pat won the North Caolina Walking Horse ladies Auxiliary class. I’m Shania and Gordon Ezzell won two back to back classes. Smooth Criminal and Debbie Wells slipped in to win the Plantation Pleasure Open class. Danny Kistler up for Lora Fortenberry won the Plantation Western Specialty with My My. Tyler Baucom and Mr. Rolex won the Plantation Country Pleasure class.

After a short break, the evening classes began at four o’clock. The evening show had Walking and Racking classes. There were 207 entries inthe 28 Walking classes. The evening ended as each of the entries were called into the class for the Walking Championship class. David Polk and Generator’s Power Punch delivered the goods as they won another Championship out of four worthy competitors. Ronald Mosley up for Shelia Garner was the reserve tie on Dark Spirit’s Beam. The third place went to Thad Hayes up for Rick Bartholomew on Pusher’s Society Man. Polk Stables had two other wins in the show. Kelly Peeler won the Four-Year-Old Amateur class to the cheers of her hometown crowd. Jerry Jester and his horse, Running Loose, won out of nine entries in the Three-Year-Old Amateur class.

Besides the three blues in the afternoon classes, Baucom Stables carried home four more blue ribbons. Chad up for John and Jaffa Hyman won the Four-Year-Old Open class with Gen’s Mizzou Man. Tyler Baucom got to go to the winner’s circle again as he and Doc’s Fine Fashion won the Youth 11 and Under class. Nora Frazier made a good show to take home the blue for her and husband, Ricky, in the Two-Year-Old Amateur on Macho’s Bulldozer. Design’s Checkmate and Mike McBrayer won the North Carolina Walking Horse Association Members Only class.

Rae Martin Stables also had a good night winning four classes. The first win came with Sam Martin in the irons for Harry and Barbara Sullins in the Two-Year-Old Open on Future Shamrock. Sherry Rowe and Matador won the Ladies Specialty for owner, Charles Cramer. Sonya Sheely beat out nine other entries to win the Amateur 15.2 and Udner with Coin’s Satin Doll. Larry Sharpe and Dynamic Legend defeated nine other teams to win the Amateur Specialty class.

Ronald Mosley Stables had three wins. Greg Barnett won the largest class of the evening show with twelve entries in the Amateur Show Pleasure class on Just About Time. Ronald has won Open Specialty class two weeks in a row for Madeline Griggs on Flashy’s Loose Cannon. Emily Barnett is also in a winning mode picking up the blue again in the Youth 12-17 Specialty class on Ebony Threat’s Ace.

Don Lominac won two classes. He won the Three-Year-Old open for owner Shelia Garner on Ticket To Ride and the 15.2 and Under on Major Monkey Business. Janice Robinson won the North Carolina Walking Horse Ladies Auxiliary aboard Over And Over. Don Helms and Strokin’ Stroller made it two weeks in a row as they won the Amateur Championship. Another back to back week winners were Milly Player and Ultimate Warrior in the Amateur Owned and Trained for Player, Buckner, and Baumgardner.

For the complete show story, see the printed edition of Walking Horse Report dated November 12th, 2001.