By Linda Scrivner

Posted April 10, 2002

KATY, Texas - The 55th Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, the oldest horse show in Texas, had the feel of elegance and hospitality of years past. The weather created a springtime feeling in Texas with lovely flowers everywhere. Exhibitors from all parts of the country, and of all ages, competed on both performance and pleasure horses of virtually all breeds. The show displayed a beautiful blend of American Saddlebreds, Tennessee Walking horses, Racking horses, Welsh Ponies and Cobs, Roadsters, Hackney Ponies, Thoroughbreds and Warmbrods. Pin Oak is always a great family event that reaches out to the community. It provides wholesome entertainment and contributes various funds to support seriously ill children in the Houston medical community. In 1948, Pin Oak began a long-term commitment to raise funds to construct, and later support, Texas Children’s Hospital. The hospital opened in 1953. In more recent years, Pin Oak began supporting the Ronald McDonald House of Houston, a wonderful organization that provides support for families whose children are patients with cancer or other serious illnesses at the Texas Medical Center.

At the show, exhibitors were lavished with Texas style hospitality from the moment they arrived until the last class ended on Saturday. Beautiful welcome baskets were delivered to every barn. Daily breakfast was provided by McDonald’s for trainers, exhibitors and sponsors. On Wednesday, a Welcome Margarita Party was held in the Mansion Sponsor’s Club. On Thursday, exhibitors indulged in the Wine and Cheese Reception. Friday was the day for the Fourth Annual Bill and Willie Birdwell Barbecue, which was held at noon at their home in Richmond. The Exhibitor’s Party was held that evening with more barbecue and dancing until 1a.m. On Saturday, a Junior Exhibitor Party complete with an Easter Egg Hunt and petting zoo drew some of social events to a close.

Saturday had several championship events. The winners were given stunning trophies, Pin Oak coolers and beautiful red roses. Photography Jack Shatzberg captured many of these great moments

Helping the multibreed show move smoothly was Show Manager Glenn Petty and Assistant Breed Show Manager Lenard Davenport. Petty and Davenport impressively maneuvered two arenas. Walking and Racking Horses, Saddlebreds, Roadsters, Welsh ponies dominated the Mansion Arena at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center. The "Hunter" arena held a two week hunter/jumper show.

Lenard Davenport stated, “ I am glad to be back in the area and working with the group here. We feel that falling on Easter weekend hurt participation of our show. For next year, we will do a revision of the schedule, add some additional classes, and improve participation. Next year’s schedule will include a Thursday-Sunday show. We appreciate everyone that has made the 2002 show a success.”

Prize money was significant with $2500 offered for the Walking Stake; $1500 in the Amateur Specialty Championship, the Park Pleasure Championship, and the Plantation Lite Shod Championship; and $1000 in the Amateur Lite Shod Championship, the Show Pleasure Championship and the Amateur Park Pleasure Championship.

Gerald Campbell traveled from Cullman, Ala. to participate in the judging duties. The Walking Horse Grand Championship honors were presented to Texas’ own, Don Crum and General Take Command for Clark Spencer. This powerful black stallion also dominated the Four-Year-Old class earlier in the week. Picking up the reserve honors in this prestigious class were Dub Ivins and At Your Command for Dr. Martha Chapman.

Lone Star Walking Horses of Frisco, Texas returned home with ll wins, the highest blue ribbon tally. Lady Gen won their first blue in the Park class, and later she returned to win the Park Western Pleasure with Barbara Civils. Jimmy Civils directed this mare to the Park Youth Specialty victory to earn her third blue of the show. Susie Lavender and her popular gray mare, Mirabella, won the Show Pleasure Specialty after winning the preliminary and stake at West Monroe, La. earlier this month.

Susie Lavender also won the Three-Year-Old Amateur with her roan mare, Beamin’ Dollar. Trashadeous won four blues for owner Barbara Civils including two championships. Barbara Civils earned their first blue in the Lite Shod Western Specialty, followed by the Lite Shod Championship. Jimmy Civils won both the Lite Shod Youth Specialty and the Lite Shod Amateur Specialty Championship.

Joe Dickerson, Jr. won twice with I’m Cordell Walker from Lone Star Walking Horses. They took both the Men’s Trail Pleasure Specialty and the Youth Specialty Trail Pleasure for Joe Dickerson bringing the number of blues to 11 for Lone Star.

Don Crum Stables and Don Crum Stables were next in line accumulating six blues apiece. In addition to the Stake and the Four-Year-Old titles, Don also won the Two-Year-Old with Outrage for Kelly Leblanc and the Show Pleasure Championship with Just Say Jubilee for Spencer Clark. Kacie Frankino won both the Youth Specialty Championship and the 11 and Under Youth with Cash’s C Note for Bob and Debbie Frankino under Crum Stables banner.

Wink Groover Stables rode to the winner's circle six times. Wink Groover first won the Three-Year-Old with Miss Texas Cash for Nancy Groover, then the Open with Billy White Shoes with the Paul Parker Family.

Guylene Ozlanski and her Dangerous Mist took top honors in the Four-Year-Old Amateur Specialty and also in the Amateur Specialty Championship under Groover Stables banner. Guylene appeared excited after she carried out her roses in her first-ever Championship. Darden Gladney and It’s Up In Arms won both the Park Pleasure Amateur Specialty and the Park Pleasure Amateur Specialty Championship for Gladney Farms under Wink Groover’s guidance. This team recently won the same classes at West Monroe, La.

Three blues were won by Stan’s Stables, The Hacienda and Escondido Stables. Brandon Urad won two for Stan’s Stables’. First, he managed to win the Youth Specialty 12-17 Years with Mackamania for Ken Wright. He later won the Youth Country Pleasure with Hallelujah’s Touch for Hallmark & Taylor. Stan Urad won the Park Pleasure Championship with Generator’s High Noon for Dan and Donna Demedio.

The Hacienda won three blues, the first of which was won by Darden Gladney riding the palomino youngster, Allen’s Royal Threat for James Parkay in the Gentlemen’s Country Pleasure. This team also walked away with the Country Pleasure Championship. Debra Williams of The Hacienda also won the Trail Pleasure Championship with Logsden’s Rocket for Williams and Spalding.

Trainer Victor Mastache of Escondido Stables earned three blues. Regina Henderson and Call Me Tootsie won the Park Four-Year-Old and Under for Regene Henderson under his guidance. Current World Champion Rambo’s Velvet Shadow won dual blues, the Lite Shod title and the Lite Shod Amateur Specialty with Charles Peters for Judy Peters.

Roger Ivins Stables and the Fred Weaver Family also won dual blues The first blue was won by Laredo Texas in the Model. Debbie Nebel directed him to the win for Randy and Debbie Nebel. Sheila Denny next directed Red River Fred to finish on top in the Lite Shod Three & Under Specialty for Larry and Sheila Denny.

Lisa Weaver won dual blues with her two mounts for Fred and Lisa Weaver. Weaver excelled in the Ladies Trail Pleasure Specialty with Blond Ambition and the Ladies Country Pleasure with Copy’s Dark Stranger.

The remaining top honors went to Bethany Dwyer and Beam’s Expression in the Trail Pleasure Championship, Darden Gladney and Paper Thin in the Trail Pleasure and Dr. Martha Chapman, and At Your Command in the Amateur Specialty.

If you haven’t been to Pin Oak, you should attend at least once and see what a horse show is like - Texas style.

For the complete show story, see the printed edition of Walking Hors Report dated April 8, 2002.