by Linda Scrivner
WHITE PINE, Tenn. – The third annual East Tennessee Walking Horse Association was held Oct. 25-27, 2007 at the Great Smoky Mountain Expo Center. This year’s show was dedicated to the memory of Terri Gwinn and a trophy was presented by her family to the winner of the ETWHA Ladies Auxiliary class. Judges Eddie Barclay of South Fulton, Tenn., and Donnie May of Richmond, Ky., did the honors of judging the 52 classes of walking horses in the 72-class event. Each judge drew the same number of classes from a box to see which classes that they would judge. These were given to management and then when the class came up, the announcer read off which judge would tie that class.
Show Manager Tami Triplett was extremely pleased with the 569 entries and the large number of top quality horses that entered the show ring throughout the show. The crowd was treated to several exhibitions during the show that included 2007 World Grand Champion JFK Again and Jordan Dean, 2007 World Grand Champion Greyline and Chad Baucom and 2007 World Champion It’s Gen N’ Tonic and Charlene Cox.
Tragedy struck in the Walking Horse Stake class at White Pine. Six top horses entered the ring for competition. As the horses were going the first way of the ring one of the competitors collapsed and died in the ring. Amorall was ridden by Bill Reel and was owned by Bob Michaels of Winchester, Va. The announcer called for a veterinarian but the 10-year-old stallion passed away before any thing could be done. He was covered and carried from the ring in dignity. The decision was made to continue the class and the horses went back on the rail to complete the class.
The stake class was judged by Eddie Barclay. Scott Beaty made the winning ride aboard Can You See Me Now for owners Allred and Frazier. This was the team’s second stake win since his purchase this season. Gen’s Orange Lady and Ronald Mosley accepted the red ribbon following a Stake win at Chatham, Va., and a victory last weekend at the East Tennessee Fall Classic. This mare, in her first aged season, is also owned by Mosley. Pusher’s Phantom and Keith Ailshie were the third place winners for RPC Farms.
Scott Beaty Stables led the blue ribbon tally with nine blues while Baucom Stables was close on their heels with eight blues. Mike Carter Stables earned six blue ribbons. Jackie Barron Stables and Ronald Mosley Stables each returned home with a trio of blues. Ailshie Stables, Mike Janeway, Danny Kistler, Clay Mills, Paul Livingston Stables and Grandy Tuck of Walk Away Stables earned dual blues.
Two of the nine blues won by Scott Beaty Stables were won by This Spirit’s In Command. On Thursday This Spirit’s In Command and Beaty claimed first in the 11-entry Show Pleasure class. Friday, owner Patty Rogers directed her to her fifth blue of the season and down victory lane in the 12-entry Amateur Show Pleasure Specialty class following their victory in the same class last weekend at the ETWHA Fall Classic.
Current World Champion Mister Pushbutton and Scott Beaty made their debut performance to win the 13-entry 15.2 and Under Specialty class Thursday evening for new owners, the Fred Allred family. Mister Pushbutton won two stake classes this year with Jimmy McConnell before Candie Butler won the Owner-Amateur Classic Horse World Championship at the Celebration aboard the 17-year-old stallion. The talented stallion was selected by the Allred family to add color to their breeding program. Friday evening, Billy Ball and Scott Beaty shared the reins of Mister Pushbutton to win the Pro-Am Specialty class.
A Fly On The Wall also won dual blues for Beaty Stables. Eleven talented teams entered the show ring Friday in the Three-Year-Old Mares and Geldings Amateur class. Kim Curtis and her A Fly On The Wall was selected to wear the flowers and blue from the ring. Saturday evening A Fly On The Wall picked up his third blue of the season in the Three-Year-Old Mare and Gelding with Scott Beaty in the irons.
Beck Oakley, aboard José Bandit, accepted the blue in the Three-Year-Old Amateur Stallion class. The current world championship team of Clutch’s Power Play and Ben Harrell were the last to exit the ring with the blue in the Amateur Fine Harness competition. They recently were also International Champions.
Street Legal won two of the eight blues won by Baucom Stables. Street Legal, only a three-year-old, with Rhonda Mosley aboard made the victory lap in the Adult Pony Specialty class. Tyler Baucom directed Street Legal to his seventh blue of the season in the 11-entry Youth Pony class Saturday evening.
Current World Champion Royal Luck also earned two blues under the Baucom Stables’ banner. Twelve entries made the Open Specialty class. The judge’s choice for the blue was Royal Luck and Jeanette Baucom. Clay Mills directed him to his 13th season blue in the Amateur Canter class. Clay Mills also directed The Gambler to the blue in the Men’s Amateur Specialty class following The Gambler’s victory at the North Carolina Championships.
Energizer’s Lady and Tyler Baucom claimed the blue in the Amateur Two-Year-Old Mares and Geldings class Friday evening. I’m Rocky Balboa made their show ring debut a victorious one as they proudly claimed the Two-Year-Old Stallions Amateur class. This was the colt’s fourth blue of the season. Derek Monahan made the next ride for Baucom Stables. He won the Three-Year-Old Stallion competition aboard Master Ritz. This was the high-headed colt’s fourth season blue.
Two of the six blues won by Mike Carter Stables were won by the talented mare Our American Sensation. Friday night Taylor Gwinn directed this mare to the top of the Juvenile 12-14 competition and proudly made the victory pass at this show that was dedicated to her mother. The crowd showed their approval of the judge’s selection as she exited the ring. Our American Sensation began the season by winning two blues in the Amateur Four-Year-Old Mares and Geldings classes with Terri Gwinn in the irons. Plans were for this mare to be Taylor’s juvenile mount. Saturday evening Mike Carter and Our American Sensation claimed her sixth blue of the season in the 10-entry Four-Year-Old Open Specialty class. There was not a dry eye in the house as this great mare continued her winning tradition.
The other four Carter blues were won by horses owned by Sam Kite and K.C. Griffin. Peppermint Score and Mike Carter earned the blue in the Two-Year-Old Mares and Geldings class. A few classes later he won the Two-Year-Old Stallions class with Skydazzled, also owned by Kite. Skydazzled is undefeated with four consecutive blues.
Rhythm N Rain and K.C. Griffin won the 11-entry Ladies Amateur Specialty competition and their fourth blue of the season. The crowd was the most vocal during the Grooms and Farriers class of 11 entries. They cheered wildly for their favorites throughout the class. Bobby Morgan and Rain’s Renegade walked out with the blue. Rain’s Renegade had an earlier blue this season at Tazewell, Va.
Southern Command won two of the three blues won by Barron Stables. Tracie Barron and Southern Command claimed the blue in the Western Trail Pleasure Specialty class Thursday evening. Saturday evening Rachael Miller and Southern Command walked out with the blue, Southern Commands 12th of the season.
Heart Attack’s Fast Beat claimed his seventh blue of the season in the Juvenile 11 and Under class, Division B, with Danielle Ricker in the irons under the Barron Stables’ banner.
The team of Walking Armed and Gail Justice won two of the three blues won by Ronald Mosley Stables. First, they claimed the 16-entry Amateur Novice Riders class Thursday evening, then they returned Saturday evening to make their second victory pass in the 19-entry ETWHA Members Amateur Specialty class, which made three blues for the season for Walking Armed.
Last weekend, the world champion team of Olympic Pusher and Lindsay Henry claimed the East Tennessee Fall Classic Youth 12-17 Championship. This weekend they also topped the Youth 15-17 class and won their eighth blue of the season under Mosley Stables’ banner.
The Park Pleasure Amateur Specialty class title and their eighth blue of the season was awarded to the team of Blinded By The Sky and Robert Kirkpatrick under the direction of Ailshie Stables. World Champion Marching Orders and Buffie Ailshie claimed the blue in the Park Pleasure Open Specialty class and their fifth blue of the season.
The team of Ella Kline and trainer Mike Janeway made a clean sweep of the weanling divisions. First they won the Weanling Filly class with The Game Of Love. Ella Kline led her to her fourth season blue and her third blue in the last three weeks. Kline also made the victory pass leading Elmer’s Gin in the Weanling Colt class.
Don’t Look Back claimed two blues and the 14th blue of the season at the White Pine show. On Thursday, Adam Ramsey directed Don’t Look Back to the blue in the 11-entry Park Performance Amateur Specialty class under the guidance of trainer Danny Kistler. Friday evening Don’t Look Back carried Danny Kistler down victory lane in the 10-entry Park Performance Open Specialty class.
Julia Livingston and Ritzy were the well-deserved recipients of the Terri Gwinn Memorial trophy when they claimed the blue in the ETWHA Ladies Auxiliary Specialty class Saturday evening. This was Ritzy’s sixth blue of the season. Current World Champion Spring Loaded Santana won her 11th season blue in the Juvenile 11 and Under class, Division A with Ty Hodges directing. Paul Livingston proudly prepared this team for the show ring.
Current World Champions Clay Mills and Extra Ebony won their 13th blue of the season at White Pine. They earned victory passes, just as they did last year, in the NCWHA Members Amateur Specialty class Thursday and the Amateur Specialty class Saturday.
Angela Tuck won the first of Walk Away Farms two blues in the 11-entry Trail Pleasure Open Specialty class aboard her South Carolina Ladies Auxiliary dual champion Night Of The Heat Stroke. Friday evening Anne Evans made her first blue ribbon ride aboard In The Heat Of The Night in the Youth Lite-Shod class.
The rest of the blues were won by individuals or individual barns. Hollly Whisnart directed White Pine Lions Club Champion Baker’s Southern Comfort to the blue in the Lite-Shod Specialty competition.
The 12-entry Four-Year-Old Amateur Stallion competition was won by the team of San Rio and Andy Pace. This undefeated stallion has three blues to his credit this season under the guidance of Bill Reel Stables.
Following two North Carolina Championship blues, A Sweeping Fire and Brandi Mills made a great show to claim the victory in the 10-entry Four-Year-Old Amateur Mare and Gelding class. Father Donald Todd trains this talented horse. Freedom Is and Bobby Watson topped the class of 12 Amateur 50 and Over competitors to claim the blue.
Mills also made a great show aboard Cash Can Do. They topped the 11-entry 15.2 and Under Amateur Specialty under the guidance of husband and trainer Brandye Mills. Current World Grand Champion Pat Head Summitt and Amanda Winters claimed their 29th blue in the Yearling Filly class under the direction of Roger Richards.
Cut The Storm and Brandon Derrick claimed the blue in the Yearling Colt class for Herschel Blessing, who also won the reserve title with Dynamite Sky. Cody’s Trouble and Cody Sauceman walked out with the blue in the 12-entry Country Pleasure competition under Do It Yourself Stables’ banner.
The Open Costume class was a very popular one. The winners were The Pumpkin Patch and Everett Moore. Two matched mules pulled a lit-up decorated wagon, The Pumpkin Patch, loaded with people, lights and decorations. Lucas Frey directed Dash’s Hard Rain to the Juvenile Park Performance blue.
Oz Who and Ken Estes captured the Amateur Owned and Trained Specialty class blue.
Complete results follow and can be viewed, searched and printed at www.walkinghorsereport.com.
Editor’s Note: The following was read as the trophy was being awarded to Julia Livingston and Ritzy.
MEMORY OF TERRI GWINN
Tonight, the East Tennessee Walking Horse Association Ladies Auxiliary and Trainers are making this presentation to the winner of the ETWHA Ladies Auxiliary Class in Memory of Terri Gwinn. This award is being presented by her husband, LL and daughters, Dee Dee and Taylor.
In Terri’s home she displayed a quote that said, “IN THE END, IT IS NOT THE YEARS IN YOUR LIFE, BUT THE LIFE IN YOUR YEARS.” In Terri’s 49 years, she lived that quote.
In her professional career, Terri was a Certified Public Accountant. During the past five years she serve as Vice-President and Chief Financial Officers for a multi-million dollar international manufacturing company which was jointly owned by investors in the United States and Holland. In this capacity, she was known and respected by many business associates and companies around the world.
In 2004, Terri was named to the Mountain State University Hall of Fame, earning their Achievement Award; an award that is normally given to someone with a much longer work career. It was Terri’s professional and high achievement that earned this prestigious award at an early age. Although Terri’s professional life was very demanding, she always had time to love and enjoy her family.
Terri’s hobbies were many, but her passion was riding and exhibiting horses. At the age of five, she began riding and showing quarter horses. During high school and college she began showing American Saddlebreds. Approximately 15 years ago, she purchased her first walking horse. It was at this time, quarter horses and Saddlebreds became history. In 1998, she placed a walking horse in training with Mike Carter and became a member of the ETWHA. During the past 10 years, Terri exhibited her horses at many shows in East and Middle Tennessee.
Most of you will remember Terri’s radiant smile when she entered the show ring aboard a horse named My American Hero. Although she loved Hero, it was a horse named Our American Sensation that took Terri to the winner’s circle many times as a two-year-old, three-year-old and as a four-year-old until her fatal accident on May 19, 2007. Our American Sensation is now being ridden and shown by her daughter, Taylor, in the 12-17 juvenile classes.
Terri’s friends were endless. Everyone that knew her had a lasting impression that she was sincere, honest and treated EVERYONE with respect. Terri was a giving person. During her life, she always gave and shared with those that were less fortunate. As an organ donor, Terri has continued in her giving.
The ETWHA Ladies Auxiliary and Trainers are honored to join in the presentation of this award in memory of Terri Gwinn to the winner of the Ladies Auxiliary class.
Terri, you will be missed by all who knew you and will always be remembered.