CULLMAN, Alabama - The First Annual WHAA Charity Horse Show and Regional Walking Horse Futurity was held at the Cullman Agriculture Center Arena in Cullman, Alabama on Saturday August 10th. The show was a huge success for a first-time effort. Show chairman Brenda May was thrilled at the number of good entries and spectators.
The show opened with Philip Trimble carrying the colors aboard Gads O Cash. Judge for the 30 class event was Joe Fleming. Thurman Guthrie kept things moving along as announcer. Brian Perry did a wonderful job, as usual, entertaining on the organ. Sherry Oxford captured the action on film.
The show ended with an exciting Walking Horse Stake class. Eight nice entries made the gate call. Charlie Green rode A Touch Of Sunrise to the tricolor and floral horseshoe for Al Sanders. Reserve honors went to Rollie Beard and Kodachrome for Cathy Baird.
Entering the ring to start the show were the Futurity Weanling Mares and Geldings. Lisa Teel claimed the blue in the class with I’m The Lady In Command for Lisa Teel and Mitzi Butler. Reserve went to Magic’s Miss Souvenir and Tony Prince for Prince Farms.
The Open Specialty class was next on the list. Nine entries made the call. Freedom Fighter and Charlie Green were chosen to carry out the blue for Rusty and Denise Shoffner. The red ribbon in the class went to What She Needs Is Me and owner/exhibitor David Latham. Futurity Park Pleasure honors were awarded to He’s Edgy and Edwin Martinez for McCarley Farms.
Sixteen entries made their way into the ring in the Two-Year-Old Amateur class. Claiming the title was Randy Cash and Free To Score for Randy and Lisa Cash. Carrying out the red ribbon was Skywatch’s Starry Knight and Denzel Carbine for Carbine and Associates. A very competitive group of Youth 11 and Under riders were next in the ring. The Flashlight and Kateland Strickland made the good ride to the blue for Billy, Kay and Kateland Strickland. Reserve in the class was Generator’s Merry Boy and Madison Lawrence for the Jamie Lawrence family.
Adding pizzazz to the 15.2 and Under competition was Tex Smith and Pusher’s Pzazz who took home the blue for Mr. and Mrs. G.L. McNeill. The red ribbon went to Handshakers High Tribute and Mike Overcast for John and Patty Shannon. Pushin’ True Colors and Kim Baldwin had a blue ribbon night in the Futurity Weanling Stallion class for Jack Deloney. Reserve went to That’s Mr. Command 2 U and Casee Crocker for Betsy Michael.
The Three-Year-Old Stallion class held nine entries. Taking command of the blue was Larry Latham and Highly In Command for David Latham. Reserve honors went to Annie’s Secret Vision and Justin Harris for Jim Spicer. Stormy Command and owner/exhibitor Ray Warren took the top spot in the Open Amateur class. Owner/exhibitor Ray Solley and The Rising Sun were reserve in the class.
Walking their way to the blue in the Futurity Two-Year-Old Park Pleasure class were General Trend and Bryan Walker. Claiming the reserve spot were A Flashy Mesh and Steve Brown for Harold Bently. Fourteen Aged Mares and Geldings Specialty competitors took to the rail next. Mike Overcast made the good ride for the blue in the class aboard Crimson’s Deep Impact for John and Patty Shannon. Reserve honors went to Gone And Done It and Charlie Green for Bud Varnadore.
Eleven entries entered the gate next for the Alabama Ladies Auxiliary Specialty class. Topping the good class were Carolyn Rutner and Lance Lots Lady for Dr. and Mrs. Rosser Wall. Reserve honors went to Hytone’s Generator and Amy Trimble for Trimble and Abernathy. In the Futurity Yearling Mares and Geldings Gerald Campbell and Dangerous Command took the top spot for Doss Farms. Reserve went to In A Spin and Casee Crocker for Tim Vance, Joan Kemp and Michael Brown.
The Two-Year-Old Open held seventeen entries. Claiming the blue in the good class was Jerry Collier aboard Cash Magic for Troy Trousdale. Reserve went to Miss Santiago and Jamie Bradshaw for Ferguson Farms. Twelve entries came through the gate next for the Country Pleasure class. Owner/exhibitor Kathryn Davis and Another Royal Dream carried out the blue. The red ribbon went to Collector’s Big Time Jack and owner/exhibitor Joyce Smith.
In one of the most exciting and competitive classes of the night, the Youth 17 and Under Specialty, fourteen good entries rode for the top prize. When all was said and done Ebony Sky and Clay Sanderson made the victory pass for Joe and Joan Hildreth. Reserve in the class went to Blake Beam and Doc’s High Ball for David Latham. The Amateur Owned and Trained Specialty held eleven entries. Making the ride to the winner’s circle was Rance Kelly aboard Ebony’s Threat Double.
In the Futurity Three-Year-Old Mares and Geldings class Bonanza's Dixie Belle and Greg Pate were the blue ribbon winners for the Pate and Elrod partnership. Reserve honors went to She's Edgy and Linda McCarley for McCarley Farms. Making another blue ribbon performance in the Three-Year-Old Mares and Geldings class was the team of Pusher's Cleopatra and Jamie Bradshaw for Ferguson Farms. The red ribbon in the class went to Country Cash and Michael Peebles for Ann Myatt.
Thirteen entries took to the rail for the Country Pleasure class. Making the good ride for the blue was Steve Clark aboard Wired 440 for Clark Farms. The second place award in the class went to I've Been Skyjacked and Steve Beam for Wendy Young. In the always competitive Three-Year-Amateur class, Wes Samford made another blue ribbon ride aboard Doc's Cutting Edge. Samford owns the champion. Reserve in the good class went to Bustin' With A Bang with Tommy Hale in the irons for Tommy and Vickie Hale.