by Ann Bullard

DALLAS, Texas - Less than two weeks after the last class at the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, Texas and some Louisiana exhibitors gathered for the annual UPHA Chapter 6 and 7/State Fair of Texas Horse Show. Held for many years during the Fair, this year’s walking horse and Saddle Horse show ran September 17-20, ending the Sunday before the Fair opens.

Texans are known for hospitality and (often) unique ways of fund raising. Friday night’s aisle party offered exhibitors from all breeds a chance to visit, catch up on summer activities and enjoy food from sandwiches, fruit and desserts to homemade meatballs and salads. Margo Urad and her sister, May Chadick, directed a Texas Hold-'Em tournament which raised money for the show on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Few exhibitors brought horses that had shown at the International and Celebration. The exceptions: Fred and Lisa Weaver of Doyline, LA, who rode their world champions Jose’s Sweet & Spicy and Miss Esther Williams to State Fair blues. Both horses earned good ribbons each show including Jose’s Sweet & Spicy’s world championship performance in the AOT Trail Pleasure with Lisa Weaver in the irons. Both horses were undefeated at the State Fair, with Lisa and Fred Weaver sharing the honors.

Light entries caused a number of classes to be cancelled; few had more than two entries. Still Judge Laura Brandon had some nice performance and futurity entries to evaluate.

Finding a class missing either Kim Lewis of McDodi Farms or Brandon Urad aboard one of the top horses proved difficult. Lewis won blue ribbons six of the 16 times she showed before Judge Brandon. Urad came through the gate on nine occasions in the walking horse division, winning seven of his classes. In addition, he led several American Saddlebred weanlings and yearlings to top honors in their futurities.

Complete can be searched and printed by clicking here.