by Maggi Painter
SPRING HILL, Tenn. -Girls Rule at Spring Hill!
Entries this year reached 184, up from 138 in 2004, in 24 classes that
were judged by Jerome Cole of Murfreesboro, Tenn. The proceeds this
year, as with previous years went to vision impaired members of the
local community.
Due to the grass track, all of the classes were specialty, including
the Walking Horse Stake, which normally includes an exciting display of
the rocking horse canter. Seven horses answered announcer Chip Walters'
gate call for the final class of the evening. Even though Walters never
called for the canter, all seven horses capably showed their stuff to
judge Cole. The first tie in the class went to General's Main Lady and
Rollie Beard. Also the Cornersville Five and Over Mares and Geldings
(Canter) Champion, the Lady is owned by Mitch Taylor of Cordova. Tenn.
Reserve in the class went to JFK's Top Aide and Gary Martin for Dick
and Sally Reilly of Lewisburg, Tenn.
Monica Power continued her winning ways at Spring Hill. This Gold
Power filly is owned and trained by Dr. Roger Richards of
Hendersonville, Tenn. Monica added three more blue ribbons to her
resume bringing the show season-to-date total to 21. With handler Cindy
Womack, Monica walked out blue in the Yearling Fillies and Yearling
Championship classes. B.J. Richards was her handler in the 11 horse
Youth Weanling-Yearling class for the victory pass. Princess Showboat
and Bobby Richards were reserve in two of the classes, Yearling Fillies
and Yearling Championship, for owners Phil and Bobbykay Soholt of
Lebanon. Tenn. King Me and Landon Mills were reserve in the Youth class
for owner John M. Nagy, III  of Mt. Juliet, Tenn.
The first class of the evening was the 15 entry Stick Horse class.
There were so many top horses and riders in the class that judge Cole
had no choice but to award blue ribbons to all competitors.
Local Country Pleasure, a class specifically for riders living in the
area, was next with 11 entries. B.J. Richards of Franklin, Tenn. ,
picked up the first of three blue ribbons for the night aboard Pride's
General Delivery. Pride's GD is owned by Richards and Bankemper and
trained at The Colt Center in Franklin, Tenn. The red ribbon in the
class went to owner/exhibitor Nancy Hall of Shelbyville, Tenn., and
Clever Connection.
The first halter class on the show bill was Weanling Fillies with
seven entries. Jazz's Ebony Rose and handler Robert Nelms earned the
victory pass for the Curt Washburn family of Fayetteville, Tenn. Power
Stroke's Perfection and Wendy Boyd walked their way to reserve honors.
This filly is trained by Boydway Stables, Bell Buckle, Tenn., and owned
by Dr. and Mrs. Harry Nisbett of Tullahoma, Tenn.
B.J. Richards scored his second victory in the Park Pleasure
competition with The Grizzly, owned by the Bobby Richards family of
Franklin, Tenn. The amateur owned and trained entry, My Montego Bay,
with Jenny Earhart of Orange, Calif., in the irons, claimed second
place honors.
The call for Trail Pleasure Western contestants brought six horses and
riders to the show ring. Dark Renegade and Kevin Marker tied first in
the class. The blue ribbon horse is trained at The Colt Center of
Franklin,Tenn., and owned by Phil and Bobbykay Soholt of Lebanon. Tenn.
Hallejuah In the Sky and Rachel Mercier of Shelbyville,Tenn., were
reserve.
Next, two-year-old mares and geldings took over the show ring. Victory
was sweet for Sweet Apple Pie with Greg Bryant in the saddle. Trained
by Bryant of Shelbyville, Tenn., the first place entry is owned by Dr.
Phil Snodgrass of Bowling Green, Ky. The red ribbon in the class was
awarded to Sweet Dollar and Chad Williams for owners Bob Lawrence and
Carroll Hutto of Thomasville, Ga.
Seven horses and riders took the track to the right for the Lite Shod
Plantation Pleasure class and judge Cole's review. A Classical Jazz and
Shelly Herman of Grass Valley, Calif., took blue ribbon honors in the
competition. Jazz is owned by Fran Cole, also of Grass Valley, Calif.
Simply Striking and Kevin Marker took second place for owners Alicia
and Clay Avent of Lewisburg,Tenn.
The Weanling Colts class saw 15 youngsters and their handlers fill the
show ring. Red Hot Willie was red hot and took top honors with handler
Robert Nelms for owners Diane Allen and Howard Holcomb of Fayetteville,
Tenn., and Huntsville, Ala.
King Me and B. J. Richards earned the first of their two reserves for
the night.
Youth 17 & Under Specialty was next on the agenda with six entries.
Pride's Sharp Dressed Man (wasn't that a song by ZZ Top?) with Gavin
Kasser in the irons proudly sported the blue ribbon for the victory
pass. The Man is owned by Carol Ann Gavin of Dalton, Ga., and
Shelbyville, Tenn. The Bobby Hugh-trained entry, the Pusher Generation
and Cortney Thomas claimed the red ribbon for Paula Thomas of
Lynchburg, Tenn.
The call for the Two-Year-Old Stallion competition brought 10 horses
and riders to the show ring. The class victory  went to Generation Jimi
and Greg Bryant for owner Wyndel Blankenship. Second place honors were
awarded to Liberty's Rising Star and trainer Mark West. Rising Star is
owned by the Ricky Dunlap family of Manchester, Tenn.
Pusher's Mr. Majestyk (remember the Charles Bronson movie?) and
owner-exhibitor Mike Stone scored the victory in the 15.2 and Under
Amateur Specialty Championship. Mr. Majestyk is trained by Field of
Dreams Stables of Unionville, Tenn. The amateur owned and trained entry
Sheer Passion, and Tex Dillingham of McMinnville, Tenn., were reserve.
The Three-Year-Old Mares and Geldings class came next. The blue ribbon
in the class went to Gold Spirit Jubilee and Michael Daniel. The
winning horse is owned by Bob Kennan of Thompson Station, Tenn. Moo-Lah
and Aaron Self took second place honors under the banner of Chad
Williams Stables, Shelbyville, Tenn. Carolyn Thomas of Shelbyville,
Tenn., owns the entry.
The popular team of Editorial Page and June Hawkins excited the crowd
in the Amateur Show Pleasure Championship where they earned their
eighth victory pass of the year. Eddie is owned by Hawkins of
Lewisburg,Tenn., and trained by one of the 2005 Celebration judges,
Rollie Beard. After recently relocating to Shelbyville, Tenn., 16 year
old Candice Hass, formerly of New Egypt, N.J., was all smiles as she
and her mount Sudden Rain earned the red ribbon in their first show
ring appearance as a team. Sudden Rain is owned by Cota-Geczi and Ward
of Shelbyville, Tenn., and New Egypt, N.J. and trained by Ronnie Spears
Stables of Tullahoma, Tenn.
He's Out A Sight was well within judge Cole's sights and earned the
blue ribbon in the Yearling Colt class with the help of handler Carla
Hurley. Trained by Lead Me On Farm, the winning yearling is owned by
Harlinsdale Farms of Franklin, Tenn. Broken Affair and Bobby Richards
were reserve for owner Rhonda Martocci of Franklin, Tenn.
Amateur Four-Year-Olds had their turn in the show ring with six
entries.  Pushin Jose' and Suzie Matthews tied first in the class.
Jose' is owned by Harry Sullins of Blythewood, S.C. and trained at Rae
Martin Stables of Leesville, SC.  Dark Symphony and Ashley Scott were
second in the class.  Mark West trains the entry, who is owned by the
Joe Scott family of Rock Island,Tenn.
Lightning flashed in the distance as time for the lineup was announced
in the Two-Year-Old Amateur Championship. Olympics Marigizer with
Stephanie Harris up received the first award. The Will Harris family of
Columbia, Tenn., owns Olympics Marigizer. The Ultimate Color and
owner-exhibitor Vicky McDowel of Mt. Juliet, Tenn., earned red in their
show ring performance.
The youngest competitors were back in the ring for the Weanling
Championship with six entries. Jazz's Ebony Rose with Robert Nelms at
the lead was crowned champion. Rose is trained by Nelms Training
Facility in College Grove, Tenn., and owned by the Curt Washburn family
of Fayetteville, Tenn. The red ribbon went to Red Hot Willie, this time
with Josh Jones as handler.
Winston Cup earned the trip to victory circle in the
Amateur-Three-Year-Old  race with owner and exhibitor Ann Rea of
Summit, Miss., at the wheel. Pegasus Creme De La Creme and Kim Jacobs
were reserve for owner Joddy Jacobs of Lawrenceburg, Tenn.
Eight Open Amateur competitors took to the grass track next for their
chance at a victory. The Gate Keeper and Justin Harney claimed the
title in the class for owner Ms. Katy High of Kirkwood, Mo. The Gate
Keeper is trained by Ken Taylor Stables of Bell Buckle, Tenn. Carbon
Cover Girl, with Matt Seymour, owned and trained by Posey Stables,
Tuscumbia, Ala., picked up the red ribbon.
As the evening's festivities drew to a close the eight entries in the
Three-Year-Old Stallions class entered the show ring. Judge Cole's
choice for first place honors was Gem O'Toole and Sam Martin. Gem is
owned and trained by Rae Martin Stables. Buster's Big Bold Storm with
Steve Bennett in control was reserve for Bennett and Campbell,
Lewisburg and Murfreesboro,Tenn.
  The Groom's Class is a chance for the unsung heroes of any horse show
to compete in front of the audience. Three gentlemen took the
opportunity to step out from behind the scenes and just have a good
time. Jim Scruggs aboard Slam's Delight earned the victory pass, which
he made the most of by taking two passes around the show ring. Reserve
went to Juan Ramirez and Judging Amy.
This concludes our coverage of the 2005 Spring Hill Lions Club Horse
Show. Complete results follow and may be viewed, searched and printed
on our web site, www. walkinghorsereport.com.