by Jennifer Maack-Condren
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The annual Corn Belt Walking Horse Association Spring Show was held in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, May 4 and 5, 2007, on the beautiful campus of Kirkwood Community College. This facility is ranked near the top of the list among Midwest contenders as a quality show facility. Slightly cooler temperatures blew in for much of the weekend, but the outside weather was hardly noticeable inside the climate-controlled building. One hundred fifty entries, an increase over 2006, made the gate call for the two-day, three-performance event.
Tom Burton of Strafford, Mo., made the trip to judge the classes. Announcer Dennis Jacobson kept the show moving and did an excellent job in keeping the exhibitors posted on the status of classes. Show Secretary Ruth Bowers kept things organized in the center ring and assisted with entries. Jill J. Wait also worked hard behind the scenes as office manager.
Margaret Hickman and The Golden Sceptor were named Open Walking Horse Stake champions for Ward and Betty McKnight to conclude the two-day, 62-class show. This win certainly made the drive back to Stoutland, Mo., seem shorter. Victory Colors and Jim Huffman received the reserve tie in the class followed by Jerry Manes and JFK’s Diamond Regency.
The Manes-Hickman Stables earned a total of 12 blues for their efforts over the weekend. It was good to see Wade Hickman with matching shoes on again after recently fashioning a cast the past few weeks. No doubt Hickman will return to the saddle and the show ring again soon. Earning seven of their 12 blues was Winning Design. Jerry Manes dominated the park pleasure classes with this Manes owned gelding. Winning Design won blues in the Park Pleasure Two-Gait, Men’s Park Pleasure and the Two-Gait Stake with Jerry Manes in the irons. Andrew Rhoads directed Winning Design to the winner’s circle in the Juvenile Park Pleasure division while Austin Rhoads made it a repeat performance in the Amateur Two-Gait class. Andrea Patterson enjoyed her catch rides to also claim two blues, one in the Amateur 18 and Over and one in the Ladies Two-Gait class.
Magic Bomb H was called for the victory pass four times for David and Jane Turner. Jerry Manes earned two of these blues with efforts in the Lite-Shod Two-Gait and Lite-Shod Two-Gait Stake classes. Austin Rhoads claimed the Amateur Two-Gait title while Andrew claimed the Juvenile Lite-Shod title.
Jim Huffman and Huffman Family Stables took 11 blue ribbons and titles home to Ozark, Mo. Three Phase Voltage dominated the Three-Year-Old classes as he won the open class and the Three-Year-Old Stake with Jim Huffman. He also claimed the Three-Year-Old Stake class with Donna Huffman. Donna Huffman owns this fine three-year-old. Another Huffman owned entry, Victory Colors, won the Open Walking Horse class to conclude the first session.
Magic Impression and Dr. Glenn DeGraffenreid earned the 15.2 and Under title for Glenn and Beverly DeGraffenreid. This win came on the heels of their win at the MWHTA Spring Fun show. Picking up two wins under the Huffman banner was Armed And Proud with Jennifer Condren in the irons. Armed And Proud earned the Amateur Show Pleasure Specialty blue and the Open Show Pleasure Specialty blue for the Bill Maack family.
Coin’s Etched In Gold and Jim Huffman received two first place ties. The first was in the Park Pleasure Three-Gait class and the second was the Three-Gait Stake class for Rosalie Jones and Marvelene Kusewitt. Another Jones-Kusewitt entry earned a blue. Gold Coin’s Rising Star and Marvelene Kusewitt rode to the victory circle in the Park Pleasure Four and Under Amateur class.
Sandra Huffman and Whispering Pines Stables from New Sharon, Iowa earned a total of eight blues. JFK’s Lil Miss Caroline received two blue ribbons, first with Deb DeJong in the Novice Park Pleasure Two-Gait class and then by Sienna DeJong in the Juvenile Western Park Pleasure class. Sandra Huffman directed Cash’s Kendra to the winner’s circle in the Park Pleasure Four and Under class for Aileen Novinger.
Rachel Wermouth exhibited her showmanship as she earned the blue ribbon in the Yearling class with Command Performance. Wermouth returned to the ring to claim the blue in the Two-Year-Old Park Pleasure class with Oops What A Miracle. Aileen Novinger owns these top entries. Ashley Enwright and Beam’s Wonder Woman received the top award in the Lite-Shod Western Two-Gait class and the Three-Gait class for Tara Enwright.
Don Bills Stables of Fair Grove, Mo., received six top awards for their weekend efforts. Casey Heiman kicked the show off in blue ribbon fashion with Trigger Cash and claimed the Juvenile Specialty title. Heiman returned the next night to earn the Juvenile Specialty Stake title as he and Trigger Cash added another title to their resume. Tamee LeNeve-Heiman and I’m Bob Hope continue to entertain as they captured the Four-Year-Old Open class title and then returned to win the Four-Year-Old Amateur title the next afternoon as well. JoAnn LeNeve and Talk Is Cheap earned a pair of blues as well. JoAnn and Talk Is Cheap were called out for the victory pass in the 50 and Over Amateur Specialty class and then returned the next night to deliver a flawless performance in the Amateur Specialty Stake class. Trigger Cash, I’m Bob Hope and Talk Is Cheap are owned by the Don LeNeve and the Doug Heiman families.
The Mike Maack Stables blue ribbon tally was five at the conclusion of the show for the Warrensburg, Mo., based trainer. Barbara Zbornik received two winning ties with Shadow’s Ultimate Beam in the Park Performance Specialty and the Amateur Park Performance class. Marcia Turner and Dark Rage were all the rage in the Open Amateur class followed by the Amateur Stake class where they picked up a pair of blues for David and Marcia Turner. In the Open Specialty class He’s Bustin’ Wide Open and Mike Maack came out on top in the fine field of competitors for Barbara Zbornik.
Travis Wieberg earned four blues with Late Night Gen for owner and grandfather Eldon Jenkins. Wieberg won the Lite-Shod Three-Gait, Amateur Three-Gait, Lite-Shod Amateur Owned and Trained Three-Gait and concluded his show with the Lite-Shod Three-Gait Stake.
Sue Halvorson’s Fashion’s Magic Princess picked up a trio of wins in the Park Pleasure Amateur Three-Gait, Western Two and Western Three-Gait classes. Magic Fashion’s Shadow and Halvorson received their third blue in the Park Pleasure Amateur Owned and Trained Two-Gait class.
The Paul Patterson family from Osborn, Mo., received a pair of blues. Andrea Patterson and Watch Spot Walk were in top form to earn the blue in the Amateur Specialty class and then returned on Saturday for a repeat performance in the Amateur Owned and Trained Specialty class. Parents Paul and Sandy Patterson were on hand to congratulate Andrea as she exited the ring.
Julie Lage and Jazz Man’s Star Chaser also earned a trio of blues in Lite-Shod classes. Their wins came in the Amateur Owned and Trained Two-Gait, Amateur Four and Under and the Open Four and Under classes. Lage hails from Orion, Ill.
Additional single wins went to the flashy team of Terry Knockel and Skymover And Shaker in the Open Model class for Robin and Terry Knockel. Kim Bruns and Champagne Gold Sunset earned the Trail Pleasure title.
Complete results follow and can be viewed, searched and printed at www.walkinghorsereport.com.