By K.C. Hensley

HARRODSBURG, Ky. - The 25th annual Kentucky Ladies Auxiliary Spring Jubilee was held April 16-17 at the Mercer County fairgrounds in Harrodsburg, Ky. The 430-entry, 55-class event was judged by Don Bills of Fair Grove, Mo. The show was held to benefit Central Kentucky Riding For The Handicapped.

The show went well into the evening both Friday and Saturday. Mainly barns local to Kentucky made the trip to Harrodsburg, but a few from Tennessee ventured north to test the waters.

The stick horse class is one of the most loved family classes at any horse show. Its 11 entries were welcomed into the ring with the sounds of clapping moms, dads and grandparents.

There were several barns that won numerous blues. Finish Line Farms of Shelbyville, Tenn., where the father-son duo Buddy and Rodney Dick reign, was the dominating force of the show with six blues. Their victories included the Aged Walking Mare and Gelding class with Liz Claiborne and Rodney Dick; the Amateur Specialty 15.2 and Under class with Gen’s Color Me In and Kim Trumble; the Three-Year-Old Stallion and Gelding victory with The G-Man and Rodney Dick; the Two-Year-Old Amateur win with Icy Hot and Rick Trumble; the Open Ladies Specialty blue with The Sure Thing and Lisa Bum; and finally the Four-Year-Old Open class with You Better Be Good and Rodney Dick.

The barn claiming the second highest number of blues was Kemp Martin Stables of Overtone, Ky., with five victories. They captured wins in the Walking Pony Specialty 18 & Over class with All Colors My Papa and Billy Ford; the Juvenile Plantation Specialty class with Pattern’s En and Jessica Smoot; the Walking Pony Specialty with All Colors My Papa again with Jessica Smoot; the Amateur Specialty Walking Mares and Geldings class with Goldwell’s Delight and Cathy Aldridge; and Janice Allen aboard another horse in the KWHLA Plantation Pleasure class.

Sweet Revenge Stables of Mt. Sterling, Ky., received a trio of victories. Their first win was in the Four-Year-Old Amateur class with The JFK’s A Pushover and Lisa Patton. The second blue was in the Open Walking Specialty with Flashy’s Mr. Threat and Mike Oney, and finally Open Show Pleasure Specialty win went to Ultra Prime Mover also with Mike Oney aboard.

Scott Beaty and Beaty Stables located in Byrdstown, Tenn., made their trip to Kentucky well worth their while also capturing three blues. Their victories included the Two-Year-Old Mare and Gelding champion Command Sparkling Star with Scott Beaty aboard. The next victory ride was made by Kim Butler and Clutch’s Cut in the Ladies Amateur Specialty Canter class. Their third and final victory was with Exactly Like Papa and Billy Ball in the Amateur Specialty Stallions and Geldings class.

Mike Anasis Stables of Union , Ky., was the third and final barn to receive a trifecta of blues. The first victory they received was in the Plantation Two-Year-Old class with Lynard Skynyrd and Mike Anasis. Wham received both the Amateur and Open Plantation classes with Austin Gillentine aboard.

Brandye Mills Stables of Richmond, Ky., won double blues for the John Cox family of Winchester, Ky. The first victory was with Charger’s Back In Black with Brandye Mills in the KSOA Open Specialty class and the second victory was claimed by Classic Games also with Brandye Mills riding in the KSOA Two-Year-Old class.

Kevin Lutrell Stables of Smith Grove, Ky., also claimed two blues, one for each night of competition. Lutrell’s fiancé, Courtney Griffith, claimed the Amateur Show Pleasure Specialty class with her well-known champion Major Player. The competitive 11 & Under class’ blue was received by Kristin Oliver and Black Chip.

Entries from Spencer Benedict Stables of Glasgow, Ky., were pleased with their dual wins. The husband/wife team of Spencer and Carrie Benedict first captured the Pro/Am class with She’s High Falutin’. Carrie later returned to the winners’ circle again with Jazz Man A-Pushin’ in the Three-Year-Old Amateur class.

The final barn to receive two blues was Tony Tully Stables of Mt. Sterling, Ky. Big Score Surprise and Sandra Shannon were the first champions crowned from Tully Stables in the Amateur Lite-Shod Specialty class. Tony Tully also received top honors with Prescription Made Over in the Plantation Four-Year-Old class.

Several barns won single blues in Kentucky as well. Rachel Jernigan and Reggie claimed back to back blues. They started their season with a Trainers’ Show blue and topped it off with a another blue in Kentucky in the Walking Seat Equitation class.

Thompson Place Farm located in Bowling Green, Ky., received their blue in the Yearling Halter class with Grandy’s Summer Love and Rita Ellis at the lead. Harold Curry Stables of Greensburg, Ky., claimed their blue in the Three-Year-Old Mare and Gelding class with Splendid Colors with Harold Curry in the irons. The Plantation Three-Year-Old blue went home with Kentucky Joe with Jimmy Cotton aboard.

Brent Grider Stables of Columbia, Ky., is really on a role this season. While in Harrodsburg, Grider captured a blue ribbon ride aboard Paperback in the Two-Year-Old Stallions and Geldings class. Although Donnie May of Richmond, Ky., only brought one horse to the show, he was one for one after grandson Evan Alexander’s victory in the Juvenile Specialty class aboard Picture Of Power.

In the KSOA Halter Yearling class Prescription For Blue did just that with handler Denise Calhoun. Shannon Stables of Xenia, Ohio claimed the blue in the Performance Pleasure Three-Year-Old and Under class with Blast and Ricky Austin.

J & H Stables of Russell Springs, Ky., received their single blue in the Novice Amateur Specialty class with Ben Dover and Karen Rector.

In the KSOA Three-Year-Old class H.L. Blackwell with Doug Stephens in the irons received the top honors.

Greta Potter also claimed a blue. Potter’s blue came in the Amateur Country Pleasure class with Taking Care Of Cash. In the second Performance Pleasure class of the show Color Of Cash and Jerry Goodman were welcomed into the winner's circle.

Lori Fields of Maysville, Ky., claimed her single blue in the Amateur, Owned & Trained class with Rebel’s Spotlight. In the Country Pleasure 17 & Under class there was a single entry for a single blue. It was Charger’s Tick Tock and Eric Howard.

Triple B Stables located in Rush, Ky., claimed the Three-Year-Old Amateur class win with Buster’s Advice and Mike Berry aboard. Mike Alexander of Greystone Farm in Nicholsville, Ky., received his blue in the Open Amateur class with Royalty’s Pain Killer and Terry Lunsford in the irons.

I’m Platinum and Sabrina Young have now claimed back to back blues. In the recent debut at Upper Cumberland they claimed the Amateur Specialty class and then at Harrodsburg the duo claimed the roses in the Ladies Auxiliary Specialty Championship. McQuerry Stables’ Gary Hafley claimed the blue in the Grooms class aboard Ella Bleu.

The final event came by welcoming four deserving champions ready to compete for the roses in the Walking Horse Championship. The new champion Coin’s LTD, with seasoned professional showman Bobby Burton aboard claimed the great honor for Michael and Ty Hart of Corbin, Ky.

This concludes our coverage of the Kentucky Ladies Auxiliary Spring Jubilee. Complete results follow and can be viewed at www.walkinghorsereport.com.