GULF COAST HORSE SHOW ANNOUNCES JUDGES
Todd Fisher, Executive Director of The Gulf Coast Charity Celebration is pleased to announce the judges and for the 10th annual Gulf Coast Charity Horse Show and Music Festival to be held April 23rd – 26th, 2008; THAT’S RIGHT; NOW A FUN FILLED 4 DAY SHOW at Frank Brown Park, Panama City Beach, Bay County, Florida.
The judges are:
Rollie Beard from Lewisburg, Tennessee
Steve Dunn from Shelbyville, Tennessee
Steve Hankins Sr. from Tazwell, Virginia
This year the show will host the Walking Horse Trainers Association Riders Cup in nine classes: 2 Yr. Old Mares and Geldings; 2 Yr. Old Stallions; 3 Yr. Old Mares and Geldings; 3 Yr. Old Stallions; 4 Yr. Old Stallions, Canter; 4 Yr. Old Mares or Geldings, Canter; Stallions, 15.2 & Under, 5 Yrs Old & Over, Canter; Mares or Geldings 15.2 & Under, 5 Yrs Old & Over, Canter and Walking Horse Championship Open. We have made some very exciting changes this year. The show will start everyday at 5:30 p.m. and the gates open at 3:30 pm daily with entertainment before and after the show. We have eliminated some classes, changed the day and order of some classes and added more that we hope will prove not only to be “a hit” but will help expose potential horse buyers to the desirability of the Tennessee Walking Horse breed and its versatility.
Specialty Acts and back by popular demand is Tim Leper and “Wild Thang”, yes it is the monkey’s, riding dogs, herding sheep. Also, straight out of Las Vegas, all four nights, is Eric Martonovich and “Big Horse Productions”, with acrobatic acts and Roman Riding on their 8 Belgian Steeds. Flippenout Productions will round out Friday and Saturday nights with their synchronized, dual trampoline acrobatic acts performed by U.S. Olympians. They jump in tandem, flipping and twirling with Skis and snowboards delighting children and adults alike.
We will try the Amateur/Amateur Rider Swap 1 or 2 horses again and is great fun and is similar to the Pro-AM, except the Amateur/Amateur Rider Swap is a performance class with any age horse or amateur rider. A rider can prearrange their swap with another horse and rider entered or may have another rider accompany them in the ring to ride the 2nd way and for those not having a ride prearranged for the 2nd way that rider will be subject to drawing for 2nd way from one already entered or another horseless rider in the ring or elsewhere; at entry one must designate and pre-enter the 2nd way riders name if it is a prearranged swap. No amateur card or particular attire is required in this new class. The class is meant to encourage non-owners to experience an opportunity to show. The New Classes are the Pro/Pro class that is similar to the Pro/Am but a different professional will ride both ways of the ring. These Pros can be from the same barn or not…it can be the Trainer and Assistant so long as they both have Professional Trainers Licenses. Also new this year is the Novice Amateur, Specialty; the WHOA Challenge Class and the Amateur Show Pleasure Specialty Championship. We will have Speed Racking classes Friday and Saturday night with more prize money than any speed racking class in any Horse show in the entire United States. Gaited mules will also be back this year with style racking mules and gaited trail pleasure mules on Friday night and walking trail pleasure mules and speed racking mules on Saturday night. The show will continue its invention of “The Field Trial Tack & Attire” class (class 60 on Saturday night) which will be judged on its own set of rules. The same criteria will be used to judge the Field Trial Class as last year and the rules and criteria can be sent to anyone upon request.
The prize money is $250-$150-$100-$75-$50-$30, for all preliminary classes EXCEPT THE WALKING HORSE CHAMPIONSHIP OPEN (last class) and the SPEED RACKING CLASSES and stick class. The Walking Horse Championship Open prize money is $3,000 (+saddle& floral horseshoe) $2000 –1000-750-500-350 (no qualification necessary) and for Racking Classes, $750.00 is the first prize if all Speed Racking Classes (both nights) have 10 or more entries in the ring and $500.00 is first prize to speed racking classes with 4 or more horses in classes (both nights) otherwise the racking classes will have the same preliminary class prize money.
Mr. Fisher says, “It is important for everyone to order and pay or have their blank check in for stalls and shavings on or before Friday, April 4th , 2008. This gives the trainers an opportunity to talk to their customers the week of the Trainer’s Show. Due to the enormous amount of expense that the show incurs in ordering the temporary stalls and reserving the shavings supply the show will only be able to order stalls and shavings for those ordering and paying in advance or sending their blank checks. Reservations are needed because we have limited stall space available; however, if paid by the deadline, there should not be any problems having a stall and shavings for everyone.”
The Owners, Trainers & Exhibitors Party will be held Tuesday night, April 22nd, 2008 for our owners, trainers and exhibitors and sponsors actually participating in this show. It is again at the Milligan home on beautiful St. Andrew Bay. “Even though “Sister” is no longer on our Board, she and Tommy have graciously offered to continue the tradition. Sister has worked so hard to start this show and to promote our breed throughout Northwest Florida.
On Thursday, April 24th and Friday, April 25th, entertainment will be provided by Arkansas “Kenny Kidd”. When he tickles the ivory, you would think you are listening to Little Richard.
On Saturday, April 26th entertainment will be provided by “Jeff Cook and the Allstar Goodtime Band”. We are lucky to have Hall of Famer Jeff Cook for our 10th anniversary. On Wednesday night and prior to the show each afternoon at 3:30pm, Northwest Florida’s own “Ivey Brothers” will entertain. The Gulf Coast Charity Celebration is sure everybody will enjoy all of the entertainment that they have lined up for this year’s event.
There will be food vendors, merchandise vendors and rides and amusements for the children (and adults who dare), bouncy houses and pony rides and fun for the entire family.
The Board of Directors of The Gulf Coast Charity Horse Show would like to thank the walking horse industry for bestowing upon us the following awards for the 2007 show:
2007 PC Splash Best 1 Night Show of the Year by Readers of The Scoop Magazine
2007 Reserve Best Multi-Night Show of the Year by the Readers of The Voice Magazine
2007 Best Horse Show Party by the Readers of The Voice Magazine
Fisher reminds everyone that “The Gulf Coast Charity Horse Show can’t go on without the continued sponsorships and support” and encourages everyone to continue to support their great event.
Paddock Club table and box seating is still available but is going fast, so everyone is encouraged to place their table or box seat reservations now. For more information on the new classes, show schedule, reserved tables, sponsorships, box seats and vendor space call Todd or Ginger at (850) 914-9030 or for information about Panama City Beach call 1-800-PCBEACH. Tables will include food Thursday thru Saturday night and reserved seating every night.
For those of you that join us every year, welcome back, for those of you that are first timers, we hope you are prepared for the red carpet treatment the Gulf Coast Charity Horse Show and Music Festival has in store for you. For a teaser, visit our web site at www.gulfcoasthorseshow.com. See you at the beach.