Ben Lee, Executive Director of The Gulf Coast Charity Celebration is pleased to announce the judges and show personnel for the 8th annual Gulf Coast Charity Horse Show and Music Festival to be held April 27th – 29th, 2006 at Frank Brown Park, Panama City Beach, Bay County, Florida.
The judges are:
Jeannette Baucom from Monroe, North Carolina
Huck Moss from Trenton, South Carolina
Smokey Carswell from Morehead, Kentucky
Show Personnel are:
Announcer- Bobby Sands
Photographer- Doug Shiflet
Organist - Larry Bright
Workout Organist- Diane Beaver
Farrier - Mack Dekle
2 Yr. Old Debut Auctioneer: Woody Woodruff
Ringmasters: Jeremy Wilhelm
John Fikes
Tommy Hall
Jr. Ringmasters: Tyler Baucom
Luke Carswell
This year the show will host the Walking Horse Trainers Association Riders Cup in the following five classes: 4 Yr. Old Stallions Canter; Stallions, 15.2 & Under, 5 Yrs Old & Over, Canter; 4 Yr. Old Mares or Geldings, Canter; 3 Yr. Old Stallions; and Walking Horse Championship Open. We have made some very exciting changes this year. We have decided to start the show everyday at 5:00 p.m. We have eliminated some classes, changed the day and order of some classes and added more classes and more money 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. .
Some of the new classes are Amateur Padded Draw & Swap (this ought to be great fun and is similar to the Pro-AM), Park Performance Open, Country Pleasure, Amateur Park Performance, 3 Yr. Old Amateur Championship, Trail Pleasure, Amateur 4 Yr Old Championship Specialty and every night a Speed Racking class (Thursday, 4 yrs and under, Speed racking open on Friday and Speed Racking flat shod class on Saturday) with more prize money than any speed racking class in any Horse show in the entire United States. We want speed rackers, they are crowd pleasers; so if anyone knows some speed rackers we encourage them to let them know the prize money we are giving. The Amateur Padded Draw or 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. Even though no particular attire is required, bikinis are allowed but not recommended. A blue ribbon will be given to the rider with the most “unique” attire in the class. The show will continue its invention of “The Field Trial Tack & Attire” class (class 40 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 $2,000 (+saddle& floral horseshoe) $1250 –750-625-500-375 (no qualification necessary) and $750.00 is the first prize for Racking Classes, if all Speed Racking Classes (all three nights) have 10 or more entries in the ring and $500.00, first prize to speed racking classes with 4 or more horses in class (all three nights) otherwise the racking classes will have the same preliminary class prize money.
Lee says, “It is Important for everyone to order and pay or have their blank check in for stalls and shavings on or before Tuesday, April 4th, 2006. 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, we should not have any problems having a stall and shavings for everyone.”
The Owners, Trainers & Exhibitors Party will be held Wednesday night, April 26th, 2006 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. I don’t know of anyone who loves Tennessee Walkers and loves to show more than Sister”, says Lee.
On Thursday, April 27th and Friday, April 28th entertainment will be provided by “The Embers” who are known for their hit “I Love Beach Music”. Northwest Florida’s own “Ivey Brothers” will entertain before the show begins on Thursday , Friday and Saturday at 3:00 PM and will also provide the after show entertainment on Saturday night. We are presently negotiating with a top national entertainment for your additional pleasure on Saturday night. 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 kiddie rides for the children and 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 2005 show:
2005 Reserve Champion Multi-Day Show by the National Walking Horse Trainers Association
2005 Best Multi-Night Show of the Year by the Readers of The Voice Magazine
2005 Best Horse Show Party by the Readers of The Voice Magazine
2005 Best Horse Show Food of the year by the Readers of The Voice Magazine
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 Ben or Ginger at (850) 914-9030 or for information about Panama City Beach call 1-800-PCBEACH.