by Margo Urad

MARSHALL, Texas – The Marshall Lions Club elected to move the show dates back one week with hopes of better weather than last year. This year the event took place Feb. 23 and 24. They eventually made the right choice, as the weather could not have been more pleasant other than heavy wind with rain that came through Saturday afternoon.  Terry Stone took on the duties of judging this year’s entries.
Ira Gladney was the designated qualified inspector and wrote two violations. Two hundred and twenty-eight entries showed Friday evening and Saturday.
Trainers and exhibitors from Texas and Louisiana were ready for the 2007 show season to begin. Being the first show for the season in the Southwest, many new combinations made their debut along with Justin Taylor making his Texas debut as Wink and Nancy Groover’s trainer. What a debut it was as Taylor made some picture perfect rides aboard Honda Texas to claim the Walking Horse Grand Championship after winning the qualifier. Taylor also made it to the winner’s circle aboard Texas Rangerette in the Three-Year-Old Open. Nancy Groover made an outstanding ride aboard The Texan to claim top honors in the Walking Horse Amateur Specialty class.
Stan’s Stables with trainer Stan Urad led the blue ribbon count with 18 blues. All Night, with Urad in the irons for owner Maddie Jones, claimed the Lite-Shod Open Championship and qualifier. Miranda Denny had an outstanding beginning to her 2007 season. She claimed the Youth Championship and qualifier aboard The Midnight Falcon as well as the Amateur Trail Pleasure Specialty Championship and the Youth Trail Pleasure Specialty qualifier aboard Bad News Fantastic Cash. Mom Shelia Denny claimed top honor in the Trail Pleasure Western Specialty aboard Bad News Fantastic Cash.
Cold Check, owned by Larry Denny, captured two blues. Stan Urad and Shelia Denny each claimed the blue in the Park Performance Open and Amateur class. Carl Lewis had the time of his life watching his beloved Generator’s Masquerading capture the Open Park Pleasure Championship with Stan Urad in the irons. Command’s Fair Lady, owned by Tenn-Tex Farms, made her move from the trail pleasure to the country pleasure division in winning style. Michael Kirton claimed top honors in the Country Pleasure Youth Championship. Billy Baker made an excellent catch ride, claiming the blue in the Gentleman Country Pleasure. Margo Urad also won top honors in the Country Pleasure Championship. Jennifer Lassiter, who missed the majority of the 2006 show season due to surgery, made her 2007 debut a winning one by taking top honors in the Equitation class.
Elysse Powell, aboard Sensation’s Sudden Impact, was all smiles as the pair claimed the blue ribbon in the Youth Country Pleasure class. Gator From Decatur, with owner Allan Daniels, claimed top honors in the Four and Under Spotted Saddle Horse class. Margo Urad claimed the Ladies class and Stan Urad captured the tricolor in the Spotted Saddle Horse Championship.
Don Crum Stables claimed six blues. Clark Spencer made an outstanding catch ride winning the Lite-Shod Amateur Specialty Championship aboard I’m Jeb Stewart for owners Kelly and Jennifer LeBlanc. Easy Texas Sundrop, owned by Lynn O’Neil with Don Crum in the irons, was called to the winner’s circle in the Three-Year-Old Park Pleasure Open. Don Crum also captured the blue ribbon aboard Redneck At The Ritz for proud owners David and Elaine Kapinos in the Open Four-Year-Old class. Steve Raley opened the 2007 show season in winning style, earning the tricolor and qualifying blue aboard Beam’s Regal Coin in the Show Pleasure division. Sara Day made her debut aboard Showtime Special Ritz to claim top honor in the Amateur Three-Year-Old class for proud owner Michelle Peavy.
Starland Farms, with trainer John Feltner Jr., enjoyed a successful show taking home five blues. Galveston Texas claimed the tricolor with Tom Gould aboard in the Amateur Specialty Grand Championship. Dr. John Gladney started the season off right. Tijuana Tex and Gladney went two for two, winning the Amateur Park Pleasure Specialty Grand Championship as well as the qualifier. Darden Gladney made an outstanding catch ride aboard Deborah William’s Olympic Gold Sunrise, claiming the blue ribbon in the Amateur Trail Pleasure English Specialty class. Steve Raley kept the blues coming aboard Overdue Blues in the Amateur Specialty Four-Year-Old class.
Gladney Farms with brothers Darden and Dr. John Gladney captured four blues with their amateur owned and trained entries. Serious Threat won the tricolor and qualifying blue with Dr. John Gladney in the ETWRHA Members Amateur Owned and Trained classes. It’s Up In Arms and Darden Gladney made their way to the winner’s circle claiming the qualifying blue ribbon in the Park Pleasure Open as well as walking their way to the blue in the Amateur Park Pleasure class.
Burt and Landon Head made the trip from Louisiana an eventful one. Burt Head aboard Judge Judy claimed top honors in the Amateur Canter and Amateur Owned and Trained classes. Alysse Langer made an awesome catch ride aboard Rodney Dangerfield to take the blue ribbon in the Youth Park Pleasure Specialty.
Five Star Farm, with trainer Doug Smiley, picked up dual blues. Showdown At Sunrise with Smiley posed perfectly to capture the blue ribbon in the Model class. A Star In Dixie, with proud owner Ann King in the irons, rode to the winner’s circle in the Amateur Specialty Lite-Shod class.
Trainer Roger Ivins claimed dual blues as well. Cash’s City Girl and Hollis Anthony bested the field, claiming the blue in the Amateur Trail Pleasure Four and Under for owner Fannie Ivins. After a hard spill in the racking horse speed class Friday night, this young lady came back Saturday evening with vengeance capturing the championship title in the Amateur Canter Championship aboard General Buster for Aubra Anthony Farms. 
McDodi Farms, with trainer Marco Suarez, also claimed dual blues. Dazzling Bad News with Marco Suarez in the irons claimed top honors in the Lite-Shod Three and Under Specialty class for owner Rosalee Manning. Nick Plafcan made a top notch catch ride aboard Dazzling Bad News to win the Lite-Shod Youth Specialty class.
Fred and Lisa Weaver from Louisiana had a long weekend. Lisa and Cash For Diamonds claimed top honors in the Amateur Trail Pleasure class Friday night. Fred and Lisa drove to Oklahoma and returned for the Saturday performance. Now that’s dedication, which paid off as Lisa and Cash For Diamonds claimed the Amateur Trail Pleasure Grand Championship.
Single blues were claimed by Jermario Hall, Jody Balfay and Dennis Jones.Complete results follow and can also be viewed, searched and printed at www.walkinghoresreport.com.